Sat, 10 Nov 2001, 02:16 PM POMONA 3 - Federal-Mogul Dragster Round 1 Eliminations

By Dave Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Federal-Mogul Dragster at the 37th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   8 David Wells         5.456 258.47  Q    9 Brian Hough         5.458 259.91
 *****WINNER***** 0.454  5.525 256.80  E1                  0.472  5.654 243.02

10:11 AM It's much cooler today and we still have a lot of overcast. A great race to start the round. Wells is never headed with all of his incremental numbers better right down the track. He has a little smoke from the engine off the line, but it doesn't seem to impact his performance.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Duane Shields       5.413 261.88  Q   13 Brandon Bernstein   5.503 251.58
 *****WINNER***** 0.531  5.397 264.65  E1                  0.477  5.586 257.53

Shields is a little behind at the start, but crushes Bernstein with his blown dragster. Bernstein has the wheels up at the start and runs well. However, he is no match for Shields when he starts dropping cylinders down track.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Mark Niver          5.409 258.17  Q   14 Don Hudson          5.512 258.71
 *****WINNER***** 0.579  5.766 242.58  E1                  0.514  7.831 106.67

I'm not sure what happening with Niver. He started and then shutoff the motor. He is being given time to pull the plugs and spin the motor over. A real good idea with a fuel motor! Hudson waits patiently for the "pit stop" in the other lane. Both cars now fire and do their burnouts. Hudson looked like he was on his way to an upset. Unfortunately, he has a big bang before mid-track. Niver leaves with the wheels up, shakes the tires, and runs on down to take the win. We are down for a little clean up.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Rick Santos         5.352 262.08  Q   15 Darren Nicholson    5.524 255.77
 *****WINNER***** 0.466  5.369 263.20  E1                  0.436  5.500 260.61

Santos makes up the starting line difference by the 60 foot mark and shows why he keeps the number one for next year. Nicholson makes a great effort off the line for the loss.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Brandon Henkelman   5.349 260.97  Q   16 Dave Hirata         5.546 260.51
 *****WINNER***** 0.458  5.674 263.36  E1                  0.517  5.710 249.07

Henkelman has the power to lift at mid-track and still win. Hirata is dropping cylinders and can't keep up.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 Tony Meredyk        5.446 236.05  Q   12 Paul Jones          5.501 256.70
                  0.552  5.670 209.14  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.422  5.635 256.89

Jones is away first but Meredyk catches up and is ahead by a tenth at mid track. He starts to drop cylinders and the car make a big move. He has to lift and Jones sneaks by for the win.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Steve Federlin      5.447 259.01  Q   11 Mike Strasburg      5.489 259.61
 *****WINNER***** 0.424  5.466 259.31  E1                  0.448  5.459 258.67

Margin of victory = 0.017 seconds (approximately 6 feet). A great race. Two great lights and side by side racing to the finish line. Federlin nips Strasburg right in the lights.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Mark Hentges        5.455 256.45  Q   10 Bruce Bowler        5.488 257.68
 *****WINNER***** 0.498  5.404 261.93  E1                  0.505  5.486 259.21

Hentges is away first and never headed. Bowler is right behind and a close second. Santos will have lane choice over Hentges in the next round; Henkelman over Wells; Shields over Meredyk; and Niver over Federlin.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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