Sun, 5 Nov 2006, 03:25 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 1 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 1 eliminations 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:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   74 Duane Shields                         712 Larry Miersch
E1   ****WINNER****  0.078  5.590 258.42                     0.027  5.720 245.09
 Qualified:             #1  5.349 261.67                        #8  5.461 253.04

12:03 p.m. Six of the top ten in points are here, not all made the quickest eight-car field in history. Shields has two national event wins and one runner-up, plus two divisional wins this year. Currently third in Lucas Oil national points, he could move past Sean O'Bannon into second with a strong finish. Miersch has a huge air scoop atop his engine, by the way.

Miersch got a big holeshot and almost pulled off the upset, but a droped cylinder on the top end allowed Shields to go by for the win.Duane Shields' incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.072), 330 ft(-0.098), 660ft(-0.041), 1,000ft(0.022). MOV: 0.0797 seconds (approximately 29 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  611 Garrett Bateman                        71 Chris Demke
E1   ****WINNER****  0.067 No Time                           0.074 No Time
 Qualified:             #4  5.381 262.08                        #5  5.426 265.90

Bateman was #1 qualifier and set low ET at the Sonoma nationals, was runner-up at Seattle. Demke leads in Division 7 points and should stay there unless Sean O'Bannon and/or Shields get to the finals here.

This was a strange one, between two very good drivers. Bateman was up in smoke almost immediately, but Demke's car was very loose and made a hard move toward the centerline on the top end, hitting the finish line timing block. That disqualified his run. Since he took out the finish line, Bateman did not get a time, but he's the winner. Bateman faces Shields next round, Shields has lane choice.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  568 Cody Perkins                         7384 Sean O'Bannon
E1   ****WINNER****  0.036  5.419 260.56                     0.085  5.421 264.18
 Qualified:             #7  5.443 260.76                        #2  5.368 267.53

O'Bannon is currently second in points, should finish there unless Shields can catch him. Has been in four divisional final rounds this year, with three national event wins and one runner-up.

Perkins has steadily improved his career-best marks this weekend and did so once again here, putting O'Bannon in the trailer with strong performance at both ends of the track. That should clinch the Division 7 title for Demke.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   19 John Finke                            777 Mark Niver
E1   ****WINNER****  0.047  5.380 265.53                     0.085  5.493 255.58
 Qualified:             #3  5.371 263.67                        #6  5.434 256.55

Finke swept at Richmond, qualifying #1, running low ETand top speed and winning the event. He also won the Atco divisional this year. Niver posted a win in Division 7, at Tucson,

Good drag race, but Finke was first off the line and almost matched his qualifying run to win handily. He will have lane choice against Perkins in the semifinals.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink