Sun, 16 Nov 2014, 16:39 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 2 Eliminations

By David Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 50th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  748 Cameron Ferre                         681 Shawn Cowie                  
E2   ****WINNER****  0.087  5.341 273.05                     0.153 No Time      
 Prior rounds:
E1    (G Bateman   ) 0.058  5.293 274.94      (D Mercier   ) 0.098  5.293 271.35
 Qualified:             #7  5.330 273.33                        #2  5.269 271.79

1:14 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 73 degrees, relative humidity 37 percent, barometer 29.00 inches, adjusted altitude 2,427 feet, track temperature 94 degrees.

This is the first time Ferre and Cowie have faced each other in eliminations. Cowie has a 61% win advantage in round two. Ferre's dragster is sporting a RACEPAK scheme this weekend.

Cowie is late off the line and immediately starts to shake the tires hard. He tries to drive through it, but the car dives hard towards the center line and destroys the 330 foot reflector. Luckily, Ferre was well out in front by that time and pulling even further ahead for the easy victory.

Cameron Ferre's incremental times: 60ft-0.954 sec., 330ft-2.457, 660ft-3.585/223.54 mph, 1,000ft-4.528.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  765 Duane Shields                         489 Chase Copeland               
E2   ****WINNER****  0.072  5.592 256.99                     0.045 14.356  68.91
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Severance ) 0.060  5.410 260.91      (C Grisel    ) 0.094  5.255 270.05
 Qualified:             #9  5.337 266.42                        #1  5.227 271.84

1:25 p.m. Back to racing. Shields is 2 - 1 against Copeland in prior events. These two have never met in round two. Shields has a 65% win advantage in round two.

Copeland strikes the tires at the green. Shields will need to tune it up for round two, but gets the easy win here.

Duane Shields' incremental times: 60ft-0.988 sec., 330ft-2.560, 660ft-3.729/213.64 mph, 1,000ft-4.727.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  144 Tripp Tatum                           717 Aaron Olivarez               
E2                   0.086  5.335 273.61     ****WINNER****  0.047  5.315 271.08
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M McKernan  ) 0.067  5.387 270.81      (F Hanssen   ) 0.031  5.348 271.08
 Qualified:             #5  5.309 273.50                       #13  5.419 268.65

This is the first time Tatum and Olivarez have faced each other in eliminations. Tatum has a 50% win advantage and Olivarez has 52% in round two.

Olivarez gets a great head start and pull a little ahead before the 330 lights. They pace each other on down the track and Olivarez takes the win. Hell have lane choice over Shields next round.

Aaron Olivarez's incremental margins: 60ft(0.047), 330 ft(0.077), 660ft(0.074), 1,000ft(0.073). MOV: 0.0592 seconds (approximately 24 feet).

Tripp Tatum's incremental times: 60ft-0.954 sec., 330ft-2.474, 660ft-3.580/226.28 mph, 1,000ft-4.521.
Aaron Olivarez's incremental times: 60ft-0.946 sec., 330ft-2.436, 660ft-3.545/225.90 mph, 1,000ft-4.487.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  487 Mark Taliaferro                         2 Chris Demke                  
E2                   0.101  5.302 271.84     ****WINNER****  0.055  5.292 272.89
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Fricke    ) 0.118  5.344 266.69      (R Stickler  ) 0.080  5.291 270.43
 Qualified:             #6  5.317 270.27                        #3  5.277 269.67

Taliaferro is 2 - 1 against Demke in prior events.This will be the rubber match, as these two have one win each against each other in round two. Demke has a 69% win advantage in round two.

Demke gets a big advantage off the line and holds off Taliaferro for the win. He will have lane choice over Ferre next round.

Chris Demke's incremental margins: 60ft(0.067), 330 ft(0.058), 660ft(0.051), 1,000ft(0.054). MOV: 0.0564 seconds (approximately 22 feet).

Mark Taliaferro's incremental times: 60ft-0.942 sec., 330ft-2.376, 660ft-3.505/218.51 mph, 1,000ft-4.477.
Chris Demke's incremental times: 60ft-0.921 sec., 330ft-2.364, 660ft-3.500/218.16 mph, 1,000ft-4.469.

1:35 p.m.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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