Sat, 10 Jul 2010, 05:48 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Final Session

By David Gerard

KENT, Wash. - Notes from final, round 3 qualifying in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 23rd annual NHRA Northwest Nationals 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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Right Lane: Doug Gordon Runs 5.624/259.26, Now #1; Best prior run: 8.937/99.62, Was #13

2:15 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 47 percent, barometer 29.67 inches, adjusted altitude 2,318 feet, track temperature 114 degrees.

From the bottom to the top in one easy lesson.

The team worked hard last night and that payed back big time, as the Monte Carlo marches down the track into the new top spot on the ladder.

Doug Gordon's incremental times: 60ft-0.967 sec., 330ft-2.524, 660ft-3.731/206.23 mph, 1,000ft-4.756.

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Left Lane: Clint Thompson Runs 6.087/158.20, Now #13; Best prior run: 7.308/133.63, Was #13
Right Lane: Jim Peters Runs 10.689/73.38, Now #11; Best prior run: 5.903/241.80, Was #11

Peters gets away second and then has traction problems and lifts.

Thompson was on a good pass until near the top end lights and has the blower go Bang. That will keep him in the #13 spot.

Clint Thompson's incremental times: 60ft-0.944 sec., 330ft-2.490, 660ft-3.693/205.22 mph, 1,000ft-4.854.

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Left Lane: Dave Germain Runs 5.931/241.41, Now #12; Best prior run: 5.969/239.10, Was #12
Right Lane: Larry Miner Runs 5.744/252.24, Now #6; Best prior run: 5.783/245.76, Was #8

Both cars run close to yesterday's times on clean passes, but will stay in their current positions.

Dave Germain's incremental times: 60ft-0.989 sec., 330ft-2.615, 660ft-3.899/192.17 mph, 1,000ft-4.999.
Larry Miner's incremental times: 60ft-0.973 sec., 330ft-2.562, 660ft-3.798/200.86 mph, 1,000ft-4.853.

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Left Lane: Jeff Ashwell Runs 5.844/242.98, Now #10; Best prior run: 5.797/245.14, Was #10
Right Lane: Ken Webster Runs 5.738/249.63, Now #6; Best prior run: 5.783/252.14, Was #8

Two more full passes and Webster gets the best of it with an improving ET. That moves him up to the #6 position.

Ashwell slows just a little and will have to settle for the number ten spot for now.

Jeff Ashwell's incremental times: 60ft-0.978 sec., 330ft-2.567, 660ft-3.831/195.31 mph, 1,000ft-4.919.
Ken Webster's incremental times: 60ft-0.973 sec., 330ft-2.555, 660ft-3.790/200.62 mph, 1,000ft-4.842.

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Left Lane: Sean Bellemeur Runs 5.815/247.11, Now #9; Best prior run: 5.791/248.29, Was #9
Right Lane: Steve Gasparrelli Runs 5.639/257.58, Now #2; Best prior run: 5.721/254.86, Was #5

OK! Lou Gasparrelli is in the house! We haven't seen much of him this year, due to health problems. Welcome back!

Looks like Dad has some good influences, as the ECS Mustang makes a clean and strong pass up into the new #2 spot.

Bellemeur makes a full pass, but not as good as earlier.

Sean Bellemeur's incremental times: 60ft-0.984 sec., 330ft-2.572, 660ft-3.830/196.02 mph, 1,000ft-4.905.
Steve Gasparrelli's incremental times: 60ft-0.963 sec., 330ft-2.516, 660ft-3.731/204.05 mph, 1,000ft-4.765.

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Left Lane: John Lombardo Jr. Runs 5.639/249.90, Now #3; Best prior run: 5.681/248.52, Was #4
Right Lane: Sean O'Bannon Runs 5.664/256.55, Now #4; Best prior run: 5.710/254.57, Was #5

More improvements and both cars move a spot up the ladder. May have been expensive for Lombardo as there is smoke out from underneath the car on the top end. The dusting and cleaning has started in his lane.

John Lombardo Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.957 sec., 330ft-2.504, 660ft-3.714/204.79 mph, 1,000ft-4.749.
Sean O'Bannon's incremental times: 60ft-0.973 sec., 330ft-2.541, 660ft-3.756/204.11 mph, 1,000ft-4.788.

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Left Lane: Brian Hough Runs 5.639/254.90, Now #3; Best prior run: 5.678/252.99, Was #5
Right Lane: John Evanchuk Runs 5.742/248.66, Now #7; Best prior run: 5.766/247.70, Was #8

2:40 p.m. ...and we are back to wrap up the session with the final round of TAFC from the LODRS 6-2 race in Mission, B.C. and their final chance to improve their qualifying positions.

Two good leaves and Hough gets the best of it running the third 5.678 of the session. HIs MPH gives him the #3 position on the ladder.

Evanchuk runs right behind him to the finish line and moves up to the final #7 position.

2:44 p.m. No bump spot.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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