Sun, 30 Mar 2008, 02:38 PM Pro Stock Round 2 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

BAYTOWN, Texas - Results of round 2 eliminations in Pro Stock at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 21st annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   10 V. Gaines                              14 Jim Yates                    
E2   ****WINNER****  0.014  6.709 206.64                     0.032  6.695 205.69
 Prior rounds:
E1    (K Koretsky  ) 0.011  6.696 206.13      (J Line      ) 0.042  6.692 205.63
 Qualified:             #4  6.667 206.80                       #12  6.684 205.98

1:24 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 74 degrees, relative humidity 83 percent, barometer 29.98 inches, adjusted altitude 1,830 feet, track temperature 98 degrees.

Gaines and Yates have each won 7 times against the other in prior events.

Good drag race, good lights in both lanes, and Yates led most of the way, but Gaines led where it counts and gets the holeshot win. V. Gaines' incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.012), 330 ft(-0.008), 660ft(-0.004), 1,000ft(0.001). MOV: 0.0044 seconds (approximately 16 inches).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 1214 Matt Hartford                           2 Greg Anderson                
E2                   0.038  6.723 206.01     ****WINNER****  0.018  6.668 207.46
 Prior rounds:
E1    (R Krisher   ) 0.056  6.739 205.32      (G Stanfield ) 0.013  6.666 207.08
 Qualified:            #14  6.693 205.91                        #6  6.671 207.40

This is the first time Hartford and Anderson have faced each other in eliminations.

Anderson once again drilled the tree and ran away from his opponent, running two thousandths slower than his first lap of the day.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Allen Johnson                           1 Jeg Coughlin                 
E2   ****WINNER****  0.018 18.755  41.41                    -0.006  6.686 206.89
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Humphreys ) 0.016  6.686 206.70      (R Jones     ) 0.024  6.658 206.64
 Qualified:             #2  6.650 207.72                        #7  6.673 207.37

Coughlin is 17 - 5 against Johnson in prior events. Both are "good leavers."

Jeg was too quick and AHJ shook the tires hard - a rare mistake by Coughlin. AJ faces Anderson in the semifinals, Anderson has lane choice.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    8 Warren Johnson                          6 Kurt Johnson                 
E2                   0.038  6.710 208.42     ****WINNER****  0.011  6.655 208.30
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M Edwards   ) 0.032  6.659 209.10      (J Nobile    ) 0.038  6.643 208.36
 Qualified:             #9  6.679 208.42                        #1  6.638 208.42

W. Johnson is 42 - 18 against K. Johnson in prior events, but KJ has been the quicker of the two this weekend. They lined up in these same lanes Friday, WJ ending his run against the right-hand wall.

This was all KJ, both had good lights, but Kurt's was exceptionally good and he was never headed. Kurt Johnson will have lane choice against Gaines in the semifinals.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink