Sun, 22 Sep 2013, 13:28 PM Pro Stock Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

ENNIS, Texas - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 28th annual AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Vincent Nobile                          7 V. Gaines                    
E1                   0.046  6.581 210.47     ****WINNER****  0.024  6.574 211.39
 Qualified:             #8  6.582 210.47                        #9  6.582 210.31

Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 44 percent, barometer 29.36 inches, adjusted altitude 2,687 feet, track temperature 108 degrees.

Nobile is 5 - 1 against Gaines in prior events. Gaines is out of the gate first and never trailed for the win light. Gaines with his quickest pass of the weekend for the win. Nobile 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
    5 Greg Anderson                          25 Jeg Coughlin                 
E1                   0.028  6.585 210.60     ****WINNER****  0.028  6.566 210.60
 Qualified:             #7  6.567 210.64                       #10  6.583 210.05

Greg Anderson is 40-32 against Jeg Coughlin in his career but he is 0-2 against him this year. This is a must win for Anderson if he wants to keep his title hopes alive..Greg has won this race four times and that's the most for any Pro Stock driver. They had identical reaction times, but then it was all Coughlin for the win. Jeg Coughlin's MOV: 0.0196 seconds (approximately 6 feet). Coughlin with his quickest pass of the weekend for the win. Anderson slowed from his qualifying time in the lost. Anderson with the lost dropped to the number nine spot.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    6 Mike Edwards                           10 Larry Morgan                 
E1                   0.066  6.565 210.41     ****WINNER****  0.005  6.624 208.71
 Qualified:             #6  6.567 211.26                       #11  6.601 209.33

This is only the third time this year that Mike Edwards has qualified lower than 3rd in the field. Edwards is 16 - 11 against Morgan in prior events. Morgan with a great light and had enough power to hold on for the hole shot win. Larry Morgan's MOV: 0.0029 seconds (approximately 11 inches). Edwards with his quickest of weekend in the losing effort.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Jason Line                             41 Rodger Brogdon               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.039  6.555 211.20                     0.013  6.662 209.52
 Qualified:             #5  6.566 211.06                       #12  6.607 209.98

Jason Line won here in 2011. Line is 7 - 2 against Brogdon in prior events. Brogdon with a great light, but Line chases him down by the time they go by the Christmas tree. Line with the quickest pass of the event for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Allen Johnson                         445 Greg Stanfield               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.031  6.550 211.79                     0.037  6.607 209.30
 Qualified:             #4  6.564 211.23                       #13  6.609 209.07

Allen Johnson is the defending event champion...Greg Stanfield won here in 2008. Johnson is 19 - 10 against Stanfield in prior events. Johnson with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win with the quickest pass of the event. Allen Johnson's MOV: 0.0636 seconds (approximately 20 feet). Johnson will have lane choice over Line in the next round. Stanfield 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
    4 Erica Enders-Stevens                 4264 Chris McGaha                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.034  6.573 210.31                     0.036  6.641 208.78
 Qualified:             #1  6.557 210.93                       #16  6.654 208.68

Erica Enders-Stevens was runner-up here last year. Like most of the drivers in the 6 thru 10 spot in the points she needs some round wins today to keep close to the leaders..This is her sixth number one spot and the fifth time a Chevrolet has been the Top Qualifier at this event. Enders-Stevens is 3 - 1 against McGaha in prior events. Fenders-Stevens with a slight starting line advantage and the win by 0.0707 seconds (approximately 22 feet). She will have lane choice over Gaines by 0.001 seconds in the next round. McGaha 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
  317 Rickie Jones                          666 Matt Hartford                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.046  6.573 211.33                     0.056  6.645 208.75
 Qualified:             #2  6.559 210.90                       #15  6.622 209.14

Rickie Jones could be the sleeper in the field. This is the second time in his last three races that he has qualified #2..Matt Hartford is making his 18th NHRA Pro Stock start. Jones is 2 - 0 against Hartford in prior events. Jones is out of the gate first and never trailed for the win. Jones will give up lane choice to Coughlin in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   11 Shane Gray                            452 Steve Kent                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.085  6.594 210.67                     0.121  7.031 156.19
 Qualified:             #3  6.563 210.60                       #14  6.612 209.92

After back-to-back DNQ's at this race Shane Gray will be making his second start here. He is fifth in the points so this is a critical race for him. Gray is 1 - 0 against Kent in prior events. Gray with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Gray will have lane choice over Morgan in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink