Sun, 20 Mar 2005, 01:17 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 2 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 36th annual MAC Tools NHRA Gatornationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Randy Meyer                          7000 Darryl Hitchman              
E2   ****WINNER****  0.085  5.448 251.46                     0.042  5.593 247.11
 Prior rounds:
E1    (G Snow      ) 0.062  5.297 261.09      (A Gallant   ) 0.043  5.459 264.16
 Qualified:            #12  5.458 257.06                       #13  5.469 262.31

Weather conditions: air temperature 72 degrees, relative humidity 53 percent, barometer 29.93 inches, adjusted altitude 1,098 feet, track temperature 106 degrees.

Hitchman gave Meyer a good race and when Meyer dropped a cylinder at half track it looked like Hitchman had a chance, but Meyer was able to hang on to his lead for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 2155 Guy Kelly                              22 Michael Gunderson            
E2                   0.075  5.387 262.31     ****WINNER****  0.057  5.295 272.80
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M Albert    ) 0.064  5.396 263.15      (A Allen     ) 0.069  5.283 271.49
 Qualified:             #7  5.370 264.47                        #2  5.208 276.49

Both drivers made nice runs, but Gunderson had Kelly covered at both ends of the track, winning by more than a car length.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   34 Ken Perry                               4 Ashley Force                 
E2                   0.067  5.399 261.32     ****WINNER****  0.067  5.378 258.91
 Prior rounds:
E1    (R McPhillips) 0.060  5.524 258.47      (D Hirata    ) 0.084  5.375 268.17
 Qualified:             #6  5.350 263.85                        #3  5.295 270.67

Identical lights and the two cars were side-by-side all the way down the track despite a dropped cylinder on Force's car from half track on. Ashley Force's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.001), 330 ft(-0.018), 660ft(0.009), 1,000ft(0.021). MOV: 0.0215 seconds (approximately 8 feet). She faces Gunderson next round and he will pick the lanes.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  176 Jeff Veale                           717M Aaron Olivarez               
E2                   0.008 12.960  84.22     ****WINNER****  0.085  5.436 260.41
 Prior rounds:
E1    (B Reichert  ) 0.038  5.528 258.47      (D Mercier   ) 0.039  5.347 262.77
 Qualified:            #16  5.575 232.97                        #8  5.372 262.69

Veale took a shot at the tree and got a psychic light, but lost traction at the hit, his car getting very sideways before he shut it off. Olivarez ignored all the excitement and made a nice pass, earning lane choice against Meyer in the semifinals.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Apr 08- Hood Scoops Set to Return to NHRA Pro Stock Category in 2027
Apr 07- PowerEdge Returns as Presenting Sponsor of DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway
Apr 07- GESi Pro Stock No. 1 Qualifier Award Returns for 2026 Season
Apr 06- POMONA 1 - Funny Car Preview
Apr 02- Revchem Composites Plays Critical Role in Ron Capps Motorsports' Continued Success
Apr 01- Second Wave of NHRA 75th Anniversary Commemorative Tickets Include Wealth of Legends
Mar 30- CHARLOTTE - Event Preview
Mar 30- BELLE ROSE - Super Gas Round 5 Eliminations
Mar 30- BELLE ROSE - HEMI Chootout Round 3 Eliminations
Mar 30- BELLE ROSE - Competition Eliminator Final, Round 5 Eliminations