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CHANDLER, Ariz. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 35th annual Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals: Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 7211 Mike Salinas 10 Scott Palmer E1 ****WINNER**** 0.108 5.690 96.87 0.086 No Time Qualified: #9 3.862 274.55 #8 3.781 325.22Weather conditions: air temperature 59 degrees, relative humidity 39 percent, barometer 28.91 inches, adjusted altitude 1,539 feet, track temperature 83 degrees. Scott Palmer was runner-up here last year. Mike Salinas is making his 36th start in Top Fuel. Salinas is 3 - 0 against Palmer in prior events. Palmer with the starting line advantage, but was up in smoke as soon as he hit the the throttle. The car was completely sideways and collected the 330-foot cone. In the
other lane Salinas is starting to mix up cylinders and bangs the blower around half track with a
quick fireball. He is then coasting, but coasts to the win.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
5 Brittany Force 24 Jordan Vandergriff
E1 0.109 3.768 314.02 ****WINNER**** 0.063 3.692 333.41
Qualified: #13 4.838 188.31 #4 3.726 321.88
This is the first start for Jordan Vandergriff in his first race in Top Fuel. He made five
starts in the Top Alcohol Dragster class. Brittany Force has been the runner-up here in three of
the last five years. In her last 17 races Brittany is 7 - 10 in round one.Vandergriff with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. He again runs his career quickest and fastest pass for the win. Vandergriff with top speed of the event on this pass. Force dropped
a cylinder early and then the engine let go with a quick flash. The word from the top end is there
is oil on the track. Brittany Force was charged with an oildown, #2 for the season. That will
cost 10 points and $2K. Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 759 Jim Maroney 8 Doug Kalitta E1 0.084 6.447 97.24 ****WINNER**** 0.064 3.741 322.42 Qualified: #12 4.373 274.22 #5 3.737 326.95Doug Kalitta's 24 round wins in Phoenix are the most for any active Top Fuel driver. Only two Top Fuel drivers, Gary Scelzi and Leah Pritchett, have won the Winternationals and Phoenix race in back-to-back years. Jim Maroney is making his sixth start and this (#12) is his best starting position. Kalitta is 1 - 0 against Maroney in prior events. Kalitta with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. He will give up lane choice to Vandergriff in the next round. Maroney's car went silent around 330 feet.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
1 Steve Torrence 6 Antron Brown
E1 0.066 3.930 256.50 ****WINNER**** 0.059 3.728 330.63
Qualified: #14 5.682 261.88 #3 3.718 322.34
Antron Brown has won this race three times. Steve Torrence is the defending event champion.
As good as Steve has been in his career he really struggles against Antron. Steve is just 9 - 27
against Antron and he is 0 - 6 against him in round one.Brown with the starting line advantage, but Torrence had the lead when they went by the Christmas tree and the lead until around half track when the car started to haze the tires. Brown drove around him and takes the win. Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 58 Richie Crampton 21 Terry McMillen E1 0.064 4.061 215.79 ****WINNER**** 0.068 3.726 329.02 Qualified: #15 6.069 101.77 #2 3.695 330.96This (No. 2) is the best starting position for Terry McMillen in his career (222 races). Richie Crampton is starting his 104th race in Top Fuel. Crampton and McMillen have each won 3 times against the other in prior events. Crampton with the slight starting line advantage and the lead until around half track when the car started to haze the tires and was out of the groove before he clicked it off as he was getting over by the wall. McMillen was straight down the
groove with another good looking pass for the win. Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 565 Terry Totten 474 Billy Torrence E1 0.127 No Time ****WINNER**** 0.074 3.736 329.42 Qualified: #16 6.821 96.18 #1 3.667 328.46Billy Torrence qualified No. 1 once before and he won that race (Brainerd, 2018). The top qualifier in Top Fuel is 30 - 4 in round one at this race and two of those losses were in the first two years of the race, 1985 & 1986. This is the seventh start for Terry Totten. Torrence with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. He will have lane choice over Salinas in the next round. Totten was up in smoke early and clicked it off. Totten then crossed the centerline past the finish line and before the 1320. Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 25 Clay Millican 374 Austin Prock E1 0.072 3.862 306.74 ****WINNER**** 0.069 3.748 328.22 Qualified: #11 4.259 195.48 #6 3.738 328.46This is the first time Millican and Prock have faced each other in eliminations. Prock with the slight starting line advantage, but Millican grabbed the lead as they went past the Christmas tree. He had the lead until he started to lose traction just past half track and Prock drove back around him for the win. Prock will give up lane choice to Brown in round two. Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 748 Cameron Ferre 777 Leah Pritchett E1 0.098 4.263 207.82 ****WINNER**** 0.109 3.722 329.67 Qualified: #10 4.085 232.43 #7 3.744 282.42Leah Pritchett won here in back-to-back years of 2016 and 2017. This is the fourth Top Fuel start for Cameron Ferre. This is the first time Ferre and Pritchett have faced each other in eliminations. Ferre with the starting line advantage, but then started dropping cylinders and he clicked it off. Pritchett with her quickest pass of the weekend for the win. She will have lane
choice over McMillen by 0.004 seconds in round two.
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