Sun, 21 Apr 2013, 16:02 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 3 Eliminations

By Rick Green

CONCORD, N.C. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, Fourth annual Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   16 Dan Pomponio                           36 Paul Noakes                  
E3   ****WINNER****  0.028  5.556 260.41                     0.027 No Time      
 Prior rounds:
E2    (F Manzo     ) 0.013  5.549 261.32      (C Foster    ) 0.076  5.604 262.08
E1    (T Bogolo    ) 0.048  5.580 260.26      (T Veney     ) 0.038  5.700 259.01
 Qualified:             #4  5.565 260.51                        #8  5.628 259.61

Weather conditions: air temperature 68 degrees, relative humidity 36 percent, barometer 29.70 inches, adjusted altitude 1,302 feet, track temperature 103 degrees.

Noakes is 1 - 0 against Pomponio in prior events. They leave together and then Noakes gets real loose and crosses the centerline and took out the 330-foot blocks and the half track blocks. Pomponio is going to his third career final round and second this year.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  500 Dale Brand                             33 Ray Drew                     
E3   ****WINNER****  0.048  5.636 260.01                     0.050  9.878  88.47
 Prior rounds:
E2    (C Simonton  ) 0.056  5.863 255.05      (A Whiteley  ) 0.060  5.564 259.61
E1    (B Naves     ) 0.075  5.528 262.28      (M Rogers    ) 0.036  6.193 245.18
 Qualified:             #2  5.530 262.33                        #6  5.608 254.47

Drew is 1 - 0 against Brand in prior events. Brand with a slight starting line advantage and never trailed as Drew was up in smoke. Brand is advancing to his first final round, but will give lane choice to Pomponio.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink