Sat, 3 May 2008, 06:02 PM Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Final Session

By Dan Bennett

MADISON, Ill. - Notes from final, round 4 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:

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Left Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 4.537/318.39, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.626/321.65, Was #14
Right Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.569/322.81, Now #10; Best prior run: 4.635/307.30, Was #15

First, let me apologize for an error in the previous session's notes. Don't worry, drag racing fans. Lee Beard has not changed teams and my reference to him was totally bizarre. I have no idea why my fingers typed that nor how it made it past my re-reading of the notes.

That said, this session should have less drama than the other classes mainly since there are just 16 cars competing. Look for some movement, but nobody's facing loading up their car and going home.

Weather conditions: air temperature 69 degrees, relative humidity 35 percent, barometer 29.50 inches, adjusted altitude 1,530 feet, track temperature 93 degrees.

That was a great race to open the session. Both cars make major moves toward the top. No smoke, no oil, no drama.

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Left Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 4.528/321.96, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.618/285.71, Was #15
Right Lane: Alan Bradshaw Runs 4.550/318.24, Now #10; Best prior run: 4.570/315.71, Was #11

Improvement on both sides though Bradshaw laid down a heavy smoke screen after crossing the finish line.

Dixon gets a lot closer to where he wants to be as he gains 20 mph over his previous efforts.

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Left Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 4.683/301.47, Now #15; Best prior run: 4.607/326.32, Was #15
Right Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 4.599/297.75, Now #11; Best prior run: 4.564/323.04, Was #11

Both cars were mixing up the cylinders on the top end and the UPS car was flaming on the left side as the chutes deployed. Both cars hold their position in the order.

We have a cleanup in the right lane.

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Left Lane: Brandon Bernstein Runs 4.575/325.77, Now #13; Best prior run: 4.576/319.14, Was #13
Right Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 10.588/75.96, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.542/329.18, Was #9

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Left Lane: Hillary Will Runs 4.520/325.92, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.502/324.59, Was #3
Right Lane: Rod Fuller Runs 4.587/276.86, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.541/321.50, Was #8

Will continues her string of fast, straight runs.

Fuller's car makes a lurid swerve from left to right as he goes across the finish line but he shuts down without further problems.

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Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.497/327.51, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.495/326.71, Was #2
Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 10.936/81.17, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.524/312.42, Was #5

Kalitta strikes the tires at 400 feet while Schumacher simply goes from A to B.

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Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 10.526/80.30, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.467/319.90, Was #1
Right Lane: Antron Brown Runs 4.517/331.94, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.521/328.86, Was #4

OK, I can hear the wisecracks already. No, Lee Beard isn't tuning in both lanes. It was a looney mistake as I'm not sure anyone but me could confuse Connie Kalitta and Lee Beard.

Grubnic overpowers the track while Brown streaks to a track record speed.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink