Sat, 27 Oct 2007, 04:28 PM Top Fuel Shootout Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 1 eliminations in Technicoat Top Fuel Shootout at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 23nd annual NHRA Technicoat Top Fuel Shootout:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Melanie Troxel                          3 Brandon Bernstein            
E1   ****WINNER****  0.056  4.529 330.55                     0.081  4.557 327.59
 Qualified:             #4  0.004   NS                          #5  0.005   NS  

Troxel with a starting line advantage and never looked back for the win light. Troxel with her quickest pass of the weekend. Bernstein with his best pass of the weekend in a losing effort.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   91 Larry Dixon                             8 J.R. Todd                    
E1                   0.044  4.970 213.40     ****WINNER****  0.058  4.563 322.11
 Qualified:             #3  0.003   NS                          #6  0.006   NS  

Dixon was out in front until his engine went away in a big fireball around half track. Then it was all Todd getting the win light.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Rod Fuller                              6 David Grubnic                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.056  4.576 324.20                     0.071  4.561 328.94
 Qualified:             #2  0.002   NS                          #7  0.007   NS  

Fuller with the starting line advantage and the power to hold on for the hole shot win by 0.0007 seconds about four inches.

Rod Fuller's incremental times: 60ft-0.875 sec., 330ft-2.190, 660ft-3.111/274.05mph, 1,000ft-3.893
David Grubnic's incremental times: 60ft-0.875 sec., 330ft-2.186, 660ft-3.108/272.50mph, 1,000ft-3.886 Fuller will give up lane choice to Todd in the semifinal.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Tony Schumacher                         9 Cory McClenathan             
E1   ****WINNER****  0.062  4.590 320.81                     0.090  5.316 199.64
 Qualified:             #1  0.001   NS                          #8  0.008   NS  

Schumacher with a starting line and then hazes the tires on the top end, but takes the win light when Cory Mac smokes the tires early. Schumacher will give up lane choice to Troxel in the semifinal.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink