Sat, 22 Jul 2006, 07:23 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 1 Eliminations

By Michael L. Jex

KENT, Wash. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 19th annual Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals presented by Lucas Oil:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  611 Garrett Bateman                       613 Joey Severance
E1                   0.078  7.097 148.85     ****WINNER****  0.009  5.621 254.38
 Qualified:             #8  5.600 262.33                        #9  5.633 253.04

Weather conditions: air temperature 90 degrees, relative humidity 50 percent, barometer 29.82 inches, adjusted altitude 2,417 feet, track temperature 125 degrees.

Bateman bogged badly off the line and was never a factor.

Joey Severance's incremental times: 60ft-0.960 sec., 330ft-2.478, 660ft-3.689/204.20mph, 1,000ft-4.736

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   74 Duane Shields                           9 Mike Austin
E1   ****WINNER****  0.113  5.630 254.18                           No Time
 Qualified:             #7  5.561 261.27                       #10  5.642 230.29

Austin finished number 9 in the country last year, he hails from Southern Oregon. So far the blown dragster combination is 1-0 against the nitro machines in this round.

Austin's motor fired, but something wasn't right and the team shut the motor off. Word comes there was a leak coming from a loose valve cover or some such on Austin's power plant.

Shields ran right down the groove - Duane Shields' incremental times: 60ft-1.013 sec., 330ft-2.584, 660ft-3.768/212.16mph, 1,000ft-4.763

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  421 Spencer Massey                        617 Gregg Lawrence
E1   ****WINNER****  0.023  5.540 260.11                     0.075  5.737 247.97
 Qualified:             #6  5.553 256.21                       #11  5.670 248.61

It's all about nitro now on the starting line, both teams use the yellow fuel for power. This race was all Massey, he pulled away the entire quarter mile from Lawrence's Commercial Business Machines entry.

Spencer Massey's MOV: 0.2497 seconds (approximately 91 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 6339 Paul Julien                          6143 Mark Hentges
E1                   0.325  5.639 252.33     ****WINNER****  0.097  5.682 248.48
 Qualified:             #5  5.542 253.71                       #12  5.682 246.62

Julien has won a National Open at the Lucas Oil Divisional level, he's looking for his first national event Wally. Not so for Hentges, Mark is a two time Northwest Division Champion (01,02) and former national event winner.

Julien went in deep, but was dead late off the line, something you just can't do and win against a driver like Mark. The holeshot win goes to Hentges

Mark Hentges' incremental margins: 60ft(0.298), 330 ft(0.261), 660ft(0.227), 1,000ft(0.205). MOV: 0.1859 seconds (approximately 69 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 7438 Morgan Lucas                            2 Steve Federlin
E1                   0.072  6.136 211.16     ****WINNER****  0.078  5.466 259.61
 Qualified:            #14  5.778 245.00                        #3  5.501 259.66

In an interview with FastNews Aaron Oliverez said Morgan Lucas is driving this car so he could close a Top Fuel sponsorship deal. Aaron said he'd have more information in the next week or so, and that it will be good and exciting news.

Morgan's struggles continued, the motor labored much of the way. Federlin was ready, he finally moves out of the 5.50's, and runs low ET of the round. Steve Federlin's incremental times: 60ft-0.943 sec., 330ft-2.414, 660ft-3.590/210.18mph, 1,000ft-4.602 Federlin will race Massey in round two, and Federlin will have lane choice.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 6073 Ed Verenka                           7384 Sean O'Bannon
E1                   0.117  5.964 242.89     ****WINNER****  0.078  5.535 261.88
 Qualified:            #17  6.436 227.77                        #1  5.474 261.52

Kim Parker lost a motor during the last round of qualifying and was unable to make repairs in time, so 1st alternate Verenka is taking her place. Verenka has a tough assignment.

O'Bannon simply thundered, Verenka's lap was his best of the weekend, but he trailed Sean by more than three dragster lengths at the finish. In the next round Sean will face Joey Severance, and O'Bannon will have lane choice.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 6610 Brandon Johnson                      7222 Dennis Swearingen
E1   ****WINNER****  0.093  5.479 262.13                     0.112  7.032 212.83
 Qualified:             #2  5.486 262.44                       #15  6.046 244.92

The winner will take on Duane Shields in the next round, it will take better than a 5.630 to get lane choice.

Swearingen lifted before he hydrauliced a motor, Johnson's run is 2nd only to Federlin's earlier 5.466 for the round. Nice pass!

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    7 Ashley Force                          667 Bill Edwards Jr.
E1   ****WINNER****  0.082  5.670 257.78                     0.062  5.884 193.49
 Qualified:             #4  5.535 259.76                       #13  5.747 246.39

TV Star Ashley Force in the left lane - A&E is here in, well, force this weekend. The winner will race Mark Hentges in round two btw...

Edwards lead this drag race till well past the halfway point, Ashley's top end charge vaulted her past to win by more than a dragster length. 4:19 p.m.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink