Sun, 28 Apr 2013, 15:08 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Rick Green

BAYTOWN, Texas - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 26th annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Tony Bartone                               Bye
E2   ****WINNER****  0.073  5.685 260.16     
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M Billington) 0.000  6.344 223.47   
 Qualified:             #1  5.566 263.87                     Bye

Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 49 percent, barometer 29.95 inches, adjusted altitude 2,018 feet, track temperature 106 degrees.

Barton with the bye here and was straight down the groove.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 5757 Terry Ruckman                           5 John Lombardo Jr.            
E2                   0.054 No Time           ****WINNER****  0.082  5.593 262.39
 Prior rounds:
E1    (B Brown     ) 0.038  7.979 124.71      (J Kaplan    ) 0.115  5.628 260.36
 Qualified:             #7  5.729 258.42                        #2  5.578 259.66

This is the first time Ruckman and Lombardo Jr. have faced each other in eliminations. Ruckman with the starting line advantage and then lead until half track where they were dead even. Lombardo Jr. with a great pass and takes the win light. Ruckman started of drifting out of the groove and took out the top end timing blocks.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    6 Jay Payne                              10 Shane Westerfield            
E2   ****WINNER****  0.054  5.698 258.86                     0.060 20.960  45.28
 Prior rounds:
E1    (A Whiteley  ) 0.103  5.719 255.29      (S Burck     ) 0.049  5.617 257.73
 Qualified:             #9  5.747 257.87                        #3  5.590 260.01

Payne and Westerfield have each won 1 times against the other in prior events. Payne with the starting line advantage and never trailed as Westerfield had violent tire shake and clicked it off. Payne will give up lane choice to Lombardo Jr. in the semifinal.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Mickey Ferro                            9 Steve Gasparrelli            
E2   ****WINNER****  0.033  5.655 257.33                     0.094  9.365  98.06
 Prior rounds:
E1    (R Drew      ) 0.055  5.736 245.14      (T Veney     ) 0.066  5.725 255.05
 Qualified:             #5  5.608 258.96                        #4  5.599 259.26

Ferro is 2 - 1 against Gasparrelli in prior events. Ferro with the starting line advantage and the win as Gasparrelli went into a lot tire shake right at the hit. Ferro will have lane choice over Bartone in the semifinal.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink