Sun, 02 Nov 2014, 12:31 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car 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
  729 Nick Januik                             8 Steve Gasparrelli            
E1                   0.078  6.048 253.47     ****WINNER****  0.046  6.077 231.56
 Qualified:             #8  5.634 257.58                        #9  5.642 258.81

Weather conditions: air temperature 65 degrees, relative humidity 37 percent, barometer 27.84 inches, adjusted altitude 3,266 feet, track temperature 77 degrees.

Januik is 1 - 0 against Gasparrelli in prior events. Gasparrelli with the starting line advantage and held on for the hole shot win. Steve Gasparrelli's MOV: 0.0032 seconds (approximately 14 inches). Gasparrelli with a lot of engine smoke right in the lights.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   64 Brian Hough                           747 Mike Doushgounian            
E1                   0.052  5.611 254.66     ****WINNER****  0.000  5.628 259.31
 Qualified:             #7  5.620 255.77                       #10  5.644 260.26

This is the first time Hough and Doushgounian have faced each other in eliminations. Doushgounian with a perfect light and the power to hold on for the hole shot win. Mike Doushgounian's MOV: 0.0357 seconds (approximately 13 feet). Doushgounian with his quickest pass of the weekend for the win. Hough with his quickest pass in the losing effort.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    7 Jay Payne                            5757 Terry Ruckman                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.134  5.573 263.98                     0.045  5.720 258.02
 Qualified:             #6  5.620 259.26                       #11  5.665 257.28

Payne is 2 - 0 against Ruckman in prior events. Ruckman with the starting line advantage, but Payne was able to chase him down by 500 feet and take the win. Jay Payne's MOV: 0.0587 seconds (approximately 22 feet). Payne with his quickest pass this weekend and his career fastest pass. Jay Payne's incremental times: 60ft-0.962 sec., 330ft-2.508, 660ft-3.706/206.80 mph, 1,000ft-4.719.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  806 Steve Harker                          562 Kris Hool                    
E1   ****WINNER****  0.110  5.567 264.39                     0.053  5.729 258.81
 Qualified:             #5  5.597 262.28                       #12  5.676 257.48

Harker is 1 - 0 against Hool in prior events. Hool with the starting line advantage, but Harker had the difference made up by the time they went by the Christmas tree. Harker with his quickest pass of the weekend for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    6 Tony Bartone                          802 Jonnie Lindberg              
E1                   0.120  5.569 260.46     ****WINNER****  0.024  5.571 260.26
 Qualified:             #4  5.595 260.26                       #13  5.694 258.47

This is the first time Bartone and Lindberg have faced each other in eliminations. Lindberg with the starting line advantage and the power to hold on for the hole shot win. Lindberg with his quickest pass this weekend for the win. Bartone with his quickest pass of the weekend in the losing effort. Tony Bartone's incremental times: 60ft-0.953 sec., 330ft-2.491, 660ft-3.686/207.40 mph, 1,000ft-4.706.
Jonnie Lindberg's incremental times: 60ft-0.968 sec., 330ft-2.515, 660ft-3.706/208.39 mph, 1,000ft-4.716. Lindberg will give up lane choice to Harker in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Annie Whiteley                         77 Doug Gordon                  
E1                   0.104  6.187 234.74     ****WINNER****  0.052  5.735 255.24
 Qualified:             #3  5.551 260.71                       #14  5.705 253.85

Whiteley and Gordon have each won 1 times against the other in prior events. Gordon with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Whiteley was out of the groove early and had to pedal it and couldn't chase him down. Gordon will give up lane choice to Payne in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  800 Ulf Leanders                          799 Sean Bellemeur               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.104  5.634 260.61                     0.025  5.722 254.81
 Qualified:             #2  5.551 263.67                       #15  5.732 254.52

Bellemeur is 1 - 0 against Leanders in prior events. Bellemeur with the starting line advantage and the lead until right in the lights when Leanders was able to chase him down. Ulf Leanders' MOV: 0.0095 seconds (approximately 4 feet). Bellemeur with his quickest pass of the weekend in the losing effort. Leanders will give up lane choice to Doushgounian in the nest round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 John Lombardo Jr.                       3 Shane Westerfield            
E1                         No Time           ****WINNER****  0.092  5.809 257.73
 Qualified:             #1  5.550 261.12                       #16  5.740 253.66

Westerfield is 3 - 2 against Lombardo Jr. in prior events. Lombardo Jr. started to bring rpms up and the car rolled the beams. Westerfield with the easy win and will have lane choice over Gasparrelli in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink