Sun, 10 Nov 2002, 03:57 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 1 Eliminations

By Darryl Jackman

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 38th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals:

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Rick Santos         5.445 263.77  Q   10 Don Hudson          5.454 257.92
 *****WINNER***** 0.434  5.298 267.16  E1                  0.475  5.447 259.91

Santos is making one of his rare appearances here in 2002. Oh Santos! Where have you been. Great shot as he had three in the back at the hit and runs the low ET of the weekend in Alcohol Dragster.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Dave Hirata         5.401 261.12  Q   14 James Copeland II   5.508 260.16
                  0.535  5.767 248.25  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.488  5.607 255.00

Hirata had holes out from the hit all the way to the stripe. It costs him as Copeland gets the win and goes on.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Tony Bartone        5.384 270.75  Q   15 Duane Shields       5.538 262.49
 *****WINNER***** 0.460  5.393 270.75  E1                  0.518  5.445 264.13

Bartone ties Shields to the tree and just runs off and leaves him standing. Next round he'll need it as he sees Santos and will not have lane choice.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Arthur Gallant      5.444 235.23  Q   11 Joey Severance      5.494 260.56
 *****WINNER***** 0.534  5.440 246.89  E1                  0.467  5.703 228.23

Severance appeared to put a hole out in the blown car right at the hit. It never cleaned up so Gallant takes the win. Gallant earned lane choice over Copeland in the next round. Severance had more problems than raw fuel as the Safety Safari is making their first appearance of the day to work on the right lane.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Alan Bradshaw       5.436 262.44  Q   13 Cliff Bozzelli      5.499 255.15
                  0.438  5.536 213.60  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.443  5.484 257.28

That one round of qualifying for the alcohol cars was brutal. He we have #4 and #13 and they both qualified in the 5.4's. It's an even start but a three quarter track Bradshaw's car made an abrupt right turn and headed towards the center line. He managed to bring it back but it was very close to going over the line.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 John Haley          5.440 256.89  Q   12 Darryl Hitchman     5.496 252.95
 *****WINNER***** 0.499  5.469 256.41  E1                  0.480  5.550 245.36

Hitchman got a slight lead at the start but can't hold off Haley. Haley will have lane choice over Bozzelli in the second round.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Morgan Lucas        5.315 261.93  Q   16 Mark Hentges        5.548 259.21
 *****WINNER***** 0.460  5.378 254.57  E1                  0.472 No Time

Lucas gets the starting line lead in this pair but it's of no matter to the end result. At the 330 mark the backend of Hentges racer gets loose and he moves to the center line and takes out the timing marker. Hentges is DQ'd and Lucas gets the automatic win.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   8 Steve Federlin      5.447 260.66  Q    9 Mark Niver          5.451 259.96
 *****WINNER***** 0.434  5.408 263.41  E1                  0.521  5.496 256.84

Federlin gets a huge head start and Niver has to chase him all the way down. Niver can't close so it will be Federlin moving on to face Lucas next round. Lucas will have lane choice due to his 5.378 ET defeating Hentges. That's the final pair and we move to Alcohol Funny Car.

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