Sat, 05 Sep 2015, 17:17 PM Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Larry Sullivan

BROWNSBURG, Ind. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Fuel 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:

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Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 8.139/93.14, Now #1
Right Lane: Shawn Langdon Runs 18.723/48.81, Now #2

4:08 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 87 degrees, relative humidity 56 percent, barometer 29.18 inches, adjusted altitude 3,619 feet, track temperature 117 degrees.

The first four pairs are the Traxxas Top FDuel Shootout contestants.

Langdon lost traction very early in the run, Kalitta did likewise, but farther down the track so he had some momentum to work with. He pedaled, got some traction, dropped a couple cylinders, then coasted across the stripe.

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Left Lane: Richie Crampton Runs 3.977/280.78, Now #1
Right Lane: Steve Torrence Runs 4.474/238.64, Now #2

Torrence dropped a cylinder almost immediately, then spun the tires and dropped a couple more. He also left some oil on the track, his first oildown of the season. That will cost 5 points and $1K.

Crampton had some issues as well, but on the top end.

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Left Lane: Antron Brown Runs 3.868/318.69, Now #1
Right Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 4.462/188.83, Now #3

Nice side-by-side show for 330 feet, then Todd started spinning the tires and dropping cylinders. Full pass by Brown, not bad for the conditions.

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Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 3.906/316.01, Now #3
Right Lane: Clay Millican Runs 3.897/299.26, Now #2

Two full passes - not spectacular, but clean runs.

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Left Lane: Billy Torrence Runs 4.273/203.22, Now #6
Right Lane: Khalid alBalooshi Runs 3.963/269.67, Now #4

alBalooshi made an almost-full pass, then the engine flashed and he coasted across the stripe. There is oil in his lane. Khalid alBalooshi was charged with an oildown, #1 for the season. That will cost 5 points and $1K. Torrence looked good for about 600 feet, then slowed. Late update: The oildown penalty is against the team and the team had two prior oildown, so this one cost 15 points instead of 5.

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Left Lane: Wayne Newby Runs 4.996/141.58, Now #10
Right Lane: T.J. Zizzo Runs 4.080/235.64, Now #6

Newby struck the tires early in the run.

Zizzo was on a good pace to the 660-foot marker, then there big fireball and the chutes came out. T.J. Zizzo was charged with an oildown, #1 for the season. That will cost 5 points and $1K.

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Left Lane: Kebin Kinsley Runs 4.756/157.98, Now #10
Right Lane: Luigi Novelli Runs 9.848/86.61, Now #13

Novelli smoked the tires before going 100 feet. Kinsley looked good for about 300 feet, then did the same.

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Left Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 4.038/237.96, Now #6
Right Lane: Chris Karamesines Runs 4.063/294.82, Now #7

Lucas was on a good pass, but with a dead cylinder on the right side. Lucas' got to the 660-foot marker, then there was a big flash of flame from the rear of the car and he slowed. Karamesines made a full pass with a dead cylinder on the left side.

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Left Lane: Pat Dakin Runs 4.377/190.08, Now #11
Right Lane: Leah Pritchett Runs 4.330/196.07, Now #10

Like they practiced it, they left together, they had good early numbers, then they lost traction and clicked it off at almost the same time.

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Left Lane: Terry McMillen Runs 5.983/116.98, Now #17
Right Lane: Dave Connolly Runs 5.306/104.31, Now #16

J.R. Todd is on the bump spot at 4.462.

Same story, they left together and both lost traction after about 300 feet. Connolly's burst panel let go with a small flash of flame and his chutes came out.

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Left Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 4.496/175.32, Now #14
Right Lane: Brittany Force Runs 4.614/171.88, Now #15

Last pair. Todd's 4.462 is still the time to beat.

Dixon left very hard, with a 0.848 60-foot time. They ran side-by-side past the 330-foot marker, then both started smoking the tires and lifted.

After one round, it's Antron Brown atop the list and J.R. Todd is on the 12-car bump at 4.462.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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