Fri, 12 Feb 2010, 05:42 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #2

By Rick Green

POMONA, Calif. - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:

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Left Lane: Sean O'Bannon Runs 5.684/257.14, Now #3; No Prior Run
Right Lane: John Lombardo Jr. Runs 6.073/223.99, Now #12; Best prior run: 8.970/131.90, Was #12

Weather conditions: air temperature 68 degrees, relative humidity 47 percent, barometer 28.95 inches, adjusted altitude 2,201 feet, track temperature 96 degrees.

Lombardo Jr. improves, but stays number 12. O'Bannon was straight down the groove and moves to the number three spot. Sean O'Bannon's incremental times: 60ft-0.953 sec., 330ft-2.531, 660ft-3.769/201.94 mph, 1,000ft-4.807.

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Left Lane: Keeter Ray Runs 5.677/253.42, Now #3; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Brian Smith Runs 5.948/247.75, Now #12; Best prior run: 5.930/245.00, Was #11

Smith is loose right from the start, but stays wit it...he doen't improve. Ray with a real nice pass to move up to the number three spot. Keeter Ray's incremental times: 60ft-0.968 sec., 330ft-2.526, 660ft-3.747/203.43 mph, 1,000ft-4.791.

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Left Lane: Jay Payne Runs 5.599/260.51, Now #2; Best prior run: 9.427/91.06, Was #16
Right Lane: Steve Gasparrelli Runs 5.742/257.19, Now #9; Best prior run: 5.863/255.24, Was #11

This is Payne's 305th national event in the Alcohol classes, and that is more than any other driver. Payne with a great looking pass and goes to the number two spot. Jay Payne's incremental times: 60ft-0.971 sec., 330ft-2.510, 660ft-3.711/205.76 mph, 1,000ft-4.735.

Steve Gasparrelli's incremental times: 60ft-0.968 sec., 330ft-2.566, 660ft-3.816/200.59 mph, 1,000ft-4.865.

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Left Lane: Doug Gordon Runs 8.041/115.62, Now #16; Best prior run: 9.353/95.15, Was #16
Right Lane: Daniel Oliver Runs 5.587/258.17, Now #2; Best prior run: 5.853/255.00, Was #12

Gordon was real loose right off the starting line and clicked it off. Oliver launched hard and straight down the groove. He goes to the number two spot...Daniel Oliver's incremental times: 60ft-0.947 sec., 330ft-2.480, 660ft-3.685/205.29 mph, 1,000ft-4.715.

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Left Lane: Jason Rupert Runs 5.853/248.16, Now #13; Best prior run: 6.238/188.75, Was #15
Right Lane: Ron August Jr Runs 6.602/154.30, Now #12; Best prior run: 5.788/252.57, Was #12

August got real loose, and then appears to loose an engine. Rupert improves... Jason Rupert's incremental times: 60ft-0.953 sec., 330ft-2.593, 660ft-3.877/195.96 mph, 1,000ft-4.950.

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Left Lane: Clint Thompson Runs 9.743/88.89, Now #9; Best prior run: 5.733/252.90, Was #9
Right Lane: Mark Woznichak Runs 9.615/93.58, Now #11; Best prior run: 5.769/253.75, Was #11

Thompson shook and clicked it off early. Woznichak is loose and clicks it off.

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Left Lane: Brian Thiel Runs 5.685/253.90, Now #7; Best prior run: 5.730/251.86, Was #8
Right Lane: Brian Hough Runs 7.149/134.20, Now #4; Best prior run: 5.654/256.36, Was #4

Hough shook and clicked it off...Thiel improves and moves up the ladder one spot. Brian Thiel's incremental times: 60ft-0.963 sec., 330ft-2.526, 660ft-3.752/201.85 mph, 1,000ft-4.798.

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Left Lane: Bret Williamson Runs 10.171/83.05, Now #8; Best prior run: 5.727/248.71, Was #8
Right Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 5.599/259.36, Now #1; Best prior run: 5.570/257.28, Was #1

Williamson shook right off the starting line and clicked it off. Bartone with the quickest pass of the session. Tony Bartone's incremental times: 60ft-0.982 sec., 330ft-2.515, 660ft-3.711/206.92 mph, 1,000ft-4.732.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink