Sat, 27 Jul 2013, 00:19 AM Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Session #2

By Rick Green

SONOMA, Calif. - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 26th annual NHRA Sonoma Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:

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Left Lane: Steven Chrisman Runs 8.985/88.66, Now #17; Best prior run: 11.902/60.97, Was #17
Right Lane: Steve Torrence Runs 3.766/323.27, Now #1; No Prior Run

Chrisman started to shake right at the hit and he pedaled it and started to lose traction before he clicked it off. Torrence launched hard and had the header flames shooting high over the rear wing all the way down the track. Torrence with a great pass to set the track record. Steve Torrence's incremental times: 60ft-0.817 sec., 330ft-2.114, 660ft-3.018/281.66 mph.

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Left Lane: Brandon Bernstein Runs 3.887/308.00, Now #9; Best prior run: 5.341/104.03, Was #16
Right Lane: Khalid alBalooshi Runs 3.789/320.97, Now #2; Best prior run: 9.891/51.20, Was #18

alBalooshi launched hard and he makes a great pass, straight down the groove to go to the number two spot. Khalid alBalooshi's incremental times: 60ft-0.826 sec., 330ft-2.128, 660ft-3.035/280.19 mph. Bernstein's car had wacky flame pattern early in the run and then it cleaned up and appeared to be burning up some aluminum in the lights. He still makers a pass good enough to get in the show. Brandon Bernstein's incremental times: 60ft-0.850 sec., 330ft-2.186, 660ft-3.107/274.44 mph.

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Left Lane: Spencer Massey Runs 3.793/314.17, Now #3; Best prior run: 3.977/245.85, Was #15
Right Lane: Brittany Force Runs 10.027/51.01, Now #17; Best prior run: 5.147/129.49, Was #17

Force is up in smoke as soon as she hit the throttle and she clicks it off. Massey was straight down Broadway to go to the number three spot. Spencer Massey's incremental times: 60ft-0.839 sec., 330ft-2.139, 660ft-3.035/282.30 mph.

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Left Lane: T.J. Zizzo Runs 3.821/319.37, Now #5; Best prior run: 3.903/305.84, Was #12
Right Lane: Troy Buff Runs 3.957/298.34, Now #16; Best prior run: 4.006/292.52, Was #16

Zizzo with a great pass to get into the top half of the show. T.J. Zizzo's incremental times: 60ft-0.835 sec., 330ft-2.149, 660ft-3.063/278.63 mph. Buff with a good clean pass, but will start over tomorrow.

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Left Lane: Antron Brown Runs 3.803/320.66, Now #5; Best prior run: 3.873/315.27, Was #9
Right Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 3.839/316.75, Now #8; Best prior run: 3.954/261.72, Was #15

Both cars with the header flames shooting high into the air and Brown gets into the top half of the show. Antron Brown's incremental times: 60ft-0.846 sec., 330ft-2.155, 660ft-3.051/282.42 mph. Vandergriff with a good pass to get in the show. Bob Vandergriff's incremental times: 60ft-0.847 sec., 330ft-2.162, 660ft-3.073/277.49 mph.

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Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 3.765/324.28, Now #1; Best prior run: 3.850/317.64, Was #10
Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 3.780/324.83, Now #3; Best prior run: 3.938/247.97, Was #15

It is Team Kalitta, and what a great side-by-side drag race. Grubnic with a great pass and goes to the number one spot...he sets the track E.T. record. David Grubnic's incremental times: 60ft-0.822 sec., 330ft-2.126, 660ft-3.019/284.27 mph. Kalitta was right there with him to go to the number three spot. Kalitta with the fastest pass off the day. Doug Kalitta's incremental times: 60ft-0.828 sec., 330ft-2.140, 660ft-3.034/282.90 mph.

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Left Lane: Clay Millican Runs 10.253/21.23, Now #11; Best prior run: 3.843/318.84, Was #11
Right Lane: Terry McMillen Runs 8.751/74.67, Now #15; Best prior run: 3.905/317.79, Was #15

McMilllen is up in smoke as soon as he hit the throttle and clicks it off. Millican around 150 feet has big engine explosion...with a big fireball.

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Left Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 3.907/258.32, Now #9; Best prior run: 3.827/319.37, Was #9
Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 6.847/91.44, Now #14; Best prior run: 3.892/310.20, Was #14

Schumacher is up in smoke early and pedaled it and was back up in smoke before he clicked it off. He will go into Saturday with no time. Lucas started mixing up cylinders and then pushed out the head gaskets with quick flash of flames.

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Left Lane: Shawn Langdon Runs 8.367/79.52, Now #6; Best prior run: 3.797/321.96, Was #6
Right Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 9.535/63.51, Now #12; Best prior run: 3.875/303.71, Was #12

Both cars start to lose traction as soon as they hit the throttle and they both click them off.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink