Fri, 3 Sep 2010, 08:38 PM Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Rick Green

CLERMONT, Ind. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Left Lane: Bruce Litton Runs 3.953/304.25, Now #1
Right Lane: Rod Fuller Runs 4.026/289.14, Now #2

Weather conditions: air temperature 81 degrees, relative humidity 32 percent, barometer 28.94 inches, adjusted altitude 3,094 feet, track temperature 103 degrees.

Litton making his first appearance on the NHRA tour this year. Litton launched hard and keep it hooked up to go straight down the groove. Bruce Litton's incremental times: 60ft-0.868 sec., 330ft-2.231, 660ft-3.167/270.86 mph. Fuller with a good pass to start the weekend. Rod Fuller's incremental times: 60ft-0.882 sec., 330ft-2.247, 660ft-3.210/262.08 mph.

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Left Lane: T.J. Zizzo Runs 3.864/311.56, Now #1
Right Lane: Luigi Novelli No Time, Now #4

Novelli with problems on the burnout and drives it off the top end. Zizzo launched with the front wheels in the air and then blasted on through with a career best pass, both E.T. and speed. T.J. Zizzo's incremental times: 60ft-0.858 sec., 330ft-2.172, 660ft-3.089/274.61 mph.

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Left Lane: Chris Karamesines Runs 3.927/310.63, Now #2
Right Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 9.307/79.34, Now #5

Vandergriff was up in smoke as soon as he hit the throttle. Karamesines launched and with the header flames shoot over the rear wing make a really nice pass. This is quickest pass of the season and his career fastest pass. Chris Karamesines' incremental times: 60ft-0.873 sec., 330ft-2.208, 660ft-3.147/270.32 mph.

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Left Lane: Pat Dakin No Time, Now #7
Right Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 4.625/169.38, Now #5

Dakin did the burnout and staged the car, but didn't move when the light turned green. Haddock started mixing up cylinders and clicked it off early.

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Left Lane: Troy Buff No Time, Now #10
Right Lane: Terry McMillen Runs 6.423/96.63, Now #6

Buff broke on the burnout...McMillen was up in smoke by 150 feet.

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Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 3.823/314.97, Now #1
Right Lane: Steve Torrence Runs 3.882/312.13, Now #3

Grubnic with a real nice pass to go to the number one spot with a career best E.T. to go to the number one spot. David Grubnic's incremental times: 60ft-0.848 sec., 330ft-2.148, 660ft-3.057/277.37 mph. Torrence with a good pass to start the weekend. Steve Torrence's incremental times: 60ft-0.863 sec., 330ft-2.187, 660ft-3.107/273.94 mph.

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Left Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 3.888/311.70, Now #4
Right Lane: Shawn Langdon Runs 3.914/292.96, Now #5

The teammate line up against each other and both with good clean pass to go to the number four and five spots. Morgan Lucas' incremental times: 60ft-0.864 sec., 330ft-2.182, 660ft-3.110/272.61 mph.
Shawn Langdon's incremental times: 60ft-0.848 sec., 330ft-2.165, 660ft-3.104/267.06 mph.

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Left Lane: Brandon Bernstein Runs 3.865/313.58, Now #4
Right Lane: Antron Brown Runs 3.808/319.22, Now #1

Brown launched hard and keep it hooked up to go to the number one spot and set the track E.T. record. Antron Brown's incremental times: 60ft-0.840 sec., 330ft-2.144, 660ft-3.049/279.44 mph. He tied the track speed record. Bernstein with a nice pass to start the long weekend. Brandon Bernstein's incremental times: 60ft-0.851 sec., 330ft-2.170, 660ft-3.093/274.16 mph.

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Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 3.842/316.52, Now #3
Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 3.844/321.35, Now #4

This was a good side-by-side drag race as these two go to the number three and four spots. Doug Kalitta's incremental times: 60ft-0.855 sec., 330ft-2.171, 660ft-3.078/277.72 mph.
Tony Schumacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.850 sec., 330ft-2.179, 660ft-3.089/278.98 mph. Schumacher sets the track speed record. Schumacher before this round unveiled his new Army paint scheme celebrating their 10 year partnership.

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Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 3.789/319.98, Now #1
Right Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 6.438/99.80, Now #16

Dixon is up smoke by 330 feet and clicked it off. McClenathan with a great pass to go to the number one spot, setting the E.T. track record. Cory McClenathan's incremental times: 60ft-0.843 sec., 330ft-2.145, 660ft-3.037/283.31 mph.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink