Sat, 21 Oct 2006, 07:21 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Qualifying Notes, Final Session

By Dave Rowe

REYNOLDS, Ga. - Notes from final, round 2 qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Southeast Division, event at Silver Dollar Raceway listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:

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Left Lane: Ron Griffis Runs 6.662/150.15, Now #8; Best prior run: 9.483/93.10, Was #9
Right Lane: Bob Leverich Runs 8.447/110.65, Now #9; Best prior run: 8.391/127.04, Was #8

6:56 p.m. The problems continue for both of these cars, both with cylinders out at the hit. Leverich gets to half-track and backs off the throttle. Griffis stayed on the throttle, drifted to the right, almost crossing the center-line about 800 feet out, but he runs well enough to bump out Leverich and get in the show.

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Left Lane: Marty Thacker Runs 5.537/259.66, Now #3; Best prior run: 6.221/227.96, Was #7
Right Lane: Dick Garlets Runs 5.941/226.58, Now #6; Best prior run: 5.880/234.00, Was #5

Thacker nakes a good run here, keeping all the candles lit, and he moves up to the third spot. Garlets had a hole out for part of the run and slowed from his first attempt.

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Right Lane: Artie Allen Runs 5.667/249.44, Now #4; Best prior run: 5.673/253.85, Was #4

Allen gets out of the groove, drifts toward the center-line, but keeps it under control for a decent run.

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Left Lane: Dan Mercier Runs 5.482/264.29, Now #2; Best prior run: 5.892/194.72, Was #7
Right Lane: Ashley Force Runs 5.485/261.37, Now #3; Best prior run: 5.499/261.37, Was #2

A couple of good looking runs here, both right down the groove, Mercier moves into the second spot, Force drops a notch to the third spot.

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Left Lane: Aaron Olivarez Runs 5.498/259.86, Now #4; Best prior run: 5.682/253.33, Was #6
Right Lane: Richard Putz Runs 5.408/261.22, Now #1; Best prior run: 5.406/260.11, Was #1

Putz makes another great run, almost equalling his first attempt, and he stays well in front of the field. No problems for Olivarez, right down the groove, and he gets in the top half of the field.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink