Sun, 23 May 2010, 01:22 PM Pro Stock Round 1 Eliminations

By Dan Bennett

TOPEKA, Kan. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 22nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  208 Warren Johnson                          9 Johnny Gray                  
E1                   0.068  6.758 204.29     ****WINNER****  0.078  6.730 204.54
 Qualified:             #8  6.684 206.51                        #9  6.684 206.23

11:50 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 81 degrees, relative humidity 69 percent, barometer 28.67 inches, adjusted altitude 3,903 feet, track temperature 91 degrees.

Once again, the weatherman has led us astray. Today was supposed to be very hot and sunny, but what we're actually seeing is lots of overcast and moderate heat. It's still windy but not nearly the 30-40 mph straight line we had yesterday. I'd guess the gusts would hit about 15 mph at the most.

Warren has competed in all 22 previous Summernationals here. This is the sixteenth time he's qualified in the top half. He's chosen the left lane. I had the impression that the right lane was a bit better for the Pro Stockers, but have to admit I didn't sit down and crunch the numbers.

Warren leaves on Gray but can't hold on. The K&N car looked halfway decent so it looks like the problems may have been found.

Neither car kills the front half.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Greg Anderson                           3 Jason Line                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.024  6.763 202.91                     0.053  6.760 203.92
 Qualified:            #10  6.685 206.10                        #7  6.682 205.94

Line decides to make a lane swap at the last moment.

Greg still has problems getting off the line but manages to pull out the win.

Greg Anderson's incremental times: 60ft-1.004 sec., 330ft-2.820, 660ft-4.338/161.52 mph, 1,000ft-5.652.
Jason Line's incremental times: 60ft-0.998 sec., 330ft-2.822, 660ft-4.343/161.40 mph, 1,000ft-5.655.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   10 Rickie Jones                          730 Shane Gray                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.013  6.734 203.71                     0.050  6.733 204.42
 Qualified:            #11  6.686 205.63                        #6  6.680 206.51

Two young drivers, two second generation drivers.

The veteran of the two leaves first and gets the holeshot win. Both cars ran hard to the 330, with sub 1 second short times.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   55 V. Gaines                             406 Bob Yonke                    
E1   ****WINNER****  0.050  6.744 203.71                     0.043  6.755 203.83
 Qualified:             #5  6.670 206.39                       #12  6.692 206.20

The cars leave pretty much together and run straight to the finish line. Gaines pulls out a narrow victory.

V. Gaines' incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.013), 330 ft(-0.002), 660ft(0.005), 1,000ft(0.003). MOV: 0.0048 seconds (approximately 17 inches).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    6 Ron Krisher                            41 Rodger Brogdon               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.076  6.701 204.76                     0.022 20.491  38.00
 Qualified:             #4  6.666 206.64                       #13  6.757 203.22

Krisher went in and lit both bulbs. As he did, he set the brake, so when his crew tried to rock the car back it didn't work. Brogdon waited quite a while and finally staged.

Krisher was there for the taking with a less-than-average light for Pro Stock but Brogdon's car was shaking out of the groove before it got 200 feet.

Krisher gets lane choice over Gaines.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Mike Edwards                           32 Justin Humphreys             
E1   ****WINNER****  0.046  6.713 205.04                     0.039  6.763 203.19
 Qualified:             #1  6.638 206.99                       #16  6.780 201.79

Edwards' GXP looked very strong on the hit with some great numbers. He cards a decisive win over Justin and will have lane choice next round over Gray.

Mike Edwards' incremental times: 60ft-0.991 sec., 330ft-2.798, 660ft-4.309/162.45 mph, 1,000ft-5.613.
Justin Humphreys' incremental times: 60ft-1.002 sec., 330ft-2.821, 660ft-4.343/161.27 mph, 1,000ft-5.656.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    7 Allen Johnson                           4 Greg Stanfield               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.032  6.709 205.54                     0.001  6.767 204.29
 Qualified:             #2  6.656 207.08                       #15  6.767 202.52

Stanfield is doing everything he can for a round win, and here he pushes the tree to the edge of disaster. Even with .03 in his pocket, he can't hold off the very strong Mopar.

Allen Johnson's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.014), 330 ft(0.001), 660ft(0.011), 1,000ft(0.021). MOV: 0.0278 seconds (approximately 8 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   50 Jeg Coughlin                            8 Kurt Johnson                 
E1                  -0.005  6.709 205.04     ****WINNER****  0.020  6.735 205.07
 Qualified:             #3  6.663 205.04                       #14  6.762 203.55

From a guy who almost never turns the red bulb red, lightning strikes. KJ breathes a sign of relief as he sure didn't have enough for the yellow Cobalt otherwise.

Jones gets lane choice over Johnson next round by .001.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink