Sun, 10 Oct 1999, 07:15 PM MEMPHIS - Pro Stock Round 1 Eliminations

By Ed Dykes

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock at the 12th annual AutoZone Nationals presented by Pennzoil:

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   8 Kurt Johnson        6.946 198.38  Q    9 Bruce Allen         6.951 198.06
 *****WINNER***** 0.474  7.013 197.31  E1                  0.496  6.993 196.44

And we start with a close one, Kurt quick enough at the start that he manages to hold off the Reher & Morrison Pontiac by only 0.002 seconds, about 7 inches at the end.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Mike Thomas         6.944 197.16  Q   10 Tony Gillig         6.960 197.71
                  0.535  8.832 108.34  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.457  6.968 197.48

Gillig gets a big holeshot and then Thomas gets sideways trying to catch him, the yellow car finally throwing in the towel as Gillig streaks to the finish.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Allen Johnson       6.939 198.23  Q   11 George Marnell      6.963 196.82
                  0.435  8.580 109.57  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.485  6.956 198.03

Allen Johnson's Dodge was away first and off to a big lead when the car got loose at half track and Allen was forced to step off the throttle.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 Richie Stevens      6.937 196.76  Q   12 John Nobile         6.967 197.74
 *****WINNER***** 0.501  6.951 197.05  E1                  0.465  7.008 196.96

Stevens gave Nobile the headstart then used about 1000' of the track to run him down. The margin at the end was only 0.021 seconds, about 6 feet.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  13 Tom Martino         6.975 198.09  Q    4 Steve Schmidt       6.936 198.23
                  0.456 12.428  69.75  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.479  6.988 196.56

Yet another car gets loose in the left lane and gives up a holeshot when he's forced to abort the pass to keep all four wheels on the asphalt. Stevens earns lane choice over Schmidt in the next round.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  16 Larry Nance         6.980 196.99  Q    1 Warren Johnson      6.917 199.70
 *****WINNER***** 0.445  7.006 196.50  E1                  0.476  7.042 198.64

Nance gets the holeshot then wins the race to 60' by 0.004, and then stretched the lead at every interval, taking the Mopar across the finishline in front of WJ by 0.067 seconds, a full car-length. And making matters worse for the Johnson camp, Nance earns lane choice over Kurt in round 2.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  15 Jim Yates           6.978 197.22  Q    2 Mike Edwards        6.931 198.03
                  0.483  7.003 196.85  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.443  6.962 197.91

The bottom line here is that Edwards led Yates from start to finish, crossing the stripe 0.081 secs. ahead of Yates.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Troy Coughlin       6.935 198.44  Q   14 Jeg Coughlin        6.978 198.64
                  0.467  6.992 196.87  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.439  7.011 198.58

A battle of the Coughlin brothers, here, with Troy having lane choice and taking the left side. And his younger sibling gets the holeshot, enough to get him there 0.009 seconds ahead of Troy in spite of his slower e.t. That'll give lane choice to Marnell when he meets the Jeg's Mail Order Firebird next time.




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