Sun, 25 Jul 2010, 01:30 PM Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

MORRISON, Colo. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 31st annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Brandon Bernstein                       4 Cory McClenathan             
E1   ****WINNER****  0.079  3.962 301.54                     0.090  3.988 310.55
 Qualified:             #8  3.992 296.11                        #9  4.018 308.64

Weather conditions: air temperature 75 degrees, relative humidity 47 percent, barometer 24.35 inches, adjusted altitude 8,724 feet, track temperature 91 degrees.

Bernstein is 21 - 7 against McClenathan in prior events. McClenathan won his first National event here in Top Alcohol Dragster in 1989. He has won this event twice in Top Fuel in 1997 and 1998. This is the fourth time these two have met this year and McClenathan has won the previous three times. this was a great drag race to start eliminations. Both cars running quicker than their qualifying times. Bernstein was just a tick off low E.T. of the event. Brandon Bernstein's MOV: 0.0372 seconds (approximately 17 feet).

Brandon Bernstein's incremental times: 60ft-0.867 sec., 330ft-2.216, 660ft-3.163/267.53 mph.
Cory McClenathan's incremental times: 60ft-0.877 sec., 330ft-2.255, 660ft-3.205/269.67 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  475 Steve Torrence                         12 Bob Vandergriff              
E1   ****WINNER****  0.036  3.936 306.19                     0.135  3.987 291.32
 Qualified:             #7  3.983 299.13                       #10  4.027 302.62

This is the first time Torrence and Vandergriff have faced each other in eliminations. Torrence with a great light and big starting line advantage and he runs quicker than his qualifying time for the win. Steve Torrence's incremental times: 60ft-0.866 sec., 330ft-2.214, 660ft-3.147/271.24 mph. Vandergriff with a big puff of engine smoke as he crossed the finish line and he too ran quicker than his qualifying time in a losing effort.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Larry Dixon                            34 Morgan Lucas                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.054  3.963 301.27                     0.085  6.285 102.06
 Qualified:             #5  3.974 295.66                       #12  4.158 270.75

Dixon has won this event twice in 2001 and 2003, Lucas was a runner up in 2005. Dixon is 12 - 6 against Lucas in prior events. Dixon with the starting line advantage and never trailed as Lucas made a quick move toward the centerline as soon as the light turned green. Dixon was dropping cylinders on the top end but still takes the win light. He was quicker than his qualifying time. Larry Dixon's incremental times: 60ft-0.867 sec., 330ft-2.226, 660ft-3.169/269.56 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Antron Brown                          121 Terry Haddock                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.061  3.945 308.07                     0.088  4.337 241.50
 Qualified:             #1  3.961 286.19                       #16  4.356 270.81

This is Brown's 15th Top Fuel number one spot and his fifth this year. He has won win from the number one spot and that was here last year. Brown is 2 - 0 against Haddock in prior events. Brown was out of the gate first and never trailed, and he improved on his qualifying time. Antron Brown's incremental times: 60ft-0.876 sec., 330ft-2.225, 660ft-3.163/273.00 mph. Brow will have lane choice over Bernstein in the next round. Haddock dropped a cylinder or two right from the start.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   22 Doug Kalitta                         3516 Terry McMillen               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.062  3.920 311.63                     0.097  4.066 289.38
 Qualified:             #2  3.962 308.21                       #15  4.217 283.67

Kalitta is 1 - 0 against McMillen in prior events. Kalitta with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win as he runs low E.T. of the weekend. Doug Kalitta's incremental times: 60ft-0.856 sec., 330ft-2.195, 660ft-3.138/270.75 mph. Kalitta will have lane choice over Torrence in the next round. McMillen with his quickest pass of the weekend in a losing effort.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   44 David Grubnic                         700 Steven Chrisman              
E1   ****WINNER****  0.068  3.880 314.17                     0.096  4.214 281.42
 Qualified:             #3  3.970 304.67                       #14  4.207 278.12

This is the first time Grubnic and Chrisman have faced each other in eliminations. Grubnic is out of the gate first and then runs low E.T. of the weekend for the win and top speed. David Grubnic's incremental times: 60ft-0.866 sec., 330ft-2.194, 660ft-3.110/276.58 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Tony Schumacher                        72 Mike Strasburg               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.095  3.950 313.00                     0.068  4.410 214.66
 Qualified:             #4  3.974 312.42                       #13  4.162 288.64

Schumacher has won this race twice in 2005 and 2008 and has been runner up four times. Schumacher is 4 - 1 against Strasburg in prior events. Strasburg with a starting line advantage, but then drops cylinders early and clicks it off early. Schumacher with his quickest E.T. of the weekend for the win and lane choice against Dixon.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  333 Shawn Langdon                         552 Rod Fuller                   
E1                   0.062  3.995 305.29     ****WINNER****  0.050  3.981 304.25
 Qualified:             #6  3.982 304.94                       #11  4.113 280.66

Fuller won this race in 2007...This is the first time Langdon and Fuller have faced each other in eliminations. Langdon clinched a spot in the Countdown to 1 when McMillen lost earlier in the round. Fuller with the starting line advantage and the win by 0.0263 seconds (approximately 12 feet). For only the fifth time this year has anyone left on Langdon. Fuller with his quickest pass of the weekend. Fuller will give up lane choice to Grubnic.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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