Sun, 5 Apr 2009, 04:16 PM Top Fuel Round 2 Eliminations

By Rick Green

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Tenth annual NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  333 Shawn Langdon                         524 Joe Hartley                  
E2   ****WINNER****  0.063  4.014 278.52                     0.111  3.987 305.77
 Prior rounds:
E1    (S Chrisman  ) 0.069  3.895 310.98      (M Lucas     ) 0.089  4.010 305.22
 Qualified:             #1  3.874 311.41                        #9  3.989 305.63

Weather conditions: air temperature 72 degrees, relative humidity 18 percent, barometer 28.11 inches, adjusted altitude 3,243 feet, track temperature 107 degrees.

This is the first time Langdon and Hartley have faced each other in eliminations. Langdon with a big starting line advantage, and the power to hold on for the hole shot win. He was dropping cylinders as he crossed the finish line. Apparently he hurt the engine as the Safety safari is rolling. Hartley with his quickest and fastest pass in a losing effort. Shawn Langdon's MOV: 0.0213 seconds (approximately 10 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Antron Brown                           50 Doug Kalitta                 
E2   ****WINNER****  0.058  4.492 204.94                     0.081  4.766 233.12
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M Strasburg ) 0.061  3.890 311.63      (D Baca      ) 0.097  3.938 308.57
 Qualified:             #2  3.878 312.86                       #10  3.991 301.07

Kalitta is 3 - 2 against Brown in prior events. Kalitta is up in smoke by 150 feet and then Brown lost traction farther down the track and was able to hold on to take the win light.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    7 Brandon Bernstein                       2 Larry Dixon                  
E2   ****WINNER****  0.072  3.927 312.93                     0.051  4.210 232.79
 Prior rounds:
E1    (S Massey    ) 0.075  3.871 317.57      (U Erbacher  ) 0.100  3.893 314.02
 Qualified:            #11  4.027 281.13                        #3  3.907 311.70

Bernstein is 16 - 10 against Dixon in prior events, and a 8 - 6 advantage in round two meetings. Dixon with the starting line advantage and then started to haze the tires just past half track. Bernstein with the quickest and fastest pass of the round for the win. He will have lane choice over Brown in the semifinal.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Tony Schumacher                         3 Cory McClenathan             
E2   ****WINNER****  0.084  3.937 309.70                     0.098  4.415 201.19
 Prior rounds:
E1    (T Haddock   ) 0.093  3.887 310.20      (T Buff      ) 0.111  3.915 311.20
 Qualified:             #4  3.908 313.88                        #5  3.918 306.74

Schumacher is 25 - 13 against McClenathan in prior events, and a 8 - 3 advantage in round two meetings. This is a rematch of last weeks final and Schumacher won on a hole shot. Schumacher was out of the gate first and never looked back as McClenathan started to smoke the tires around half track. Schumacher with the second quickest pass of the round and he will have lane choice over Langdon in the semifinals.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink