Sun, 5 Nov 2006, 06:01 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 2 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 2 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                         611 Garrett Bateman
E2                   0.063  5.717 228.31     ****WINNER****  0.046  5.584 254.71
 Prior rounds:
E1    (L Miersch   ) 0.078  5.590 258.42      (C Demke     )       No Time
 Qualified:             #1  5.349 261.67                        #4  5.381 262.08

2:48 p.m. Shields pulled out to an early lead, then his car started dropping cylinders at half track and Bateman pulled away for a surprisingly easy win. Garrett Bateman's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.018), 330 ft(-0.037), 660ft(-0.053), 1,000ft(0.045). MOV: 0.1509 seconds (approximately 51 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   19 John Finke                            568 Cody Perkins
E2   ****WINNER****  0.094  5.410 264.03                     0.012  5.705 214.28
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M Niver     ) 0.047  5.380 265.53      (S O'Bannon  ) 0.036  5.419 260.56
 Qualified:             #3  5.371 263.67                        #7  5.443 260.76

Perkins needed another career-best and a good reaction time to have a chance against Finke. He almost pulled it off. He got a big holeshot and led to half track, but Finke ran him down and then Perkins' car started nosing over and pitched out the blower belt. Finke won handily and will have lane choice against Bateman in the final round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink