Sun, 07 Jul 2013, 14:26 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 3 Eliminations

By Rick Green

NORWALK, Ohio - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster 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
  318 Dave Hirata                           323 Brandon Booher               
E3   ****WINNER****  0.073  5.549 255.63                    -0.001  5.424 269.62
 Prior rounds:
E2    (K Perry     ) 0.071  5.460 265.48      (R Meyer     ) 0.030  5.401 269.29
E1    (B Reichert  ) 0.044  5.563 255.29      (M Kosky     ) 0.025  5.423 268.65
 Qualified:            #15  5.505 259.61                        #3  5.392 268.49

Weather conditions: air temperature 82 degrees, relative humidity 62 percent, barometer 29.13 inches, adjusted altitude 3,342 feet.

This is the first time Hirata and Booher have faced each other in eliminations. Booher is just a tick too quick on the tree and turned on the red light. Hirata is going to his 10th National event final.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   36 Robin Samsel                           64 Ray Martin                   
E3                   0.096  5.428 262.18     ****WINNER****  0.014  5.472 267.27
 Prior rounds:
E2    (K Stalba    ) 0.113  5.419 261.67      (M Thacker   ) 0.013  5.393 269.29
E1    (J Fricke    ) 0.096  5.451 253.80      (J Veale     ) 0.042  5.394 269.19
 Qualified:             #5  5.416 258.86                        #1  5.341 269.94

This is the first time Samsel and Martin have faced each other in eliminations. Martin with a great reaction time and has the power to hold on for the hole shot win. This is the first time all weekend Martin has not been the quickest of the round, but still gets the win. He will have lane choice over Hirata in final.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink