Sun, 10 Feb 2008, 04:26 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 2 Eliminations

By David Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  613 Joey Severance                       1712 Dave DeAngelis               
E2   ****WINNER****  0.056  5.329 266.58                     0.056  5.547 252.66
 Prior rounds:
E1    (C Force     ) 0.071  5.322 265.64      (J Ahten     ) 0.096  5.448 256.36
 Qualified:             #3  5.370 265.17                       #11  5.453 256.11

1:05 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 19 percent, barometer 28.94 inches, adjusted altitude 2,874 feet, track temperature 101 degrees.

Great pass for Severance. The two dragsters leave together at the green and then DeAngelis has to watch Severance pull steadily away for the decisive win. He runs better than be qualified again and close to yesterday's better weather times.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Duane Shields                           3 Morgan Lucas                 
E2   ****WINNER****  0.046  5.319 268.71                     0.077  5.485 261.93
 Prior rounds:
E1    (B Lewis     ) 0.075  5.391 270.32      (B Johnson   ) 0.073  5.348 263.72
 Qualified:             #9  5.449 263.98                        #1  5.280 271.08

Shields is finding what the new car wants and runs even quicker than before! Lucas never had a chance as the power just wasn't there.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  681 Shawn Cowie                           440 Kate Harker                  
E2                   0.112  5.509 244.87     ****WINNER****  0.110  5.509 260.81
 Prior rounds:
E1    (E Schmeeckle) 0.089  5.376 268.81      (L Miersch   ) 0.094  5.424 263.26
 Qualified:             #5  5.388 267.59                        #4  5.383 249.72

Both cars leave together within 0.002 in RT. Lots of shake for Harker. She pumps it and chases Cowie. It looked like a win for him until just past the 1000 foot lights, where the engine died impressively. Harker just gets by for the with an identical ET. Kate Harker's incremental times: 60ft-0.945 sec., 330ft-2.486, 660ft-3.670/213.03mph, 1,000ft-4.656. Kate Harker's MOV: 0.0027 seconds (approximately 12 inches).

Shields will have lane choice in round three.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   74 Chris Demke                          7107 Jeff Isbell                  
E2                   0.050  6.227 163.87     ****WINNER****  0.081  5.704 243.50
 Prior rounds:
E1    (T Bayer     ) 0.029  5.455 263.36      (J Whiteley  ) 0.069  5.550 255.63
 Qualified:            #10  5.449 262.13                       #15  5.516 250.46

Demke gets away first and keeps a significant lead until after half track where the engine expired in a cloud of smoke. Isbell was slow on this pass from the starting line on, but gets the win anyway. Luck is Good!

1:20 p.m. Severance will keep lane choice in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink