Sun, 06 Oct 2013, 12:47 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Jim Samuel

MOHNTON, Pa. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 29th annual Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  147 Fred Tigges                           377 Paul Noakes                  
E2                   0.022  5.685 254.23     ****WINNER****  0.043  5.625 257.04
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M Gill      ) 0.080  5.745 251.58      (J Fiorini   ) 0.128  5.728 255.43
 Qualified:             #7  5.689 255.19                        #2  5.624 257.73

12:33 p.m. - The rear end of Tigges' car sashayed around at mid track. That used up the starting line advantage he had and let Noakes pass by him for the win. Paul Noakes' incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.009), 330 ft(-0.004), 660ft(0.010), 1,000ft(0.028). MOV: 0.0391 seconds (approximately 15 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   12 John Anderika                           3 Mickey Ferro                 
E2                   0.141  5.628 255.53     ****WINNER****  0.045  5.573 259.66
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M Ferriolo  ) 0.115  5.662 255.34      (T Bogolo    ) 0.055  5.646 256.55
 Qualified:             #4  5.648 255.15                        #5  5.651 260.06

This is set to be the last race of Anderika's career. After opening a restaurant with his wife and winning the Eastern region TAFC crown, Anderika has decided to call it quits. His season ended a few hours sooner than he wanted as Ferro beat Anderika out of the gate and pulled away for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   11 Todd Veney                             37 Andy Bohl                    
E2   ****WINNER****  0.061  5.712 254.28                     0.077  8.266 108.86
 Prior rounds:
E1    (D Cox       ) 0.051  5.709 250.04      (D Beers     ) 0.115  5.627 256.70
 Qualified:             #6  5.659 254.38                        #3  5.630 256.89

Bohl's car drifted left as soon as he launched and crossed over the centerline and fully into Veney's lane, taking out the 330 foot blocks in the process. His car came close to hitting Veney's but Veney was on a clean, straight run and pulled out of the way. Veney got the win but gave up lane choice to Noakes in the semi-final round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   16 Dan Pomponio                            1 Frank Manzo                  
E2                   0.041  5.696 256.02     ****WINNER****  0.102  5.555 261.37
 Prior rounds:
E1    (E Lourie    ) 0.098  5.739 254.09      (C Foster    ) 0.070  5.585 259.61
 Qualified:             #8  5.690 255.10                        #1  5.537 261.27

After winning more national events here than any other driver, Manzo took another step toward winning his final appearance at Maple Grove with a round two win over Pomponio. Manzo will have lane choice over Ferro in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink