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POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 39th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals:
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
6 Darrell Russell 888 Jim Head
E1 0.087 5.784 231.75 ****WINNER**** 0.071 5.664 191.43
Qualified: #8 4.569 314.46 #9 4.583 326.79
11:00 AM Current weather conditions: 69 degrees, 50 percent relative humidity, the
barometer 30.07 inches, with very overcast conditions and no direct sun on the
track.Russell and Head have only met in eliminations twice before, with Russell winning both times. Head was out first and Russell was up in smoke before the 330
lights. Head almost immediately started to spin his slicks. The pumping contest was on
with Head's momentum making the difference, as both cars were pedaling to the finish
line.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
2 Kenny Bernstein 104 Clay Millican
E1 ****WINNER**** 0.091 4.572 323.74 0.033 5.344 188.94
Qualified: #7 4.556 324.67 #10 4.600 312.42
The King of NHRA and the King of IHRA come to the line. They have only met once before
in eliminations with Kenny getting the nod.Millican was out on Bernstein and then
started to spin the slicks just after the 330 lights. He pumps it and has the right side
of the engine go up in a hugh ball of flames before mid-track. Bernstein took over at that
point and made a safe and clean run to the finish line. There is a little oil near the
finish line, so we will have a brief intermission. 11:05 AM
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
5 Cory McClenathan 797 David Baca
E1 ****WINNER**** 0.094 4.556 327.19 0.093 9.108 88.98
Qualified: #6 4.554 328.94 #11 4.601 315.19
11:14 AM Time for speed! McClenathan has had two runner-ups this year and has a 2 to
1 win ratio over Baca. Baca has had a great rookie year and was runner-up to Dixon at
Sonoma earlier this year.Cory's team had to replace the front half of the dragster
after his trip to the sand box on Thursday. This race is over quick as both cars leaving
the line together, with Baca up in smoke before the 330 lights. Lane choice cars are
taking the left lane and McClenathan makes the most of it with a great mid four fifty
pass.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
1 Larry Dixon 9 Rhonda Hartman-Smith
E1 ****WINNER**** 0.069 4.539 321.27 0.075 4.654 308.14
Qualified: #5 4.534 323.35 #12 4.609 313.29
Dixon has already tied up the Championship with a great five win and eight runner-up
season. He has raced Rhonda Hartman-Smith fourteen times and only lost once. Dixon
continues to run consistent four fifty passes. Hartman-Smith was right with him and then
has smoke and spin by mid track and has to lift. Dixon reports that they lost the fuel
line right in the lights and hurt the engine. Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 319 Scott Kalitta 201 Scott Weis E1 ****WINNER**** 0.099 4.519 323.35 0.064 4.616 309.84 Qualified: #4 4.521 332.34 #13 4.623 317.72Scott Kalitta returned to the top fuel wars late this year and scored one runner-up to Bernstein at Dallas. He has only met Weis once in his careen and won that matchup.
We get a great race this time with both cars running straight and clean to the finish.
Weis was out initially on Kalitta and running better than his qualifying times, but was
passed by the Jesse James dragster before the 330 lights. Kalitta shows the family horse
power and will get lane choice over Dixon next round. Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 337 Paul Romine 390 Shirley Muldowney E1 0.057 4.677 259.66 ****WINNER**** 0.042 4.685 301.07 Qualified: #3 4.509 319.45 #14 4.628 326.32Muldowney and Romine have never met before in elimination. He will be added to the long list of competitors who she has raced in her 30+ year career. Shirley wins on a
hole shot, takes a close four foot win, and will gives up lane choice to Cory. This was a
wild race with Shirley losing the advantage before the 330 lights and chasing Romine until
after the 1000 ft lights. Romine has a big bang with the belt flying high in the air. Just
before Shirley's's dragster makes a big move near the top end and she almost crosses the
center line.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
4 Doug Kalitta 7 Doug Herbert
E1 ****WINNER**** 0.076 4.495 333.25 0.041 4.671 297.48
Qualified: #2 4.479 330.88 #15 4.633 314.68
Two classic drag racing family names come to the line in first round. Kalitta has had
12 wins to 7 loses against Herbert in the past. They line Katilla up just after the
burn out just off center from where most of the other cars have run. Another great race
with Kalitta running quicker than he qualified and setting the first half of a new
National Speed Record. Herbert was out first, but couldn't match the pace. Doug will have
lane choice over Bernstein.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
3 Tony Schumacher 757 David Grubnic
E1 ****WINNER**** 0.078 4.498 327.98 0.073 4.615 323.04
Qualified: #1 4.455 332.10 #16 4.639 321.81
This will be the fourteenth time that these two have met in eliminations. Schumacher
has dominated so far with a 10 to 3 win/loss ratio. He has won four races and been the
runner-up at two others. He will finish 2003 as third in the Championship points. Grubnic
has had two career runner-up finishes. Another better than qualifying pass that
literally "blows the doors" off the Army dragster, with the right side panel by Tony
peeled back like a can opener. Grubnic also had a good pass, but was mixing up the holes
going down the track. Schumacher will have lane choice over Jim Head next round.
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