Sat, 8 Nov 2003, 03:23 PM Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations

By Darryl Jackman

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 19th annual Budweiser Shootout at Pomona:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Cory McClenathan                        6 Darrell Russell
E1   ****WINNER****  0.057  4.554 328.94                     0.063  4.600 323.81
 Qualified:             #4                         #5

11:59 AM The pre race stuff is over and the call is out to 'Fire the first pair'. The opener of round 1 features the #5 and #6 points earners for the season. This does count for qualifying. Fairly even leave but it's Cory Mac and his bracket Top Fuel car for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Tony Schumacher                       797 David Baca
E1   ****WINNER****  0.102  4.455 332.10                     0.056 10.181  87.29
 Qualified:             #3                         #6

No doubt about this one. Baca struck the tires before the 330 marker and could only watch as Schumacher ran away from him. He gets the Budweiser win and a trip to the semi finals.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Larry Dixon                            10 John Smith
E1   ****WINNER****  0.102  4.542 323.04                     0.072  4.994 272.61
 Qualified:             #2                         #7

Dixon is in the show as the #2 qualifier and Smith is #7. They wer behind the Schumacher pair and saw the shot he put down. Wonder what they were thinking? Smith was fairly close to Dixon until he started to haze the tires just before the 330 marker. Dixon will face Schumacher next round and Tony will have lane choice.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Doug Kalitta                            7 Doug Herbert
E1   ****WINNER****  0.057  4.515 331.45                     0.063  9.588  92.80
 Qualified:             #1                         #8

Herbert strikes the tires and Doug Kalitta gets the win. It was a real even start but Herbert was spinning the tires hard before 300 feet. He faces Cory Mac in the semi and will take lane choice into that match up.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink