Sun, 25 Feb 2007, 06:22 PM Top Fuel Final, Round 4 Eliminations

By Rick Green

CHANDLER, Ariz. - Results of final, round 4 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
    5 Rod Fuller                              4 Melanie Troxel               
E4   ****WINNER****  0.076  4.490 327.19                     0.084  4.536 325.61
 Prior rounds:
E3    (W Bazemore  ) 0.097  4.525 326.87      (T Schumacher) 0.063  4.539 328.46
E2    (B Vandergrif) 0.121  4.476 328.14      (B Bernstein ) 0.080  6.712 172.54
E1    (D Grubnic   ) 0.079  4.466 329.91      (M Lucas     ) 0.110  4.492 330.07
 Qualified:             #2  4.471 331.61                        #5  4.495 331.12

Weather conditions: air temperature 64 degrees, relative humidity 18 percent, barometer 28.86 inches, adjusted altitude 1,672 feet, track temperature 100 degrees.

This is a rematch of last year's final and in the 23 year history of this event it is the first time that has happened. Fuller holds a five to one advantage in head to head match ups. He also won the only time they have raced in the final round, here last year. Fuller with a slight starting line advantage and never looked back for the win with another great looking pass. Troxel with a real nice pass in a losing effort. Rod Fuller's incremental times: 60ft-0.855 sec., 330ft-2.150, 660ft-3.047/280.78mph, 1,000ft-3.813
Melanie Troxel's incremental times: 60ft-0.865 sec., 330ft-2.190, 660ft-3.094/278.86mph, 1,000ft-3.860 Fuller is only the third Top Fuel driver to win this race in consecutive years, the other two drivers are Brandon Bernstein and Dick LaHaie. Fuller leaves the race with the POWERade point lead.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink