Sun, 07 Jul 2013, 16:54 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Final, Round 4 Eliminations

By Rick Green

NORWALK, Ohio - Results of final, round 4 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                            64 Ray Martin                   
E4   ****WINNER****  0.071 18.932  22.40                    -0.012  5.505 266.32
 Prior rounds:
E3    (B Booher    ) 0.073  5.549 255.63      (R Samsel    ) 0.014  5.472 267.27
E2    (K Perry     ) 0.071  5.460 265.48      (M Thacker   ) 0.013  5.393 269.29
E1    (B Reichert  ) 0.044  5.563 255.29      (J Veale     ) 0.042  5.394 269.19
 Qualified:            #15  5.505 259.61                        #1  5.341 269.94

Weather conditions: air temperature 82 degrees, relative humidity 57 percent, barometer 29.10 inches, adjusted altitude 3,275 feet.

This is the first time Hirata and Martin have faced each other in eliminations. Martin was too quick on the tree and turned on the red light and gave Hirata the freebie. Hirata with violent tire shake right at the hit and shook the chutes out and he coasted to the win. This is Hirata's fifth National event win and his first National event win since St. Louis of 2000.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink