Sat, 18 Apr 2009, 02:32 PM Top Sportsman Invitational Round 3 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

COMMERCE, Ga. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Davis Carts/Sunset RaceCraft Top Sportsman Invitational at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 29th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed
   51 Michael Chitty                        373 Rick Corn                    
E3   ****WINNER****  0.012  7.848 173.58                    -0.500  6.975 196.79
         TS  Dial: 7.60 (+/-):  0.248              TS  Dial: 6.91 (+/-):  0.065
 Prior rounds:
E2    (J Sexton    ) 0.040  7.919  0.349      (E Folse     ) 0.015  6.920  0.020
E1    (J Barker    ) 0.077  7.529 -0.071      (C Glidewell ) 0.011  6.910  0.020
 Qualified:            #18  7.609 179.90                        #6  6.639 207.62

2:21 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 75 degrees, relative humidity 25 percent, barometer 29.40 inches, adjusted altitude 2,031 feet, track temperature 107 degrees.

Michael Chitty wins on a red light.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed
 4200 Mark Pickens                          405 Keith Raftery                
E3   ****WINNER****  0.020  7.080 192.82                     0.032  6.778 197.45
         TS  Dial: 7.07 (+/-):  0.010              TS  Dial: 6.79 (+/-): -0.012
 Prior rounds:
E2    (B Prejean   ) 0.057  7.077  0.077      (T Daras     ) 0.005  6.812  0.042
E1    (J Mohana    ) 0.036  7.111  0.031      (B Vaughn    ) 0.012  6.771  0.011
 Qualified:            #19  8.052 129.89                        #3  6.427 217.14

Pickens got easy wins in the first two rounds, but he earned this one with a 0.030 package, forcing Raftery to break out to take the stripe. He earns a bye to the finals.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed
   12 Jeff Brooks                                Bye
E3   ****WINNER****  0.000  6.919 197.80     
         TS  Dial: 6.92 (+/-): -0.001     
 Prior rounds:
E2    (J Barker    ) -0.011  7.240  0.340   
E1    (C Rini      ) 0.052  6.912  0.012   
 Qualified:            #11  6.909 197.13                     Bye

Brooks takes the bye run, will race Chitty in the semifinals.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink