Sat, 14 Nov 2015, 18:03 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 51st annual Auto Club NHRA Finals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  802 Monty Bugeja                          704 Bill Litton                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.085  5.315 269.46                     0.055  5.381 270.37
 Qualified:            #11  5.314 271.62                        #6  5.282 267.85

Weather conditions: air temperature 77 degrees, relative humidity 24 percent, barometer 28.79 inches, adjusted altitude 2,843 feet, track temperature 99 degrees.

Bugeja qualifies in his first National event...Litton with the starting line advantage, but Bugeja has the difference made up by the time they go by the Christmas tree and never trailed from there on for the win. Bugeja is just a tick off his qualifying pass for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    7 Jackie Fricke                         613 Joey Severance               
E1                   0.071  5.330 260.21     ****WINNER****  0.041  5.300 270.86
 Qualified:            #14  5.354 258.91                        #3  5.242 271.95

This is the first time Fricke and Severance have faced each other in eliminations. Severance with the starting line advantage and real nice pass for the win. He will clinch the championship if he makes it to the final. Severance will have lane choice over Bugeja in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  681 Shawn Cowie                            43 Michael Manners              
E1   ****WINNER****  0.068  5.370 254.76                     0.057  5.806 260.91
 Qualified:            #10  5.312 270.64                        #7  5.287 273.83

Manners is 2 - 0 against Cowie in prior events. Manners with the starting line advantage, but Cowie has the lead by 150 feet and takes the win as Manners was mixing up cylinders.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  748 Cameron Ferre                         487 Mark Taliaferro              
E1   ****WINNER****  0.070  5.301 273.72                     0.086  5.405 261.88
 Qualified:             #9  5.305 271.41                        #8  5.288 274.39

This is the first time Ferre and Taliaferro have faced each other in eliminations. Ferre with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. He runs his quickest pass of the weekend and never trailed for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 4028 David Sheetz                          611 Garrett Bateman              
E1   ****WINNER****  0.110  5.415 268.12                     0.059  5.618 262.54
 Qualified:            #13  5.348 269.46                        #4  5.244 269.24

This is the first time Sheetz and Bateman have faced each other in eliminations. Bateman with the starting line advantage and the lead until around 500 feet when Sheetz is able to chase him down. Bateman was loose on the top end and slowed. Sheetz with a nice clean pass for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   74 Johnny Ahten                            1 Chris Demke                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.046  5.441 264.44                     0.009  9.775  84.67
 Qualified:            #12  5.338 265.48                        #5  5.261 272.72

Demke is 4 - 0 against Ahten in prior events. Demke with a great light and then starts mixing up cylinders right off the starting line . Ahten with a good clean pass for the win. Ahten will give up lane choice to Sheetz in the next round. Demke will still win the Championship if Severance doesn't make it to the final.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   69 Ross Stickler                          77 Megan McKernan               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.059  5.479 236.17                     0.116  5.621 264.08
 Qualified:            #15  5.360 259.91                        #2  5.234 276.92

McKernan is 1 - 0 against Stickler in prior events. Stickler with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. He will give up lane choice to Cowie in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  144 Tripp Tatum                          6067 Don St. Arnaud               
E1                   0.090  5.357 265.64     ****WINNER****  0.096  5.186 279.21
 Qualified:            #16  5.373 264.86                        #1  5.209 284.45

This is the first time Tatum and St. Arnaud have faced each other in eliminations. Tatum with a slight starting line advantage, but St. Arnaud has the difference made up by the time they go by the Christmas tree and never trailed from there on for the win. He runs the quickest pass of the event for the win and lane choice over Ferre in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink