Sun, 03 Mar 2013, 14:56 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 1 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

BAYTOWN, Texas - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, South Central Division, Showdown at Sundown at Royal Purple Raceway:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  477 Forrest Fair                          464 Buddy Domingue               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.079  5.273 270.05                     0.095  5.295 272.34
 Qualified:             #5  7.636 109.41                        #4  5.556 258.96

1:41 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 66 degrees, relative humidity 33 percent, barometer 30.11 inches, adjusted altitude 618 feet, track temperature 85 degrees.

Great opening race! Fair left first, Domingue not far behind, and both made career-best runs.

Forrest Fair's incremental margins: 60ft(0.026), 330 ft(0.028), 660ft(0.032), 1,000ft(0.040). MOV: 0.0386 seconds (approximately 15 feet).

Forrest Fair's incremental times: 60ft-0.924 sec., 330ft-2.390, 660ft-3.504/225.33 mph, 1,000ft-4.450.
Buddy Domingue's incremental times: 60ft-0.934 sec., 330ft-2.402, 660ft-3.520/223.99 mph, 1,000ft-4.474.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  415 Lee Callaway                          596 Randy Meyer                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.050  5.383 267.96                     0.039 10.542  89.55
 Qualified:             #3  5.371 268.65                        #6  7.919 215.27

Meyer overpowered the launch pad in a cloud of smoke. He pedaled a cou[le times, no luck. Callaway made a good run, but slower than his qualifying run Friday.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  589 Gord Gingles                          465 Michael Manners              
E1   ****WINNER****  0.053  9.262 208.94                     0.065  9.386 105.22
 Qualified:             #2  5.351 267.43                        #7 11.482  88.96

This was a pedaling contest and Manners had a huge lead most of the way - but his engine died and he could not do anything but coast. Meanwhile, Gingles pedaled and pedaled and pedaled, squirting past Mnners at the stripe. Gord Gingles' incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.072), 330 ft(-0.725), 660ft(-1.004), 1,000ft(-0.717). MOV: 0.1365 seconds (approximately 21 feet).

Callaway will have lane choice against Gingles in the semifinals.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  412 David Brounkowski                     469 Darvin Martinets             
E1   ****WINNER****  0.065  5.544 224.77                     0.097  8.458 112.49
 Qualified:             #1  5.263 259.81                        #8 14.701  53.69

Martinets' is the only supercharged car in the eight-car field, and he did not make a full pass in his only qualifying run.

Brounkowski was first off the line, but chattered the tires and had to backpedal early in the run. Martinets drew even, then there was a Bang and his burst panel let go, the supercharger rocking back and forth. Brounkowski managed to get the tires settled down and won handily, but he lost lane choice to Fait in the semifinals.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink