Sun, 21 Oct 2007, 01:24 PM Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Torco Top Fuel at the 2007 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series, IHRA World Finals Presented by The U.S. Air Force featuring UTI CHampionship Sunday:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  317 T.J. Zizzo                            373 Kevin Jones                  
E1                   0.197  9.954  77.79     ****WINNER****  0.055  5.142 228.92
 Qualified:             #4  4.622 321.42                        #9  7.253 117.43

12:36 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 72 degrees, relative humidity 56 percent, barometer 29.85 inches, adjusted altitude 1,202 feet, track temperature 102 degrees.

The championship picture in Top Fuel is simple - Zizzo and Bruce Litton are less than one round apart in the points and on the same side of the ladder. If either loses this round and the other wins, the winner is the champion. If both win, they meet next round for the championship. If both lose, Zizzo is the champion.

Zizzo was late, then lost traction in a cloud of smoke and Jones, in as an alternate for Gallegos, gets a big upset win. Jones' car was also having traction problems, but Jones was able to pedal it through the trouble and complete the run to turn the win light on in his lane, the first real break for a team that has struggled all weekend.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  315 Terry McMillen                        429 Jeff O'Neill                 
E1                   0.102  5.222 188.02     ****WINNER****  0.094  4.755 314.68
 Qualified:             #3  4.617 314.83                        #7  4.841 301.33

McMillen had the lead all the way to half track, but his car moved left of the groove and started losing ground as McMillen battled to keep it off the wall. O'Neill took the lead before 1,000 feet and pulled away when McMillen was forced to lift.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 2813 Scotty Cannon                         141 Bobby Lagana Jr.             
E1   ****WINNER****  0.132  4.933 261.22                     0.029  6.955 116.36
 Qualified:             #1  4.603 307.72                        #5  4.733 309.56

Lagana lost traction early, Cannon streaked away for an easy win, but paid a price when the engine let go on the top end, leaving "stuff" on the track in both lanes. Lagana had a huge holeshot, but Cannon led before half track, losing lane choice to O'Neill in the semifinals. Cannon had a "freebie" coming, so the oildown won't cost him any points. From the top end, we hear that the blower belt shield on Lagana's car came off and went under the rear tire, causing the traction loss after a solid 0.888 60-foot time.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  394 Luigi Novelli                         345 Bruce Litton                 
E1                   0.107 11.719  91.52     ****WINNER****  0.108  4.679 316.82
 Qualified:             #6  4.760 291.82                        #2  4.610 311.27

This is undoubtedly the biggest run in Bruce Litton's career, with the 2007 Top Fuel championship just one win light away. If that light comes on in Litton's lane, he is the champion. If it's in Novelli's lane, Zizzo is the champion. Both have paid their dues, both are deserving candidates, but only one can wear the #1 number plate next year.

It was over quickly, both leaving together, then Novelli losing traction while Litton made a nice, clean, straight run to get that win light. He also earned lane choice against Jones in the semifinals.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink