Sun, 22 Sep 2013, 13:54 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Rick Green

ENNIS, Texas - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car 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
    1 Frank Manzo                           433 Bryan Brown                  
E2   ****WINNER****  0.077  5.519 263.82                     0.079  5.986 173.38
 Prior rounds:
E1    (R Yale      ) 0.060  5.605 263.41      (D Pomponio  ) 0.039  5.683 250.04
 Qualified:             #1  5.502 264.86                        #8  5.658 252.05

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

When he faced Ro Yale in round 1 it was the 218th different driver he faced, so when he meets Bryan Brown in round 2 it will be the 219th different driver he has faced..Frank has only raced at the Dallas event three times in his career, (1986, 1991 and 1999) and has never been to a final round here. Manzo with a slight starting line advantage and another great pass for the win. Brown was on a good looking pass until just past half track when there was a quick flash of flame and the engine went silent.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   10 Shane Westerfield                       5 John Lombardo Jr.            
E2   ****WINNER****  0.081  5.535 260.91                     0.087  5.567 263.56
 Prior rounds:
E1    (S Burck     ) 0.092  5.526 261.02      (S Gasparrell) 0.067  5.571 261.02
 Qualified:             #3  5.545 259.96                        #6  5.588 261.42

Westerfield and Lombardo Jr. have each won 2 times against the other in prior events. Westerfield with a slight starting line advantage and never trailed for the win by 0.0381 seconds (approximately 15 feet). Lombardo Jr. 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
    6 Jay Payne                              33 Ray Drew                     
E2   ****WINNER****  0.152  5.602 259.06                           No Time      
 Prior rounds:
E1    (L Van Hauen ) 0.126  5.552 260.66      (C Foster    ) 0.104  5.703 251.06
 Qualified:             #4  5.559 260.31                       #12  5.720 253.66

When Jay Payne meets Ray Drew in round 2 it will be the 259th different driver he has faced in his career. Drew is a no show and Payne gets the freebie. Payne will give up lane choice to MAnzo in the semifinal.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Annie Whiteley                         78 Doug Gordon                  
E2   ****WINNER****  0.087  5.516 260.21                     0.058  5.633 256.45
 Prior rounds:
E1    (B Davis     ) 0.074  5.521 260.11      (M Woznichak ) 0.074  5.626 256.89
 Qualified:             #2  5.521 259.56                        #7  5.629 256.80

This is the first time Whiteley and Gordon have faced each other in eliminations. Gordon with the starting line advantage, but Whiteley has the difference made up by 150 feet and takes the win. Annie Whiteley's MOV: 0.0884 seconds (approximately 33 feet). Whiteley with her quickest pass of the season for the win and she will have lane choice over Westerfield in the semifinal.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink