Sun, 25 Feb 2007, 03:30 PM Top Fuel Round 2 Eliminations

By Rick Green

CHANDLER, Ariz. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Fuel 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
   73 Whit Bazemore                         104 Clay Millican                
E2   ****WINNER****  0.120  4.582 321.73                     0.074  4.650 253.71
 Prior rounds:
E1    (H Will      ) 0.104  4.513 326.95      (D Foley     ) 0.072  4.802 247.84
 Qualified:             #6  4.507 327.19                        #3  4.479 309.20

Weather conditions: air temperature 69 degrees, relative humidity 181 percent, barometer 28.89 inches, adjusted altitude 2,005 feet, track temperature 92 degrees.

Millican is out of the gate first and has the lead until just before the finish line. Millican's car hazed the tires and appeared to lose a blower belt, and Bazemore was able to drive around him. Whit Bazemore's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.053), 330 ft(-0.044), 660ft(-0.066), 1,000ft(-0.092). MOV: 0.0224 seconds (approximately 8 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Tony Schumacher                         9 Cory McClenathan             
E2   ****WINNER****  0.064  4.461 324.90                     0.082  5.223 164.33
 Prior rounds:
E1    (D Herbert   ) 0.059  4.498 328.70      (L Dixon     ) 0.109  4.528 322.65
 Qualified:             #1  4.430 328.22                        #9  4.516 327.51

Schumacher has a 16 to 10 advantage over Cory Mac in head to head match ups. Schumacher is out of the gate first and never looked back with another good looking pass. Cory Mac is dropping cylinders early and then the chute comes out just past half track. Tony Schumacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.825 sec., 330ft-2.122, 660ft-3.023/278.92mph, 1,000ft-3.787

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Rod Fuller                             12 Bob Vandergriff              
E2   ****WINNER****  0.121  4.476 328.14                     0.085  5.253 194.32
 Prior rounds:
E1    (D Grubnic   ) 0.079  4.466 329.91      (J Todd      ) 0.064  4.853 323.81
 Qualified:             #2  4.471 331.61                       #10  4.523 329.58

These two have raced three time and Fuller has won twice. Vandergriff with the starting line advantage, but Fuller has the difference made up early. Vandergriff dropped a cylinder or two and then was hazing the tires, before he lifted. Fuller with another great pass to move into the semifinal to face his teammate Bazemore, Fuller will have lane choice. The safety Safari is rolling in Vandergriff's lane, this will cost Vandergriff $4,000 and 15 points.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Brandon Bernstein                       4 Melanie Troxel               
E2                   0.091  6.815 115.33     ****WINNER****  0.080  6.712 172.54
 Prior rounds:
E1    (D Kalitta   ) 0.108  4.457 329.67      (M Lucas     ) 0.110  4.492 330.07
 Qualified:             #4  4.494 330.31                        #5  4.495 331.12

Bernstein holds a three to one advantage in head to head match ups. Troxel is out of the gate first and then lost traction first, Bernstein then lost traction and when he lost traction Troxel got back on the throttle. She was back up in smoke and all over her lane, close to the centerline twice. She was able to keep it in her lane and took the win light. Bernstein pedaled his car and was back up in smoke. It then appeared he lost a blower belt because his engine went silent, and raw fuel was pumping out of the headers. she will give up lane choice to Schumacher.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink