Sat, 14 Jun 2003, 09:51 PM Competition Eliminator Round 1 Eliminations (Parts 1 & 2)

By Larry Sullivan

HEBRON, Ohio - Partial results of round 1 eliminations in Competition Eliminator at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 39th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals presented by Summit Racing:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- (+/-)-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- (+/-)
  212 Mark Linebarrier                     1892 Chris Bozic
E1                  -0.066  7.681 -0.119     ****WINNER****  0.070  7.137 -0.473
        B/A Index: 7.80                           C/D Index: 7.61
 Qualified:            #27  7.488 -0.312                       #11  7.128 -0.482

4:06 PM Current weather conditions: 75 degrees, 78 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.05 inches, with a track temperature of 91 degrees.

It's still overcast and there is a chance the rains will return, but we will keep running as long as the weather permits today. Conditions are a little better than yesterday, so CICs are possible.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- (+/-)-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- (+/-)
   39 Mike Clarahan                          37 Jack Slagle
E1                  -0.030  7.052 -0.358     ****WINNER****  0.011  9.222 -0.128
       A/AA Index: 7.41                         D/SMA Index: 9.35
 Qualified:            #26  7.092 -0.318                       #10  8.860 -0.490

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- (+/-)-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- (+/-)
  354 Rhett Matheny                          34 Robert Bailey
E1                   0.020  7.906 -0.084     ****WINNER****  0.166  6.888 -0.402
       A/EA Index: 7.99                          A/ED Index: 7.29
 Qualified:            #29  7.713 -0.277                       #13  6.825 -0.465

These two were ready to do their burnouts, but it was raining lightly at half track, so they were on hold for a few minutes. Then it started raining harder and everyone cleared out of the starting line area and the stands. Then it really poured, so we were down for quite awhile. 4:15 PM.

9:19 PM Five hours later, now under the lights, following the final Professional qualifying session, they came up to try again. Matheny had a great light, but got out of shape on the top end and couldn't run the number, so Bailey advanced. Robert Bailey's MOV: 0.1726 seconds (approximately 37 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- (+/-)-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- (+/-)
   27 Fred Allen                           2885 David Rampy
E1                   0.041  7.884 -0.106     ****WINNER****  0.042  7.733 -0.257
       A/EA Index: 7.99                          A/EA Index: 7.99
 Qualified:            #20  7.606 -0.384                        #4  7.481 -0.509

Alkmost identical reaction times, bad news for Allen. Then he got out of shape on the top end and Rampy won easily. David Rampy's MOV: 0.1502 seconds (approximately 30 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- (+/-)-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- (+/-)
 3718 Terry Smith                          1498 Santo Volpe
E1   ****WINNER****  0.058  8.620 -0.400                     0.029 No Time
       D/EA Index: 9.02                          A/SR Index: 8.64
 Qualified:            #17  8.573 -0.447                        #1  8.085 -0.555

Volpe had the better light, but got out of shape and hit a timing reflector and his run was disqualified - he got to the finish line second anyway. Then the remaining cars in the staging lanes began heading for the pits, dew on the track making it unsafe to continue.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink