Sun, 4 Nov 2007, 06:26 PM Top Fuel Round 3 Eliminations

By David Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Fuel 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
   12 Bob Vandergriff                         8 J.R. Todd                    
E3   ****WINNER****  0.065  4.585 331.94                    -0.040  4.566 284.45
 Prior rounds:
E2    (D Herbert   ) 0.103  4.570 310.63      (L Dixon     ) 0.063  4.508 330.88
E1    (R Fuller    ) 0.049  4.540 331.28      (D Kalitta   ) 0.043  4.496 334.24
 Qualified:             #6  4.532 333.08                        #2  4.521 328.22

3:17 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 74 degrees, relative humidity 45 percent, barometer 28.95 inches, adjusted altitude 2,350 feet, track temperature 94 degrees.

Oh, WOW! A rare red light for Todd and Vandergriff gets a free pass to the finals! Two good passes, but all for naught.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Brandon Bernstein                       1 Tony Schumacher              
E3                   0.065  4.637 319.14     ****WINNER****  0.070  4.520 325.53
 Prior rounds:
E2    (D Grubnic   ) 0.095  4.549 322.19      (M Lucas     ) 0.064  4.501 330.96
E1    (C McClenatha) 0.095  4.557 327.11      (A Bradshaw  ) 0.069  4.508 325.69
 Qualified:             #4  4.524 328.54                        #1  4.508 320.58

This run could determine the 2007 championship.

Not this time. Bernstein wins the RT contest, but Schumacher keeps his hopes alive, passing the Bud car before sixty feet and continually opening the lead. A great pass into the finals with lane choice.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink