Sun, 4 Nov 2007, 03:50 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Darryl Jackman

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 43nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  799 Sean Bellemeur                        237 Von Smith                    
E2                   0.024  5.673 255.29     ****WINNER****  0.020  5.612 257.63
 Prior rounds:
E1    (K Kinsley   ) 0.055  6.458 250.18      (K Kraus     ) 0.071  5.754 252.71
 Qualified:             #8  5.670 254.33                        #1  5.585 257.83

12:37 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 77 degrees, relative humidity 29 percent, barometer 29.02 inches, adjusted altitude 2,435 feet, track temperature 95 degrees.

Two great lights but this time it's Smith that returns to form and gets the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  766 Jason Rupert                         7306 Jeff Carroll                 
E2                   0.044  5.853 250.23     ****WINNER****  0.016  5.635 254.66
 Prior rounds:
E1    (B Harrington) 0.043  5.829 250.69      (B Williamson) 0.032  5.674 251.95
 Qualified:             #5  5.654 251.49                        #4  5.641 249.03

Rupert goes into heavy tire shake right off the starting line and has to pedal. Carroll didn't need that kind of help as he simply outruns everyone but Smith, who he faces in the semi final.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Jay Payne                              62 Clint Thompson               
E2   ****WINNER****  0.051  5.643 258.22                     0.085  5.725 255.82
 Prior rounds:
E1    (R August Jr ) 0.069  5.681 257.48      (H Coolidge  ) 0.000  5.669 257.78
 Qualified:             #6  5.656 258.02                        #3  5.630 256.31

Payne was away first and then proceeded to outrun Thompson. That was good for a trip to the semis for Payne.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 7384 Sean O'Bannon                           3 Brian Hough                  
E2                   0.070  9.990  85.22     ****WINNER****  0.030  5.767 253.04
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Patton    ) 0.023  5.849 255.87      (D Gordon    ) 0.042  5.682 252.99
 Qualified:             #2  5.593 256.21                       #10  5.676 252.85

Both cars shook at the hit but it was O'Bannon that certainly got the worst of it. Hough gets the win but loses lane choice to Payne in the semi.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink