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Sat, 3 May 2008, 02:52 PM

Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Session #3

By Dan Bennett

MADISON, Ill. - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 12th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:

Left Lane: Luigi Novelli Runs 5.772/161.25, Now #14; Best prior run: 13.217/83.84, Was #13
Right Lane: Troy Buff Runs 4.603/308.28, Now #8; No Prior Run

After the Pro Stock session, lots of people are expecting the same for the Fuel classes. I'm not comfortable with that, as it has always seemed to me that when the gas classes run well, the fuel classes don't. I don't have a logical explanation, just that it always seems to work that way.

Novelli's car noses over past half track while Buff moves out of the groove on the back half. Troy gets in the the #8 position.

Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.635/307.30, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.874/288.64, Was #13
Right Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 4.633/293.66, Now #11; Best prior run: 4.626/321.65, Was #11

Everybody was watching Todd on this one as he grenades the engine into a huge fireball just past half track. The flames go out and he gets it stopped but I guarantee you'll see this pass on the highlight reels.

Herbert picks up one spot in the list and Vandergriff is on the bump. Of course, as of the second sessions there were only 16 TF entries here.

Left Lane: Alan Bradshaw Runs 4.570/315.71, Now #7; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 4.607/326.32, Now #10; Best prior run: 4.622/326.00, Was #10

Once again I want to mention that Bradshaw is driving the Darrell Russell tribute car, and that his driving suit and helmet are going to be auctioned off on eBay for the benefit of DRAW. It's a worthy cause, so please check it out.

This one was all Bradshaw, as even with a bunch of driving on the top end he gets into the 4.50s. Lucas cards a very nice pass but stays in the 10th slot.

Left Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 4.564/323.04, Now #7; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 4.643/301.60, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.618/285.71, Was #11

At this point, no one has come close to Grubnic's leading 4.519, but there are still some quality cars to come.

Vandergriff finally gets the run he needed and goes into the top half of the field, which drops Dixon one place in the order.

Luigi Novelli is now 16th at 5.772.

Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 4.524/312.42, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.680/311.27, Was #15
Right Lane: Brandon Bernstein Runs 4.589/323.12, Now #10; Best prior run: 4.576/319.14, Was #9

The Bud car loses a bit but the Kalitta boys continue to run well.

A very nice, straight, strong pass for Doug gives him the 3rd spot.

Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.543/320.13, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.542/329.18, Was #6
Right Lane: Hillary Will Runs 4.502/324.59, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.549/326.95, Was #7

The Fram car has been the fastest on the property so far this weekend and I bet it will stay there. As they stage, these cars are only 7 thousandths apart in the order.

Neither lane appears to have an advantage at this point, so this should be a good drag race.

And it was! Will quivers the tires all the way to half track but they never went into shake or spin. She carries through for the entire length of the track and runs a career best ET to take over the top spot. That's a track record here and after all these years someone has run quicker than Darrell Russell.

That's a tribute to the skills that personable man had and will in no way affect his standing in our memories.

Left Lane: Rod Fuller Runs 4.573/326.08, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.541/321.50, Was #6
Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.495/326.71, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.536/325.37, Was #5

You have to think that Alan Johnson would be drooling at the prospects of this track and these weather conditions, but somehow I can't imagine that description fitting him.

Without any drooling or even much of a smile, Johnson watches his car go to the top spot as it has done so many times before. No high fives from him, no trot to the waiting truck; he simply walks off normally since he knew exactly what was going to happen. I think most of us did, too.

Right Lane: David Grubnic Runs 4.467/319.90, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.519/326.32, Was #3

The previous low qualifier gets a bye run to try and regain his spot. It's even in the same lane as the Army car.

The big crowd here is standing as the fans know this is a big pass.

IT IS A BIG PASS!

The crew explodes into jumps of joy.

Like I said, the Carpenters' Union is getting their money's worth. I was just kidding about the free beer yesterday in case anybody showed up at the hall.

Funny Car's on tap. Can Melanie hold on?

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink