Sun, 15 Oct 2006, 04:55 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Final, Round 4 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

DINWIDDIE, Va. - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Inaugural Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Frank Manzo                          1777 Bob Tasca III
E4   ****WINNER****  0.047  5.486 260.21                     0.039  5.538 258.86
 Prior rounds:
E3    (M Snyder    ) 0.091  5.455 263.26      (M Ferro     ) 0.065  5.535 258.91
E2    (D Ray       ) 0.063  5.454 262.74      (D Cox Jr    ) 0.089  5.539 258.91
E1    (G Beckner   ) 0.071  5.477 263.10      (B Martindale) 0.107  5.545 260.16
 Qualified:             #1  5.469 262.44                        #2  5.567 258.62

4:45 p.m. Manzo has been truly awesome this weekend, his worst run equaling the previous "quickest ever." This is his 91st final round and, since Memphis '99, he has a 33-4 final-round record. This is the fourth time he has faced Tasca in a final round, winning all three of the prior finals.

Tasca did all he could do, leaving first and making a very good run, but Manzo once again ran in the forties and added Tasca to the short list of drivers he's beaten four times or more in a final round. The other "lucky dog?" Bob Newberry, a legendary driver in his own right. It was a good drag race and if Manzo had faltered, Tasca was right there. But he didn't and one of the most dominating performances ever comes to a close with the win light in Manzo's lane.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink