Sun, 5 Apr 2009, 04:42 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 3 Eliminations

By Bob Orme

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car 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
  457 Tony Bartone                            3 Jay Payne                    
E3   ****WINNER****  0.075  5.603 253.90                     0.048  5.665 256.75
 Prior rounds:
E2    (D Taylor    ) 0.095  5.635 252.47      (S Gasparrell) 0.066  5.655 255.82
E1    (J Rupert    ) 0.077  5.628 254.76      (L Andreasson) 0.144  5.638 257.28
 Qualified:             #1  5.586 255.15                        #4  5.671 256.16

1:33 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 72 degrees, relative humidity 18 percent, barometer 28.11 inches, adjusted altitude 3,243 feet, track temperature 107 degrees.

Bartone has a 2-1 advantage over Payne in eliminations.

Payne moved to the left of the groove at about 200 feet. He was close to the centerline at half track, but he stayed on the throttle. Bartone had the better car this time and he will go to the final round.

Tony Bartone's incremental times: 60ft-0.956 sec., 330ft-2.478, 660ft-3.682/205.01 mph, 1,000ft-4.719.
Jay Payne's incremental times: 60ft-0.975 sec., 330ft-2.538, 660ft-3.753/204.39 mph, 1,000ft-4.789.
Tony Bartone's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.008), 330 ft(0.033), 660ft(0.044), 1,000ft(0.043). MOV: 0.0355 seconds (approximately 13 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Roger Bateman                          10 Sean O'Bannon                
E3   ****WINNER****  0.088  5.616 253.14                           No Time      
 Prior rounds:
E2    (D Oliver    ) 0.145  5.624 252.43      (C Thompson  ) 0.036  5.682 253.33
E1    (J Patton    ) 0.092  5.600 254.47      (B Hough     ) 0.047  5.636 256.50
 Qualified:             #3  5.628 254.09                        #2  5.626 256.99

O'Bannon did his burnout, backed up, and he was then told to shut it off before staging. Apparently he was leaking fluids. A good solo pass for Bateman, but he will give lane choice to Bartone in the final round.

Roger Bateman's incremental times: 60ft-0.956 sec., 330ft-2.484, 660ft-3.688/205.13 mph, 1,000ft-4.730.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink