Sat, 2 Oct 1999, 05:18 PM TOPEKA - Federal-Mogul Dragster Round 1 Eliminations

By Bob Orme

TOPEKA, Kan. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Federal-Mogul Dragster at the 11th annual Advance Auto Parts Nationals:

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   9 Shelly Howard       5.667 242.28  Q    8 Duane Sheilds       5.641 247.16
                  0.559  5.674 240.68  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.520  5.531 254.71

3:35 PM and we begin first round eliminations in Federal-Mogul Dragster. Howard was having a diffucult time keeping the car in the groove, pressing the centerline during most of the run.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Keith Stark         5.628 253.61  Q   10 Michael Gunderson   5.680 248.80
                  0.541  6.062 203.28  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.520  5.625 252.38

It didn't look like Stark ever got all eight cylinders firing in unison.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 David Wells         5.518 251.16  Q   15 Troy Buff           5.760 238.43
 *****WINNER***** 0.462  5.608 254.28  E1                  0.486  5.674 250.64

Wells hangs on for the win even after almost crossing the centerline just before the half track cones. Gunderson gives him lane choice in the next round.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Shawn Bowen         5.627 249.07  Q   11 Bob McCosh          5.701 242.02
 *****WINNER***** 0.481  5.576 229.31  E1                  0.590  5.755 216.72

McCosh's engine started trailing smoke at 1000' and the engine let go with a boom at the finish.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 Rob Wendland        5.625 248.75  Q   12 Mark Kinser         5.716 245.67
                        No Time        E1 *****WINNER***** 0.580  5.655 233.28

It took about 10 minutes to clean the track after McCosh's engine explosion. Kinser makes a solo pass as Wendland is unable to start the car at the line.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Darren Nicholson    5.616 251.30  Q   13 Bruce Bowler        5.743 237.50
                  0.495 13.792  47.17  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.568  6.008 228.65

Bowler's injected nitro machine was mixing up the cylinders at half track, but he gets a little help as Nicholson shakes the tires early and is off the throttle by the 100' mark.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  14 Calvin Friesen      5.745 226.28  Q    3 Rick Henkelman      5.566 244.83
 *****WINNER***** 0.501  5.863 236.17  E1                  0.607 19.239  37.35

Henkelman leaves in a cloud of tire smoke, no traction here at all. Friesen will give up lane choice to Bowen in round two.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Melanie Troxel      5.443 255.87  Q   16 Gerald Gossman      5.794 238.22
 *****WINNER***** 0.548  5.624 260.11  E1                  0.522  6.220 188.99

Troxel's car was laboring a bit on this pass, and it will cost her lane choice in the next round.




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