Sat, 1 Sep 2007, 02:26 PM Pro Bike Battle Round 1 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

CLERMONT, Ind. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Ringer's Gloves Pro Bike Battle at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 17th annual Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle:

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Chip Ellis                             10 Craig Treble                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.014  7.068 188.28                     0.002  7.158 189.52
 Qualified:             #4 2,190                                #5 1,865        

2:15 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 39 percent, barometer 29.25 inches, adjusted altitude 2,439 feet, track temperature 114 degrees.

The Pro Bike Battle opens with a pair of closely-matched competitors, but Ellis has been on a hot streak lately. Both had killer lights, but Treble could not stay with Ellis on the top end and Ellis advances.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Matt Smith                              6 Karen Stoffer                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.000  7.030 186.79                    -0.003  7.070 185.82
 Qualified:             #3 2,220                                #6 1,855        

Looks like the left lane is the lane of choice. Smith was perfect, Stoffer was too quick, and the race was over instantly.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  751 Steve Johnson                           3 Angelle Sampey               
E1                   0.051  7.117 182.77     ****WINNER****  0.070  7.048 184.17
 Qualified:             #8 1,620                                #1 2,380        

Interestingly, Sampey chose the right lane. Johnson got a small holeshot, but needed a big one and Sampey pulled away on the top end for the win. She will have lane choice against Ellis in the semifinals. Angelle Sampey's margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.014), 330 ft(0.003), 660ft(0.024), 1,000ft(0.041). MOV: 0.0503 seconds (approximately 13 feet).

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Andrew Hines                            2 Antron Brown                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.019  7.007 189.18                     0.009  7.075 185.82
 Qualified:             #2 2,345                                #7 1,854        

Brown had a great light, but Hines was only 0.01 seconds back and ran him down for the win. Andrew Hines' incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.015), 330 ft(-0.001), 660ft(0.016), 1,000ft(0.036). MOV: 0.0587 seconds (approximately 16 feet). He ran low ET of the round and will have lane choice against Smith in the semifinals.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink