Sat, 22 Oct 2005, 04:57 PM Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 21st annual Budweiser Shootout:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Doug Kalitta                           91 Larry Dixon                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.050  4.600 325.06                     0.069  7.911  96.49
 Qualified:             #4  0.004   NS                          #5  0.005   NS  

Weather conditions: air temperature 78 degrees, relative humidity 32 percent, barometer 28.30 inches, adjusted altitude 3,361 feet, track temperature 104 degrees.

Kalitta is out of the gate first and never looked back to take the win. Dixon launched with the front end in the air and when the front wheels came back to earth he went up in smoke. Dixon pedaled it a couple times, but couldn't get it to hook up.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    7 Cory McClenathan                        3 Brandon Bernstein            
E1   ****WINNER****  0.073  4.555 327.35                     0.098  4.590 320.43
 Qualified:             #3  0.003   NS                          #6  0.006   NS  

This was a great drag race with Cory Mac getting the starting line advantage and blasted on through the quarter mile for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  743 Morgan Lucas                            4 Scott Kalitta                
E1                  -0.075  4.525 324.36     ****WINNER****  0.086  5.497 248.80
 Qualified:             #2  0.002   NS                          #7  0.007   NS  

Lucas is too quick on the tree and that gives Kalitta the big break as he goes up in smoke. To add insult to injury Lucas runs the quickest pass of the first round. This is only the fourth red light in the history of the Budweiser Shootout. Kalitta will give up lane choice to Cory Mac in the semifinal.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Tony Schumacher                         5 David Grubnic                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.072  4.520 325.69                     0.085  4.564 323.12
 Qualified:             #1  0.001   NS                          #8  0.008   NS  

Schumacher with the starting line advantage and then increased his lead at every increment with the quickest pass of the round. That will give him lane choice to Doug Kalitta in the semifinal.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink