Sat, 26 Jun 2010, 05:28 PM Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Final Session

By Rick Green

NORWALK, Ohio - Notes from final, round 4 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Fourth annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals 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: Scott Palmer Runs 7.696/101.33, Now #19; Best prior run: 8.745/88.53, Was #18
Right Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 4.577/218.37, Now #17; No Prior Run

Weather conditions: air temperature 84 degrees, relative humidity 54 percent, barometer 28.89 inches, adjusted altitude 3,706 feet, track temperature 126 degrees.

Palmer is up in smoke as soon as he hits the throttle....Haddock was on a good pass and then apparently something let go as Haddock got real loose on the top end. He did a great job driving, but he will not get in the show.

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Left Lane: Tim Cullinan Runs 4.240/271.57, Now #17; Best prior run: 4.967/145.80, Was #18
Right Lane: Troy Buff Runs 4.067/294.75, Now #16; Best prior run: 4.121/268.38, Was #16

Cullinan has holes out on the left bank right from the start and then has quick flash of flames right in the lights. Cullinan improves on his earlier run today, but not enough to get into the show. Buff with his quickest pass of the weekend, but will stay in the number 16 spot. Buff was straight down the groove with a nice clean pass. Troy Buff's incremental times: 60ft-0.892 sec., 330ft-2.287, 660ft-3.249/262.33 mph.

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Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 3.936/305.49, Now #9; Best prior run: 3.898/305.01, Was #9

Grubnic with a real nice pass, straight down the groove. He will not improve...David Grubnic's incremental times: 60ft-0.849 sec., 330ft-2.198, 660ft-3.144/268.71 mph.

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Left Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 3.942/305.49, Now #7; Best prior run: 3.893/306.40, Was #7
Right Lane: Terry McMillen Runs 4.784/157.93, Now #14; Best prior run: 3.969/294.24, Was #14

McMillen starts to lose traction around half track and clicks it off. Lucas will not improve, but a nice clean pass. Morgan Lucas' incremental times: 60ft-0.866 sec., 330ft-2.209, 660ft-3.152/269.24 mph.

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Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 8.549/80.51, Now #6; Best prior run: 3.887/313.73, Was #6
Right Lane: Shawn Langdon Runs 3.929/307.16, Now #13; Best prior run: 3.931/305.91, Was #13

McClenathan shook the tires right off the starting line and clicked it off. Langdon with his quickest and fastest pass of the weekend, but will stay in the number 13 spot. Shawn Langdon's incremental times: 60ft-0.854 sec., 330ft-2.195, 660ft-3.140/268.92 mph.

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Left Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 3.983/300.53, Now #5; Best prior run: 3.872/308.50, Was #5
Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 3.929/306.81, Now #12; Best prior run: 3.920/308.92, Was #12

This could be a preview of a round one match up...Schumacher with the second quickest of the session. Tony Schumacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.848 sec., 330ft-2.198, 660ft-3.140/270.05 mph. Vandergriff with another good looking pass. Bob Vandergriff's incremental times: 60ft-0.854 sec., 330ft-2.216, 660ft-3.179/264.65 mph.

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Left Lane: Steve Torrence Runs 5.195/133.82, Now #4; Best prior run: 3.861/315.93, Was #4
Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 6.233/109.09, Now #11; Best prior run: 3.911/314.68, Was #11

Kalitta is up in smoke first around 400 feet and Torrence is up in smoke right after him.

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Left Lane: Antron Brown Runs 3.901/313.29, Now #2; Best prior run: 3.795/318.99, Was #2
Right Lane: Doug Foley Runs 4.043/296.70, Now #8; Best prior run: 3.896/314.24, Was #8

Foley was straight down the groove, but will not improve. Brown launched hard and keep the Goodyears stuck with the quickest pass of the session. Antron Brown's incremental times: 60ft-0.848 sec., 330ft-2.186, 660ft-3.124/271.41 mph.

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Left Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 3.856/316.45, Now #1; Best prior run: 3.780/320.43, Was #1
Right Lane: Brandon Bernstein Runs 3.916/309.84, Now #3; Best prior run: 3.848/312.42, Was #3

This was a great drag race to wrap up with the first and third quickest passes of the round. Larry Dixon's incremental times: 60ft-0.837 sec., 330ft-2.160, 660ft-3.087/274.66 mph.
Brandon Bernstein's incremental times: 60ft-0.856 sec., 330ft-2.198, 660ft-3.134/270.70 mph.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink