Sun, 23 Jul 2006, 02:39 PM Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

KENT, Wash. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel 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
    1 Tony Schumacher                        12 Bob Vandergriff              
E1   ****WINNER****  0.085  4.599 323.89                     0.007  4.714 305.70
 Qualified:             #9  4.662 305.84                        #8  4.660 316.38

This is Vandergriff's 140th start. This is the lowest start for the Schumacher team since Bristol of last year or 30 races. Schumacher holds a eight to three advantage in head to head match ups. Vandergriff with a great light and had the lead at 1000 feet, but Schumacher was able to drive around him for the win light. Tony Schumacher's MOV: 0.0378 seconds (approximately 17 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   91 Larry Dixon                             3 Doug Kalitta                 
E1                   0.073  4.904 312.86     ****WINNER****  0.067  4.669 310.20
 Qualified:            #10  4.663 321.04                        #7  4.656 324.20

Dixon holds a 22 to 20 advantage in head to head match ups. Dixon started to lose traction right off the starting line and Dixon does a great pedal job and gets it to hook up, but can't chase Kalitta down. Kalitta with a great looking pass just a tick off his qualifying time for the win.Weather conditions: air temperature 83 degrees, relative humidity 56 percent, barometer 29.80 inches,adjusted altitude 2,066 feet, track temperature 105 degrees.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    6 Doug Herbert                          763 Hillary Will                 
E1                   0.040  5.365 212.13     ****WINNER****  0.114  4.903 279.67
 Qualified:            #11  4.703 308.64                        #6  4.642 314.83

Will defeated Herbert the only time they have met in eliminations. Herbert with the starting line advantage, but Will has him chased down by 400 feet and drives away for the win. About 1000 feet the engine went away and then has he crossed the finish line it let go with a big fireball. Herbert got a freebie because of the new crew chief and crew, so he used it up here.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   72 Mike Strasburg                         10 Rod Fuller                   
E1                   0.140  5.343 190.00     ****WINNER****  0.098  4.655 320.20
 Qualified:            #15  4.791 299.20                        #2  4.578 322.19

Fuller is out of the gate first and never looks back for the win. He will have lane choice over Kalitta in the next round. Strasburg lost traction right around half track and got out of the groove.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  530 Alan Bradshaw                           7 Brandon Bernstein            
E1   ****WINNER****  0.071  6.115 218.02                     0.101  7.965  94.25
 Qualified:            #16  4.827 311.49                        #1  4.555 327.11

Bernstein is up in smoke right off the starting line and then Bradshaw is up in smoke so they begin the pedal feast. Bernstein pedals it a couple times and doesn't get it to hook up and then the engine goes silent while Bradshaw was on and off the throttle a couple times and then blistered the Goodyears through the 1320 for the win. Bradshaw puts the defending champ and number one qualifier on the trailer. Bradshaw will give up lane choice to Schumacher in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  373 J.R. Todd                             507 Melanie Troxel               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.058  4.682 311.05                     0.092  4.675 313.44
 Qualified:            #13  4.733 302.69                        #4  4.610 322.50

Todd with a big starting line advantage and the power to hold on for the hole shot win. J.R. Todd's MOV: 0.0275 seconds (approximately 13 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    9 Cory McClenathan                       13 David Baca                   
E1                   0.086  5.223 218.65     ****WINNER****  0.091  4.777 301.13
 Qualified:            #12  4.714 310.63                        #5  4.642 319.90

Cory Mac with a slight starting line advantage, but then starts shaking the tires and had all kinds of problems. Baca for good clean pass for the win light. Baca will give up lane choice to Todd in round two.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Morgan Lucas                            4 David Grubnic                
E1                   0.121  4.753 303.03     ****WINNER****  0.094  4.682 321.42
 Qualified:            #14  4.738 310.13                        #3  4.595 323.89

Grubnic is out of the gate first and never looked back to take the win. He will have lane choice over teammate Will in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink