ENGLISHTOWN - Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Session #3

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Sat, 21 Jun 2008, 01:32 PM

Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Session #3

By Jim Samuel

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 39th annual Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals 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: Steve Torrence Runs 8.276/97.50, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.579/315.42, Was #8
Right Lane: Todd Paton No Time, Now #17; No Prior Run

1:03 p.m. - Weather conditions: air temperature 83 degrees, relative humidity 41 percent, barometer 29.95 inches, adjusted altitude 2,202 feet, track temperature 119 degrees.

Paton did not make a qualifying run yesterday. Torrence was in the staging lanes for the second session but elected not to make a pass when the lights on the left side of the track went out. Paton did his burnout and was about to stage when he had to shut the car down. He did not take the green light so he'll have to come back for the fourth session. Even though there are only 16 Top Fuel cars here, Paton won't show up in the qualifying order until he takes the green. Torrence shook he tires hard as soon launched. The car started to go sideways so he shut it down.

Left Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 5.412/203.71, Now #14; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 5.382/252.47, Now #13; No Prior Run

A lot of cylinders were sacrificed by Todd and Herbert. Both drivers launched and both started to shake the tires at about 330 feet. Both drivers pedaled and both started to shake the tires again. As they did that, both drivers started losing cylinders. With only 16 cars here, Herbert and Todd just needed to get down the track to guarantee spots in the field and they both accomplished that goal.

Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 4.857/245.99, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.609/319.14, Was #12
Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 5.198/189.34, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.582/320.36, Was #9

Schumacher's car appeared as if the engine just stopped at about 800 feet. Kalitta's run looked good to about 1,000 feet when his car started trailing smoke and he clicked it off early.

Left Lane: Hillary Will Runs 7.169/107.42, Now #10; Best prior run: 4.584/323.12, Was #10
Right Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 4.684/310.05, Now #13; No Prior Run

Will's car started smoking the rear tires at about 330 feet. Dixon put himself in the number 13 spot for now.

Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 9.570/79.17, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.542/325.92, Was #5
Right Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 6.594/122.76, Now #11; Best prior run: 4.601/320.74, Was #11

McClenathan shook the tires and clicked it off at 100 feet. Lucas did the same about 100 feet later.

Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 4.778/307.30, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.539/318.84, Was #4
Right Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 11.077/84.62, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.565/315.19, Was #7

Vandergriff's rear tires went up in smoke as soon as he came out of the gate. Grubnic had some tire shake but drove through it.

Left Lane: Doug Foley Runs 5.593/165.92, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.532/327.43, Was #3
Right Lane: Rod Fuller Runs 4.659/316.67, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.551/328.46, Was #6

Foley took his car into the sand trap and net last night. His car shook the tires to 330 feet, then he shut it down. Fuller took his car down the groove but did not move up in the order.

Left Lane: Antron Brown Runs 4.639/320.66, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.502/326.24, Was #1
Right Lane: Brandon Bernstein Runs 5.729/155.40, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.525/323.27, Was #2

Brown took his dragster all the way down the track under power but was not as quick as last night. Bernstein shook the tires and shut it down.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink