Sun, 28 Sep 2003, 03:51 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 3 Eliminations

By Bob Orme

JOLIET, Ill. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Third annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Frank Manzo                            76 Doug Gordon
E3                   0.005  6.087 191.05     ****WINNER****  0.044  5.580 255.87
 Prior rounds:
E2    (M Snyder    ) 0.076  5.567 260.76      (C Chesterman) 0.039  5.587 255.63
E1    (S Gasparrell) 0.046  5.558 261.67      (K Williams  ) 0.028  5.588 255.19
 Qualified:             #1  5.578 260.46                        #4  5.598 255.97

2:39 PM Current weather conditions: 54 degrees, 62 percent relative humidity, the barometer 29.96 inches. Manzo cuts a psychic light but from there his times were off at every increment. Gordon lowers his career best elapsed time once again.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    8 Bob Newberry                            3 Jay Payne
E3   ****WINNER****  0.071  5.568 256.94                     0.047  5.644 257.92
 Prior rounds:
E2    (J Craig     ) 0.084  5.756 253.80      (V Moats     ) 0.044  5.770 253.85
E1    (T Branch    ) 0.084  5.599 255.48      (P Lee       ) 0.052  5.694 256.21
 Qualified:             #6  5.638 256.89                        #2  5.583 259.86

Payne was moving around his lane on the top end more than he wanted to. Bob Newberry's MOV: 0.0525 seconds (approximately 20 feet). Newberry will have lane choice over Gordon in the final round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink