Sun, 2 Nov 2008, 01:00 PM Pro Modified Round 1 Eliminations

By Bob Orme

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Modified at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Eighth annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  763 Kirk Kuhns                              3 Jay Payne                    
E1   ****WINNER****  0.055  6.090 234.74                     0.132  6.219 235.10
 Qualified:             #9  6.116 232.71                        #8  6.099 233.12

9:28 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 73 degrees, relative humidity 40 percent, barometer 27.80 inches, adjusted altitude 3,921 feet, track temperature 87 degrees.

Toby Payne is Jay's crew chief. Payne is late at the tree and Kuhns lays down a strong elapsed time for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 6695 Rick Distefano                        102 Mike Moran                   
E1                  -0.102  6.114 233.52     ****WINNER****  0.040  6.682 235.31
 Qualified:             #7  6.096 232.31                       #10  6.117 245.99

Both drivers were skating around with Moran close to the centerline just before half track.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    6 Tim Tindle                            402 Taylor Lastor                
E1                   0.029  9.677 113.65     ****WINNER****  0.057  6.552 193.85
 Qualified:            #11  6.119 233.52                        #6  6.095 235.19

Tindle shook hard on the hit and his car made a move to the right before he lifted.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    9 Rick Stivers                           66 Kenny Lang                   
E1                   0.026 13.994  60.27     ****WINNER****  0.219  6.124 232.47
 Qualified:            #13  6.129 233.24                        #4  6.057 237.17

Stivers was out of shape on the launch and sideways before he traveled 200 feet. A relatively smooth pass for Lang.

Kenny Lang's incremental times: 60ft-1.037 sec., 330ft-2.687, 660ft-4.013/186.12mph, 1,000ft-5.156

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   24 Troy Coughlin                          51 Tommy Gray                   
E1                   0.110  6.514 182.65     ****WINNER****  0.071  6.104 238.05
 Qualified:             #5  6.064 234.74                       #12  6.128 236.63

Coughlin got a close look at the 330-foot timing cone and he had to back off a bit. A good looking pass for Gray who will face Lang in round two.

Tommy Gray's incremental times: 60ft-1.030 sec., 330ft-2.700, 660ft-4.027/186.69mph, 1,000ft-5.157

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 1212 Scott Ray                              38 Danny Rowe                   
E1                   0.071  6.085 235.60     ****WINNER****  0.049  6.091 239.91
 Qualified:            #14  6.129 232.87                        #3  6.034 237.96

Rowe was a little loose past the tree while Ray went straight down the groove. Ray ended up in the sand trap, but early reports indicate little or no damage to the car or driver. Rowe will face Lastor in round two.

Scott Ray's incremental times: 60ft-1.046 sec., 330ft-2.680, 660ft-4.002/186.67mph, 1,000ft-5.132
Danny Rowe's incremental times: 60ft-1.038 sec., 330ft-2.714, 660ft-4.034/188.12mph, 1,000ft-5.152.

Danny Rowe's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.030), 330 ft(-0.012), 660ft(-0.010), 1,000ft(0.002). MOV: 0.0169 seconds (approximately 6 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 2103 Joe Baker                               1 Joshua Hernandez             
E1                   0.039  6.134 234.66     ****WINNER****  0.011  6.050 237.96
 Qualified:            #15  6.147 232.07                        #2  6.015 236.75

Baker moved to the left of the groove at about 250 feet and he stayed there for the rest of this pass. A good looking pass for Hernandez. He'll face Moran in round two.

Joe Baker's incremental times: 60ft-1.043 sec., 330ft-2.712, 660ft-4.040/183.02mph, 1,000ft-5.176
Joshua Hernandez's incremental times: 60ft-1.008 sec., 330ft-2.650, 660ft-3.975/186.92mph, 1,000ft-5.102

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  501 Mike Knowles                         1090 Raymond Commisso             
E1   ****WINNER****  0.082  6.123 233.60                     0.072  6.190 229.12
 Qualified:            #16  6.163 232.91                        #1  6.012 239.87

Knowles drifted a little left at half track but he was able to hang on for the win. Commisso didn't have any visible problems. Knowles will face Kuhns in round two.

Mike Knowles' incremental times: 60ft-0.987 sec., 330ft-2.668, 660ft-4.013/184.45mph, 1,000ft-5.159
Raymond Commisso's incremental times: 60ft-1.040 sec., 330ft-2.704, 660ft-4.047/182.92mph, 1,000ft-5.208

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink