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Mon, 01 Sep 2014, 08:59 AM

Top Alcohol Dragster Round 1 Eliminations

By David Gerard

BROWNSBURG, Ind. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 60th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals:


 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    8 Marty Thacker                         596 Randy Meyer                  
E1                   0.006  5.477 260.51     ****WINNER****  0.138  5.267 268.49
 Qualified:            #16  5.432 262.95                        #1  5.274 271.24

8:21 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 75 degrees, relative humidity 83 percent, barometer 29.02 inches, adjusted altitude 3,022 feet, track temperature 80 degrees.
Thacker and Meyer have each won 2 times against the other in prior events.

Thacker gets a stellar 0.006 light, but Randy Meyer runs the quickest run of the meet to take the win. MOV: 0.0787 seconds (approximately 30 feet).


 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  706 Ashley Sanford                        765 Duane Shields                
E1                  -0.004 18.975  51.87     ****WINNER****  0.070  5.370 263.05
 Qualified:             #8  5.354 272.72                        #9  5.356 265.69

This is the first time Sanford and Shields have faced each other in eliminations.
Sanford is -0.004 red and lifts.
Shields was ready and runs close to his qualifying times for the easy win. Meyer will have lane choice next round.

Duane Shields' incremental times: 60ft-0.963 sec., 330ft-2.448, 660ft-3.570/223.21 mph, 1,000ft-4.529.


 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   34 Jared Dreher                            9 Robin Samsel                 
E1                   0.058  5.427 261.42     ****WINNER****  0.012  5.355 264.55
 Qualified:            #10  5.377 262.79                        #7  5.343 268.22

Samsel is 2 - 1 against Dreher in prior events.
Another terrific light and Samsel stays in front right on down the track, opening the lead on the way.
Dreher makes a pass close to his best, but is no match for Samsel today.

Jared Dreher's incremental times: 60ft-0.967 sec., 330ft-2.473, 660ft-3.608/220.51 mph, 1,000ft-4.579.
Robin Samsel's incremental times: 60ft-0.974 sec., 330ft-2.450, 660ft-3.561/224.10 mph, 1,000ft-4.519.


 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 330V Jerry Powell                         194D Mia Tedesco                  
E1                   0.065 18.932  39.99     ****WINNER****  0.096  5.335 264.55
 Qualified:             #6  5.338 265.01                       #11  5.379 269.51

This is the first time Powell and Tedesco have faced each other in eliminations. Tedesco picked up her first Top Alcohol Dragster Wally last week at Bowling Green.
Powell's fueler stumbles off the line and slows. The engine left some "Stuff" on the line and the dusting and cleaning has commenced.
Tedesco make her best pass of the weekend for the easy win.

Mia Tedesco's incremental times: 60ft-0.956 sec., 330ft-2.426, 660ft-3.548/223.32 mph, 1,000ft-4.502.


 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  681 Shawn Cowie                             5 Bill Reichert                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.078  5.461 263.77                     0.197 11.572  73.02
 Qualified:            #12  5.392 266.11                        #5  5.328 266.85

Reichert is 1 - 0 against Cowie in prior events. Major match up! Earlier this weekend Reichert announced his retirement at the end of the 2014 season.
Reichert's fuel labors off the line and shuts off early.

Clean and straight pass for Cowie to get the easy win.


 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  412 David Brounkowski                       2 Chris Demke                  
E1                   0.049  5.340 261.32     ****WINNER****  0.053  5.328 268.92
 Qualified:            #13  5.396 245.99                        #4  5.323 272.01

Demke is 1 - 0 against Brounkowski in prior events.
Great race. Just 0.004 difference in reaction times and Demke is out in front by sixty feet.
Brounkowski's fuel is reeling him in all the way down the track. They are dead even at the 1000 foot light, but there is a flash from the pipes and he slows.

Demke gets the three foot win and lane choice over Cowie in round two.


 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  211 Artie Allen                           144 Tripp Tatum                  
E1                   0.039  5.464 250.83     ****WINNER****  0.082  5.385 252.95
 Qualified:            #14  5.416 257.78                        #3  5.306 256.41

This is the first time Allen and Tatum have faced each other in eliminations.
Allen gets away first, but the are even right after the 330 lights. Tatum extends his lead from there on, as Allen's engine starts to drop cylinders. Tedesco will have lane choice in round two.
Tripp Tatum's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.016), 330 ft(0.004), 660ft(0.033), 1,000ft(0.033). MOV: 0.0363 seconds (approximately 13 feet).

Artie Allen's incremental times: 60ft-0.964 sec., 330ft-2.461, 660ft-3.615/217.35 mph, 1,000ft-4.594.
Tripp Tatum's incremental times: 60ft-0.937 sec., 330ft-2.414, 660ft-3.539/219.08 mph, 1,000ft-4.518.


 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  185 Mike Kosky                              7 Rich McPhillips              
E1                         No Time           ****WINNER****  0.226  5.567 256.55
 Qualified:            #15  5.424 260.61                        #2  5.282 269.51

Kosky is 3 - 1 against McPhillips in prior events.
Kosky staged and rocked back out of the lights and doesn't get a time.
McPhillip waits a while, leaves hard, pumps, and finishes the run. He gives up lane choice to Samsel next round.
Mike Kosky's incremental times: 60ft-99.999 sec., 330ft-99.999, 660ft-99.999/000.00 mph, 1,000ft-99.999.
Rich McPhillips' incremental times: 60ft-0.973 sec., 330ft-2.585, 660ft-3.753/218.23 mph, 1,000ft-4.717.

8:49 a.m.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink