Sun, 07 Jul 2013, 11:38 AM Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

NORWALK, Ohio - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, Seventh annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   44 David Grubnic                           3 Spencer Massey               
E1                   0.065  3.920 274.39     ****WINNER****  0.068  3.769 324.51
 Qualified:             #8  3.813 324.67                        #9  3.819 324.67

Weather conditions: air temperature 74 degrees, relative humidity 73 percent, barometer 29.15 inches, adjusted altitude 2,728 feet.

Massey is 4 - 2 against Grubnic in prior events. Massey is the defending event champion...They leave together with Grubnic getting the slight advantage, but was dropping cylinders right at the hit. Massey launched hard and was straight down the groove with the second quickest pass of the event for the win. Grubnic clicked it off before the finish line.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  373 J.R. Todd                               4 Shawn Langdon                
E1                   0.047  3.835 321.58     ****WINNER****  0.017  3.752 326.08
 Qualified:            #12  3.842 318.39                        #5  3.802 315.64

This is the first time Todd and Langdon have faced each other in eliminations. Langdon with a great light and then runs low E.T. of the event for the win. Shawn Langdon's incremental times: 60ft-0.842 sec., 330ft-2.130, 660ft-3.010/287.35 mph. Langdon sets the track E.T. record. Todd with his quickest pass of the event in the losing effort.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   91 Larry Dixon                             8 Bob Vandergriff              
E1                   0.090  3.851 319.75     ****WINNER****  0.121  3.789 322.04
 Qualified:            #13  3.871 320.58                        #4  3.801 321.04

Dixon has won this event twice. Dixon is 21 - 9 against Vandergriff in prior events. Dixon with the starting line advantage, but Vandergriff had the lead by 100 feet and he runs his quickest pass of the weekend for the win. Bob Vandergriff's MOV: 0.0312 seconds (approximately 15 feet). Vandergriff will give up lane choice to Langdon in the next round. Dixon with his quickest pass of the weekend in the losing effort.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  323 Chris Karamesines                       2 Tony Schumacher              
E1   ****WINNER****  0.335  3.949 305.91                     0.116  5.677 121.69
 Qualified:            #15  4.020 264.55                        #2  3.778 320.74

Schumacher has won this event one time. Schumacher is 5 - 0 against Karamesines in prior events. Schumacher with the huge starting line advantage, but he is up in smoke by 300 feet and Karamesines chased him down around 400 feet and ran his quickest pass of the weekend for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  497 Troy Buff                              22 Doug Kalitta                 
E1                   0.121  3.959 294.63     ****WINNER****  0.111  3.828 323.74
 Qualified:            #16  4.021 292.27                        #1  3.767 327.74

This is the fifth time this season Kalitta has qualified No. 1 and the 36th time in his career. Kalitta is 5 - 0 against Buff in prior events. Kalitta with the starting line advantage and never trailed. Buff with his quickest pass of the weekend in the losing effort. Kalitta will give up lane choice to Massey in round two.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   34 Morgan Lucas                          255 Clay Millican                
E1                   0.067  5.777 124.57     ****WINNER****  0.065  3.791 323.97
 Qualified:            #14  3.874 299.53                        #3  3.789 327.27

Millican is 3 - 2 against Lucas in prior events. They leave together with Millican getting the slight starting line advantage and he never trailed as Lucas is up in smoke early and clicks it off. Millican just a few ticks off his qualifying time for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   21 Terry McMillen                        475 Steve Torrence               
E1                   0.091  3.873 323.81     ****WINNER****  0.094  3.794 327.35
 Qualified:            #11  3.842 322.19                        #6  3.806 327.03

McMillen is 3 - 2 against Torrence in prior events. They leave together with McMillen having the slight advantage, but then it was all Torrence for the win. Torrence with his quickest pass of the weekend for the win, but he will give up lane choice to Millican in round two by 0.003 seconds. McMillen with his quickest pass of the weekend in the losing effort.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   99 Khalid alBalooshi                       1 Antron Brown                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.075  4.150 257.53                     0.045  4.610 194.24
 Qualified:            #10  3.820 321.50                        #7  3.812 315.78

alBalooshi is 3 - 0 against Brown in prior events. Brown with the starting line advantage, but then starts to smoke the tires and pedals it and can't get it to hook up and pedals it again. when he hit the throttle again the engine lets go with a quick fireball. alBalooshi with the lead 200 feet and then he started to lose traction on the top end but held on for the win. He will gives up lane choice to Karamesines in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink