Sat, 4 Nov 2006, 07:39 PM Nostalgia Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations

By Darryl Jackman

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Nostalgia Top Fuel at the Goodguys, 8th Annual Fuel and Gas Finals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  701 Rick McGee                            799 Sean Bellemeur               
E1                   0.106  5.980 251.95     ****WINNER****  0.077  5.944 243.96
 Qualified:            #13  6.035 244.03                        #4  5.827 251.67

3:52 p.m. Top Fuel gets to run their first round this afternoon as the Goodguys try to go into Sunday with fewer cars. Bellemeur was out on McGee and wasn't to be headed. He takes the first round win and puts the 'Overtime Special' on the trailer.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 7409 Dan Rusk                              705 Brett Harris                 
E1                   0.085  6.522 184.19     ****WINNER****  0.089  6.350 165.80
 Qualified:            #15  6.204 209.39                        #2  5.789 261.24

Harris was there for the taking but Rusk had problems of his own and couldn't take advantage. Harris was costing at the stripe and Rusk was closing. Guess you could say he just ran out of race track.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  766 Adam Sorokin                          716 Bill Dunlap                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.078  5.703 250.27                     0.127  6.124 213.37
 Qualified:             #1  5.762 247.04                       #16  6.213 223.54

Sorokin comes to the line as the #1 qualifier in Top Fuel. Dunlap might have to take a shot at the tree. Ok folks. THAT was a run for Sorokin, the second generation driver. He get's a new leg up on the national ET record currently owned by Jim Murphy at 5.719 set here in November of 2003.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  781 Mendy Fry                             722 Jack Harris                  
E1                   0.111  7.992 136.90     ****WINNER****  0.154  6.190 193.34
 Qualified:             #3  5.807 251.46                       #17  6.240 183.18

Harris is in as an alternate but Mendy is tough. Uh oh. Mendy shook the tires and then spun them. Harris took advantage and streaked away for the easy win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  708 Howard Haight                         724 Denver Schutz                
E1                   0.066  6.058 238.28     ****WINNER****  0.099  5.902 250.34
 Qualified:            #11  6.001 236.28                        #6  5.835 252.10

Haight moved first but Schutz has the performance this time and pulls away for the win. Sounds like the track staff might have found some slippery stuff on the racing surface. I'll just chill here for a few minutes.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Rick White                            774 Jim Murphy                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.137  5.864 243.50                     0.108  5.986 250.00
 Qualified:             #7  5.843 243.50                       #10  5.990 228.25

My chill period is over as I hear two god awful Top Fuel burnouts. Do these guys use throttle stops. I don't think so! Murphy took a better light but that's just about where his day ended. White passed him before 60 feet and pulled away for a 34 foot win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  532 Scott Mason                           787 Shannon Stuart               
E1                         No Time           ****WINNER**** -0.017  9.069  89.73
 Qualified:             #8  5.879 244.29                        #9  5.941 242.32

This is the closest match up of the first round as #8 Mason meets #9 Stuart. Just based on qualifying this has been the race of both of these drivers careers. Bad luck for Mason as the starting crew found something amiss on the car and called for him to shut it off. Stuart singles for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 7917 Brad Thompson                        7188 Brendan Murry                
E1                         No Time           ****WINNER****  0.082 13.897  69.39
 Qualified:             #5  5.832 243.20                       #12  6.034 210.23

Thompson had the rpms creeping up as he returned to the line from his burnout. Just as he reached the starting line there was a loud boom and a flash of flame as it appeared the blower panel blew out. Murry did a quick squirt for the win.




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