Sun, 17 Feb 2013, 16:06 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Rick Green

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 53rd annual O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    9 Steve Gasparrelli                     765 Bernie Harrington            
E2   ****WINNER****  0.044  5.582 259.21                     0.067  5.837 242.10
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M Woznichak ) 0.058  5.662 258.32      (L Andreasson) 0.187  9.640  90.05
 Qualified:            #13  5.788 252.57                       #12  5.763 232.51

Weather conditions: air temperature 70 degrees, relative humidity 32 percent, barometer 28.82 inches, adjusted altitude 2,421 feet, track temperature 99 degrees.

Gasparrelli had problems getting back to the starting line after the burnout and the crew pushed the car back, but he staged under his own power. Gasparrelli with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Gasparrelli with his quickest pass of the weekend for the win. Steve Gasparrelli's incremental times: 60ft-0.954 sec., 330ft-2.492, 660ft-3.691/206.07 mph, 1,000ft-4.714.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 7238 Bret Williamson                       766 Jason Rupert                 
E2                   0.039  5.828 253.42     ****WINNER****  0.037  5.714 255.39
 Prior rounds:
E1    (A Whiteley  ) 0.032  5.705 252.43      (K Ray       ) 0.025  5.640 255.39
 Qualified:            #14  5.836 246.26                       #11  5.716 253.80

Rupert is 2 - 1 against Williamson in prior events. A couple great lights with Rupert getting the slight advantage and he never trailed for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 John Lombardo Jr.                      10 Shane Westerfield            
E2   ****WINNER****  0.020  5.514 259.56                     0.009  9.370  98.24
 Prior rounds:
E1    (S Bellemeur ) 0.052  5.533 262.33      (H Wernhart  ) 0.043  5.738 248.20
 Qualified:             #9  5.647 257.83                        #1  5.563 257.73

Lombardo Jr. and Westerfield have each won 1 times against the other in prior events. Westerfield is the only one of the higher qualified cars to have survived round one. Westerfield with a great light, but shook right at the hit and clicked it off. Lombardo Jr with the quickest pass of the event for the win. He will have lane choice over Gasparrelli in the semifinals. John Lombardo Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.934 sec., 330ft-2.455, 660ft-3.640/208.94 mph, 1,000ft-4.651.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   78 Doug Gordon                             6 Jay Payne                    
E2   ****WINNER****  0.065  5.773 256.36                     0.098  8.432  99.14
 Prior rounds:
E1    (T Bartone   ) 0.032  5.590 257.19      (B Hough     ) 0.009  5.750 254.28
 Qualified:            #10  5.685 256.84                       #15  5.990 247.84

Gordon is out of the gate first and never trailed for the win as Payne made and quick move toward the wall and clicked it off. Gordon will give up lane choice to Rupert in the semifinals.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink