Sun, 12 Nov 2006, 05:59 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 3 Eliminations

By Dave Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   47 Brandon Pierce                          4 Bill Reichert                
E3                   0.066 15.465  52.61     ****WINNER****  0.079  5.353 273.88
 Prior rounds:
E2    (S O'Bannon  ) 0.076  5.316 255.34      (J Whiteley  ) 0.065  5.319 259.71
E1    (J Finke     ) 0.044  5.336 260.11      (J Severance ) 0.080  5.273 273.94
 Qualified:            #14  5.412 247.66                        #2  5.265 274.00

2:48 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 73 degrees, relative humidity 34 percent, barometer 29.16 inches, adjusted altitude 2,024 feet, track temperature 94 degrees.

Two mid-west hitters come to the line. It's over at the hit, as Pierce is up in smoke at the hit. The Rislone Team gives Reichert the right tune up and he thunders on down for a decisive win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  318 Dave Hirata                           421 Spencer Massey               
E3                         No Time           ****WINNER****  0.050  5.325 268.60
 Prior rounds:
E2    (M Niver     ) 0.035  5.332 267.64      (G Bateman   ) 0.001  5.305 269.83
E1    (B Smith     ) 0.090  5.814 231.83      (C Demke     ) 0.016  5.362 268.49
 Qualified:             #1  5.258 264.13                        #5  5.333 267.80

Hirata's car doesn't want to go into reverse at the end of the burnout. The team rocks the car, tries to slow down the idle, and kicks the tires to no avail. Finally, he gives it up and drives on down the lane. Massey waits patiently for him to clear the top end and then pounds out a stellar pass to capture lane choice in the finals. Two non-races set the field for the final round.

2:54 p.m.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink