Sat, 13 Sep 2008, 06:26 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations

By Jason Murray

CONCORD, N.C. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car 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
 1617 Lou Sgro                             1117 John Anderika                
E1                   0.032  5.795 252.76     ****WINNER****  0.038  5.787 247.52
 Qualified:             #9  5.754 252.14                        #8  5.750 228.27

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

5:54 p.m. On paper this should be our closest race of the round. Sgro got a jump on the tree but Anderika already caught him by 60ft. This was side-by-side racing to a "T". John Anderika's incremental margins: 60ft(0.025), 330 ft(0.051), 660ft(0.037), 1,000ft(0.021). MOV: 0.0025 seconds (approximately 11 inches).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   17 Paul Gill                              25 Mark Billington              
E1                   0.134  9.343  94.81     ****WINNER****  0.022  5.780 249.90
 Qualified:            #10  5.754 249.44                        #7  5.743 253.04

This is the first time Gill has ever qualified #10 and he is 2-1 against Billington. Billington never looked back from the start of this race. Gill launched hard, shook the tires, went sideways, and then lifted. Billington makes a great run right down the center of the groove. Mark Billington's incremental times: 60ft-1.013 sec., 330ft-2.593, 660ft-3.830/200.92mph, 1,000ft-4.886

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  302 John Bojec                           2777 Nick Bastiao                 
E1                   0.075  5.798 249.49     ****WINNER****  0.055  5.678 255.63
 Qualified:            #11  5.812 251.06                        #6  5.719 255.73

Bastiao is from the west coast, but the car he drives is from the east coast. Bastiao cuts a light on Bojec, is out in front, then the car starts to move around, Bastiao has to really hold on to keep it from going to far, he keeps control of the car and takes the win. Nick Bastiao's incremental times: 60ft-0.989 sec., 330ft-2.549, 660ft-3.767/205.04mph, 1,000ft-4.804

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  147 Fred Tigges                           326 Brian Harvanek               
E1                  -0.023  5.792 230.92     ****WINNER****  0.032  5.822 249.86
 Qualified:             #5  5.687 254.81                       #12  5.825 230.41

Tigges is the first higher qualified car to lose. Tigges turns on the big red light. Harvanek makes a very nice run and he will go into the 2nd round. Brian Harvanek's incremental times: 60ft-0.991 sec., 330ft-2.594, 660ft-3.853/197.57mph, 1,000ft-4.922

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Steve Harker                          118 DJ Cox Jr.                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.039  5.717 220.22                     0.045  5.817 246.80
 Qualified:             #4  5.631 257.14                       #13  5.835 244.52

Harker is 1-0 vs. Cox, also this is the 4th time he has started race day in the 4th position and this year he has won more rounds than he ever has. Harker looks good all the way down the track, and he will go 2-0 against Cox in his career. Harker had to take the long way down the track, but still takes the win, Harker's chutes are out before the finish-line and his speed shows it.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  308 Marc White                             33 Marty Nothstein              
E1   ****WINNER****  0.069  5.636 257.58                     0.011  5.737 254.66
 Qualified:             #3  5.629 256.55                       #14  5.879 250.18

This could be a really good match-up. Nothstein has struggled a little this weekend, White has been on his game all weekend. Nothstein cuts a great light, but White is able to run him down by 330ft, White's car started moving around a bit about 800ft and he goes low for the round. Marc White's incremental times: 60ft-0.970 sec., 330ft-2.515, 660ft-3.729/203.58mph, 1,000ft-4.763

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   32 Mick Snyder                            28 Mark Rogers                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.058  6.159 236.17                    -0.012  5.964 240.81
 Qualified:             #2  5.614 256.50                       #15  5.989 240.68

Rogers is red and thats all for the Rogers' team this weekend. Snyder was soft from the start and he got lucky on this one.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Frank Manzo                           196 Bill Naves                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.123  5.610 260.36                           No Time      
 Qualified:             #1  5.588 259.86                       #16  6.102 231.08

Naves is a no show after his incident earlier today. Manzo has qualified for his 177 consecutive race, the last time Frank failed to qualify was in 1985. Manzo makes a very good run and he goes to the second round.

Manzo will have lane choice over Anderika, Harker will have choice over Harvanek, Billington will choose over Snyder, and White will pick his lane over Bastiao.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink