Sun, 22 Jun 2008, 05:34 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 39th annual Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   23 Keeter Ray                           1320 Wayne Morris                 
E2   ****WINNER****  0.137  5.687 252.52                     0.061  5.797 243.99
 Prior rounds:
E1    (D Roman     ) 0.110  5.739 251.67      (P Gill      ) 0.065  5.846 243.77
 Qualified:            #13  5.838 248.84                       #12  5.830 244.12

5:04 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 87 degrees, relative humidity 50 percent, barometer 29.82 inches, adjusted altitude 2,783 feet, track temperature 124 degrees.

Morris had a huge holeshot and Ray might want to take a refresher course on reaction times from Frank Hawley, but the Ri=onnie Swearingen tuneup overcame the starting line disadvantage by 1,000 feet and Ray goes to the semifinals. Keeter Ray's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.069), 330 ft(-0.057), 660ft(-0.028), 1,000ft(0.004). MOV: 0.0349 seconds (approximately 12 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  118 DJ Cox Jr.                             33 Marty Nothstein              
E2                   0.079 11.545  85.25     ****WINNER****  0.046  5.776 252.05
 Prior rounds:
E1    (F Tigges    ) 0.071  5.726 249.39      (J Headley   ) 0.051  5.607 259.26
 Qualified:             #7  5.707 249.72                        #2  5.566 261.72

Cox's car jumped up on the tires and started smoking them, while Nothstein's came off the line cleanly and went right down the groove.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  308 Marc White                              6 Mickey Ferro                 
E2                   0.072  5.721 252.33     ****WINNER****  0.092  5.603 258.07
 Prior rounds:
E1    (B Burkett   ) 0.119  5.711 252.19      (L Sgro      ) 0.069  5.593 258.62
 Qualified:             #3  5.654 250.51                        #6  5.688 227.04

White had a small starting line edge, but it didn't matter, Ferro blew past him and won going away. Things got sporty for Ferro after the finosh line, the car making a hard move toward the wall when the chutes came out. He handled it, stayed off the wall, and will have lane choice against Nothstein in the semifinals.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  125 Eric Lourie                             1 Frank Manzo                  
E2                   0.081  5.750 246.66     ****WINNER****  0.041  5.616 255.53
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Anderika  ) 0.049  5.754 244.16      (S McNiece   ) 0.309  5.589 260.01
 Qualified:             #8  5.723 250.41                        #1  5.532 263.87

Lourie is one of very few drivers with a historic advantage against Manzo at national events - 2-1.

Manzo had a great light and a great run to win easily and earn lane choice against Ray in the semifinals.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink