Sat, 14 Aug 2010, 07:12 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations

By Bob Orme

BRAINERD, Minn. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 29th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  501 Scott McVey                            36 Thomas Carter                
E1                   0.097  5.780 218.83     ****WINNER****  0.067  5.787 236.42
 Qualified:             #5  5.817 248.57                        #6  5.822 239.06

5:43 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 75 degrees, relative humidity 54 percent, barometer 28.48 inches, adjusted altitude 3,403 feet.

McVey's engine expired with a flash of flames at about 1100 feet. Thomas Carter's MOV: 0.0235 seconds (approximately 8 feet).

Scott McVey's incremental times: 60ft-0.983 sec., 330ft-2.536, 660ft-3.761/201.97 mph, 1,000ft-4.815.
Thomas Carter's incremental times: 60ft-0.957 sec., 330ft-2.517, 660ft-3.769/194.49 mph, 1,000ft-4.857.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  551 Vern Moats                           3377 Rick Cortino                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.163  5.667 254.66                     0.115  5.993 235.80
 Qualified:             #3  5.758 253.28                        #8  6.134 220.40

This is Moats' 28th start at this event. It is his 253rd NHRA National event start, the most in TAFC history. This is Cortino's 4th NHRA National event start. Career best numbers for Cortino, but he was no match for Moats.

Vern Moats' incremental times: 60ft-0.954 sec., 330ft-2.515, 660ft-3.741/202.18 mph, 1,000ft-4.785.
Rick Cortino's incremental times: 60ft-0.975 sec., 330ft-2.604, 660ft-3.920/187.29 mph, 1,000ft-5.043.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  518 Bruce Carlson                         556 Lance Van Hauen              
E1                         No Time           ****WINNER****  0.134  5.788 243.81
 Qualified:             #9  6.302 172.96                        #2  5.754 243.72

This is Van Hauen's best qualifying position at a NHRA National event. He won two rounds here last year. Carlson was a no show.

Lance Van Hauen's incremental times: 60ft-0.956 sec., 330ft-2.539, 660ft-3.794/195.85 mph, 1,000ft-4.869. He'll have lane choice over Carter in round two.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Frank Manzo                            57 Wayne Butler                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.070  5.567 257.87                    -0.079 17.126  68.59
 Qualified:             #1  5.563 259.86                       #10  6.440 159.23

This is Manzo's 9th start here. His career round win/loss record is 513/131, a whopping 80%. This is his 5th start here from the top spot on the ladder. Butler had traction troubles immediately and he could only watch Manzo drive away.

Frank Manzo's incremental times: 60ft-0.952 sec., 330ft-2.475, 660ft-3.669/207.88 mph, 1,000ft-4.696. He'll have a bye run in round two.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   13 Paul Gill                             562 Kris Hool                    
E1   ****WINNER****  0.093  5.702 250.74                     0.067  5.962 203.65
 Qualified:             #4  5.787 247.29                        #7  5.862 248.80

This is Hool's first NHRA National event start since Pomona 2 in 2004. Hool lost power just past the 1000-foot mark.

Paul Gill's incremental times: 60ft-0.964 sec., 330ft-2.525, 660ft-3.756/200.74 mph, 1,000ft-4.808.
Kris Hool's incremental times: 60ft-0.964 sec., 330ft-2.569, 660ft-3.838/195.14 mph, 1,000ft-4.925.

Paul Gill's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.026), 330 ft(0.018), 660ft(0.056), 1,000ft(0.091). MOV: 0.2346 seconds (approximately 70 feet). He'll give lane choice to Moats in round two.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink