Sat, 22 Sep 2001, 08:31 PM MEMPHIS - Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Final Session

By Rick Green

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Notes from final, round 4 qualifying in Top Fuel at the 14th annual AutoZone NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:

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Left Lane: Jim Cavalieri Runs 5.102/269.83, Now #14; No Prior Run

Cavalieri making his first pass of the weekend in the Bauder Racing Top Fueler. They set it up soft and he goes straight down the groove and into the show for now.

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Left Lane: Jerry Freeman Runs 8.803/88.10, Now #18; Best prior run: 6.146/149.10, Was #18

Freeman launched into a lot of tire shake and he pedaled it around 200 feet, but could not get it to hook up and clicked it off.

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Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 8.731/82.87, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.793/291.63, Was #12
Right Lane: Brady Kalivoda Runs 10.529/85.02, Now #19; Best prior run: 7.901/98.04, Was #19

Kalivoda pulled the front wheels in the air and instantly smoke the Goodyears on the launch to end his weekend. Grubnic made it to 200 feet before he blistered the tires, he pedaled it one time, but then clicked it off.

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Left Lane: Andrew Cowin Runs 4.814/291.63, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.722/303.98, Was #9
Right Lane: Rob Passey Runs 5.886/214.59, Now #17; Best prior run: 5.770/192.96, Was #17

Passey dropped cylinders right off the starting line and never picked them up, so he will be going home. Cowin started to haze the tires just past half track and then had a quick flash of fire out of the engine. Looked like he pushed out a head gasket.

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Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 8.293/101.59, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.681/303.43, Was #7
Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.802/298.07, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.707/307.37, Was #8

Kalitta overpowered the track by 200 feet smoking the Goodyears. Schumacher with a safe set up to get him down the track, working on a race day set up.

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Left Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.741/299.93, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.606/313.44, Was #4
Right Lane: Darrell Russell Runs 9.841/79.86, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.678/306.81, Was #6

Russell was up in smoke by 60 feet. Scelzi with a nice, safe set up getting ready for race day.

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Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.907/241.84, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.597/313.51, Was #2
Right Lane: Mike Dunn Runs 4.721/299.26, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.624/306.67, Was #5

Both cars negotiated the first half of the track but then around 1000 feet Herbert started to haze the tires and he lifted. Dunn started to haze the tires around 900 feet, but was able to drive through it for the quickest pass of the session.

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Left Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 4.665/310.34, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.581/309.70, Was #1
Right Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 4.710/283.67, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.600/318.99, Was #3

This was a good side by side drag race to round out qualifying. LaHaie showing everybody else in the Top Fuel field those 4.70's will not hold up. Dixon with just a whisp of tire smoke on the top end. Bernstein was right there with Dixon until 1000 feet and that was when he had a little tire spin.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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