Sun, 28 Oct 2007, 04:26 PM Pro Modified Round 2 Eliminations

By Bob Orme

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 2 eliminations in Pro Modified at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Seventh annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  763 Kirk Kuhns                           1152 Tony Pontieri                
E2                   0.102  7.796 123.27     ****WINNER****  0.018  6.198 224.40
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Hernandez ) 0.081  6.240 225.41      (G Kerunsky  ) 0.031  6.145 232.27
 Qualified:            #15  6.227 226.58                       #10  6.142 232.83

Weather conditions: air temperature 90 degrees, relative humidity 13 percent, barometer 29.97 inches, adjusted altitude 2,077 feet, track temperature 107 degrees.

Kuhns began trailing engine smoke just before half track.

Tony Pontieri's incremental times: 60ft-1.053 sec., 330ft-2.729, 660ft-4.069/184.65mph, 1,000ft-5.219

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 2007 Billy Harper                         4610 Harold Laird                 
E2                   0.062  6.383 223.76     ****WINNER****  0.110  6.217 229.82
 Prior rounds:
E1    (T Tindle    ) 0.094  6.213 226.16      (J Russo     ) 0.036  6.096 233.32
 Qualified:            #16  6.235 226.58                        #9  6.132 230.88

Both cars stayed relatively straight here, and Laird got the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  320 Steve Engel                            38 Danny Rowe                   
E2   ****WINNER****  0.049  6.135 238.60                     0.123  6.070 236.92
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M Knowles   ) 0.111  6.132 237.50      (R Commisso  ) 0.086  6.066 236.55
 Qualified:             #5  6.076 238.89                        #4  6.054 236.05

Engel had a big advantage at the tree, and he was able to hold on for the holeshot win. He'll face Laird in round three. Steve Engel's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.046), 330 ft(0.003), 660ft(-0.005), 1,000ft(0.002). MOV: 0.0097 seconds (approximately 3 feet).

Steve Engel's incremental times: 60ft-1.033 sec., 330ft-2.733, 660ft-4.066/187.03mph, 1,000ft-5.190
Danny Rowe's incremental times: 60ft-1.005 sec., 330ft-2.662, 660ft-3.987/187.18mph, 1,000ft-5.118

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   10 Kenny Lang                              1 Jay Payne                    
E2                   0.066  6.150 233.84     ****WINNER****  0.092  6.076 237.96
 Prior rounds:
E1    (R Stivers   ) 0.130  6.115 233.03      (R Burgess   ) 0.047  6.050 237.00
 Qualified:            #11  6.170 232.63                        #3  6.035 237.55

Payne was to the right of the groove in the middle section of the track, but he stayed on the throttle all the way down. He'll face Pontieri in round three.

Kenny Lang's incremental times: 60ft-1.041 sec., 330ft-2.713, 660ft-4.046/186.05mph, 1,000ft-5.187
Jay Payne's incremental times: 60ft-1.047 sec., 330ft-2.690, 660ft-4.003/187.99mph, 1,000ft-5.129

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink