Fri, Oct 9, 11:30 PM MEMPHIS - Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Session # 1

By David Rowe

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Fuel at the 11th annual Pennzoil Nationals presented by AutoZone, listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, position in order following run:

---

Right Lane: Terry Mullins Runs 8.492/ 99.85 Psn # 1

4:36 PM Mullins starts off this round of Top Fuel qualifying with a single. He breaks the tires loose at about 100 feet out, pedals it once, and finally gives up.

---

Left Lane: Steve Smith No Time Psn # 3
Right Lane: Luigi Novelli Runs 5.047/225.07 Psn # 1

Smith does his burnout, breaks, and drives on through. Novelli starts on a good run, then goes up in a ball of flame at about half-track.

---

Left Lane: Paul Romine Runs 10.032/ 96.80 Psn # 4
Right Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 9.238/ 89.29 Psn # 3

We're back after a short cleanup with Romine and Herbert. Both cars pull the tires on the launch, shake the tires, and have to shut down.

---

Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 5.691/149.45 Psn # 3
Right Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 5.329/172.70 Psn # 2

Grubnic lifts the front end on the launch, gets sideways and tries to straighten it out, but to no avail. Cory was on a good pass before breaking the tires loose about 300 feet out.

---

Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 5.350/181.74 Psn # 4
Right Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 4.727/316.01 Psn # 1

Bernstein makes a good pass showing the track can handle the power. Schumacher hazes the tires about half-track, then explodes the motor.

---

Left Lane: Bruce Sarver Runs 4.902/299.66 Psn # 2
Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 8.686/ 89.36 Psn # 8

Kalitta pulls the wheels about 4 feet off the ground right off the line. They come back down, the rear tires then bounce a few times and he shuts it down.

---

Left Lane: Joe Amato Runs 10.462/ 77.96 Psn #12
Right Lane: Mike Dunn Runs 4.718/297.82 Psn # 1

Amato lifts the front end and carries it for about 100 feet, lifts, and coasts through the lights. Dunn makes an impressive but costly run, losing the engine in a ball of flame just after he crosses the finish line.

---

Left Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 4.684/310.41 Psn # 1
Right Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 4.751/283.31 Psn # 4

We're back after a long cleanup, Dunn's pistons and oil all over the track. Both cars make good runs, Vanderbilt losing the engine just before he goes through the lights. We're down for cleanup again.

---

Left Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 9.429/ 79.93 Psn #13
Right Lane: Shelly Anderson Runs 11.849/ 69.90 Psn #16

..and here we go again, after a twenty minute cleanup. Both cars lose traction at about 100 feet.

---

Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.782/297.09 Psn # 5
Right Lane: Eddie Hill Runs 4.783/304.12 Psn # 6

We get a good side by side here, both cars keeping a grip on the track.

---

Left Lane: Connie Kalitta Runs 10.002/ 84.55 Psn #16

We finally get to the end of this session with Connie Kalitta getting a single run. Connie launches, goes up in smoke, gives up on the run and coasts through the lights. We end with Dixon in the #1 spot with a 4.684 and Connie Kalitta on the bump at 10.002.




NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Oct 16- DALLAS - Top Alcohol Dragster Qualifying Notes, Final Session
Oct 16- DALLAS - Top Alcohol Funny Car Eliminations Ladder
Oct 16- DALLAS - Top Alcohol Funny Car Final Qualifying, Session #3 Order
Oct 16- DALLAS - Top Alcohol Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Final Session
Oct 16- DALLAS - JEGS Allstars Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations
Oct 16- DALLAS - JEGS Allstars Top Alcohol Dragster Round 1 Eliminations
Oct 16- DALLAS - Factory Stock Showdown Qualifying, Session #1 Order
Oct 16- DALLAS - JEGS Allstars Super Stock Round 1 Eliminations
Oct 16- DALLAS - JEGS Allstars Super Gas Round 1 Eliminations
Oct 16- DALLAS - JEGS Allstars Super Street Round 1 Eliminations