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Sat, 17 Apr 2010, 09:38 PM

Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations

By Bob Orme

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 11th annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals:


 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  717 Brian Thiel                            61 Brian Hough                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.059  5.788 249.90                    -0.009  5.760 250.13
 Qualified:             #8  5.749 252.57                        #9  5.750 250.46

6:07 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 87 degrees, relative humidity 12 percent, barometer 27.70 inches, adjusted altitude 4,698 feet, track temperature 103 degrees.
Hough is 1 - 0 against Thiel in prior events. Hough left early (for only the 3rd time in 58 events), then he was very close to the wall at the 330-foot mark. Thiel was skating around his lane on the top end of the track.

Brian Thiel's incremental times: 60ft-0.994 sec., 330ft-2.583, 660ft-3.824/199.02 mph, 1,000ft-4.888.


 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    9 Steve Gasparrelli                      62 Ken Webster                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.083  5.721 254.62                     0.058  5.758 250.37
 Qualified:             #7  5.712 253.95                       #10  5.754 249.90

This is the first time Gasparrelli and Webster have faced each other in eliminations. A good looking drag race! Webster had the advantage at the tree but Gasparrelli was able to chase him down.
Steve Gasparrelli's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.041), 330 ft(-0.034), 660ft(-0.019), 1,000ft(-0.002). MOV: 0.0123 seconds (approximately 5 feet).

Steve Gasparrelli's incremental times: 60ft-0.989 sec., 330ft-2.564, 660ft-3.793/201.22 mph, 1,000ft-4.837.
Ken Webster's incremental times: 60ft-0.973 sec., 330ft-2.555, 660ft-3.799/198.52 mph, 1,000ft-4.860.


 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   75 John Lombardo Jr.                     303 Todd Veney                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.082  5.678 254.42                     0.076  5.728 254.04
 Qualified:             #6  5.702 253.61                       #11  5.762 254.09

This is the first time Lombardo Jr. and Veney have faced each other in eliminations. Veney was to the left of the groove for most of this pass. A straight and smooth pass for Lombardo.

John Lombardo Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.977 sec., 330ft-2.531, 660ft-3.752/203.68 mph, 1,000ft-4.794.
Todd Veney's incremental times: 60ft-1.002 sec., 330ft-2.568, 660ft-3.797/201.31 mph, 1,000ft-4.843.


 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Sean O'Bannon                        3990 Rob Atchison                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.091  5.670 255.00                     0.083  5.800 249.67
 Qualified:             #5  5.696 255.43                       #12  5.773 250.74

This is the first time O'Bannon and Atchison have faced each other in eliminations. Atchison had a slight advantage at the tree but O'Bannon had the difference made up before the 60-foot mark.

Sean O'Bannon's incremental times: 60ft-0.963 sec., 330ft-2.526, 660ft-3.748/202.33 mph, 1,000ft-4.788.
Rob Atchison's incremental times: 60ft-0.993 sec., 330ft-2.586, 660ft-3.836/197.91 mph, 1,000ft-4.900.


 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Tony Bartone                           77 Mark Woznichak               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.047  5.768 250.83                     0.157  5.704 253.23
 Qualified:             #4  5.686 252.61                       #13  5.773 250.64

This is the first time Bartone and Woznichak have faced each other in eliminations. A huge holeshot for Bartone and he was able to hang on for the win. He'll give lane choice to O'Bannon in round two.
Tony Bartone's incremental margins: 60ft(0.074), 330 ft(0.062), 660ft(0.059), 1,000ft(0.053). MOV: 0.0462 seconds (approximately 17 feet).

Tony Bartone's incremental times: 60ft-1.011 sec., 330ft-2.588, 660ft-3.821/201.19 mph, 1,000ft-4.874.
Mark Woznichak's incremental times: 60ft-0.975 sec., 330ft-2.540, 660ft-3.770/201.10 mph, 1,000ft-4.817.


 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    8 Jay Payne                             757 Larry Miner                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.083  5.726 251.20                     0.058  5.759 251.11
 Qualified:             #3  5.680 254.23                       #14  5.780 250.69

Miner is 4 - 2 against Payne in prior events. Miner left first but he was skating around in the middle section of the track. Payne will give lane choice to Lombardo in round two.
Jay Payne's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.033), 330 ft(-0.011), 660ft(0.000), 1,000ft(0.006). MOV: 0.0081 seconds (approximately 3 feet).

Jay Payne's incremental times: 60ft-0.987 sec., 330ft-2.547, 660ft-3.777/201.34 mph, 1,000ft-4.831.
Larry Miner's incremental times: 60ft-0.979 sec., 330ft-2.561, 660ft-3.802/199.88 mph, 1,000ft-4.862.


 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   63 Clint Thompson                       7976 Keeter Ray                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.090  5.662 254.95                     0.100 12.353  82.80
 Qualified:             #2  5.679 255.92                       #15  5.787 248.75

This is the first time Thompson and Ray have faced each other in eliminations. Ray is up in smoke on the launch and his weekend is over. Thompson has the quickest TAFC pass of the weekend for lane choice over Gasparrelli in round two.

Clint Thompson's incremental times: 60ft-0.958 sec., 330ft-2.520, 660ft-3.740/202.82 mph, 1,000ft-4.780.


 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   78 Daniel Oliver                         727 Ron August Jr.               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.094  5.663 253.66                     0.001  5.813 231.75
 Qualified:             #1  5.663 252.33                       #16  5.860 219.08

This is the first time Oliver and August Jr. have faced each other in eliminations. This is Oliver's first start from the number one position in seven national event starts. He is the 80th different TAFC driver to qualify in the top spot at NHRA national events. 11 of the 16 drivers in today's field have qualified in the top spot at least once. August nailed the tree, but he couldn't keep his car in the groove and Oliver was able to chase him down. Oliver will have lane choice over Thiel in round two. The top 8 qualifiers all advanced to the next round.
Daniel Oliver's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.058), 330 ft(-0.041), 660ft(-0.030), 1,000ft(-0.001). MOV: 0.0574 seconds (approximately 20 feet).

Daniel Oliver's incremental times: 60ft-0.958 sec., 330ft-2.508, 660ft-3.733/201.82 mph, 1,000ft-4.777.
Ron August Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.993 sec., 330ft-2.560, 660ft-3.796/199.11 mph, 1,000ft-4.869.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink