Fri, 04 Sep 2015, 14:23 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By David Gerard

BROWNSBURG, Ind. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 61st annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

---

Left Lane: Steve Franke No Time, Now #2
Right Lane: Fred Tigges Runs 8.965/100.64, Now #1

1:49 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 89 degrees, relative humidity 51 percent, barometer 29.10 inches, adjusted altitude 3,792 feet, track temperature 122 degrees.

Franke left before the tree and Tigges shook hard and lifted early.

---

Left Lane: Andy Bohl Runs 5.725/253.75, Now #1
Right Lane: Tony Bogolo Runs 6.235/242.10, Now #2

Bohl gets off the line well and puts a reasonable number on the boards. Bogolo shakes, pumps, and drives on down.

Andy Bohl's incremental times: 60ft-0.999 sec., 330ft-2.568, 660ft-3.795/201.85 mph, 1,000ft-4.841.
Tony Bogolo's incremental times: 60ft-1.009 sec., 330ft-2.778, 660ft-4.176/183.59 mph, 1,000ft-5.302.

---

Left Lane: Wayne Butler Runs 7.145/138.58, Now #4
Right Lane: Mike Doushgounian Runs 5.882/254.42, Now #2

Butler has to slap the pedal several times and finally gives it up.

Doushgounian has a little shake and gets to the finish line under power.

Mike Doushgounian's incremental times: 60ft-1.022 sec., 330ft-2.685, 660ft-3.937/199.70 mph, 1,000ft-4.994.

---

Left Lane: Mickey Ferro Runs 5.775/257.43, Now #2
Right Lane: Ulf Leanders Runs 9.885/71.97, Now #7

Leanders gets loose and drifts very close to the wall and lifts.

Ferro Doesn't have any drama and put a number on the boards.

Mickey Ferro's incremental times: 60ft-1.046 sec., 330ft-2.649, 660ft-3.868/203.86 mph, 1,000ft-4.902.

---

Left Lane: Paul Noakes Runs 9.087/96.49, Now #8
Right Lane: Chris Foster Runs 5.918/248.98, Now #4

Noakes is away first, but is a little lazy early. The car drifts towards the wall and he lifts.

---

Left Lane: John Lombardo Jr. Runs 5.751/264.08, Now #2
Right Lane: Jay Payne Runs 5.810/254.57, Now #4

Payne is away with a huge lead and then has a wiggle about the 330 lights.

Lombardo sits on the line for a while and gives chase. The Mustang puts the power to the ground and he takes over the current #2 spot.

John Lombardo Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-1.113 sec., 330ft-2.695, 660ft-3.888/208.62 mph, 1,000ft-4.899.
Jay Payne's incremental times: 60ft-0.983 sec., 330ft-2.606, 660ft-3.866/199.35 mph, 1,000ft-4.924.

---

Left Lane: Dan Pomponio Runs 5.713/256.26, Now #2
Right Lane: Steve Harker Runs 5.624/257.68, Now #1

Two great looking passes and a new #1 and #2.

Harker creeps the lights and gives up some low end numbers, bit flies on down for a great finish.

Dan Pomponio's incremental times: 60ft-0.984 sec., 330ft-2.561, 660ft-3.796/201.67 mph, 1,000ft-4.836.
Steve Harker's incremental times: 60ft-1.023 sec., 330ft-2.567, 660ft-3.758/208.81 mph, 1,000ft-4.767.

---

Left Lane: Shane Westerfield Runs 5.668/255.97, Now #2
Right Lane: Jonnie Lindberg Runs 11.883/65.90, Now #15

Lindberg strikes the tires hard at the green.

Straight and clean pass with big numbers down low and Westerfield moves into the new #2 spot.

---

Left Lane: Todd Veney Runs 5.647/259.41, Now #2
Right Lane: Annie Whiteley Runs 5.659/261.37, Now #3

Nice side by side pair of passes.

They leave close together and finish about the same spacing as off the line.

They will wrap the session in #2 and #3.

Todd Veney's incremental times: 60ft-0.995 sec., 330ft-2.548, 660ft-3.755/206.01 mph, 1,000ft-4.781.
Annie Whiteley's incremental times: 60ft-0.989 sec., 330ft-2.571, 660ft-3.779/205.98 mph, 1,000ft-4.799.

2:15 p.m. Steve Harker is number one at 5.624 and Ulf Leanders is on the bump spot at 9.885.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Oct 22- NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Awards Ceremony Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino
Oct 22- NHRA Breakfast at 2026 SEMA Show Features Legends, Champs & A Rookie Talking Funny Car Showdown
Oct 22- DALLAS - Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Wrap Up
Oct 22- Five NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Drivers Currently Eligible for 2026 Rookie of the Year
Oct 22- Lucas Oil and NHRA Celebrate 25-Year Partnership with Multi-Year Extension
Oct 19- DALLAS - Sunday Video
Oct 18- DALLAS - Sunday Wrap Up
Oct 18- DALLAS - Summary of Eliminations in Super Stock
Oct 18- DALLAS - Summary of Eliminations in Competition Eliminator
Oct 18- DALLAS - Summary of Eliminations in Top Fuel