COLUMBUS - Top Fuel Round 3 Eliminations

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Sun, 15 Jun 2003, 04:23 PM

Top Fuel Round 3 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

HEBRON, Ohio - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 39th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals presented by Summit Racing:


 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Tony Schumacher                         1 Larry Dixon
E3                   0.068  4.719 283.91     ****WINNER****  0.075  4.597 316.67
 Prior rounds:
E2    (S Weis      ) 0.098  7.518 114.20      (C Mc Clenath) 0.062  4.761 286.01
E1    (P Romine    ) 0.068  4.547 324.44      (B Litton    ) 0.084  4.535 326.32
 Qualified:             #2  4.559 325.22                        #3  4.565 321.35

4:08 PM Current weather conditions: 78 degrees, 54 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.13 inches, with a track temperature of 111 degrees.
These two have raced each other 25 times before today, Dixon holding a 14-11 edge. The last time they met was in the finals at Joliet, Schumacher getting the win light in that one.

It's been said before, but Dick LaHaie is the master of getting down a hot track. Dixon's run was flawless, up until the chutes should have come out, anyway. Schumacher steadily lost ground, Dixon taking the lead by the time they reached the 60-foot timers, and drawing away. Schumacher started dropping cylinders on the top end and may have lost a blower belt before the finish line. On the PA system, Dixon said he went for the chute handle and missed. By the time the chutes came out, Dixon was a long way down the track and barely avoided going into the sand pit.


 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    6 Darrell Russell                         4 Doug Kalitta
E3   ****WINNER****  0.102  4.670 305.70                     0.104  4.749 297.48
 Prior rounds:
E2    (J Head      ) 0.048  5.491 238.47      (D Herbert   ) 0.064  4.724 298.80
E1    (R Hartman-Sm) 0.062  4.640 311.49      (C Karamesine) 0.066  4.552 324.98
 Qualified:             #5  4.589 319.29                        #1  4.508 325.30

Kalitta and Russell have raced each other 12 times in prior races, Kalitta holding a 7-5 record in those contests. Both had traction problems last round, but Kalitta's came way down the track. This was a close drag race all the way, neither driver with a light to brag about and Russell slowly drawing out to a car length or so advantage at the finish line. Russell faces Dixon in the finals, Dixon with lane choice.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink