Wed, 1 Nov 2006, 10:07 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Time Trial Notes, Session #1

By Larry Sullivan

LAS VEGAS - Notes from round 1 time trials in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Pacific Division, Shortline Express Markets Gambler Shootout at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Left Lane: Steve Federlin Runs 5.521/244.21, Now #1

5:07 p.m. Federlin is the first of a dozen or so to make a shakedown run for this weekend's event. The run looked pretty good until the transition, then the car started darting around.

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Right Lane: Johnny Ahten Runs 13.601/79.66, Now #2

5:12 p.m. Ahten's A-Fueler sounded rougher than usual at the start, then lost traction, forcing him to lift.

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Left Lane: Brian Smith Runs 6.090/236.55, Now #2

Smith had problems getting the car to respond at the green, posting an off-pace 1.055 60-foot time. The engine never did smooth out, sounding rough all the way down the track.

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Left Lane: Sean O'Bannon Runs 5.898/182.60, Now #2

This looked like a planned 1,000-foot pass, O'Bannon shutting it down before that point. Sean O'Bannon's incremental times: 60ft-0.956 sec., 330ft-2.422, 660ft-3.621/204.82mph, 1,000ft-4.748

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Left Lane: Chris Demke Runs 13.389/77.03, Now #4

This was pretty ugly, Demke with a strong launch, then losing traction. He pedaled it a couple of times, never did get it solidly hooked up.

Note: this run was originally attributed to Steve Torrence - Torrence's competition number is 1, Demke's is 71, and the "7" is missing on the left end plate on Demke's wing. Sorry for the confusion.

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Left Lane: Jim Whiteley Runs 9.571/100.30, Now #4

Whitely shook hard and headed for the centerline, forcing him to lift. He pedaled once, then gave it up.

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Left Lane: Jim Whiteley Runs 11.906/87.50, Now #4

6:33 p.m. Whitely had a strong launch, posting a 0.949 60-foot time, then lost traction and lifted.

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Left Lane: Johnny Ahten Runs 5.688/229.24, Now #2

6:36 p.m. Ahten came back for a second shot after early problems on his first attempt. This time he made a good run, but the car laid down a bit on the top end.

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Left Lane: Brian Smith Runs 5.779/250.37, Now #3

6:39 p.m. This was also Smith's second shot, his first a bit weak off the starting line. This one was also a bit slow at the start, with a 1.036 60-foot time, but this time the engine pulled hard on the top of the run.

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Left Lane: Aaron Olivarez Runs 14.695/67.25, Now #7

6:45 p.m. Olivarez lost traction immediately and coasted through.

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Left Lane: Chris Demke Runs 9.842/103.75, Now #6

6:48 p.m. The pace is picking up again - the session is scheduled to end at 7 p.m.

Demke's car made a very aggressive launch, his 0.908 60-foot time the lowest of the session, but the rear tires started shaking and the car made a right turn, forcing him to lift to stay off the centerline.

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Left Lane: Lee Callaway Runs 5.497/216.97, Now #1

6:52 p.m. Nice run - looked like a planned shutoff around 1,000 feet. Lee Callaway's incremental times: 60ft-0.929 sec., 330ft-2.426, 660ft-3.563/218.97mph, 1,000ft-4.535.

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Left Lane: Sean O'Bannon Runs 5.585/210.47, Now #3

6:56 p.m. O'Bannon came back for a second shot. He made a very stout 1,000-foot run, the car hooked up and straight down the lane. Sean O'Bannon's incremental times: 60ft-0.994 sec., 330ft-2.432, 660ft-3.583/214.59mph, 1,000ft-4.588.

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Left Lane: Larry Miersch Runs 6.117/166.70, Now #6

6:58 p.m. It took Miersch's crew two tries to get the engine fired, the first attempt flaming out after a few seconds. He ran it to just past half track, then clicked it off. Larry Miersch's incremental times: 60ft-0.951 sec., 330ft-2.464, 660ft-3.656/204.54mph, 1,000ft-4.861.

That was the final run of the day, racing "for the record" will start at 8 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday).

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink