Sun, 18 Sep 2005, 12:43 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Jim Samuel

MOHNTON, Pa. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 21st annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  365 Bobby Martin                          135 Billy Gibson                 
E2                   0.112  5.676 251.81     ****WINNER****  0.008  5.662 253.99
 Prior rounds:
E1    (B Tasca III ) 0.078  5.709 249.76      (E Lourie    ) 0.058  5.742 252.52
 Qualified:            #11  5.861 243.77                        #3  5.682 252.71

12:29 p.m. - Weather conditions: air temperature 71 degrees, relative humidity 51 percent, barometer 29.93 inches, adjusted altitude 980 feet, track temperature 94 degrees.

Gibson had the quicker start and led this race all the way down the track.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Bob Newberry                           22 Mark Billington              
E2   ****WINNER****  0.084  5.622 255.48                     0.091  5.808 244.29
 Prior rounds:
E1    (R Zavarella ) 0.127  5.677 254.81      (M Ferro     ) 0.072  5.801 247.88
 Qualified:             #1  5.644 254.95                        #8  5.767 248.11

Newberry got out of the gate first and led the race all the way to the finish line. Billington's car broke a blower belt at the end of the track.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  305 Jeff Burnett                         1224 David Ray                    
E2                   0.073  5.842 208.52     ****WINNER****  0.115  5.653 251.81
 Prior rounds:
E1    (D Pomponio J) 0.120  5.706 247.20      (R Stickler  ) 0.100  5.659 253.90
 Qualified:             #5  5.722 246.66                        #4  5.718 252.52

Burnett had the quicker start and led the race to mid track, when his car started trailing smoke. That gave Ray the opportunity to get by him and take the win. Ray gave up lane choice to Newberry in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  806 Steve Harker                            3 Frank Manzo                  
E2                   0.106  5.748 250.00     ****WINNER****  0.044  5.680 256.45
 Prior rounds:
E1    (D Cox Jr    ) 0.098  5.796 250.88      (D Beers     ) 0.069  5.636 256.36
 Qualified:             #7  5.755 250.92                        #2  5.651 255.73

Both drivers chattered the tires and both drove through the shake. Manzo drifted out of the groove but still got the win. He gave up lane choice to Gibson in round three.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink