Sun, 16 Nov 2008, 04:56 PM Top Fuel Round 2 Eliminations

By David Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 44th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  111 Urs Erbacher                            3 Brandon Bernstein            
E2   ****WINNER****  0.198  3.926 309.84                     0.058  4.538 243.81
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Todd      ) 0.083  3.887 316.67      (D Grubnic   ) 0.028  4.026 276.80
 Qualified:            #13  3.904 309.20                        #5  3.849 311.05

1:35 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 18 percent, barometer 28.92 inches, adjusted altitude 2,809 feet, track temperature 101 degrees.

This is the first time Erbacher and Bernstein have faced each other in eliminations. Well, the Swiss Top Fuel driver puts a sour note to the end of Tim and Kim Richards career.Erbacher was way late and looked to be in big trouble until just past the 330-ft. lights where Big Red struck the tires.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   91 Larry Dixon                             6 Doug Herbert                 
E2   ****WINNER****  0.069  3.868 314.17                     0.064  6.781  85.86
 Prior rounds:
E1    (C Millican  ) 0.061  3.866 312.57      (M Lucas     ) 0.035  3.928 298.93
 Qualified:             #2  3.831 309.70                       #10  3.877 307.58

Dixon is 29 - 11 against Herbert in prior events. Dixon continues to march towards capturing the #2 spot for the season with a big win. Herbert was just 0.005 out ahead of Dixon at the green, but was passed before sixty feet. Something must have broken on the engine, as the car slowed before the 330-ft. lights.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  796 Cory McClenathan                      497 Troy Buff                    
E2   ****WINNER****  0.085  3.880 312.57                     0.024 10.051  76.71
 Prior rounds:
E1    (D Kalitta   ) 0.043  3.878 313.00      (H Will      ) 0.074  3.840 309.27
 Qualified:             #6  3.855 314.31                       #14  3.904 302.96

This is the first time McClenathan and Buff have faced each other in eliminations. Buff's day is over at the green, as the tires are up in smoke after 60 feet. McClenathan plays bracket racer and almost repeats his ET. Just 0.002 slower!

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Tony Schumacher                         2 Rod Fuller                   
E2                   0.062  3.853 315.56     ****WINNER****  0.043  3.862 313.66
 Prior rounds:
E1    (T Boychuk   ) 0.101  3.821 317.42      (S Torrence  ) 0.056  3.838 314.83
 Qualified:             #1  3.827 315.93                        #8  3.862 310.34

Schumacher is 17 - 7 against Fuller in prior events. The Cat of Australia dragster is off the line first and just has to stay there to get the hole shot win over the 2008 TF Champion.

Rod Fuller's incremental margins: 60ft(0.014), 330 ft(0.010), 660ft(0.009), 1,000ft(0.019). MOV: 0.0105 seconds (approximately 5 feet).Tony Schumacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.856 sec., 330ft-2.168, 660ft-3.083/275.11 mph, 1,000ft-99.999
Rod Fuller's incremental times: 60ft-0.861 sec., 330ft-2.177, 660ft-3.093/275.96 mph, 1,000ft-99.999

1:48 p.m. We will have an international match up in the third round with Fuller over Erbacher. On the domestic side, Dixon will have lane choice over McClanathan.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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