Sun, 12 Nov 2006, 03:41 PM Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 1 Eliminations

By Darryl Jackman

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock Motorcycle at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals:

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  412 Michael Phillips                        8 Geno Scali                   
E1                   0.030  7.136 185.79     ****WINNER****  0.006  7.123 188.91
 Qualified:             #8  7.094 190.11                        #9  7.102 188.70

12:16 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 74 degrees, relative humidity 42 percent, barometer 29.20 inches, adjusted altitude 2,049 feet, track temperature 91 degrees.

Phillips is 4-3 against Scali. Scali on the other hand is 119-129 for his long career. Great light for Scali and then he proceeds to outrun him as well.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Ryan Schnitz                            6 Antron Brown                 
E1                  -0.007  7.057 187.05     ****WINNER****  0.039  7.152 184.90
 Qualified:             #7  7.088 186.38                       #10  7.106 184.70

Schnitz won this event in 2005n but is in tough here in round 1. Brown won here in 1999 and this is only the 24th time in his long career that he's been in the bottom half of the field. In his 129th event he has a chance to catch Hines but his fate is not in his own hands. He pretty much needs Hines out in the first round and then for him to win the event. Schnitz throws his run away on the tree and Brown's hopes are still alive.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    9 Steve Johnson                         731 Matt Guidera                 
E1                   0.082  7.154 189.31     ****WINNER****  0.103  7.048 186.54
 Qualified:            #12  7.109 187.08                        #5  7.081 185.51

Guidera holds a 14-20 lifetime record as a Pro Stock Motorcycle rider. He is also the 71st different rider that Johnson has faced in his career. This is Johnson's best start in 38 races. Guidera just has way to much for Johnson this time.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  204 Matt Smith                              3 Angelle Sampey               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.027  7.103 182.92                     0.083  7.087 187.81
 Qualified:            #14  7.131 180.91                        #3  7.066 188.07

This was a bit of a surprise to me when the numbers were compiled but this is Sampey's 150th straight qualified event. This is Smith's 41st start and 19 of them have been from the top half of the field. Sampey was to careful on the light and winds up getting beat.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 GT Tonglet                              5 Chip Ellis                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.012  7.104 186.92                    -0.017  7.144 185.31
 Qualified:            #11  7.107 185.61                        #6  7.081 183.10

Ellis's 34th start produces his 32nd top half qualifying result. This is the 71st time Tonglet has qualified for on of these events. Ellis throws the first round away on the tree and Tonglet gets the gift. Smith has choice over Tonglet by .001.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  573 Mike Berry                            205 Shawn Gann                   
E1                   0.050  7.150 187.36     ****WINNER****  0.011  7.097 185.77
 Qualified:            #13  7.118 186.95                        #4  7.081 188.28

This is Gann's 99th event and he's a perfect 4-0 against Berry. This is the 10th time Berry has qualified #10. Gann with the light and a better pass. Guidera has lane choice over Gann.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   10 Karen Stoffer                           7 Craig Treble                 
E1                   0.044  7.068 187.57     ****WINNER****  0.005  7.036 191.70
 Qualified:            #15  7.133 184.47                        #2  7.046 190.35

Stoffer is qualified for her 65th event and has a career record of 4-4 vs Treble. Treble nails Stoffer to the tree and the runs his best pass of the weekend. That was top speed for the bikes as well.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Andrew Hines                          303 Tom Bradford                 
E1                  -0.019  7.028 187.16     ****WINNER****  0.007  7.075 188.04
 Qualified:             #1  7.020 191.00                       #16  7.142 188.62

Hines and Bradford meet here in round one with a championship riding on the outcome of this event. This is the 19th time in Hines career that he's qualified #1. He's 3-0 against Bradford. Oh my! Hines leaves the door wide open for Brown by turning on the redlight here in the first round. Bradford will have lane choice over Scali.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink