Sun, Feb 28, 03:48 PM CHANDLER - Top Fuel Round 2 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

CHANDLER, Ariz. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Fuel at the 15th annual NHRA Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals:

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  14 Andrew Cowin        4.717 303.64  Q   11 Doug Herbert        4.656 301.87
   (L Dixon     ) 0.532  4.715 292.08  E1   (G Scelzi    ) 0.519  4.600 318.39
                  0.491  4.711 300.73  E2 *****WINNER***** 0.527  4.624 306.40

1:19 PM The two biggest upsets from round one meet here, Cowin with the holeshot, but the engine started eating itself and Herbert reeled him in around half-track. Margin of victory = 0.051 seconds, approximately 22 feet. Since the first round of qualifying Herbert has run 4.709, 4.656, 4.695, 4.656, 4.600, and 4.624 - amazing consistency on a track where almost nobody else has been able to string two good runs together, a tribute to Dick LaHaie's tuning ability.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  12 Jim Head            4.660 296.63  Q    4 Tony Schumacher     4.580 323.74
   (D Kalitta   ) 0.492  4.771 292.01  E1   (D Grubnic   ) 0.474  4.540 330.23
                  0.473  4.811 251.63  E2 *****WINNER***** 0.490  4.594 325.06

After his 330-mph run, Schumacher said, "I was stuck back in the seat so hard it felt like Velcro." Here he only runs the fourth-fastest speed in history, too slow to back up the 330 mph speed as a national record. Head gave it a shot and was within a few feet at half-track, but then the engine started going away, a big fireball as he neared the finish line. Two pairs, two oildowns - the Safety Safari is earning their keep today.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Kenny Bernstein     4.619 317.42  Q    2 Mike Dunn           4.547 316.38
   (B Sarver    ) 0.431  6.062 147.39  E1   (C Kalitta   ) 0.533  4.597 297.48
 *****WINNER***** 0.494  4.739 300.86  E2                  0.508  5.020 202.97

Dunn only made one good pass in qualifying, Bernstein three - but Dunn ran well in round one, Bernstein losing traction in the middle of the run. Here Bernstein makes another withdrawal from the "luck bank," Dunn well ahead at half-track, but then something broke with a loud BANG and they were side-by-side at 1,000 feet, Dunn coasting and Bernstein still under power. Bernstein loses lane choice to Herbert in the semifinals.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   8 Cory McClenathan    4.635 313.15  Q    1 Joe Amato           4.545 325.30
   (E Hill      ) 0.477  4.583 318.92  E1   (P Romine    ) 0.510  4.558 321.04
                  0.505  5.132 198.47  E2 *****WINNER***** 0.431  4.564 323.35

Amato slapped a huge holeshot on Cory Mac and then the MBNA dragster fell off the pace at half-track, slowing while the Tenneco dragster stormed through the second half of the run, earning lane choice against Schumacher in the semifinals - now that should be a race!!




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