Sat, 01 Nov 2014, 19:10 PM Pro Modified Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Modified at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 14th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  205 Kevin Rivenbark                      5011 Mike Knowles                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.036  5.986 236.80                     0.043  6.157 240.85
 Qualified:             #8  5.935 236.26                        #9  5.946 241.15

Weather conditions: air temperature 71 degrees, relative humidity 29 percent, barometer 27.66 inches, adjusted altitude 3,847 feet, track temperature 90 degrees.

Rivenbark is 1 - 0 against Knowles in prior events. Rivenbark is 1 - 0 against Knowles in prior events. Rivenbark with a slight starting line advantage and never trailed for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 708R Richard Snavely                       303 Dan Stevenson                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.044  5.934 253.14                     0.045  6.411 175.66
 Qualified:             #7  5.928 253.09                       #10  5.946 239.91

They leave together and Stevenson with the lead until just past half track when it has a nitrous explosion and slows. Snavely drives back around him for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Mike Castellana                      2377 Von Smith                    
E1                   0.104  6.493 166.66     ****WINNER****  0.087  5.936 240.72
 Qualified:            #12  5.954 238.85                        #5  5.921 240.64

Smith with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Castellana with the nitrous explosion and quick flash of flames on the top end.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 5200 Steven Whiteley                         2 Troy Coughlin                
E1                   0.066  6.313 180.02     ****WINNER****  0.053  5.880 250.27
 Qualified:            #11  5.953 244.03                        #6  5.925 248.39

This is the first time Whiteley and Coughlin have faced each other in eliminations. Coughlin with the starting line advantage, but Whiteley grabbed the lead until just before half track. Coughlin with his quickest pass of the weekend for the win and he keeps his title hopes alive.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  210 Jay Payne                            220F Kevin Fiscus                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.046  5.933 242.67                     0.096 11.158  78.87
 Qualified:            #13  5.966 241.32                        #4  5.916 247.11

This is the first time Payne and Fiscus have faced each other in eliminations. Payne with the starting line and never trailed for the win. Fiscus with problems early and clicks it off. Payne will have lane choice over Von Smith by 0.003 seconds in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 1938 Eric Latino                           202 Todd Tutterow                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.043  5.906 243.68                     0.055  5.924 239.70
 Qualified:             #3  5.914 244.38                       #14  5.966 239.06

This is the first time Latino and Tutterow have faced each other in eliminations. Latino with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win with his quickest pass of the weekend. Latino will give up lane choice to Coughlin in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    6 Danny Rowe                              1 Rickie Smith                 
E1                   0.066 11.925  91.28     ****WINNER****  0.062  6.610 163.35
 Qualified:            #15  5.972 244.56                        #2  5.883 243.68

Smith is 4 - 2 against Rowe in prior events. Smith with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Smith with a big nitrous explosion shooting the hood scoop high into the air. Smith with the win eliminates Von Smith from the championship. Smith will give up lane choice to Snavely in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    8 Pete Farber                          3382 Don Walsh                    
E1                  -0.008  5.962 242.93     ****WINNER****  0.070  5.841 250.51
 Qualified:            #16  5.979 242.84                        #1  5.880 249.44

Farber and Walsh have each won 1 times against the other in prior events. Farber is just a few ticks too quick on the tree and turns on the red light. Walsh with a great pass the quickest of the event for the win. He will have lane choice over Rivenbark in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink