Sat, 27 Sep 2003, 12:59 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Allstar Round 1 Eliminations

By Jonathan Adams

JOLIET, Ill. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car Allstar at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 19th annual NHRA Jeg's Allstars:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Steve Gasparrelli                      52 Cy Chesterman
E1                   0.026  5.913 202.09     ****WINNER****  0.036  5.613 256.70
 Qualified:             #8 No Time                              #1  5.614 256.99

Gasparrelli was an Allstar last year. He gets a small jump here, but Chesterman catches him early and cruises into round two. Gasparrelli had to shut off early.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Frank Manzo                            10 Chuck Cheeseman
E1                  -0.004  5.578 260.46     ****WINNER****  0.047 11.857  70.89
 Qualified:             #7  7.240 130.96                        #2  5.654 252.76

Both of these drivers have five divisional wins in 2003. They were both Allstars in 2002, and Manzo is a 12-time Allstar. Cheeseman comes in with lane choice here, as Manzo shook the tires in qualifying yesterday.

Upset here as Manzo goes red. Cheeseman shook and shut off, but gets the big win for Division 3.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Bucky Austin                            6 Tate Branch
E1   ****WINNER****  0.078  5.592 258.42                     0.046  6.359 173.12
 Qualified:             #3  5.670 251.95                        #6  5.699 249.86

Like Manzo and Cheeseman, Austin has 5 LODRS wins in 2003. Branch was an Allstar last year, as well. He's lucky to be here as he was hospitalized with pneumonia last week.

Branch with the holeshot, and he was leading until he blew the burst panel just before half track. Austin makes a great pass, and will race Cheeseman in the semi's and will pick his lane.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Jay Payne                             136 James Sickles
E1   ****WINNER****  0.057  5.583 259.86                     0.042  5.663 255.68
 Qualified:             #4  5.679 251.34                        #5  5.699 253.75

Interesting scenario here, as Sickles is the Division 2 Allstar, and Payne is the blocker out of Division 2, so a win by Payne won't earn any points for Division 2.

Payne with the nice run and the big win. He'll have lane choice over Chesterman in the semi's.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink