Sun, 23 Oct 2005, 03:25 PM Pro Stock Round 1 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Fifth annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   55 V. Gaines                             387 Mark Pawuk                   
E1                   0.007  6.861 200.53     ****WINNER****  0.010  6.856 200.92
 Qualified:             #8  6.850 200.53                        #9  6.852 200.89

12:05 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 71 degrees, relative humidity 37 percent, barometer 28.34 inches, adjusted altitude 2,847 feet, track temperature 99 degrees.

These two have met twice before, each winning once. Two great lights, Pawuk "has the ponies" this weekend and "Cowboy" gets the win light with a top-end charge after trailing most of the way. Mark Pawuk's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.012), 330 ft(-0.008), 660ft(-0.005), 1,000ft(-0.001). MOV: 0.0027 seconds (approximately 10 inches).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    6 Jeg Coughlin                          208 Warren Johnson               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.022  6.835 201.40                     0.018  6.848 202.21
 Qualified:             #7  6.847 201.40                       #10  6.859 201.43

These two have met 46 times before, Jeg holding a 24-22 edge in those contests. WJ had a new "bullet" in the trailer that looked good on the dyno but had never been down the track and he put it in last night. The new engine and a small starting line advantage were not enough, Coughlin held WJ off on the top end for the win.Jeg Coughlin's incremental margins: 60ft(0.015), 330 ft(0.019), 660ft(0.016), 1,000ft(0.012). MOV: 0.0098 seconds (approximately 3 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  351 Ron Krisher                             3 Dave Connolly                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.049  6.811 201.97                     0.021  6.864 200.80
 Qualified:             #6  6.844 201.70                       #11  6.861 200.83

Krisher and Connolly have split in their prior six meetings, each with three wins. Connolly was first off the line with a nice advantage, but Krisher had the power to run him down by half track and pull away for the win. Ron Krisher's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.017), 330 ft(-0.004), 660ft(0.009), 1,000ft(0.019). MOV: 0.0255 seconds (approximately 8 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Kurt Johnson                          712 Bob Panella                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.055  6.803 203.06                     0.000  6.899 200.00
 Qualified:             #2  6.820 202.76                       #15  6.872 200.77

These two met once before, KJ the winner. Panella was perfect on the tree and still could not hold off KJ, who ran him down by half track and then posted low ET and top speed of the meet for the win. Kurt Johnson's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.049), 330 ft(-0.021), 660ft(0.005), 1,000ft(0.025). MOV: 0.0411 seconds (approximately 12 feet).Kurt will have lane choice against Coughlin in the second round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Jason Line                             43 Rickie Smith                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.024  6.823 201.88                     0.052  6.856 201.10
 Qualified:             #4  6.833 201.58                       #13  6.863 200.59

Smith holds a 2-1 career record against Line but Line evened that up with a starting line advantage and a quicker run for the win. Jason Line's MOV: 0.0616 seconds (approximately 18 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   19 Richie Stevens                        445 Greg Stanfield               
E1                  -0.026  6.860 201.16     ****WINNER****  0.025  6.866 201.31
 Qualified:             #5  6.838 201.31                       #12  6.862 200.68

Stanfield has been perfect against Stevens, winning both times they met in prior races. He's still perfect, Stevens going red. Stanfield will not have lane choice when he faces Line in round two.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Greg Anderson                          93 Allen Johnson                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.019  6.806 202.58                     0.030  6.948 200.17
 Qualified:             #1  6.818 201.97                       #16  6.874 199.49

Anderson held a 14-3 edge against AJ coming into this round. Anderson left first and pulled away for second-quickest ET of the round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  430 Erica Enders                           14 Jim Yates                    
E1   ****WINNER****  0.006  6.828 201.91                     0.045  6.874 200.86
 Qualified:             #3  6.827 201.25                       #14  6.866 200.41

Yates is the eighth different opponent Enders has faced in her rookie season, she is the 70th different opponent he has faced in his storied career. Enders tattooed the tree and pulled ahead easily for the win, but she will not have lane choice against Krisher in round two.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink