Sat, Nov 14, 03:38 PM POMONA - Big Bud Shootout Round 1 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan And Then There Were Four

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the 14th annual Big Bud Shootout at Pomona:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 Eddie Hill          5.000  27.60  Q   4 Mike Dunn           4.000  28.85
 *****WINNER***** 0.541  4.600 315.12 E1                  0.493  9.710  92.59

12:03 PM These runs also count as qualifying for the 34th annual NHRA Winston Finals.

At the pre-race press conference, Dunn called himself "The quickest loser in NHRA history," coming out on the short end against Kenny Bernstein at Houston despite running a 4.58. Hill said, "I'd have done better this year if the eliminations were held on Saturday." Well, it's Saturday, and Hill might have something with that Saturday theory, Dunn up in smoke immediately and Hill streaking to the finish line uncontested.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Kenny Bernstein     6.000  27.10  Q   3 Cory McClenathan    3.000  29.90
                  0.451  7.306 105.75 E1 *****WINNER***** 0.501  4.714 303.03

Bernstein got a big holeshot, but lost traction after 100 feet. Cory Mac streaked away to an easy win - easy until his engine started slipping the tires and mixing the cylinders up at half track and then let go in a huge fireball at the finish line. The fire persisted until the Safety Safari pulled alongside and doused the flames.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Doug Kalitta        7.000  26.25  Q   2 Joe Amato           2.000  31.20
 *****WINNER***** 0.522  4.615 315.78 E1                  0.475  4.734 296.24

Amato got a huge holeshot, but Kalitta was on a screaming pass, a 0.851 60-foot time, and he reeled him in by 1,000 feet and then went on to win by a car length, about 30 feet. Amato's engine started hurting itself at about 1,000 feet, sealing his fate. Kalitta will have lane choice against Cory Mac in round two.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Gary Scelzi         1.000  31.40  Q   8 Larry Dixon         8.000  25.70
 *****WINNER***** 0.486  4.682 295.85 E1                  0.467  4.725 305.49

Dixon almost beat the favorite here but dropped a cylinder early in the run after putting a holeshot on him. Scelzi pulled way ahead, but then Dixon started reeling him in when the Winston dragster started eating internal parts at 1,000 feet, the fire going out well before the finish line. Dixon streaked by just past the finish line, but lost by about 10 feet. Scelzi loses lane choice to Hill in round two.

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