|
 |
![]()
|
|
|
|
Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Session #2
Sat, 2 Aug 2003, 12:17 AM
Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 16th
annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this
round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in
order prior to run:
Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 5.167/198.35, Now #14; Best prior run:
6.076/146.32, Was #15
Right Lane: Chris Karamesines Runs 7.435/103.81, Now #16; No Prior Run
8:26 PM Current weather conditions: 63 degrees, 54 percent relative humidity,
the barometer 30.00 inches. Big changes in the weather from the beginning of the Pro
Session.Schumacher has an .836 second 60 foot ET and ran strong to well past the 3/4
mark and looks to have had to pump it several times before the blower belt failed.
Karamesines will fill out the show with a shut off run before mid-track.
Left Lane: Scott Weis Runs 4.745/265.06, Now #7; Best prior run:
5.664/163.37, Was #15
Right Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 4.918/287.66, Now #12; No Prior Run
Another new face to take a shot at the 7.435 bump. Weis has "stuff" coming out
of the bottom of the race girl machine near the lights, but he gets it into the current
top half of the field. Troxel's car was soft off the line and she clicks it around the
1000 foot mark. Schumacher is now on the bump with a 5.167. We will have a pause in honor
of the recently departed rods and pistons in the left lane.
Left Lane: Don Lampus No Time, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.861/292.71, Was #11
Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 4.531/325.77, Now #1; No Prior Run
8:36 PM ... and we are back to racing. Lampus had problems getting the car in
reverse and now can't get it back into "drive". The team struggles for a minute and he is
told to shut it off. Kalitta patience is paid back in spades with both an ET and MPH
track record run. Beautiful run in the dusk.
Left Lane: Rhonda Hartman-Smith Runs 4.669/312.50, Now #3; Best prior run:
4.851/295.27, Was #11
Right Lane: Mitch King Runs 5.181/222.69, Now #16; Best prior run:
5.145/214.48, Was #16
King is now on the bump with his earlier 5.145 ET. He can't improve, but
Hartman-Smith will be happy with a great pass into the current #3 spot. Clean and
smoooooth.
Left Lane: Mike Strasburg Runs 4.821/303.30, Now #12; Best prior run:
4.836/304.05, Was #11
Right Lane: John Smith Runs 4.764/296.89, Now #11; Best prior run:
5.035/282.30, Was #15
The Daddy side of the two car team comes up to stage next. Not what they
wanted, but still a good run. Strasburg picks up a little and will still lose the spot to
Smith.
Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.686/302.14, Now #4; Best prior run:
4.759/306.26, Was #10
Right Lane: Paul Romine Runs 4.731/313.37, Now #10; Best prior run:
4.921/282.42, Was #15
Both cars move well up the field. Herbert has a flash from the engine near the
top end lights that definitely slowed his charge. No "stuff" on the track!
Left Lane: Darrell Russell Runs 4.636/309.91, Now #3; Best prior run:
4.699/309.84, Was #6
Right Lane: David Baca Runs 5.877/147.58, Now #9; Best prior run:
4.711/306.74, Was #9
Russel starts with an .828 60 foot and runs strong for 1000 feet and bangs it,
to take over the current #3 spot. Baca looks to be running like he did on the prior run,
until the tires start to smoke after mid-track.
Left Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 4.651/294.43, Now #4; Best prior run:
4.693/315.27, Was #6
Right Lane: David Grubnic Runs 7.702/81.30, Now #8; Best prior run:
4.707/315.27, Was #8
Both cars are well into the field, but the weather is a great chance to
improve even further. Grubnic smokes the tire just before mid-track and shuts off.
Bernstein has a small flash off the engine just before the lights and still moves up two
spots.
Left Lane: Larry Dixon No Time, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.584/322.50, Was #2
Right Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 8.044/103.36, Now #7; Best prior run:
4.702/316.15, Was #7
Big surprise! Dixon doesn't start the engine and they pull the car out of the
line. Rumors fly, but the temperature is down to 64 degrees and the wind is picking up.
Four words are heard from Dick Lahaie: "Too late! Too cold!". McClenathan will take
the chance and is the last car down the track tonight. Looks like Lahaie was right about
the track, as Cory McC is up in smoke before the 330 foot lights. The track temperature is
only 88 degrees! 9:05 PM Time for the fireworks show.
Timing data courtesy of
CompuLink
By Dave Gerard
|
|
|
|
|
|
