Fri, 21 Sep 2007, 09:56 PM Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Session #2

By Rick Green

ENNIS, Texas - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 22st annual O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec 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: Mike Strasburg Runs 4.934/252.90, Now #12; Best prior run: 15.022/85.03, Was #19
Right Lane: Scott Palmer Runs 4.881/247.79, Now #11; No Prior Run

Strasburg lost traction early and clicked it off. Palmer's engine let go with a huge fireball, and then when he deployed the chutes one came flying off and one blossomed like it should.

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Left Lane: Joe Hartley Runs 4.557/329.58, Now #1; Best prior run: 6.746/126.77, Was #18
Right Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 4.589/328.14, Now #2; Best prior run: 10.815/82.20, Was #20

This was a great side by side drag race with these two going to the number one and two spots...Joe Hartley's incremental times: 60ft-0.850 sec., 330ft-2.171, 660ft-3.106/272.12mph, 1,000ft-3.886
Bob Vandergriff's incremental times: 60ft-0.873 sec., 330ft-2.204, 660ft-3.132/273.27mph, 1,000ft-3.914

These two bumped out Foley and Grubnic.

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Left Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 4.553/323.89, Now #1; Best prior run: 6.503/132.02, Was #19
Right Lane: Alan Bradshaw Runs 4.577/323.81, Now #3; Best prior run: 10.383/71.04, Was #20

Weather conditions: air temperature 76 degrees, relative humidity 56 percent, barometer 29.32 inches, adjusted altitude 2,129 feet, track temperature 102 degrees.

A couple more real nice passes with Dixon going to the number one spot. Dixon had it hitting on all eight all the way down the 1320. Larry Dixon's incremental times: 60ft-0.844 sec., 330ft-2.166, 660ft-3.086/273.83mph, 1,000ft-3.870 Bradshaw with his fastest pass of the season.

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Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.659/293.22, Now #13; Best prior run: 5.055/287.35, Was #18
Right Lane: David Grubnic Runs 4.603/283.01, Now #6; Best prior run: 5.582/171.71, Was #20

Herbert had sparklers trailing him down the 1320 coming from underneath the car. He still gets into the show for now. Grubnic slowed on the top end, not real sure, but he might of lost the blower belt.

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Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 4.546/328.70, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.985/279.50, Was #19
Right Lane: Doug Foley Runs 4.706/263.87, Now #17; Best prior run: 5.564/166.64, Was #20

Kalitta launched hard and keep the header flames shooting high over the rear wing all the way down the quarter mile. Doug Kalitta's incremental times: 60ft-0.851 sec., 330ft-2.184, 660ft-3.100/275.96mph, 1,000ft-3.874 Foley was on a good pass until something went wrong and he slowed on the top end.

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Left Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 4.581/325.06, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.660/325.14, Was #15
Right Lane: Clay Millican Runs 4.648/317.57, Now #15; Best prior run: 4.758/318.02, Was #18

Millican with a clean pass to get into the show and bump out Bazemore. Lucas with another good clean pass to go to the number five spot. Morgan Lucas' incremental times: 60ft-0.856 sec., 330ft-2.186, 660ft-3.115/272.12mph, 1,000ft-3.900

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Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 10.712/78.25, Now #15; Best prior run: 4.645/286.13, Was #14
Right Lane: Whit Bazemore Runs 4.595/300.46, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.662/319.52, Was #17

Bazemore gets back into the show into the top half of the show with a good clean pass. Bazemore will bump out Herbert and put Clay Millican on the bump spot with a 4.648. Cory Mac with problems as soon as he launched and clicked it off.

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Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 9.179/80.49, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.608/322.19, Was #11
Right Lane: Brandon Bernstein Runs 4.585/319.37, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.639/324.05, Was #14

Schumacher lost traction right off the starting line and he coasted on through the 1320. Bernstein with a real nice pass to get into the top half of the field. Brandon Bernstein's incremental times: 60ft-0.849 sec., 330ft-2.165, 660ft-3.099/270.70mph, 1,000ft-3.891

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Left Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 4.541/318.47, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.604/321.96, Was #11
Right Lane: Hillary Will Runs 8.068/87.62, Now #14; Best prior run: 4.630/323.27, Was #14

Will lost traction around 330 feet. Todd launched hard and keep the Goodyears stuck and hitting on all eight to go to the number one spot. J.R. Todd's incremental times: 60ft-0.843 sec., 330ft-2.163, 660ft-3.079/275.34mph, 1,000ft-3.856

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Left Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 4.545/331.94, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.589/326.48, Was #9
Right Lane: Rod Fuller Runs 4.552/324.83, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.622/319.67, Was #13

A great side by side drag race to wrap up day one. Troxel goes to the number two spot and Fuller the number four spot. Melanie Troxel's incremental times: 60ft-0.857 sec., 330ft-2.195, 660ft-3.110/277.15mph, 1,000ft-3.879
Rod Fuller's incremental times: 60ft-0.856 sec., 330ft-2.174, 660ft-3.092/275.22mph, 1,000ft-3.872

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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