Sun, 18 May 2003, 11:53 AM Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 34th annual K&N Filters SuperNationals presented by Pep Boys:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  390 Shirley Muldowney                       6 Darrell Russell
E1                   0.084 14.703  74.37     ****WINNER****  0.073  4.576 319.67
 Qualified:             #9  4.590 318.77                        #8  4.585 323.04

11:07 AM Current weather conditions: 57 degrees, 36 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.27 inches, with a track temperature of 75 degrees, under overcast skies.

It was clear and sunny earlier this morning, but a band of clouds moved in around 10:00, so the crew chiefs didn't have to figure out a new combination for today. Muldowney smoked the tires immediately, while Russell went right down the lane on a pretty run, clean and smooth. That makes his career record against Muldowney 2-0, having also won their only prior meeting.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Larry Dixon                             5 Cory McClenathan
E1   ****WINNER****  0.036 11.726  78.95                    -0.059  4.557 323.81
 Qualified:             #7  4.580 326.95                       #10  4.652 314.83

These two have raced each other 30 times before today, Dixon holding a 17-13 edge in those matches. The race was over immediately, Cory Mac too quick on the trigger followed by heavy tire smoke from Dixon. Dixon dodged a bullet here - remember this round when the points are tallied at the end of the year.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed     2 Brandon
Bernstein                      10 John Smith
E1                   0.048 No Time           ****WINNER****  0.049  6.250 188.38
 Qualified:             #6  4.563 323.89                       #11  4.681 308.57

Despite two tire-smokers for the first two cars down the left lane, Bernstein's crew stuck with their lane choice. Bernstein lost traction almost immediately. He pedaled, then Smith lost traction, turning this into a pedaling contest. Smith flirted with the centerline, but Bernstein's also headed for the centerline. He steered back to the left and the car "bit," rolling on its right side, the rear tires still spinning. When the tires hit the wall, the car righted itself, then climbed the wall. It slid along the top of the wall, then went over the top, sliding down the grass area between the wall and the return road. The impact area was filled with fireworks, gas-filled fire bombs, but, luckily, the accident didn't trigger any of them. He is reported to be conscious, but is reporting lower back pain and will be transported for evaluation. Smith's ride was anything but tame, the car fishtailing violently, but he didn't hit anything. That evens their career head-to-head record at one win apiece

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  337 Paul Romine                             7 Doug Herbert
E1   ****WINNER****  0.053  4.646 294.95                     0.074  4.652 314.46
 Qualified:            #12  4.729 301.87                        #5  4.554 324.67

Former teammates meet here and it's a good drag race, both cars mixing the cylinders up on the top half of the track. Romine pulled away early, but Herbert was closing fast in the final 300 feet of the race track. Paul Romine's incremental margins: 60ft(0.053), 330 ft(0.078), 660ft(0.077), 1,000ft(0.064). MOV: 0.0273 seconds (approximately 13 feet). That gives Romine a 3-2 edge in head-to-head races with his former car owner.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  201 Scott Weis                            797 David Baca
E1                   0.136  4.599 315.64     ****WINNER****  0.104  4.621 301.00
 Qualified:            #13  4.804 244.78                        #4  4.552 322.81

Two of the "young lions," these two have never raced each other during their Top Fuel careers. It was a great drag race, Baca winning by way of a holeshot against Weis' best run of the season. As with Romine/Herbert, Baca pulled out to an early lead and Weis was closing fast on the top end. David Baca's incremental margins: 60ft(0.043), 330 ft(0.077), 660ft(0.077), 1,000ft(0.038). MOV: 0.0104 seconds (approximately 5 feet). Baca will have lane choice over Romine in round two.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  394 Luigi Novelli                         888 Jim Head
E1                   0.078 14.588  85.51     ****WINNER****  0.092  4.898 303.71
 Qualified:            #14  4.809 301.07                        #3  4.545 324.12

Two long-time racers, these two had never raced each other in NHRA Top Fuel competition before today. Novelli lost traction immediately. Head started to haze the tires about 200 feet out, but pedaled through it very nicely. He will have lane choice against John Smith in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  223 Mike Smith                            104 Clay Millican
E1                         No Time           ****WINNER****  0.073  5.960 138.22
 Qualified:            #15  4.809 255.00                        #2  4.538 322.96

Millican got an easy one, Mike Smith not showing up for their first-ever matchup. He meets Dixon next round and will have lane choice despite making a half-pass. It did not appear to be a planned short run, the car laboring to half track and then raw fuel from the headers as it shut down.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  115 Rit Pustari                             4 Doug Kalitta
E1                   0.085  4.960 231.04     ****WINNER****  0.081  4.526 330.63
 Qualified:            #16  4.857 289.32                        #1  4.511 327.59

These two have never raced each other before today. Pustari made a race of it, staying close to about 1,000 feet, then his header flames went out. Kalitta didn't take him lightly, making another very stout run, resetting the Raceway Park speed record in the process. Doug Kalitta's incremental times: 60ft-0.846 sec., 330ft-2.160, 660ft-3.077/274.61mph, 1,000ft-3.853. He has lane choice against Russell in round two.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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