Sun, 03 Nov 2013, 15:02 PM Top Fuel Harley Round 1 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel Harley at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Pacific Division, Las Vegas Gambler Showdown Division 7 Finale:

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  888 Damian Cownden                        241 Mark Cox                     
E1   ****WINNER****  0.048  6.296 228.54                     0.052  6.332 212.13
 Qualified:             #4  6.345 227.42                        #5  6.361 214.86

11:51 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 73 degrees, relative humidity 26 percent, barometer 27.70 inches, adjusted altitude 3,877 feet, track temperature 102 degrees.

What a great race to open the first round, Cox with a small advantage at the green and then they were welded together all the way to the stripe.

Damian Cownden's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.025), 330 ft(0.009), 660ft(-0.014), 1,000ft(0.002). MOV: 0.0402 seconds (approximately 13 feet).

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   63 Jay Turner                            222 Mike Pelrine                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.022  6.278 212.96                     0.016  6.527 221.92
 Qualified:             #3  6.288 219.40                        #6  6.450 224.02

Pelrine's bike stumbled a bit right at the start and he was chasing Turner the rest of the way, unable to close the gap.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Doug Horne                            111 Mike Scott                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.050  6.295 226.32                     0.072  6.518 200.92
 Qualified:             #2  6.263 223.36                        #7  6.478 205.13

Horne's rear tire was wobbling back and forth for the first 300 feet, but he stayed in the throttle and pulled away from Scott anyway. Horne will not have lane choice against Turner in the semifinals.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Tommy Grimes                          204 Randal Andras                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.041  7.971 116.59                    -0.052  6.332 246.48
 Qualified:             #1  6.165 224.88                        #8  6.495 220.73

Grimes slowed before half track, but he's still the winner because Andras left early, negating a huge run - look at that speed!

Randal Andras' incremental times: 60ft-1.112 sec., 330ft-2.874, 660ft-4.184/206.45 mph, 1,000ft-5.336.

Grimes will not have lane choice when he faces Cownden in the semifinals.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink