Sun, 2 Oct 2011, 12:40 PM Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 1 Eliminations

By Jim Samuel

MOHNTON, Pa. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock Motorcycle at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 27th annual Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals:

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   77 Angie Smith                           401 Jerry Savoie                 
E1                   0.117  6.863 193.40     ****WINNER****  0.000  6.971 190.03
 Qualified:             #7  6.866 193.88                       #10  6.900 193.13

12:24 p.m. - Weather conditions: air temperature 56 degrees, relative humidity 66 percent, barometer 29.21 inches, adjusted altitude 1,106 feet, track temperature 63 degrees.

Savoie got the holeshot win with a perfect light.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    8 Karen Stoffer                         200 Chip Ellis                   
E1                   0.081  7.028 158.99     ****WINNER****  0.000  6.938 190.92
 Qualified:             #8  6.867 194.58                        #9  6.893 192.17

Stoffer won here in 2006 and was runner up in 2002. A perfect light by Ellis, coupled with a lower ET, earned Ellis a trip to the next round.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Matt Smith                            533 Jim Underdahl                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.033  6.975 190.70                     0.278 No Time      
 Qualified:             #6  6.862 194.52                       #11  6.913 194.63

Smith did his burnout, then had trouble getting the bike out of gear. He had to shut it down and restart before he could stage. When the light turned green, Underdahl launched slowly and barely moved down the track. He never did cross the finish line.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    6 Steve Johnson                           7 Michael Phillips             
E1                  -0.069 No Time           ****WINNER****  0.022  6.918 195.93
 Qualified:             #5  6.858 194.21                       #12  6.932 192.80

Johnson had two runner up finishes here at Maple Grove coming into this race. Phillips won here in 2003. Johnson left too soon, then the bike shut off after it traveled just a few feet.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  300 Hector Arana Jr                        69 Bailey Whitaker              
E1   ****WINNER****  0.050  6.840 192.80                    -0.057  6.967 190.62
 Qualified:             #1  6.824 195.48                       #16  6.946 191.24

This is the fifth time Arana has started a race in the number one qualifying position. He set a career best ET to take the top spot in the order. Whitaker set career bests in ET and speed during qualifying.

A red light start by Whitaker gave Arana the easy win. Arana will have lane choice over Ellis in round two.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  205 Shawn Gann                              3 Eddie Krawiec                
E1                   0.027  7.049 184.50     ****WINNER****  0.068  6.819 196.22
 Qualified:            #15  6.946 191.51                        #2  6.826 197.97

Krawiec will have lane choice over Savoie in the next round after making a nice ride down the track to take the win.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Hector Arana                           25 Matt Guidera                 
E1                   0.101  7.878 120.77     ****WINNER****  0.004  7.635 131.24
 Qualified:             #3  6.831 195.03                       #14  6.944 188.20

Both riders were off pace on the track but Guidera was quicker to take the win. He gave up lane choice to Matt Smith in round two.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 LE Tonglet                              2 Andrew Hines                 
E1                   0.073  6.970 180.60     ****WINNER****  0.025  6.903 197.33
 Qualified:            #13  6.933 192.58                        #4  6.845 193.54

Hines was out of the gate first but trailed at 330 feet. After that, he got by Tonglet to take the win and earn lane choice over Phillips in the second round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink