Sun, 21 Oct 2007, 01:42 PM Alcohol Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations

By David Gerard

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Alcohol Funny Car 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
  100 Terry Munroe                          357 Tim Stevens                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.084  5.771 241.11                     0.054  6.006 220.22
 Qualified:             #3  5.739 242.45                        #7  5.826 241.89

1:17 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 72 degrees, relative humidity 56 percent, barometer 29.85 inches, adjusted altitude 1,202 feet, track temperature 105 degrees.

Lots of chatter for Munroe off the line and he does what he has to do to stay in the championship hunt. Stevens slows from his prior best.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  201 Laurie Cannister                        2 Rob Atchison                 
E1                   0.082  5.833 241.54     ****WINNER****  0.071  5.748 243.37
 Qualified:             #1  5.669 246.89                        #5  5.788 243.41

This is a big race for the points. Cannister can play spoiler, if she can win. Not this time! Atchison gets a tenth off the line and drives to the finish for the important win. That's his best run of the weekend. Next round, he'll face Monroe with lane choice.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Mark Thomas                           226 Melinda Green-King           
E1   ****WINNER****  0.093  5.806 242.80                     0.087  6.073 224.25
 Qualified:             #2  5.719 245.18                        #6  5.808 240.94

The Mustang gets a small lead at the green and Thomas drives on by for a strong win. That will remove Munroe from any chance in the Championship, except as a spoiler.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  172 Neal Parker                           296 Bunny Burkett                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.097  5.805 240.51                     0.361 12.176  67.37
 Qualified:             #4  5.767 241.76                        #8  5.833 239.95

Burkett's Stratus has a big American flag on a tall pole at the back of the engine during the burnout. She is waaay late and then slows after sixty feet. Parker has it all his way and makes a strong pass to round two.

1:27 p.m. Parker gets lane choice over Thomas by 0.001 and may the other spoiler in the championship.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink