Fri, 20 Feb 2009, 05:44 PM Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Rick Green

CHANDLER, Ariz. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 25th annual Lucas Oil Slick Mist NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Left Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 4.119/287.78, Now #1
Right Lane: Arley Langlo No Time, Now #2

They do their burnouts and Langlo can't get it to back up, so the Safety crew sends him on down the track. Haddock got real loose around 660 feet, but stayed with it. Terry Haddock's incremental times: 60ft-0.888 sec., 330ft-2.296, 660ft-3.285/253.71 mph.

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Right Lane: Troy Buff Runs 4.137/222.33, Now #2

Passey was scheduled to run against Buff, but was a no show. Buff was dropping cylinders early and then got real close to the wall on the top end.

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Left Lane: Clay Millican Runs 6.345/95.06, Now #4
Right Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 3.843/313.95, Now #1

Millican starts to loose traction and clicks it off. Dixon gets it to hook up and he runs his career fastest pass in 1000 feet. Larry Dixon's incremental times: 60ft-0.847 sec., 330ft-2.159, 660ft-3.074/276.01 mph.

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Left Lane: Del Cox Jr Runs 3.936/306.46, Now #2
Right Lane: Steve Faria Runs 7.573/78.58, Now #6

Cox with a real nice pass to go to the number three spot. This is his career best pass, speed and E.T., but it is also only his third pass in competition. Del Cox Jr's incremental times: 60ft-0.870 sec., 330ft-2.218, 660ft-3.152/271.13 mph. Faria had a part fall off his car and he clicked it off early.

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Left Lane: Joe Hartley Runs 8.508/88.50, Now #8
Right Lane: Spencer Massey Runs 3.857/309.34, Now #2

Hartley lost traction as soon as he hit the throttle. Massey with a great looking pass to go to the number two spot. This was a career best pass for Massey in a 1000 feet, both E.T. and speed. Spencer Massey's incremental times: 60ft-0.839 sec., 330ft-2.155, 660ft-3.079/273.33 mph.

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Left Lane: Shawn Langdon Runs 9.238/80.35, Now #10
Right Lane: Mike Strasburg Runs 4.555/187.39, Now #6

Langdon was up in smoke as soon as they hit the throttle. Strasburg was on a good pass until about half track and then start dropping cylinders and he clicked it off early.

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Left Lane: David Baca Runs 5.153/137.37, Now #8
Right Lane: Steven Chrisman Runs 4.214/277.83, Now #6

Baca started to spin the tires and then the engine let go with a quick flash of flames. Chrisman labored on through the 1320 to go to the number six spot.

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Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 3.918/310.91, Now #4
Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 3.849/314.39, Now #2

McClenathan with tire shake right off the starting line, but he drives through it. He goes to the number four spot. Cory McClenathan's incremental times: 60ft-0.864 sec., 330ft-2.216, 660ft-3.142/273.77 mph. Schumacher with a real nice pass and is just a couple ticks behind Dixon on the ladder. Tony Schumacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.855 sec., 330ft-2.166, 660ft-3.082/276.41 mph.

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Left Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 9.646/77.96, Now #16
Right Lane: Brandon Bernstein Runs 5.641/117.78, Now #11

Lucas was up in smoke right off the starting line and clicked it off. Bernstein was up in smoke around half tack and lifted.

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Left Lane: Antron Brown Runs 3.863/310.55, Now #4
Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 4.732/155.15, Now #11

Brown with a nice pass to go to the number four spot...Antron Brown's incremental times: 60ft-0.848 sec., 330ft-2.166, 660ft-3.085/273.55 mph. Kalitta started to loose traction around 600 feet. Dixon is number one after the first session...Baca is on the bump, number 12 spot.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink