Fri, 3 Nov 2006, 10:59 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Larry Sullivan

LAS VEGAS - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Pacific Division, Shortline Express Markets Gambler Shootout at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Left Lane: Kate Harker Runs 5.612/250.18, Now #1

7:03 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 62 degrees, relative humidity 39 percent, barometer 28.15 inches, adjusted altitude 2,503 feet, track temperature 76 degrees.

Harker is getting seat time in the Tom Conway dragster normally piloted by Lee Callaway. Callaway can't earn any more divisional points, so the car was free this weekend - Callaway will be back in the seat next weekend, in Pomona.

Nice run, the header flames clear and steady all the way down the track. That time probably won't be good enough to stay in the field, but the object is to get some experience in a competitive car and she did just that on this pass.

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Right Lane: Mark Foster Runs 7.338/139.66, Now #2

Foster's is one of the most unusual cars in competition, the driver sitting way up by the front wheels, the engine and rear wing several feet behind him and just open trusswork between the two.

The car struggled past half track, then the engine went silent.

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Left Lane: Darryl Hitchman Runs 5.845/251.95, Now #2
Right Lane: Frank Dischbein Runs 11.248/65.57, Now #4

Neither driver will be happy with their run, Dischbein with a strong launch, 0.949 60-foot time, then early tire shake and shutoff, Hitchman with weak header flames and a leisurely 1.051 60-foot time.

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Left Lane: Dick Garlets Runs 5.915/238.89, Now #4
Right Lane: Brian Smith Runs 5.865/247.97, Now #3

The track temperature is falling slowly, now down to 68 in the groove, 64 out of the groove. There's no wind at all, the tire smoke from burnouts hanging around long afterward.

Both srivers made full passes, both had soft 60-foot times.

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Left Lane: Johnny Ahten Runs 5.902/218.83, Now #5
Right Lane: Larry Miersch Runs 5.461/253.04, Now #1

There was a steady stream of sparks from under the bell housing on Ahten's car. Miersch made a nice run, best of the session so far. Larry Miersch's incremental times: 60ft-0.954 sec., 330ft-2.446, 660ft-3.604/215.93mph, 1,000ft-4.590. AShten matched Miersch for the first 60 feet, then started losing ground.

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Left Lane: Cody Perkins Runs 5.507/259.11, Now #2
Right Lane: Jeff Isbell Runs 6.665/145.06, Now #8

Our first blown cars, a pair. There was a POP and a trail of flame from Isbell's car about 300 feet out, the burst panel letting go. Perkins made a nice pass with the best short time so far. Cody Perkins' incremental times: 60ft-0.936 sec., 330ft-2.432, 660ft-3.620/207.91mph, 1,000ft-4.641

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Left Lane: Mark Niver Runs 5.494/240.98, Now #2
Right Lane: Joey Severance Runs 5.585/260.51, Now #4

Nice pass by Niver, but not much speed, the car falling off the pace on the top end. Severance trailed in elapsed time, but made a strong charge on the top end.

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Left Lane: Garrett Bateman Runs 5.381/262.08, Now #1
Right Lane: Jim Whiteley Runs 6.738/137.37, Now #12

Whitely popped the burst panel about 400 feet out. Bateman made a very nice run to take over the provisional #1 spot. Garrett Bateman's incremental times: 60ft-0.919 sec., 330ft-2.420, 660ft-3.565/218.09mph, 1,000ft-4.537.

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Left Lane: Chris Demke Runs 5.510/232.47, Now #5
Right Lane: Dave Heitzman Runs 15.663/73.36, Now #16

Demke made a good run for about 1,100 feet, then there was a flash of flame under the engine and he slowed. heitzman spun the tires on the launch and coasted through.

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Left Lane: John Finke Runs 5.371/263.67, Now #1
Right Lane: Aaron Olivarez Runs 7.318/126.68, Now #15

These are the 17th and 18th cars of the round, Darryl Hitchman is on the eight-car bump at 5.845.

Finke skirted the centerline all the way down, never lifted. Olivarez shook and danced early, then lifted. John Finke's incremental times: 60ft-0.957 sec., 330ft-2.446, 660ft-3.578/221.27mph, 1,000ft-4.534. Now Kate Harker is on the bump spot at 5.612.

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Left Lane: Ashley Force Runs 5.615/262.90, Now #9
Right Lane: Steve Federlin No Time, Now #21

Federlin didn't make a burnout and was pushed back to the pits. Force's car shook early and she pedaled it once, hurting her elapsed time.

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Left Lane: Sean O'Bannon Runs 13.312/77.80, Now #19
Right Lane: Duane Shields Runs 15.521/77.39, Now #20

Both cars were up in smoke almost instantly, Shields first, then O'Bannon.

22 cars made attempts in this session. John Finke is #1 at 5.371 and Kate Harker is on the bump spot at 5.612.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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