Sun, 6 Jun 2010, 12:42 PM Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

JOLIET, Ill. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 13th annual United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Miller Welders:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  317 T.J. Zizzo                              3 Antron Brown                 
E1                   0.103  8.067  83.60     ****WINNER****  0.081  3.899 313.15
 Qualified:             #9  3.874 311.27                        #8  3.872 312.06

Zizzo is 1 - 0 against Brown in prior events. Brown was out of the gate first and never trailed for the win. Zizzo was up in smoke as soon as he hit the throttle.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  475 Steve Torrence                        333 Shawn Langdon                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.108  3.828 312.93                     0.070  3.872 278.63
 Qualified:            #10  3.884 313.95                        #7  3.871 312.93

This is the first time Torrence and Langdon have faced each other in eliminations. Langdon with the starting line advantage and the lead until there was a flash and then his chute deployed. Torrence drove around him right in the lights for the win by 0.0063 seconds (approximately 3 feet). Torrence with his career best E.T. here for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   12 Bob Vandergriff                      3516 Terry McMillen               
E1                   0.102  5.713 116.44     ****WINNER****  0.079  4.202 251.77
 Qualified:             #6  3.865 314.90                       #11  3.901 304.87

This is the first time Vandergriff and McMillen have faced each other in eliminations. McMillen with the starting line advantage and started to haze the tires and had to pedaled it, but took the win. Vandergriff was up in smoke early and clicked it off.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Tony Schumacher                       303 Pat Dakin                    
E1   ****WINNER****  0.093  3.827 318.02                     0.092  7.561  84.18
 Qualified:             #3  3.841 317.49                       #14  3.916 311.85

Schumacher is 1 - 0 against Dakin in prior events. They leave together and then Dakin is out of power by 200 feet. Schumacher launched hard and keep the Goodyears hooked up to run the quickest pass of the round for the win. Tony Schumacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.831 sec., 330ft-2.155, 660ft-3.070/278.46 mph. He will have lane choice over McMillen in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Larry Dixon                           300 Tim Cullinan                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.099  3.844 308.78                     0.089  4.985 144.89
 Qualified:             #1  3.814 317.42                       #16  4.045 300.06

This is the first time Dixon and Cullinan have faced each other in eliminations. Cullinan with the starting line advantage and then started to lose traction around 330 feet...Dixon was loose on the top end, but still will have lane choice over Brown in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Cory McClenathan                       34 Morgan Lucas                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.087  3.859 305.15                     0.073  3.967 301.07
 Qualified:             #2  3.822 320.05                       #15  3.968 297.94

McClenathan is 11 - 6 against Lucas in prior events. Lucas with a slight starting line advantage, but McClenathan had the difference made up by the time they went by the Christmas tree...McClenathan is a little off his qualifying time but takes the win. He will give up lane choice to Torrence in round two.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Brandon Bernstein                      44 David Grubnic                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.095  4.632 225.45                     0.107  4.888 267.48
 Qualified:             #4  3.843 314.17                       #13  3.915 310.27

Bernstein is 13 - 7 against Grubnic in prior events. Bernstein with the starting line advantage and Grubnic is up in smoke right off the starting line and pedals it. Grubnic is not able to chase down Bernstein as Bernstein slows when the car dropped a bunch of cylinders.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   22 Doug Kalitta                          497 Troy Buff                    
E1   ****WINNER****  0.081  3.994 282.19                     0.135 11.289  76.93
 Qualified:             #5  3.857 312.71                       #12  3.909 291.95

Kalitta is 2 - 0 against Buff in prior events. Kalitta is out of the gate first and is never challenged when Buff doesn't move when the light turns green. Kalitta's engine lets go with a big fireball around 700 feet. Kalitta will still have lane choice over Bernstein in round two.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink