Sun, 9 Nov 2003, 04:35 PM Top Fuel Round 2 Eliminations

By Dave Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 39th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Cory McClenathan                      390 Shirley Muldowney
E2   ****WINNER****  0.087  4.552 322.88                     0.028  4.707 317.12
 Prior rounds:
E1    (D Baca      ) 0.094  4.556 327.19      (P Romine    ) 0.042  4.685 301.07
 Qualified:             #6  4.554 328.94                       #14  4.628 326.32

1:13 PM Current weather conditions: 67 degrees, 38 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.04 inches.

The answer to the future Trivia question: "Who was the last person to beat Shirley Muldowney?" --- Cory McClenathan.

Shirley was well out on Cory off the line, but he drove back by before the 330 foot lights and continued to pull away. Good final race for the Leading Lady of Drag Racing.

Cory McClenathan's incremental times: 60ft-0.854 sec., 330ft-2.171, 660ft-3.095/273.00mph, 1,000ft-3.872
Shirley Muldowney's incremental times: 60ft-0.907 sec., 330ft-2.262, 660ft-3.210/267.80mph, 1,000ft-4.009

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  319 Scott Kalitta                           1 Larry Dixon
E2   ****WINNER****  0.097  4.497 331.36                     0.063 11.588  77.88
 Prior rounds:
E1    (S Weis      ) 0.099  4.519 323.35      (R Hartman-Sm) 0.069  4.539 321.27
 Qualified:             #4  4.521 332.34                        #5  4.534 323.35

Jesse James is watching from just behind the starting line and it must be good luck, as another Kalitta joins the four forty and three hundred thirty club this weekend. Big surprise in the right lane, as the usually predictable Dixon is up in smoke within five feet of the line.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Tony Schumacher                       888 Jim Head
E2   ****WINNER****  0.075  4.490 328.22                     0.048  4.573 330.39
 Prior rounds:
E1    (D Grubnic   ) 0.078  4.498 327.98      (D Russell   ) 0.071  5.664 191.43
 Qualified:             #1  4.455 332.10                        #9  4.583 326.79

Looks like damage from last round wasn't a issue, as Schumacher runs yet another under four fifty pass to take a clear win over Head. The "other Johnson car" runs better than his qualifying times and has a better reaction time, but no joy this time. Tony will have lane choice over Scott by .007 seconds.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Doug Kalitta                            2 Kenny Bernstein
E2                   0.102  7.822 126.61     ****WINNER****  0.065  4.509 327.82
 Prior rounds:
E1    (D Herbert   ) 0.076  4.495 333.25      (C Millican  ) 0.091  4.572 323.74
 Qualified:             #2  4.479 330.88                        #7  4.556 324.67

Kalitta won't double up this weekend, as the dragster is up in smoke at the hit. Bernstein was straight and true to take an uncontested win. He'll have lane choice over McClenathan. 1:27 PM

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink