Sat, 14 Sep 2019, 18:46 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

MOHNTON, Pa. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 35th annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  178 Earl Nichols Jr.                        7 Duane Shields                
E1                   0.063  5.756 252.71     ****WINNER****  0.047  5.303 275.11
 Qualified:            #15  7.027 162.37                        #2  5.183 278.52

This is the first time Nichols Jr. and Shields have faced each other in eliminations.

Shields with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 1482 Richard Bourke                          9 Julie Nataas                 
E1                   0.089 10.278  73.33     ****WINNER****  0.041  5.275 266.53
 Qualified:            #16  9.630 157.08                        #1  5.176 279.32

This is the first time Bourke and Nataas have faced each other in eliminations.

Nataas qualifies number one for the first time this season and the third time in her career.

Nataas with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win.

Bourke shook right at the hit and clicked it off.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   33 Robin Samsel                            6 Jackie Fricke                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.103  5.519 266.32                     0.057  5.568 271.57
 Qualified:            #10  5.359 269.73                        #7  5.278 274.55

Samsel and Fricke have each won 2 times against the other in prior events.

Fricke with the starting line advantage, she started to shake and did a quick pedal job and got it to hook up, but couldn't chase Samsel down. this was a great drag race...Robin Samsel's MOV: 0.0036 seconds (approximately 17 inches). He will give up lane choice to Shields in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 1011 Dan Dietrich                            3 Megan Meyer                  
E1                         No Time           ****WINNER****  0.046  5.245 275.84
 Qualified:            #13  5.589 236.17                        #4  5.190 273.61

This is the first time Dietrich and Meyer have faced each other in eliminations.

Dietrich couldn't get the car to fire. Meyer with the freebie, she runs the quickest pass of round one.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  183 Tom Fox Jr.                            34 Brandon Greco                
E1                   0.046  5.401 268.22     ****WINNER****  0.006  5.407 264.34
 Qualified:             #8  5.285 272.06                        #9  5.318 266.95

This is the first time Fox Jr. and Greco have faced each other in eliminations.

Greco with a great light and the power to hold on for the hole shot win. Brandon Greco's MOV: 0.0343 seconds (approximately 13 feet). he will give up lane choice to Nataas in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  176 Jeff Veale                              4 Troy Coughlin Jr.            
E1                   0.059  5.338 278.63     ****WINNER****  0.069  5.249 279.32
 Qualified:            #11  5.394 277.72                        #6  5.209 280.37

This is the first time Veale and Coughlin Jr. have faced each other in eliminations.

Veale with the starting line advantage, but Coughlin Jr. has the lead by 200 feet and never trails from there on for the win. He runs second quickest of the round for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 1959 Richard St. Pierre                     23 Josh Hart                    
E1                   0.124  5.568 259.16     ****WINNER****  0.066  5.279 276.46
 Qualified:            #12  5.530 258.12                        #5  5.205 277.72

This is the first time St. Pierre and Hart have faced each other in eliminations.

Hart with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Hart will give up lane choice to Meyer in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  118 Frank Schuster                          2 Shawn Cowie                  
E1                   0.038  5.560 257.92     ****WINNER****  0.078  5.227 277.77
 Qualified:            #14  5.649 256.31                        #3  5.184 279.27

This is the first time Schuster and Cowie have faced each other in eliminations.

Schuster with the starting line advantage, but Cowie has the lead by 100 feet and never trails for the win.

Cowie with the quickest pass of the round and he will have lane choice over coughlin Jr. in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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