Mon, 6 Sep 2010, 02:24 PM Pro Modified Round 2 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

CLERMONT, Ind. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Pro Modified at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Danny Rowe                              5 Joe Baker                    
E2                   0.051  6.009 245.00     ****WINNER****  0.045  6.004 238.47
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M Knowles   ) 0.029  6.001 245.23      (T Coughlin  ) 0.033  6.003 237.17
 Qualified:             #5  5.930 247.16                       #13  6.006 236.17

1:52 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 85 degrees, relative humidity 31 percent, barometer 29.09 inches, adjusted altitude 3,156 feet, track temperature 114 degrees.

Rowe is 2-0 against Baker this season and this is the first time they have met in round two.

Baker got one back here after an almost-even start, pulling out to an early lead, then hanging on for the win.

Joe Baker's incremental margins: 60ft(0.018), 330 ft(0.052), 660ft(0.047), 1,000ft(0.032). MOV: 0.0113 seconds (approximately 4 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 5012 Kenny Lang                            348 Brad Personett               
E2                   0.048  7.941 123.88     ****WINNER****  0.086  5.897 255.39
 Prior rounds:
E1    (S Ray       ) 0.034  5.999 238.34      (R Stivers   ) 0.601  6.006 248.93
 Qualified:            #10  5.987 237.96                        #2  5.896 252.33

This is the first time Lang and Personett have faced off this season.

Lang had the edge at the start, but his car went into tire shake, dancing around, and he had to lift to settle it down. Meanwhile, Personett made a soft launch, then ran the fastest speed ever, resetting the record he established in qualifying. However, he paid a price, the car leaving a heavy cloud of smoke through the lights and the shutdown area. The car was still smoking as he turned off the track on the top end.

Brad Personett's incremental times: 60ft-1.025 sec., 330ft-2.697, 660ft-3.958/198.03 mph, 1,000ft-5.015.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 4262 Dave Pierce                            14 Ed Hoover                    
E2                   0.022  6.332 232.55     ****WINNER****  0.024  6.040 240.47
 Prior rounds:
E1    (R Burgess   ) 0.039 11.225  75.50      (V Smith     ) 0.020  5.981 240.98
 Qualified:            #14  6.015 238.93                       #11  5.994 240.38

Hoover made a last-minute lane swap after the Safety Safari did a quick cleanup in Personett's lane, choosing the just-cleaned lane. Apparently the smoke cloud was not as juicy as it looked.

This is the first time Hoover and Pierce have faced off in eliminations.

At the green, it was all Hoover, but he was not quick enough to get lane choice against personett in the semifinals.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 1090 Raymond Commisso                       43 Rickie Smith                 
E2   ****WINNER****  0.004  6.023 242.15                     0.044  5.988 234.98
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M Janis     ) 0.003  6.042 241.84      (M Troxel    ) 0.064  5.974 234.53
 Qualified:            #16  6.048 240.72                        #9  5.958 237.75

Commisso son the only other time these two met this year, in round one at Englishtown.

Commisso beat Smith at his own game, on a holeshot. Smith steadily ate away at Commisso's early lead, came up a little short.

Raymond Commisso's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.035), 330 ft(0.009), 660ft(-0.011), 1,000ft(-0.012). MOV: 0.0059 seconds (approximately 2 feet).

Commisso faces Baker in the semifinals, Baker has lane choice.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink