Sun, 26 Oct 2003, 08:31 PM Top Fuel Final, Round 4 Eliminations

By Jonathan Adams

LAS VEGAS - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Third annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Tony Schumacher                         2 Kenny Bernstein
E4                   0.054  5.436 174.68     ****WINNER****  0.033  4.545 326.87
 Prior rounds:
E3    (D Kalitta   ) 0.064  4.505 329.18      (S Kalitta   ) 0.055  4.563 325.22
E2    (D Russell   ) 0.080  4.525 330.72      (J Smith     ) 0.068  4.906 279.90
E1    (D Baca      ) 0.076  4.628 316.15      (R Hartman-Sm) 0.087  4.599 324.36
 Qualified:             #1  4.503 328.22                        #2  4.529 326.95

Bernstein is 14-11 against Schumacher and 1-0 in finals. In the last five events, Sarge has won three times and KB has won twice. Bernstein has won the Spring race at this track twice, in 2000 and 2001, and was runner-up at this event in 2001. He is gunning for his second straight win after winning Dallas two weeks ago, but he is the underdog here, as Schumacher has been awesome this weekend.

Bernstein with the holeshot, but Schumacher was driving away from him at the 330-foot mark. Just before half-track, something went away in the Army dragster, and Bernstein rolled to his second win in as many events. That is Bernstein's 68th career win, 38th in Top Fuel. That makes six wins for the Bud team in 2003, three for Brandon and three for Kenny.

5:25 p.m.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink