Sun, 1 Jun 2008, 01:48 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 2 Eliminations

By Bob Orme

TOPEKA, Kan. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 20th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  471 Aaron Tatum                            74 Chris Demke                  
E2                   0.062 11.191  95.46     ****WINNER****  0.018  5.420 265.53
 Prior rounds:
E1    (R Putz      ) 0.054  5.648 253.95      (B Pierce    ) 0.036  5.449 264.13
 Qualified:             #5  5.429 264.34                        #4  5.412 265.64

12:32 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 63 percent, barometer 28.83 inches, adjusted altitude 3,559 feet, track temperature 114 degrees.

Demke has been to three final rounds in his career, and two of them were here. Tatum is currently 8th in points. He has a National Event win in Super Gas.

Tatum was up in smoke almost immediately.

Chris Demke's incremental times: 60ft-0.955 sec., 330ft-2.431, 660ft-3.584/214.38mph, 1,000ft-4.576

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  681 Shawn Cowie                           222 Dana Stripe                  
E2   ****WINNER****  0.095  5.347 268.87                     0.055  5.473 257.33
 Prior rounds:
E1    (B Lewis     ) 0.110  5.374 267.59      (S Massey    ) 0.097  5.509 257.19
 Qualified:             #1  5.335 266.21                        #9  5.469 260.06

Cowie is currently 12th in points. He's never been to a final round. Marty Thacker is helping Stripe this weekend. Stripe's father is a former top 10 driver in Comp Eliminator.

A good looking drag race! Cowie will have lane choice over Demke in round three.

Shawn Cowie's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.033), 330 ft(0.002), 660ft(0.028), 1,000ft(0.055). MOV: 0.0864 seconds (approximately 33 feet).

Shawn Cowie's incremental times: 60ft-0.930 sec., 330ft-2.376, 660ft-3.524/214.76mph, 1,000ft-4.511
Dana Stripe's incremental times: 60ft-0.937 sec., 330ft-2.418, 660ft-3.592/209.36mph, 1,000ft-4.606

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Jim Whiteley                          721 Justin Davis                 
E2   ****WINNER****  0.050  5.349 267.11                     0.036  5.536 257.83
 Prior rounds:
E1    (D Harker    ) 0.059  5.374 266.21      (C Perkins   ) 0.063  5.558 256.60
 Qualified:             #2  5.346 266.79                       #10  5.485 258.96

Whitely is the defending event champion. Davis is driving a car owned by Steve Federlin.

Davis had a slight advantage at the starting line, but Whitely had driven past him by the 60-foot mark.

Jim Whiteley's incremental margins: 60ft(0.040), 330 ft(0.065), 660ft(0.102), 1,000ft(0.141). MOV: 0.1736 seconds (approximately 66 feet).

Jim Whiteley's incremental times: 60ft-0.929 sec., 330ft-2.380, 660ft-3.525/215.79mph, 1,000ft-4.510
Justin Davis' incremental times: 60ft-0.983 sec., 330ft-2.459, 660ft-3.641/208.23mph, 1,000ft-4.665

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  777 Mark Niver                              2 Thomas Bayer                 
E2   ****WINNER****  0.060  5.436 262.59                     0.053  5.504 260.36
 Prior rounds:
E1    (B Force     ) 0.086  5.475 258.86      (E Schmeeckle) 0.063  9.617  84.08
 Qualified:             #3  5.374 264.03                        #6  5.429 260.16

Niver is getting help from Jim Rizolli this weekend. Bayer is driving another Steve Federlin owned car.

Bayer was ahead until half track where Niver caught him and drove on by. Niver will give lane choice to Whitely in round three.

Mark Niver's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.038), 330 ft(-0.042), 660ft(-0.004), 1,000ft(0.040). MOV: 0.0615 seconds (approximately 23 feet).

Mark Niver's incremental times: 60ft-0.962 sec., 330ft-2.474, 660ft-3.622/217.98mph, 1,000ft-4.594
Thomas Bayer's incremental times: 60ft-0.931 sec., 330ft-2.439, 660ft-3.625/209.07mph, 1,000ft-4.641

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink