Sun, 04 Nov 2012, 14:58 PM Nitro Harley Round 1 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 1 eliminations in Nitro Harley at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Pacific Division, Short Line Express Gambler Shootout at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   63 Jay Turner                            777 Ron Gledhill                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.085  7.049 155.79                     0.184  8.126 200.32
 Qualified:             #4  6.408 215.37                        #5  6.538 211.00

11:39 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 79 degrees, relative humidity 20 percent, barometer 28.07 inches, adjusted altitude 3,833 feet, track temperature 105 degrees.

Both riders struggled in qualifying, with just one good run in four tries.

Turner had to back off the throttle to keep the bike headed down the track, but Gledhill had even bigger problems and was struggling before half track. The engine picked up on the top end, but that was too light.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   66 Steve Dorn                             51 Steve Heidner                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.066  6.384 218.09                     0.069  7.751 125.66
 Qualified:             #3  6.389 215.93                        #6  6.727 202.85

They were close at the greena, Heidner ahead at the 60-foot marker, then Heidner battled to keep his bike going down the track while Dorn made a full pass, his quickest of the weekend.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Tommy Grimes                           54 Andy Beauchemin              
E1                   0.119 10.824  91.24     ****WINNER****  0.106  6.824 192.71
 Qualified:             #2  6.307 221.38                        #7  6.892 207.78

Grimes spun the rear tire, then the engine lost power and "The Joker" won with his quickest run of the event. However, he won't have lane choice against Dorn in the semifinals.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Damian Cownden                        267 Kevin Boyer                  
E1                   0.159  9.676 123.72     ****WINNER****  0.079  7.805 194.38
 Qualified:             #1  6.291 208.14                       #10  8.142 195.36

Boyer was in as an alternate for Tony Ruggiero and he pulled off the upset win when #1 qualifier Cownden's engine just plain did not want to make any power. Boyer faces Turner in the semifinals, Turner has lane choice.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink