Sun, 21 Jul 2013, 13:55 PM Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

MORRISON, Colo. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 34th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Spencer Massey                        255 Clay Millican                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.044  3.970 311.99                     0.086  4.011 304.74
 Qualified:             #9  4.002 307.51                        #8  3.975 308.57

Weather conditions: air temperature 81 degrees, relative humidity 45 percent, barometer 24.19 inches, adjusted altitude 9,335 feet, track temperature 102 degrees.

Massey is 3 - 0 against Millican in prior events. Massey with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. He runs his quickest pass of the weekend for the win. Millican slowed from his qualifying time in the losing effort.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Brandon Bernstein                      99 Khalid alBalooshi            
E1   ****WINNER****  0.092  3.949 307.16                     0.085  3.967 309.49
 Qualified:            #13  4.108 251.49                        #4  3.924 313.95

Bernstein and alBalooshi have each won 2 times against the other in prior events. alBalooshi with the starting line advantage, but Bernstein had the lead by the time they went by the Christmas tree. Bernstein starts mixing up cylinders on the top end but holds on for the win. Brandon Bernstein's MOV: 0.0115 seconds (approximately 5 feet). Bernstein with his quickest pass of the weekend for the win. alBalooshi slows from his qualifying time in the losing effort.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 5050 Scott Palmer                          745 Brittany Force               
E1                   0.092  4.186 292.01     ****WINNER****  0.089  3.947 310.13
 Qualified:            #14  4.130 291.57                        #3  3.918 309.63

This is only the second time that Brittany Force has qualified in the top half of the field and it is her best starting spot of her rookie year. This is the first time Palmer and Force have faced each other in eliminations. force with the slight starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Straight down the groove with a good clean pass, but slowed from her qualifying time. Palmer with another good pass in the losing effort.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Antron Brown                            4 Shawn Langdon                
E1                   0.067  3.974 310.34     ****WINNER****  0.050  3.921 310.34
 Qualified:            #12  4.043 306.26                        #5  3.935 315.12

This is the fifth time in the last six races that Antron Brown has started from the bottom half of the field. Antron is the defending even champion. Brown is 12 - 4 against Langdon in prior events. Langdon with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Langdon with a great looking pass and his quickest pass of the event for the win. Langdon will have lane choice over Bernstein in the next round. Langdon with the round win clinches a spot in the Countdown. Brown with a great looking pass, his quickest of the weekend in the losing effort.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   72 Mike Strasburg                        475 Steve Torrence               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.078  4.062 281.13                     0.072  4.114 268.81
 Qualified:            #16  4.174 283.97                        #1  3.880 319.60

Steve Torrence tied for the second quickest run in Bandimere history and he made the fastest run ever at this track during the final round of qualifying. This is the first time Strasburg and Torrence have faced each other in eliminations. Torrence with a slight starting line advantage and then lead until around half track when the car started to haze the tires and he did a quick pedal job...the pipes went wet when he did that, but got it hook back up. But, by then Strasburg with his quickest pass of the weekend has the lead and takes the upset win. Mike Strasburg's MOV: 0.0464 seconds (approximately 18 feet). Strasburg will give up lane choice to Massey in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   34 Morgan Lucas                           22 Doug Kalitta                 
E1                   0.070  4.004 296.89     ****WINNER****  0.065  3.974 305.42
 Qualified:            #15  4.152 266.64                        #2  3.889 310.13

Kalitta is 14 - 10 against Lucas in prior events. Kalitta with a slight starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Doug Kalitta's MOV: 0.0355 seconds (approximately 15 feet). Lucas with his quickest pass of the weekend in the losing effort.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   21 Terry McMillen                          8 Bob Vandergriff              
E1                   0.092  4.061 297.61     ****WINNER****  0.071  4.032 292.52
 Qualified:            #11  4.019 295.01                        #6  3.949 302.14

McMillen is 2 - 1 against Vandergriff in prior events. Vandergriff with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Bob Vandergriff's MOV: 0.0507 seconds (approximately 22 feet). Right after the lights there was a lot engine smoke from Vandergriff and the word from the top end is there is oil on the track. That will cost Vandergriff 10 points. Vandergriff will give up lane choice to Force in the next round. McMillen gave his a good run, but he was dropping cylinders in the lights.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Tony Schumacher                        44 David Grubnic                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.098  3.953 314.39                     0.091  3.984 301.40
 Qualified:            #10  4.007 306.74                        #7  3.971 307.65

This is just the second time this year that Tony Schumacher has started from the bottom half of the field. Schumacher is 34 - 7 against Grubnic in prior events. Grubnic with the slight starting line advantage and the lead until right in the lights when he dropped a cylinder or two and Schumacher was able to drive around him Tony Schumacher's MOV: 0.0241 seconds (approximately 11 feet). Schumacher with his quickest pass for the win and lane choice over Kalitta in the next round. Schumacher with the win clinches his spot in the Countdown to the Championship.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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