Tue, 10 Feb 2009, 06:30 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 2 Eliminations

By David Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 49th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    8 Shawn Cowie                            51 Edwin Schmeeckle             
E2                   0.113  5.508 229.98     ****WINNER****  0.290  5.287 270.54
 Prior rounds:
E1    (L Miersch   ) 0.128  5.333 266.48      (B Johnson   ) 0.044  5.405 245.81
 Qualified:             #1  5.356 268.65                        #9  5.537 243.37

3:11 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 64 degrees, relative humidity 26 percent, barometer 29.02 inches, adjusted altitude 1,666 feet, track temperature 77 degrees.

Two blown cars come to the line. Cowie is 1 - 0 against Schmeeckle in prior events.

Neither car wanted to leave first. Cowie had a big advantage all the way to past the 1000 foot lights where the engine startrd to grumble.

After a starting line RT stumble, Schmeekle's car just rockets on down the track to card a close win with a new career best ET and MPH.

Edwin Schmeeckle's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.161), 330 ft(-0.133), 660ft(-0.124), 1,000ft(-0.072). MOV: 0.0444 seconds (approximately 15 feet).

Shawn Cowie's incremental times: 60ft-0.942 sec., 330ft-2.395, 660ft-3.536/216.38 mph, 1,000ft-4.561.
Edwin Schmeeckle's incremental times: 60ft-0.926 sec., 330ft-2.351, 660ft-3.483/218.48 mph, 1,000ft-4.456.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   72 Chris Demke                            78 Kevin Wayman                 
E2   ****WINNER****  0.087  5.315 264.29                           No Time      
 Prior rounds:
E1    (A Bart      ) 0.216  5.307 265.06      (R Eakins    ) 0.095  5.706 235.43
 Qualified:             #4  5.408 263.62                       #12  5.586 243.19

Wayman is a no show after round one carnage.

Demke just misses a new career best with a clean and straight single. He gives up lane choice next round to Schmeekle.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  734 Johnny Ahten                         7222 Dennis Swearingen            
E2   ****WINNER****  0.071  5.475 249.12                     0.053  5.790 219.97
 Prior rounds:
E1    (D Hegge     ) 0.068  5.517 239.91      (D Shields   ) 0.038  5.564 250.41
 Qualified:             #6  5.427 256.26                       #14  5.629 252.57

Swearingen gets away first and leads until near the 330 lights, where Ahten's fueler drives on by. Ahten's dropped cylinders on the top end. I couldn't see why Swearingen slowed down track.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   65 Justin Davis                            2 Jim Whiteley                 
E2                   0.075  5.391 265.22     ****WINNER****  0.052  5.292 268.92
 Prior rounds:
E1    (B Force     ) 0.061  5.366 265.43      (C Force     ) 0.145  5.516 263.46
 Qualified:             #7  5.467 250.41                        #2  5.374 266.64

...and the hits keep comming. Both cars make clean passes close to their career bests.

Whiteley gets away first and stays there to the finish with his best pass of the race. He'll ahve lane choice in round three.

3:24 p.m.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink