Sun, 05 Oct 2014, 11:36 AM Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

MOHNTON, Pa. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 30th annual NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  475 Steve Torrence                         91 Larry Dixon                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.063  3.796 322.73                     0.064 10.137  81.09
 Qualified:             #8  3.786 324.05                        #9  3.788 325.30

Weather conditions: air temperature 54 degrees, relative humidity 48 percent, barometer 29.32 inches, adjusted altitude 786 feet, track temperature 75 degrees.

Dixon is 9 - 2 against Torrence in prior events. They leave together with Torrence getting a tick advantage and never trailed for the win. Dixon was up in smoke as soon as he hit the throttle and pedaled it but couldn't get it to hook up. Torrence with a great looking pass for the win light.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Shawn Langdon                         358 Richie Crampton              
E1                   0.050 10.488  75.15     ****WINNER****  0.084  3.734 325.06
 Qualified:             #7  3.773 325.77                       #10  3.814 317.49

Crampton is 3 - 1 against Langdon in prior events. Langdon with the starting line advantage and was up in smoke as soon as he hit the throttle. Crampton launched hard and keep it hooked up with his quickest pass of the weekend and just tick off the quickest pass of the weekend. Crampton with the win light. Richie Crampton's incremental times: 60ft-0.835 sec., 330ft-2.117, 660ft-2.996/291.95 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Spencer Massey                        777 Leah Pritchett               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.063  3.765 327.59                     0.041  9.578  83.46
 Qualified:             #6  3.767 327.90                       #11  3.821 316.52

Massey is 2 - 0 against Pritchett in prior events. Pritchett is out of the gate first, but is up in smoke as soon as she hits the throttle and clicks it off. Massey with his quickest pass of the weekend as he straight down the groove for the win. Spencer Massey's incremental times: 60ft-0.842 sec., 330ft-2.136, 660ft-3.024/286.07 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Antron Brown                           99 Khalid alBalooshi            
E1                   0.045  4.388 180.74     ****WINNER****  0.065  3.777 323.12
 Qualified:             #5  3.762 323.50                       #12  3.834 316.82

alBalooshi is 5 - 2 against Brown in prior events. Brown with the starting line advantage and the lead until the car started to haze the tires just before half track. Brown pedaled the car and then it banged the blower to end his day. alBalooshi with his quickest pass of the weekend as he keep it hitting on all eight all the way down the track. Khalid alBalooshi's incremental times: 60ft-0.834 sec., 330ft-2.150, 660ft-3.035/289.51 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  373 J.R. Todd                             142 Dom Lagana                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.054  3.741 323.50                     0.073  3.879 315.12
 Qualified:             #3  3.738 325.77                       #14  3.847 314.97

This is the first time Todd and Lagana have faced each other in eliminations. Todd with the starting line advantage and was on a great pass until on the top end when it got real loose, but Todd did a great job keeping it hooked up for the win. J.R. Todd's incremental times: 60ft-0.832 sec., 330ft-2.114, 660ft-2.997/286.62 mph. todd will have lane choice over Massey in the next round.Lagana with a good clean pass to keep Todd honest.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  745 Brittany Force                         21 Terry McMillen               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.075  3.886 313.37                     0.048  8.158  90.71
 Qualified:             #2  3.737 328.78                       #15  3.977 241.97

Force and McMillen have each won 1 times against the other in prior events. McMillen with the starting line advantage, but was up in smoke right off the starting line. Force dropped a cylinder right at the hit and never got it to pick back up. She takes the win light, but will give up lane choice to Crampton in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    7 Tony Schumacher                         9 Bob Vandergriff              
E1   ****WINNER****  0.072  3.735 327.35                     0.054  3.863 286.68
 Qualified:             #1  3.733 327.51                       #16  7.358  86.90

Schumacher is 27 - 10 against Vandergriff in prior events. Vandergriff with the starting line advantage, but Schumacher had the difference made up by the time they went by the Christmas tree. Schumacher with a great pass, just a couple ticks off his qualifying time for the win. Tony Schumacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.828 sec., 330ft-2.109, 660ft-2.995/287.05 mph. He will have lane choice over Torrence in the next round. Vandergriff was on a great pass until just past half track when the car started to drop cylinders.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   22 Doug Kalitta                            6 Clay Millican                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.105  3.759 326.71                           No Time      
 Qualified:             #4  3.747 326.95                       #13  3.835 316.15

Kalitta is 15 - 9 against Millican in prior events. Millican does his burnout and the car has problem and doesn't stop and just rolls on through the end of the track. Kalitta with single...launched hard and keep it hooked up with a great looking pass for the easy win. Doug Kalitta's incremental times: 60ft-0.832 sec., 330ft-2.131, 660ft-3.018/286.62 mph. Kalitta will have lane choice over alBalooshi in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink