Fri, 15 Feb 2013, 15:31 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Qualifying Notes, Final Session

By Larry Sullivan

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Southeast Division, Prelude to the Gators at Auto Plus Raceway at Gainesville listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:

---

Right Lane: Bill Evans Runs 5.542/261.88, Now #6; No Prior Run

2:58 p.m. There will probably be a third qualifying session later today.

Evans' engine was reluctant to run on nitro earlier today, but he made the transition without any problems this time out.

This time he got a "full pull." The car was a bit sluggish, but got from A to B with all eight firing.

Bill Evans' incremental times: 60ft-0.981 sec., 330ft-2.539, 660ft-3.711/214.04 mph, 1,000ft-4.694.

---

Left Lane: Wayne Morris Runs 5.418/263.20, Now #6; Best prior run: 5.753/255.24, Was #8
Right Lane: Dan Mercier Runs 5.392/263.72, Now #5; Best prior run: 15.777/27.08, Was #9

Mercier popped the burst panel in the first session.

Both made nice runs this time around, with very little wasted motion. That bumps John Finke from the field, putting Evans on the bump spot at 5.542.

Wayne Morris' incremental times: 60ft-0.927 sec., 330ft-2.396, 660ft-3.566/211.66 mph, 1,000ft-4.567.
Dan Mercier's incremental times: 60ft-0.974 sec., 330ft-2.460, 660ft-3.586/221.38 mph, 1,000ft-4.552.

---

Left Lane: Randy Meyer Runs 7.743/120.68, Now #4; Best prior run: 5.383/260.01, Was #4
Right Lane: John Finke No Time, Now #9; Best prior run: 5.677/196.99, Was #9

Finke's car ran out of steam just past 1,000 feet in the first session. This time around, his crew starterd the engine, then shut it off and pushed him away.

Meyers picked the front wheels up and they stayed up a long time, the car headed for the 330-foot marker and he finally lifted.

---

Left Lane: Rich McPhillips Runs 5.375/259.06, Now #3; Best prior run: 5.351/262.90, Was #3
Right Lane: Artie Allen Runs 5.460/246.30, Now #7; Best prior run: 5.482/252.38, Was #7

McPhilips slowed slightly, Allen improved slightly, both stayed put on the ladder.

0Rich McPhillips' incremental times: 60ft-0.943 sec., 330ft-2.436, 660ft-3.565/222.55 mph, 1,000ft-4.527.
Artie Allen's incremental times: 60ft-0.945 sec., 330ft-2.440, 660ft-3.589/217.35 mph, 1,000ft-4.573.

---

Left Lane: Richard Bourke Runs 5.482/260.21, Now #1; Best prior run: 5.324/267.53, Was #1
Right Lane: Dan Page Runs 5.363/271.73, Now #2; Best prior run: 5.333/265.69, Was #2

Last pair. The two quickest cars from the first session held on to those positions against seven challengers, then failed to improve. Page slowed slightly, Bourke slowed a lot.

Richard Bourke's incremental times: 60ft-0.965 sec., 330ft-2.480, 660ft-3.641/215.37 mph, 1,000ft-4.629.
Dan Page's incremental times: 60ft-0.957 sec., 330ft-2.449, 660ft-3.585/220.84 mph, 1,000ft-4.542.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink