Fri, 19 Sep 2014, 20:55 PM Pro Stock Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

CONCORD, N.C. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, Seventh annual Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   19 Richie Stevens                         11 Shane Gray                   
E1                   0.019  7.174 156.50     ****WINNER****  0.052  6.911 162.92
 Qualified:             #9  6.606 208.65                        #8  6.605 208.52

Stevens with the starting line advantage, but then got real loose and clicked it off. Gray got loose farther down track and wins the coasting contest.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    8 Greg Anderson                           1 Jeg Coughlin                 
E1                   0.021  6.696 180.55     ****WINNER****  0.016  6.629 187.11
 Qualified:            #10  6.618 209.72                        #7  6.602 209.33

This in the 21st time that Jeg Coughlin and Greg Anderson have met in round one and each driver has won ten of the previous meetings..Jeg is the defending event champion. Coughlin with the starting line advantage and then bot cars get loose and they both click it off early and Coughlin gets the win light.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 4264 Chris McGaha                            3 Jason Line                   
E1                   0.085  6.856 157.71     ****WINNER****  0.061  6.533 210.93
 Qualified:            #11  6.622 208.01                        #6  6.596 210.24

This (6th) is the lowest starting spot for Jason Line since the Norwalk race. He has only lost twice in the first round this year and both times it was to Jonathan Gray.Chris McGaha has lost four opening round races in a row. Line is out of the gate first and never trails as he runs the quickest and fastest pass of the weekend for the win..Jason Line's incremental times: 60ft-0.984 sec., 330ft-2.744, 660ft-4.207/168.64 mph, 1,000ft-5.469.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    7 V. Gaines                               2 Allen Johnson                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.060  7.016 130.43                     0.078 10.252  33.91
 Qualified:            #12  6.632 208.78                        #5  6.595 209.79

Gaines with the starting line advantage and never trailed as Johnson got real loose and took out the 330-foot cones. Gaines' car got real loose right before 1000 feet and made a move toward the wall and then back toward the centerline. Then right before the finish line the car got up on two wheel and took out the finish line time cone and then came across and hit the wall. The car the barrel rolled at least four time before come to a stop in the other lane. The word from the top end is Gaines is out of the car and okay.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   10 Rodger Brogdon                         13 Jonathan Gray                
E1                   0.009  6.637 209.26     ****WINNER****  0.009  6.607 209.56
 Qualified:            #13  6.637 208.49                        #4  6.592 209.72

Almost a week later and we are finishing round one...lane choice will be determined by the runs made here between the eliminations and qualifying passes made tonight. This is the first time Brogdon and Gray have faced each other in eliminations. Identical great lights and then it is all Gray for the win he will have lane choice over V. Gaines in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   29 Shane Tucker                           51 Dave Connolly                
E1                   0.053  6.661 208.88     ****WINNER****  0.046  6.592 209.95
 Qualified:            #14  6.644 209.26                        #3  6.582 209.39

This is the first time Tucker and Connolly have faced each other in eliminations. Connolly with the starting line advantage and he never trailed for the win. He will give up lane choice to Line in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   12 Larry Morgan                          154 Vincent Nobile               
E1                   0.016  6.676 206.95     ****WINNER****  0.045  6.582 209.72
 Qualified:            #15  6.671 207.72                        #2  6.579 209.88

Nobile is 8 - 2 against Morgan in prior events. Morgan with the starting line advantage, but Nobile has the lead by 200 feet and takes the win. Nobile will have lane choice over Coughlin in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  128 John Gaydosh Jr                         6 Erica Enders-Stevens         
E1                   0.041  6.662 207.53     ****WINNER****  0.037  6.603 206.29
 Qualified:            #16  6.697 206.39                        #1  6.568 210.37

Enders-Stevens is 1 - 0 against Gaydosh Jr in prior events. Enders-Stevens with the starting line advantage and never trails for the win. Enders-Stevens will give up lane choice to Shane Gray in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink