Sun, 15 Nov 2009, 04:34 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 2 Eliminations

By David Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 45th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Duane Shields                           1 Bill Reichert                
E2                   0.055  5.314 273.44     ****WINNER****  0.062  5.288 267.53
 Prior rounds:
E1    (C Demke     ) 0.059  5.213 268.71      (M Manners   ) 0.087  5.350 266.95
 Qualified:             #5  5.306 271.95                        #4  5.289 267.43

12:56 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 74 degrees, relative humidity 31 percent, barometer 29.00 inches, adjusted altitude 2,447 feet, track temperature 89 degrees.

Shields had a lot better numbers last night, but today is a different day.

Shields gets a small advantage at the green, but Reichert is by just after the 200 foot mark. Reichert's fueler moves around a lot getting to the finish line, but it's good enough to improve over his qualifying times.

Bill Reichert's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.030), 330 ft(0.060), 660ft(0.060), 1,000ft(0.039). MOV: 0.0193 seconds (approximately 8 feet).

Duane Shields' incremental times: 60ft-0.915 sec., 330ft-2.449, 660ft-3.565/226.24 mph, 1,000ft-4.502.
Bill Reichert's incremental times: 60ft-0.938 sec., 330ft-2.382, 660ft-3.498/223.62 mph, 1,000ft-4.456.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  745 Brittany Force                        734 Johnny Ahten                 
E2   ****WINNER****  0.125  5.294 272.61                     0.048  5.388 248.93
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Severance ) 0.069  5.406 269.51      (D Flynn     ) 0.023 10.202  89.49
 Qualified:             #7  5.311 270.75                        #2  5.256 269.78

Both cars had some issues in round one, with Ahten having a red light win.

Ahten gets a big lead at the green, but can't win with a bunch of dead cylinders.

Force's engine keeps them lite and moves ahead just before the lights to just get the win.

Brittany Force's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.068), 330 ft(-0.071), 660ft(-0.062), 1,000ft(-0.042). MOV: 0.0175 seconds (approximately 6 feet).

Brittany Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.918 sec., 330ft-2.394, 660ft-3.520/222.18 mph, 1,000ft-4.474.
Johnny Ahten's incremental times: 60ft-0.927 sec., 330ft-2.400, 660ft-3.535/219.97 mph, 1,000ft-4.509.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Jim Whiteley                            8 Shawn Cowie                  
E2   ****WINNER****        No Time                                 No Time      
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M Niver     ) 0.019  5.344 270.59      (M Guest     ) 0.050  5.370 267.27
 Qualified:             #9  5.335 270.37                       #16  5.376 267.00

Cowie has trouble staging and jumps through the lights. He stays on the throttle and goes into a big wheel stand before clicking it off.

Whiteley must have seen Cowie leave, as he jumps the lights too and makes a full pass with no recorded numbers.

According to the"John Force Rule" Whiteley is the winner, but will give up lane choice to Reichert in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 7338 Brian Smith                           744 Courtney Force               
E2                   0.026 13.614  78.68     ****WINNER****  0.035  5.329 265.59
 Prior rounds:
E1    (H Will      ) 0.075  5.519 253.56      (B Johnson   ) 0.158  5.630 266.32
 Qualified:            #14  5.355 267.48                        #6  5.306 263.72

It's all over within six feet, as Smith's car strikes the tire.

Force makes a clean pass and will give up lane choice to her sister in round three.

1:08 p.m. Courtney Force's incremental margins: 60ft(0.216), 330 ft(1.874), 660ft(4.096), 1,000ft(6.298). MOV: 8.2768 seconds (more than 100 feet).

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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