Sun, Oct 18, 12:10 AM TOPEKA - Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green Smoke, Smoke , and More Smoke

TOPEKA, Kan. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the 10th annual Parts America Nationals:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   8 Cory McClenathan    4.672 317.68  Q   9 Tony Schumacher     4.783 312.06
 *****WINNER***** 0.467  4.759 313.91 E1                  0.460  4.926 309.70

6:12 PM Here we go, the first pair of cars fire up for the rain delayed Parts America Nationals.

Schumacher is out of the gate first, and is off and on the throttle two times before he is off the concrete launch pad. That was all McClenathan needed as he lays down great pass to take the win.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Mike Dunn           4.671 314.13  Q  10 Bruce Sarver        4.789 305.81
 *****WINNER***** 0.473  4.673 313.69 E1                  0.464 10.350  79.86

Sarver is up in smoke before he is 150 feet off the starting line, while Dunn almost repeats his qualifying time from two weeks ago.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Kenny Bernstein     4.655 321.08  Q  11 Joe Amato           4.800 317.90
 *****WINNER***** 0.463  5.458 306.01 E1                  0.456 10.846  97.16

The rematch of last week's Memphis final, can Bernstein revenge his lost? Amato loses traction before he moves off the starting line and is watching Bernstein. Bernstein then loses traction around the 330-foot mark, at that time Amato gets back on the throttle. But it is too late as Bernstein pedals it and moves on.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 Bob Vandergriff     4.648 318.92  Q  12 Jim Head            4.800 292.58
                  0.528  9.246  93.94 E1 *****WINNER***** 0.471  5.602 298.50

Head leaves first and is up in smoke instantly, but then Vandergiff is up in smoke. Head is completely off and then back on the throttle, losing traction and pedaling it again. Meanwhile Vandergriff pedals it and when he stomps on the throttle again, he smokes the Goodyears all the way through the quarter-mile.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Gary Scelzi         4.561 321.77  Q  16 Eddie Hill          5.013 307.58
 *****WINNER***** 0.520  4.649 322.69 E1                  0.497  8.839  97.40

Hill loses traction, and pedals it. Scelzi rattles the tires a little and then just marches on through the quarter-mile for the fastest pass of his career.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Doug Kalitta        4.561 315.78  Q  15 Pat Dakin           5.003 307.90
 *****WINNER***** 0.458  4.712 319.14 E1                  0.421  (Broke)      

Dakin starts to lose traction and when he pedals it the front end starts climbing skyward. The front end just keeps climbing and then goes over and is completely airborne. Dakin does one of the Top Fuel blow overs. When the car came down to earth it grazed the opposite retaining wall. At impact the car came apart with the rear slicks bouncing wildly. The car then slid across the track coming to rest against the right side wall. Dakin has been removed from the car and is conscious and responding to commands. He has been transported to the hospital via helicopter. We will update his condition as soon as we have any information.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Larry Dixon         4.620 318.92  Q  14 Shelly Anderson     4.913 237.71
 *****WINNER***** 0.476  5.635 237.02 E1                  0.519 15.123  70.05

Anderson is up in smoke immediately and then Dixon loses traction. He can not see her, so he is off and on the throttle at least six times, but takes the win light.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Connie Kalitta      4.631 308.85  Q  13 David Grubnic       4.819 296.44
 *****WINNER***** 0.522  5.000 308.21 E1                  0.487  8.680  94.78

Grubnic similar to the previous runs is up in smoke right off the starting line, then Kalitta begins to lose traction. When Grubnic sees Kalitta lose traction he pedals it, but Kalitta was already off and on the throttle. Kalitta pedals it at least two more time for a very impressive 5-flat pass. Grubnic did not give up easily.

In round two Scelzi with lane choice over McClenathan, C. Kalitta over Head, Dunn over D. Kalitta, and Bernstein over Dixon.

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