Sun, 28 Oct 2001, 02:46 PM LAS VEGAS 2 - Pro Stock Round 1 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock at the Inaugural AC Delco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   8 Tom Martino         6.979 197.19  Q    9 Kurt Johnson        6.981 197.51
 *****WINNER***** 0.438  7.018 196.82  E1                  0.454 10.317  88.69

11:28 AM It's 76 degrees, 26 percent relative humidity, 30.06 inches of Mercury, and bright sunshine. The track temperature is close to 100 degrees, still pretty good, but it could be a factor later today.

Martino and Kurt have each won once in their prior two meetings. Martino's win was enroute to his event win at Sonoma. Kurt's car made a move toward the wall on the launch and that was the end of his weekend, Martino right down the groove for a surprisingly easy win.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Mark Pawuk          6.976 197.25  Q   10 Rickie Smith        6.983 197.19
 *****WINNER***** 0.450  7.032 196.04  E1                  0.483  7.010 196.62

"Cowboy" beats "Tricky Rickie" at his own game, taking a holeshot victory by a margin of victory = 0.011 seconds (approximately 3 feet).

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 Tom Hammonds        6.964 198.32  Q   12 Troy Coughlin       6.989 197.33
 *****WINNER***** 0.451  6.981 197.91  E1                  0.466  7.017 196.27

Troy won the only meeting between himself and Hammonds this year, that win enroute to Troy's first-ever national event win, at Reading. Hammonds is getting pretty good at this game, beating Troy at both ends of the track.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 George Marnell      6.974 197.54  Q   11 Mark Osborne        6.984 197.62
 *****WINNER***** 0.461  6.987 196.85  E1                  0.466  7.048 197.28

Marnell is 3-1 against Osborne this year. Osborne is also one of those in contention for third place in the points. They left together, but Marnell pulled ahead by 330 feet and then pulled steadily away from Ozzie.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Bruce Allen         6.963 197.62  Q   13 Hurley Blakeney     6.992 196.82
 *****WINNER***** 0.468  6.982 197.45  E1                  0.199  7.030 196.33

This is the first time Allen and Blakeney have faced each other this season. Allen is in that tight four-way race for third in the points and needed to "go rounds" here to stay in contention. Blakeney took a shot at the tree and missed by a bunch. Allen loses lane choice to Hammonds by a thousandth of a second!

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Ron Krisher         6.961 198.06  Q   14 V. Gaines           6.993 197.25
 *****WINNER***** 0.463  6.985 197.45  E1                  0.880  6.999 196.70

Krisher won the only meeting between these two this year. Something had to happen to Gaines to be that late. Krisher faces Marnell next round and has lane choice by 0.002 seconds.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Mike Edwards        6.954 198.41  Q   15 Warren Johnson      6.996 197.13
 *****WINNER***** 0.401  6.993 197.57  E1                  0.447  6.998 197.59

Edwards is one of those in the tight race for third. All WJ needed to do to clinch the championship was stay within one round of Jim Yates at this event. These two have met four times earlier this year, Johnson winning three of the four. Edwards beats Johnson for the second time this year and now WJ must see what Yates can do. Edwards cut a psychic light and then paced WJ the rest of the way to the finish. He has lane choice against Pawuk next round.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Jim Yates           6.949 197.77  Q   16 Kenny Koretsky      6.997 196.02
 *****WINNER***** 0.488  6.988 196.56  E1                  0.485  7.034 195.87

This is the first time Yates and Koretsky have faced each other this year. Yates needs to go at least two rounds further than Warren Johnson to keep WJ from clinching the title here. THis one went according to form, close on the launch and then all Yates. Margin of victory = 0.043 seconds (approximately 12 feet). Yates has lane choice against Martino next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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