Sun, 25 Mar 2012, 15:28 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 1 Eliminations

By David Gerard

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Pacific Division, event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  613 Joey Severance                         73 Megan McKernan               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.013  5.466 264.39                     0.120  5.484 259.66
 Qualified:             #3  5.394 264.80                        #6  5.525 264.03

11:57 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 75 degrees, relative humidity 16 percent, barometer 27.25 inches, adjusted altitude 4,321 feet, track temperature 104 degrees.

Blown Alcohol vs. Injected Nitro. We go into the round with what is basically a three way tie for the 2012 All Stars between McKernan, Perkins, and Demke.

Severance is stellar on the starting line with a terrific 0.013 RT. He stays in front from start to finish with better incrementals right on down the track.

McKernan makes her best run of the weekend to no avail.

Joey Severance's incremental margins: 60ft(0.147), 330 ft(0.175), 660ft(0.147), 1,000ft(0.121). MOV: 0.1251 seconds (approximately 48 feet).

Joey Severance's incremental times: 60ft-0.936 sec., 330ft-2.438, 660ft-3.615/210.60 mph, 1,000ft-4.617.
Megan McKernan's incremental times: 60ft-0.976 sec., 330ft-2.506, 660ft-3.655/217.67 mph, 1,000ft-4.631.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 6067 Don St. Arnaud                         64 Mike Austin                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.070  5.411 267.37                     0.139 No Time      
 Qualified:             #4  5.400 264.29                        #5  5.484 261.07

The two middle of the pack drivers come to the line.

Austin's converter car is not happy and the engine bogs and dies right at the green.

St.Arnaud is long gone and runs close to his qualify times for the easy win.

Don St. Arnaud's incremental times: 60ft-0.975 sec., 330ft-2.489, 660ft-3.623/220.69 mph, 1,000ft-4.582.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Chris Demke                           611 Garrett Bateman              
E1   ****WINNER****  0.062  5.323 269.73                     0.016  5.447 253.28
 Qualified:             #2  5.353 267.69                        #7  5.548 245.94

Demke makes his best run of the weekend to improve his chances for a win today and a spot in the All Star line up.

Bateman's crew did a nice tune up from yesterday, but its just not enough to get the win. He gets a good advantage at the green, but Demke is on by before mid track.

Chris Demke's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.043), 330 ft(-0.004), 660ft(0.014), 1,000ft(0.036). MOV: 0.0781 seconds (approximately 29 feet).

Chris Demke's incremental times: 60ft-0.926 sec., 330ft-2.370, 660ft-3.514/217.04 mph, 1,000ft-4.491.
Garrett Bateman's incremental times: 60ft-0.929 sec., 330ft-2.412, 660ft-3.574/213.16 mph, 1,000ft-4.573.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   63 James Butler                            3 Jim Whiteley                 
E1                   0.114  5.510 262.49     ****WINNER****  0.058  5.310 271.02
 Qualified:             #9  5.577 255.63                        #1  5.303 270.81

Its Whiteley from start to finish, with all of the numbers to ensure an easy win.

Butler makes his best run of the weekend in the loss.

James Butler's incremental times: 60ft-0.978 sec., 330ft-2.472, 660ft-3.652/210.37 mph, 1,000ft-4.656.
Jim Whiteley's incremental times: 60ft-0.930 sec., 330ft-2.376, 660ft-3.510/217.98 mph, 1,000ft-4.481.

12:13 p.m. In round two: Whiteley has lane choice over St. Arnaud and Demke over Severance.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink