Sun, 25 Feb 2007, 02:46 PM Pro Stock Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

CHANDLER, Ariz. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 23rd annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  107 Kenny Koretsky                          3 Dave Connolly                
E1                   0.079  6.736 205.51     ****WINNER****  0.026  6.668 207.78
 Qualified:             #8  6.659 207.59                        #9  6.660 207.78

Weather conditions: air temperature 61 degrees, relative humidity 21 percent, barometer 28.95 inches, adjusted altitude 1,443 feet, track temperature 86 degrees.

This is a race that Koretsky qualified in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock in 1990, and he won round one in both. Connolly was runner-up here in 2004. Connolly holds a three to oh advantage in head to head match ups. These two both pre-stage and then neither one wants to stage first, finally after one-minute and ten seconds Connolly goes in first. Connolly is then out of the gate first and never looked back for the win light.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Kurt Johnson                           25 Jeg Coughlin                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.050  6.676 206.83                     0.008  7.048 202.58
 Qualified:             #7  6.658 207.75                       #10  6.667 207.27

Johnson won here in 1999 and 2004. Coughlin holds a 25 to 19 advantage in head to head match ups. Coughlin with a great light, but then has a lot of tire shake. Johnson with a nice pass for the win light.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  430 Erica Enders                           41 Roger Brogdon                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.046  6.668 206.54                     0.045  6.675 207.82
 Qualified:             #3  6.648 207.02                       #14  6.684 207.02

They leave together and Erica takes the win light against her teammate. Erica Enders' MOV: 0.0068 seconds (approximately 2 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Greg Anderson                         186 Tom Martino                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.009  6.640 208.20                    -0.005 12.928  66.83
 Qualified:             #4  6.650 209.49                       #13  6.680 206.83

Anderson won here in 2003 and was a runner-up in 2006. He is four and oh against Martino in head to head match ups. Martino turns on the red light and then has a lot tire shake. Anderson with a great light and his quickest pass of the weekend for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    9 Richie Stevens                         10 V. Gaines                    
E1   ****WINNER****  0.000  6.671 206.99                     0.049  6.683 207.08
 Qualified:             #2  6.640 207.18                       #15  6.688 206.54

This is Stevens best start in 15 races, and holds a three to two advantage in head to head match ups. This is the second race to start the season that Gaines is starting out of the number 15 spot. Stevens with a perfect light and then out runs Gaines for the win light. Stevens has lane choice over Kurt Johnson in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  208 Warren Johnson                          7 Jim Yates                    
E1                   0.132  6.659 207.30     ****WINNER****  0.041  6.692 206.35
 Qualified:             #5  6.652 208.14                       #12  6.673 206.76

WJ has a 45-17 advantage over Yates in head to head match ups. He has won here three times and has been runner-up four times. Yates with a huge starting line advantage and wins this on a hole shot by about 18 feet. Yates will give up lane choice to Anderson in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Jason Line                            103 Max Naylor                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.060  6.634 208.33                    -0.003  6.713 206.51
 Qualified:             #1  6.635 209.33                       #16  6.690 206.13

Line has qualified for 75 races in a row. This is Naylor's ninth start. He beat Line the only time they have raced. Naylor is too quick on the tree and turns on the red light. Line with a great looking pass the quickest of the weekend, and he will have lane choice over Connolly in round two.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    8 Greg Stanfield                          4 Mike Edwards                 
E1                   0.019  6.693 207.08     ****WINNER****  0.015  6.694 206.45
 Qualified:             #6  6.658 207.82                       #11  6.670 206.83

Edwards holds a three to one advantage in head to head match ups. Both drivers with very good lights with Edwards having the advantage. It is just enough to take the hole shot win. Mike Edwards' MOV: 0.0031 seconds (approximately 11 inches).

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink