Sat, 13 Sep 2008, 06:06 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

CONCORD, N.C. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 7006 Travis Nicholson                        8 John Finke                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.134  7.857 104.94                           No Time      
 Qualified:             #7  5.498 242.98                        #8  5.515 258.47

Weather conditions: air temperature 90 degrees, relative humidity 51 percent, barometer 29.29 inches, adjusted altitude 3,661 feet, track temperature 121 degrees.

Finke was having problems holding the car as he was attempting to stage, and then left before the tree was activated. Nicholson is driving Bill Evans car this weekend as they had back halfed the car and he didn't want to use up his race testing the car.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  110 Rich McPhillips                      1953 Al Moeser                    
E1   ****WINNER****  0.080  5.692 252.95                     0.134  6.663 249.67
 Qualified:             #6  5.460 258.42                        #9  5.528 268.33

McPhillips was out of the gate first and never looked back as Moeser was dropping cylinders right at the hit. Moeser did run a career best during qualifying.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  358 Dave Weber                             24 Robin Samsel                 
E1                   0.091  5.616 256.75     ****WINNER****  0.142  5.494 258.22
 Qualified:            #10  5.575 256.45                        #5  5.437 241.37

Weber with the starting line advantage, and the lead until just past half track when Samsel was able to chase him down. Samsel motored on for the victory.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   25 Arthur Allen                          122 Arthur Gallant               
E1                   0.082  5.872 240.21     ****WINNER****  0.149  5.737 258.12
 Qualified:            #11  5.576 260.56                        #4  5.417 268.49

Allen with the starting line advantage and the lead until about 800 feet and that was when Gallant was able chase him down and take the victory. Gallant will give up lane choice to Samsel in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   34 Ken Perry                              52 Jared Dreher                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.087  5.415 263.05                     0.093  5.802 233.52
 Qualified:             #3  5.399 263.62                       #12  5.576 250.13

Perry with the starting line advantage in the quickest blown alcohol dragster in the country, and he runs the quickest pass of the session for the win. Perry will have lane choice over McPhillips in round two.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  185 Mike Kosky                           1212 Jackie Fricke                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.028  5.443 264.96                    -0.056 10.556  77.06
 Qualified:             #2  5.389 265.85                       #13  5.648 243.99

Fricke was too quick on the tree and turned on the red light. Kosky will have lane choice over Nicholson in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Bill Reichert                         101 Bob Weickgenannt             
E1   ****WINNER****  0.108  5.396 260.11                     0.038  6.737 156.15
 Qualified:             #1  5.264 272.83                       #14  5.680 254.90

Reichert is facing 133rd different driver after qualifying No. 1 for the 25th time. Weickgenannt with a big starting line advantage and then has problems early and Reichert moves into the second round with the quickest pass of the session. He will have a bye in round into the semifinals. Bill Reichert's incremental times: 60ft-0.952 sec., 330ft-2.465, 660ft-3.594/223.91mph, 1,000ft-4.550

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink