Sat, 06 Oct 2012, 16:45 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations

By Jim Samuel

MOHNTON, Pa. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 28th annual Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Frank Manzo                          1996 John Fiorini                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.086  5.498 261.78                     0.073  5.794 241.20
 Qualified:             #1  5.510 261.57                       #16  6.010 213.98

4:02 p.m. - Weather conditions: air temperature 67 degrees, relative humidity 57 percent, barometer 29.32 inches, adjusted altitude 1,814 feet, track temperature 75 degrees.

Manzo has won this race 13 times and is 70-14 in round competition here. He is 26-1 in first round matchups here at Maple Grove.

Fiorini was a bit quicker off the starting line but lost the advantage before the 60 feet. Manzo extended his lead over Fiorini to take the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   15 John Anderika                          12 Eric Lourie                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.089  5.632 253.85                     0.110  5.750 250.04
 Qualified:             #2  5.598 253.80                       #15  5.895 243.72

Lourie was runner up here in 2008. ANderika had this one from start to finish and will move on to the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   62 Clint Thompson                         17 Paul Gill                    
E1                   0.029 No Time           ****WINNER****  0.112  5.541 255.15
 Qualified:             #3  5.608 256.06                       #14  5.890 256.65

Gill won this event in 1998 and 1999. Thompson crossed the center line and was DQed. Gill will move on to round two.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Mickey Ferro                         1625 Marie Ferriolo               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.055  5.548 259.26                     0.140  6.130 242.36
 Qualified:             #4  5.619 255.87                       #13  5.792 247.97

Ferro had this one all the way and will move on to the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  326 Brian Harvanek                        193 Larry Dobbs                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.100  5.643 255.87                     0.081 No Time      
 Qualified:             #5  5.644 254.90                       #12  5.765 248.57

Dobbs crossed the center line at 660 feet and took out the foam blocks. Harvanek will race Ferro in round two and Ferro will have lane choice.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  377 Paul Noakes                             7 Todd Veney                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.056  5.622 255.87                     0.248 No Time      
 Qualified:            #11  5.718 253.33                        #6  5.649 253.61

Veney had a slow launch. then drifted right and tapped the wall. He was disqualified for this run. Noakes will move on to a second round matchup against Gill, and Gill will have lane choice.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 1509 Dan Pomponio                           39 Cassie Simonton              
E1   ****WINNER****  0.054  5.663 256.16                     0.072  7.654 122.28
 Qualified:             #7  5.680 254.38                       #10  5.705 246.71

Both drivers stayed in their lanes the whole way down the track. Simonton lead at 60 feet but Pomponio drove by her to take the win. Pomponio gave up lane choice to Anderika in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  189 John Headley                          331 Tony Bogolo                  
E1                         No Time           ****WINNER**** -0.056 10.192  92.32
 Qualified:            #18  6.621 208.17                        #8  5.686 252.47

Headley was racing as an alternate for DJ Cox, who broke after qualifying in the number nine spot in the order. Headley left before the tree was activated, so Bogolo got the win. He'll race Manzo in round two and Manzo will have lane choice.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink