Fri, 2 May 2003, 02:21 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Larry Sullivan

COMMERCE, Ga. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 23rd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals presented by Pontiac listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Left Lane: Chuck Cheeseman Runs 8.908/97.85, Now #2
Right Lane: Frank Manzo Runs 5.698/257.58, Now #1

12:57 PM Current weather conditions: 79 degrees, 53 percent relative humidity, the barometer 29.97 inches, with a track temperature of 123 degrees.

The TAFC field here is a short one, only nine cars entered, but it's a quality field, including both of the Divisional winners from last weekend - Jay Payne and Jeff Craig. Cheeseman's car started to dance and fishtail in the first 100 feet and he lifted. No lift for Manzo, his new car showing strength in its first outing, at Houston three weeks ago, and he continues to show strength with a solid opening run.

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Left Lane: Paul Lee Runs 6.098/243.99, Now #3
Right Lane: Jeff Craig Runs 5.837/250.37, Now #2

A rematch of the Joliet final round last weekend, Craig the winner in that one. Craig lost almost a tenth of a second to Manzo in the first half of the track, but made a clean, straight run.

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Left Lane: Mark Billington Runs 6.074/237.50, Now #4
Right Lane: Bob Newberry Runs 5.707/252.43, Now #2

Newberry is hot this year, with a solid shot at dislodging Manzo from the #1 spot this year. Billington is driving a former Newberry car, by the way. Nice run by "Newb," straight and smooth. Billington's car was much slower at every timer, but had no obvious problems.

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Left Lane: Jim Sickles Runs 5.857/248.61, Now #5
Right Lane: Jay Payne Runs 5.723/254.42, Now #3

Last pair, only eight cars showing for the first session. Payne slid right in behind Manzo and newberry, Sickles losing a lot of ground in the first half of the run.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink