Sun, 16 Sep 2007, 03:48 PM Top Fuel Round 3 Eliminations

By Rick Green

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 20th annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals presented by Pennzoil:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   11 Doug Herbert                         1301 Doug Foley                   
E3   ****WINNER****  0.082  4.750 294.37                     0.102 No Time      
 Prior rounds:
E2    (W Bazemore  ) 0.079  4.636 316.01      (R Fuller    ) 0.089  4.605 309.13
E1    (D Kalitta   ) 0.084  5.188 260.16      (T Schumacher) 0.062  4.608 309.42
 Qualified:             #5  4.569 313.44                       #16  4.925 213.16

Weather conditions: air temperature 85 degrees, relative humidity 24 percent, barometer 29.86 inches, adjusted altitude 1,934 feet, track temperature 116 degrees.

These two of only raced three time and Herbert has won all three times. Herbert with the starting line advantage and never looked back for the win. It appeared Herbert's engine was eating itself up on the top end.

Foley was up in smoke and was completely side ways as soon as he hit the throttle. He collected the 330-foot cones and was Dq'ed.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Brandon Bernstein                       4 Melanie Troxel               
E3                   0.093  7.748 138.87     ****WINNER****  0.081  6.674 260.46
 Prior rounds:
E2    (J Todd      ) 0.110  4.600 315.27      (D Grubnic   ) 0.070  4.772 292.46
E1    (H Will      ) 0.117  4.569 323.27      (B Vandergrif) 0.061  4.628 311.56
 Qualified:             #2  4.566 326.71                        #6  4.575 321.96

These two have raced six times and the have each won three times. The were both up in smoke as soon as the light turned green. The were both off the throttle for what a seemed like a long time, and then they both pedaled it at least three more times and Bernstein got on the centerline, but the official word was he didn't cross it. Troxel was able to win this pedal feast and will give up lane choice to Herbert in the final.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink