Sun, 4 May 2003, 03:53 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Final, Round 3 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

COMMERCE, Ga. - Results of final, round 3 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 23rd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals presented by Pontiac:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    8 Bob Newberry                            1 Frank Manzo
E3                   0.087 14.392  55.50     ****WINNER****  0.050  5.614 257.24
 Prior rounds:
E2    (J Craig     ) 0.102  5.648 253.66      (J Sickles   ) 0.068  5.626 258.62
E1    (P Lee       ) 0.111  5.592 256.21      (M Billington) 0.091  5.589 260.56
 Qualified:             #2  5.638 254.42                        #1  5.603 259.06

3:46 PM In the 23 years this event has been contested, Manzo has won it eight times and Newberry five. Manzo has a huge edge in national event final rounds against Newberry, 11-3 coming into this one, but Newberry has two national event wins so far this year, making him the early leader for the national championship. This one was over quickly, Newberry's car getting up on the tires and shaking hard. Manzo made another strong, straight, very fast run, right down the groove for his 52nd national event victory.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink