Sun, 7 Oct 2007, 01:10 PM Top Fuel Round 2 Eliminations

By Dan Bennett

DINWIDDIE, Va. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Second annual Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    9 Cory McClenathan                        4 Melanie Troxel               
E2                   0.057  8.870  84.18     ****WINNER****  0.085  4.629 319.52
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Todd      ) 0.090  4.618 314.97      (W Bazemore  ) 0.093  4.569 327.59
 Qualified:            #12  4.629 312.35                       #13  4.633 323.58

12:56 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 88 degrees, relative humidity 42 percent, barometer 29.82 inches, adjusted altitude 2,296 feet, track temperature 114 degrees.

It's getting hotter out there, especially the track.

As I mentioned in the last round, Cory has a great history and this would have to be on his list of favorite tracks.

Cory boils the tires at 400 feet and Melanie continues her quest to be the best racer ever to hold the 9th position.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   91 Larry Dixon                             2 Doug Kalitta                 
E2                   0.068  4.651 281.48     ****WINNER****  0.060  4.647 314.39
 Prior rounds:
E1    (C Millican  ) 0.009  4.683 301.13      (D Grubnic   ) 0.059  4.599 322.50
 Qualified:             #3  4.570 317.42                       #11  4.619 314.83

This was a very good drag race for the first 1100 feet. Dixon's fire went out after leading from the starting line and Kalitta gets the win.

Doug Kalitta's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.011), 330 ft(-0.018), 660ft(-0.033), 1,000ft(-0.028). MOV: 0.0123 seconds (approximately 5 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 1301 Doug Foley                              3 Brandon Bernstein            
E2   ****WINNER****  0.106  4.603 318.99                     0.097  6.626 134.52
 Prior rounds:
E1    (R Fuller    ) 0.073  4.603 323.43      (B Vandergrif) 0.015  4.595 324.12
 Qualified:            #10  4.605 316.30                        #2  4.549 321.58

If Brandon wins this, he will move to second in the points standings.

Foley needs to do another one of his David vs Goliath acts.

Imagine that! He does it again. The big white Budweiser car smokes the tires twice before half track and Foley lays down a smooth, clean pass.

The final order for Top Fuel is Dixon, Fuller, Schumacher, and Bernstein.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   11 Doug Herbert                          743 Morgan Lucas                 
E2   ****WINNER****  0.107  4.625 314.68                     0.089  4.673 310.05
 Prior rounds:
E1    (H Will      ) 0.088  4.658 306.40      (T Schumacher) 0.065  4.575 322.65
 Qualified:             #8  4.591 306.05                       #16  4.646 307.51

That was one of the best races of the weekend. Herbert lays down a very nice pass and takes the win.

Doug Herbert's incremental times: 60ft-0.866 sec., 330ft-2.196, 660ft-3.128/270.70mph, 1,000ft-3.923
Morgan Lucas' incremental times: 60ft-0.868 sec., 330ft-2.208, 660ft-3.156/265.48mph, 1,000ft-3.962

Next round, it's Herbert picking his lane against Troxel and Foley over Kalitta.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink