Sun, 18 May 2008, 02:36 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations

By Bob Orme

BAYTOWN, Texas - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, South Central Division, event at Houston Raceway Park:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Steve Harker                          441 Ron Morrison                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.128  5.643 256.65                     0.210  6.051 240.55
 Qualified:             #1  5.540 259.56                        #8  6.077 207.98

Morrison was all over his lane and close to the centerline at half track. He was trailing heavy smoke in the shutdown area. No problems for Harker on this one.

Steve Harker's incremental times: 60ft-0.975 sec., 330ft-2.525, 660ft-3.732/205.79mph, 1,000ft-4.767
Ron Morrison's incremental times: 60ft-1.018 sec., 330ft-2.655, 660ft-3.979/187.83mph, 1,000ft-5.112

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   44 Lee Callaway                           46 Nancy Matter                 
E1                   0.090  6.016 244.52     ****WINNER****  0.029  6.048 235.84
 Qualified:             #2  5.693 253.85                        #7  6.019 246.26

Both cars were moving around quite a bit and Matter got the win on a holeshot. Nancy Matter's incremental margins: 60ft(0.063), 330 ft(0.137), 660ft(0.121), 1,000ft(0.059). MOV: 0.0294 seconds (approximately 11 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   42 Jimmy Jones                            45 Steve Burck                  
E1                   0.091  5.919 252.00     ****WINNER****  0.115  5.751 249.26
 Qualified:             #3  5.712 252.00                        #6  5.921 241.45

Jones moved to the left of the groove at about 300 feet and it probably cost him the race. Burck will have lane choice over Matter in round two.

Jimmy Jones' incremental times: 60ft-1.006 sec., 330ft-2.633, 660ft-3.943/193.88mph, 1,000ft-5.022
Steve Burck's incremental times: 60ft-1.011 sec., 330ft-2.572, 660ft-3.796/203.06mph, 1,000ft-4.852

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   47 Burl Brown                            484 Kebin Kinsley                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.082  5.794 246.98                     0.072  6.009 241.28
 Qualified:             #4  5.747 251.39                        #5  5.771 249.03

Kinsley was all over his lane and Brown just drove away for the win. Brown will give lane choice to Harker in round two.

Burl Brown's incremental times: 60ft-0.984 sec., 330ft-2.566, 660ft-3.814/198.70mph, 1,000ft-4.884
Kebin Kinsley's incremental times: 60ft-0.982 sec., 330ft-2.644, 660ft-3.958/189.39mph, 1,000ft-5.075

Burl Brown's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.012), 330 ft(0.068), 660ft(0.134), 1,000ft(0.181). MOV: 0.2051 seconds (approximately 73 feet).

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink