Sun, 02 Oct 2016, 12:31 PM Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

MOHNTON, Pa. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 32nd annual Dodge NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 5050 Scott Palmer                           25 Clay Millican                
E1                   0.099  9.739  84.33     ****WINNER****  0.087  3.749 319.07
 Qualified:             #7  3.935 310.05                       #10  4.067 308.14

Weather conditions: air temperature 66 degrees, relative humidity 81 percent, barometer 29.50 inches, adjusted altitude 1,716 feet, track temperature 76 degrees.

This is the first time Palmer and Millican have faced each other in eliminations. Millican was first off the starting line and kept it hooked up to make a great looking pass. He was real loose on the top end. Palmer launched into a wheel stand and the tire smoke before he clicked it off.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    8 Steve Torrence                          2 Tony Schumacher              
E1   ****WINNER****  0.047  3.691 326.08                     0.043  3.700 325.85
 Qualified:             #8  3.955 325.61                        #9  3.990 274.27

Tony Schumacher's 5 wins are the most for any Top fuel driver at this event. Tony is 3rd in the points and Steve Torrence is 6th. Tony is coming off a runner-up finish in St. Louis while Steve is coming off a first-round loss. A couple of Countdown to the Championship contenders here.Both drivers with great lights with Schumacher getting the slight advantage. This was a great side-by-side drag race. Schumacher had the lead until around half track when Torrence chased him down ad took the lead. Torrence holds on for the win with the quickest pass of the weekend. Steve Torrence's MOV: 0.0057 seconds (approximately 3 feet). Steve Torrence's incremental times: 60ft-0.828 sec., 330ft-2.091, 660ft-2.955/291.89 mph. Schumacher with the second quickest pass of the weekend in the losing effort. Tony Schumacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.827 sec., 330ft-2.090, 660ft-2.962/290.69 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   91 Larry Dixon                             7 Brittany Force               
E1                   0.052  3.760 326.71     ****WINNER****  0.075  3.728 324.20
 Qualified:             #5  3.791 325.77                       #12  4.676 299.80

Larry Dixon has 679 round wins in Top Fuel and that is second only to Tony Schumacher's 774. Larry won here in 2009 & 2010..Brittany Force starts the day 5th in the points Dixon with the starting line advantage, but Force chases him down just past half track and take the win. Brittany Force's MOV: 0.0094 seconds (approximately 5 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  142 Dom Lagana                              3 Richie Crampton              
E1   ****WINNER****  0.087  3.774 323.97                     0.109  3.778 319.98
 Qualified:             #6  3.811 323.74                       #11  4.168 204.42

Crampton is 2 - 0 against Lagana in prior events. Lagana with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Dom Lagana's MOV: 0.0262 seconds (approximately 12 feet). Lagana with his quickest and fastest pass of the season. Dom Lagana's incremental times: 60ft-0.832 sec., 330ft-2.150, 660ft-3.029/287.47 mph. Crampton had a little tire shake and got it to clean up, but couldn't chase Lagana down. Crampton's chute is late deploying it finally comes out and he gets the car stopped safely.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  777 Leah Pritchett                        614 Shawn Reed                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.079  3.721 329.42                     0.074  4.624 209.07
 Qualified:             #1  3.705 327.35                       #16  6.833  90.47

This is the first time that Leah Pritchett has been the #1 qualifier..This is the 5th race for Shawn Reed and just his second start. This is the first time Pritchett and Reed have faced each other in eliminations. Reed with a slight starting line advantage, but has tire shake right at the hit. Pritchett launched hard and was straight down the groove with the win. She will give up lane choice to Torrence in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Antron Brown                          373 J.R. Todd                    
E1   ****WINNER****  0.038  3.715 327.98                     0.067  3.748 329.26
 Qualified:             #2  3.731 321.42                       #15  5.589 125.19

Antron Brown is the defending event champion. Antron starts the day #1 in the standings while J.R. Todd is 7th..Antron is 15-2 against Todd and those 15 losses are the second-most for J.R. against any driver he has faced (he has lost 18times to Schumacher). Brown with a great light and never trailed for the win. He will have lane choice over Millican in the next round. both cars were good and clean passes.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    6 Shawn Langdon                         354 Smax Smith                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.045  3.715 328.46                    -0.200  4.122 278.69
 Qualified:             #3  3.736 329.42                       #14  5.477 236.30

Shawn Langdon won here in 2013..Smax Smith's first Top fuel race came at this event last year. This is just his 7th NHRA race. This is the first time Langdon and Smith have faced each other in eliminations. Smith goes red to give Langdon the win. Langdon launched hard and is straight dow the groove with great pass for the win. He will have lane choice over Lagana in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Doug Kalitta                          173 Ike Maier                    
E1   ****WINNER****  0.059  3.728 328.78                     0.123  4.159 288.39
 Qualified:             #4  3.750 326.56                       #13  5.144 261.72

Doug Kalitta begins the day 2nd in the points. He won here in 2002..This is just the 9th Top fuel starts for Ike Maier. Kalitta is 2 - 0 against Maier in prior events. Kalitta with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. He matches Force's E.T., but has the faster speed and will get lane choice in round two. Maier with a good clean pass in the losing effort.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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