Sun, 5 Nov 2006, 06:15 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Dan Bennett

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car 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
  806 Steve Harker                         6237 Roger Bateman                
E2                   0.048  5.744 251.16     ****WINNER****  0.089  5.692 250.23
 Prior rounds:
E1    (D Gordon    ) 0.049  5.645 254.28      (J Payne     ) 0.034  5.738 250.60
 Qualified:             #1  5.646 254.18                        #4  5.676 252.43

The number one qualifier meets number four. Bateman ran almost of a tenth of a second slower than Harker did last round, but is certainly capable of stepping up in this match.

Harker's unpainted car pulls into the water and Bateman's Noble Smile car follows on the other side.

And Bateman does step up. He's going to the final.

Roger Bateman's MOV: 0.0112 seconds (approximately 4 feet).

Steve Harker's incremental times: 60ft-0.965 sec., 330ft-2.539, 660ft-3.789/199.05mph, 1,000ft-4.849
Roger Bateman's incremental times: 60ft-0.983 sec., 330ft-2.533, 660ft-3.750/202.70mph, 1,000ft-4.796

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   62 Brian Hough                            64 Clint Thompson               
E2                  -0.060  5.966 234.98     ****WINNER****  0.057  6.817 166.89
 Prior rounds:
E1    (R August Jr ) 0.016  5.649 255.10      (L Miner     ) 0.075  6.300 246.75
 Qualified:             #2  5.655 254.18                        #3  5.668 251.86

3:01 p.m.

We hear that there is oil in the shutdown area so we're going to have a short pause. They're working in Bateman's lane about halfway up the hill. Looks like the crew is in for a thrash to get ready for the finals.

Hough's car is sitting directly in front of us as we wait for the cleanup to finish. It's remarkably clean on the rear section as the team chooses not to run a wing or sideplates, instead relying on the deck surface area to create downforce.

3:07 p.m. and the cars are fired.

Hough goes first and does a Force-like burnout. Thompson follows with a lesser one but still creates plenty of smoke.

And Brian rolls the beams as he brings the rpms up. It turns off the top bulb and stops, but by then the red eye came on.

Thompson realized what was going on and clicked his car off very early to save parts.

Of course, Bateman will have lane choice in the finals.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink