Sun, 11 Feb 2007, 07:00 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Darryl Jackman

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 47th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   76 Mark Woznichak                          2 Jay Payne
E2                   0.153 No Time           ****WINNER****  0.050  5.708 257.53
 Prior rounds:
E1    (S Gasparrell) 0.009  5.732 250.51      (J Patton    ) 0.029  5.715 254.28
 Qualified:             #7  5.661 250.92                        #2  5.557 260.36

3:38 p.m. This just about got ugly. Woznichak got closer and closer to the center line and finally crossed all the way over into Payne's lane. The Woz was late and simply pulled in behind Payne and avoided the chutes when they came out.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  799 Sean Bellemeur                       1777 Bob Tasca III
E2   ****WINNER****  0.022  5.629 255.43                     0.043  5.865 204.79
 Prior rounds:
E1    (D Taylor    ) 0.035  5.709 252.10      (J Rupert    ) 0.062  6.517 149.25
 Qualified:            #12  5.742 254.33                        #4  5.623 257.14

Tasca is the next driver to go cone bowling. He sends the finish line marker flying and his time will be DQd. That was a 5.865/204.79. Bellemeur had a great light and runs his best time and speed of the weekend.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Brian Hough                            62 Clint Thompson
E2   ****WINNER**** -0.102  5.656 253.42                     0.141 No Time
 Prior rounds:
E1    (R August    ) 0.031  5.700 247.66      (D Gordon    ) 0.063  5.639 255.24
 Qualified:             #6  5.641 258.12                        #3  5.576 257.04

Hough turned on the reb bulb but Thompson handed the race back by crossing the center stripe just after half track. Saw the replay and yes, he really did get the tire onto the stripe. Hough legged it on out and gets lane choice over Payne in the semi. Now that's really strange.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   65 Ken Kraus                               1 Frank Manzo
E2                   0.072  5.773 248.07     ****WINNER****  0.042  5.674 258.96
 Prior rounds:
E1    (B Harrington) 0.044  5.826 246.12      (B Williamson) 0.074  5.500 263.10
 Qualified:             #8  5.700 253.42                        #1  5.501 264.23

Manzo makes his worst run of the weekend and it appeared the car was wandering around on the big end pretty good. He takes the win over Kraus but loses lane choice to Bellemeur in the other semi.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink