Sat, 17 May 2008, 01:38 PM Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Session #3

By Rick Green

BRISTOL, Tenn. - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Eighth annual O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Q 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:

---

Left Lane: Todd Paton Runs 5.758/157.15, Now #13; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Troy Buff Runs 10.735/95.99, Now #14; No Prior Run

Paton making his first pass of the weekend...he makes it to about 700 feet when the engine lets go with a quick flash of flame. There is oil but he has freebie. Buff is up in smoke right off the starting line.

---

Left Lane: Alan Bradshaw Runs 11.380/85.45, Now #16; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 4.770/267.11, Now #13; No Prior Run

Bradshaw lost traction right off the starting line and he clicked it off. Lucas was on good pass until around 1000 feet, when something went away.

---

Left Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 4.598/313.00, Now #11; Best prior run: 4.636/319.37, Was #11
Right Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 4.586/321.19, Now #10; Best prior run: 4.648/313.73, Was #12

This was a great looking side by side drag race...Bob Vandergriff's incremental times: 60ft-0.888 sec., 330ft-2.206, 660ft-3.119/277.49mph, 1,000ft-3.896
Larry Dixon's incremental times: 60ft-0.860 sec., 330ft-2.195, 660ft-3.114/274.66mph, 1,000ft-3.897

---

Left Lane: Rod Fuller Runs 5.749/157.67, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.584/316.23, Was #9
Right Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.605/317.72, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.619/312.50, Was #12

Fuller had cylinders out as soon as he hit the throttle and clicked it off early. McClenathan with his best pass this weekend, but but will stay 12th. Cory McClenathan's incremental times: 60ft-0.873 sec., 330ft-2.183, 660ft-3.118/269.62mph, 1,000ft-3.908

---

Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.968/208.78, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.578/316.97, Was #6
Right Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 4.605/323.12, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.584/327.90, Was #8

Herbert was on a pretty good pass until it pitched the blower belt. Todd with another good looking pass...J.R. Todd's incremental times: 60ft-0.877 sec., 330ft-2.203, 660ft-3.133/272.12mph, 1,000ft-3.918

---

Left Lane: Hillary Will Runs 4.696/291.89, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.570/323.50, Was #5
Right Lane: Brandon Bernstein Runs 4.571/328.86, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.581/323.50, Was #7

It appeared like Will's engine started eating itself up on the top end. Hillary Will's incremental times: 60ft-0.867 sec., 330ft-2.216, 660ft-3.153/267.27mph, 1,000ft-3.961 Bernstein with his best pass of the weekend to move up the ladder one spot. Brandon Bernstein's incremental times: 60ft-0.876 sec., 330ft-2.191, 660ft-3.119/273.44mph, 1,000ft-3.898

---

Left Lane: Antron Brown Runs 4.639/309.20, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.542/330.15, Was #4
Right Lane: David Grubnic Runs 7.322/102.08, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.526/311.85, Was #2

Grubnic smoked the tires around 250 feet. Brown with a good clean pass...Antron Brown's incremental times: 60ft-0.865 sec., 330ft-2.177, 660ft-3.113/267.22mph, 1,000ft-3.922

---

Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 4.710/306.95, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.536/320.66, Was #3
Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 7.722/93.62, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.502/327.43, Was #1

Schumacher strikes the tires right off the starting line and clicks it off. Kalitta with another nice clean pass...Doug Kalitta's incremental times: 60ft-0.905 sec., 330ft-2.246, 660ft-3.183/266.79mph, 1,000ft-3.992

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Feb 17- Oh, Brother!
Feb 13- NHRA and FOX Sports Announce TV Schedule for NHRA's 75th Anniversary Season
Feb 12- 75th Anniversary Celebration Kickoff at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Feb 10- Wally Parks 75th Anniversary Appreciation Fund Part of $27 Million Overall Purse
Feb 08- NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Releases 2026 Schedule
Feb 07- Huge List of Legends Set to Appear at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Feb 05- NHRA and Legends Global Extend Merchandise Partnership Ahead of 75th Anniversary Season
Feb 04- Doug Foley Announces Addition of Ron Douglas as Consultant to Foley Lewis Racing Top Fuel Team
Feb 04- Tickets Now on Sale for NHRA's Debut at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park and Rockingham Dragway
Feb 04- Reed, Zetterström to Share Driving Duties of Reed Trucking & Excavating Top Fuel Dragster