Mon, 5 Sep 2005, 04:21 PM Top Fuel Round 3 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

CLERMONT, Ind. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 51st annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   91 Larry Dixon                             8 Doug Herbert                 
E3   ****WINNER****  0.098  4.548 326.00                     0.078  6.238 141.58
 Prior rounds:
E2    (C McClenatha) 0.046  4.557 326.79      (M Troxel    ) 0.006  4.599 318.32
E1    (S Weis      ) 0.073  4.606 324.59      (J Hartley   ) 0.117  4.575 321.50
 Qualified:             #6  4.510 326.71                        #2  4.463 326.56

3:09 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 78 degrees, relative humidity 35 percent, barometer 29.83 inches, adjusted altitude 1,597 feet, track temperature 111 degrees.

Dixon has won this event twice, Herbert has been to the finals twice. In head-to-head competition, Dixon held a 21-6 edge, but Herbert has been extremely quick this weekend. Dougzilla will have to try again next year, his car losing traction early in the run. Herbert pedaled it twice, lost traction twice more, and he threw in the towel.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Tony Schumacher                         5 David Grubnic                
E3   ****WINNER****  0.057  4.659 292.84                     0.091  5.943 234.57
 Prior rounds:
E2    (R Fuller    ) 0.094  4.541 326.71      (D Kalitta   ) 0.077  6.580 123.85
E1    (J Beckman   ) 0.093  4.536 320.89      (B Bernstein ) 0.084  5.250 248.02
 Qualified:             #1  4.459 329.18                       #13  4.613 324.67

Schumacher has won this event four times, Grubnic had only one round win in seven prior Indy appearances.

It was over quickly, Grubnic up in smoke almost immediately, but Schumacher's car slowed sharply on the top end and he gave up lane choice to Dixon in the final round. he is going for five Indy wins and four in a row, but Dixon goes into the final round as the favorite.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink