Sun, 01 Nov 2015, 15:16 PM Pro Stock Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 15th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    7 Jonathan Gray                           4 Shane Gray                   
E1                   0.038  6.698 207.43     ****WINNER****  0.027  6.699 207.94
 Qualified:             #9  6.605 208.59                        #8  6.601 208.81

Weather conditions: air temperature 82 degrees, relative humidity 28 percent, barometer 27.90 inches, adjusted altitude 4,333 feet, track temperature 99 degrees.

Shane Gray was the winner here in 2013. Shane with a starting line advantage and the power to hold on for the hole shot win. Shane Gray's MOV: 0.0105 seconds (approximately 3 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    6 Allen Johnson                         154 Vincent Nobile               
E1                   0.014  6.632 208.59     ****WINNER****  0.017  6.625 209.07
 Qualified:            #10  6.607 208.39                        #7  6.601 209.56

Allen Johnson won this race in 2012. This is the first time since that Allen has started from the bottom half of the field at this race. Johnson is 15 - 8 against Nobile in prior events. Johnson with a slight starting line advantage and the lead until around 1000 feet when Nobile was able to chase him down and take the win in a close one. Vincent Nobile's MOV: 0.0048 seconds (approximately 18 inches).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   37 Larry Morgan                           10 Chris McGaha                 
E1                  -0.001  7.244 146.91     ****WINNER****  0.040  6.617 208.88
 Qualified:            #11  6.611 209.17                        #6  6.600 209.04

Larry Morgan won here in 2009. McGaha is 1 - 0 against Morgan in prior events. Morgan is just a tick too quick on the tree and turned on the red light. He then made a quick move toward the centerline before he clicked it off. McGaha with a good pass for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 4255 Alex Laughlin                         390 Drew Skillman                
E1                   0.045  6.636 208.10     ****WINNER****  0.036  6.608 208.78
 Qualified:            #12  6.619 208.59                        #5  6.594 208.71

Skillman is 1 - 0 against Laughlin in prior events. Skillman is out of the gate first and never trailed for the win. He runs low E.T. of the day for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    9 V. Gaines                             361 Bo Butner                    
E1                   0.050  6.670 207.53     ****WINNER****  0.047  6.619 208.75
 Qualified:            #14  6.647 207.50                        #3  6.591 209.43

Bo Butner has won four times at this event, all in the Lucas Oil ranks (3 Comp, 1 Stock) He "doubled-up" here in 2012 winning Comp & Stock..This is the 12th start at this race for V. Gaines. This is the first time Gaines and Butner have faced each other in eliminations. Butner with a slight starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. He will give up lane choice to McGaha in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  666 Matt Hartford                         233 Greg Anderson                
E1                   0.013  6.676 207.53     ****WINNER****  0.038  6.598 209.14
 Qualified:            #15  6.667 207.08                        #2  6.584 209.52

Greg Anderson has four wins at this race and that's the most for any driver in Pro Stock. He is 10-2 in first round matches at this event. Anderson is 4 - 0 against Hartford in prior events. Hartford with a great light and is out of the gate first, but Anderson has the lead by 100 feet and never trails from there on for the win. Anderson with low E.T. of race day and he will have lane choice over Nobile in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   52 Deric Kramer                            1 Erica Enders                 
E1                   0.030  6.692 206.23     ****WINNER****  0.015  6.585 209.59
 Qualified:            #16  6.678 207.05                        #1  6.559 210.28

The #1 Pro Stock qualifier has made it to the final round 50% of the time at this event (7 times in 14 years).

Erica Enders is the defending event champion. This is the 18th time she has qualified #1 and she has five wins when starting at the top of the field..The #16 qualifier has only won once in round one in 14 years of this event..This is the 32nd start for Deric Kramer. Enders with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. She runs low E.T. of race day and she will have lane choice over Shane Gray in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  150 Kenny Delco                             2 Jason Line                   
E1                   0.069  7.108 155.65     ****WINNER****  0.077  6.600 208.78
 Qualified:            #13  6.636 207.46                        #4  6.593 209.39

Line is 1 - 0 against Delco in prior events. Delco with a slight starting line advantage, but made a quick move toward the wall before he clicked it off. Line with the third quickest pass of the round and he will have lane choice over Skillman in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink