Fri, 18 Sep 2015, 17:00 PM Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Rick Green

CONCORD, N.C. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, Eighth annual NHRA Carolina Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Left Lane: Pat Dakin Runs 4.607/166.03, Now #2
Right Lane: Leah Pritchett Runs 3.814/314.61, Now #1

Dakin started to lose traction and clicked it off. Pritchett launched hard and was straight down the groove with a nice pass. It pitched a blower belt on the top end. Leah Pritchett's incremental times: 60ft-0.840 sec., 330ft-2.160, 660ft-3.057/282.24 mph.

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Left Lane: Terry McMillen Runs 9.042/87.13, Now #4
Right Lane: Clay Millican Runs 3.880/312.28, Now #2

McMillen is up in smoke right at the hit and clicked it off. Millican was straight down the groove with a good looking pass. Clay Millican's incremental times: 60ft-0.853 sec., 330ft-2.187, 660ft-3.110/276.07 mph.

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Left Lane: Dave Connolly Runs 6.053/109.32, Now #5
Right Lane: Steve Torrence Runs 3.829/315.42, Now #2

Connolly started to haze the tires around 300 feet and clicked it off. torrence launched hard and was straight down the groove to go to the number two spot. Steve Torrence's incremental times: 60ft-0.856 sec., 330ft-2.171, 660ft-3.071/282.78 mph.

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Left Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 9.259/94.34, Now #8
Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 3.954/303.37, Now #4

Todd unveiled his new look Jimi Hendrix Foundation Top Fueler. He is up in smoke right at the hit and clicked it off. Kalitta is straight down the groove to go to the number four spot. Doug Kalitta's incremental times: 60ft-0.860 sec., 330ft-2.209, 660ft-3.159/268.28 mph.

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Left Lane: Shawn Langdon Runs 3.868/315.86, Now #3
Right Lane: Brittany Force Runs 5.074/133.74, Now #7

Langdon now driving for DSR in a canopy car for the first time. He launched hard and keep it hooked up to go to the number three spot. Shawn Langdon's incremental times: 60ft-0.849 sec., 330ft-2.186, 660ft-3.108/279.09 mph. Force started to haze the tires and clicked it off.

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Left Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 3.887/316.30, Now #5
Right Lane: Richie Crampton Runs 4.515/169.89, Now #7

Dixon was straight down the groove with a real nice pass to get into the top half of the show. He runs the fastest pass of the day. Larry Dixon's incremental times: 60ft-0.856 sec., 330ft-2.199, 660ft-3.126/277.03 mph. Crampton starts to haze the tires early and clicks it off.

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Left Lane: Antron Brown Runs 4.207/201.28, Now #7
Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 11.799/59.40, Now #14

Brown starts to haze the tires and clicks it off. Schumacher is up in smoke as soon as he hit the throttle and clicks it off. Pritchett was in the first pair of cars down the track and holds on to the number one spot throughout the session.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink