Sat, Feb 27, 05:46 PM CHANDLER - Federal-Mogul Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations

By Michael L. Jex Awesome Swayne - Goodwin Performance Continues

CHANDLER, Ariz. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Federal-Mogul Funny Car at the 15th annual NHRA Checker Shuck's Kragen Nationals:

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   9 Bret Williamson     5.847 243.19  Q    8 Lyle Greenberg      5.846 242.67
 *****WINNER***** 0.627  6.340 167.07  E1                  0.524  7.668 120.95

02:02 PM We start eliminations with Sunny Skies, and the warmest temps we've seen this weekend. Greenberg had a full tenth of a second in the bank at the start but went into severe tire shake then broke something in the driveline. The motor hit the rev limiter at least once, and Lyle could only watch Bret Williamson drive by. Bret will face either Frank Manzo or Jett Field in round two tomorrow.

We've got "fluids" in the right lane, down for a cleanup.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Russ Parker         5.829 243.15  Q   10 Tate Branch         5.858 244.74
                  0.470 10.619  89.32  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.514  5.882 246.12

Tate Branch has had an interesting weekend, he ran a nice 5.858 in the first round of qualifying, but hasn't been able to repeat or better it since. But the car has been consistently in the high 5.80's, so anything can happen. Russ Parker in the Dairy Farmers of Oregon "Got Milk" and new for 1999 "Say Cheese" machine is off to a great start this year. Legendary crew chief Ora Vasquez has been hired by the team this year, this is a team to watch in 1999.

Well, Russ is saying "Got Tire Smoke." Lots and lots of it, and Tate will move to Round two.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  13 Rod Alexander       5.957 244.43  Q    4 Pat Austin          5.762 249.30
                  0.462  5.914 244.87  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.474  5.802 248.20

Alexander gives the many time champ a scare, but Austin had the power to win by a car length. This was a great side-by-side drag race.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  12 Mert Littlefield    5.929 239.40  Q    5 Larry Miner         5.778 241.45
 *****WINNER***** 0.515  5.849 241.50  E1                  0.457  7.301 119.24

Miner was ahead till just past half track, but he got out of the groove and had to lift to avoid the right side wall. Mert will face Pat Austin in round two tomorrow, and Pat will have lane choice.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  16 Jett Field          6.056 237.13  Q    1 Frank Manzo         5.669 254.52
                  0.419  5.976 240.64  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.480  5.795 248.66

Manzo has run quicker and faster each time he's come to the startling line this weekend, no wonder he's got the number "1" on the side of his racecar.

Jett Field took a shot at the tree, and almost got away with a big holeshot victory. Manzo had the horsepower to drive around him and win by a car length. Manzo will race Brett Williamson tomorrow.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  15 Bob Gallio          5.981 237.63  Q    2 Bucky Austin        5.670 250.88
 *****WINNER***** 0.478  5.903 243.06  E1                  0.484  9.828  88.28

The streak of five straight national event wins ends in a cloud of Goodyear tire smoke for Bucky "Butterbean" Austin. He tried several times to pedal his way down track, but Gallio had already slammed the door closed by runnin g his best pass of the weekend.

Gallio will race Tate Branch tomorrow in round two, and Branch will have lane choice.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Steve Gasparrelli   5.786 245.67  Q   11 John Weaver         5.880 240.98
 *****WINNER***** 0.549  5.831 244.60  E1                  0.523  6.011 227.42

Gasparrelli's consistency continues, another great pass down the middle of the left lane. Weaver started moving around at the top end of the racetrack, and that proved to be the difference.

There is more oil and stuff on the race track, time for another cleanup.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  14 Dennis Taylor       5.973 233.08  Q    3 Pete Swayne         5.738 249.76
                  0.490  6.820 143.87  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.490  5.693 252.66

This pair is being run after the Federal-Mogul Dragsters, they had already started their motors when oil was found on the track earlier. Pete Swayne marched straight as a string down the right lane, that is his first 5.60's p ass of his career. The run is also low ET of round one. Taylor was even at the start, but that was it, Swayne pulled ahead at every interval.

Pete will race Steve Gasparrelli in round two, a rematch from the Winternationals. Swayne will have lane choice.




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