Sun, 15 Nov 2015, 15:21 PM Pro Stock Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock 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
   10 Chris McGaha                            2 Jason Line                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.014  6.527 211.89                     0.090  6.537 211.89
 Qualified:             #9  6.523 212.73                        #8  6.520 212.39

Line is 3 - 0 against McGaha in prior events. McGaha with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. McGaha just off his qualifying E.T. for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   37 Larry Morgan                          361 Bo Butner                    
E1   ****WINNER****  0.026  6.561 211.43                     0.043  6.550 212.26
 Qualified:            #10  6.526 212.56                        #7  6.513 212.66

This is the 28th time that Larry Morgan has competed at this event. Only Warren Johnson (35) had more in the Pro Stock class. Morgan and Butner have each won 1 times against the other in prior events. Morgan with the starting line advantage and the power to hold on for the hole shot win. Larry Morgan's MOV: 0.0068 seconds (approximately 2 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    7 Jonathan Gray                           6 Allen Johnson                
E1                  -0.006 10.498  76.09     ****WINNER****  0.005  6.571 209.23
 Qualified:             #6  6.510 212.56                       #11  6.528 212.06

Allen Johnson won the "Finals" in 2007. Gray and Johnson have each won 3 times against the other in prior events. Gray is just a few tick too quick on the tree and turned on the red light. Johnson chattered the tires right off the starting line, but already had the wi.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 4255 Alex Laughlin                         154 Vincent Nobile               
E1                   0.075  6.556 211.26     ****WINNER****  0.038  6.556 211.06
 Qualified:            #12  6.540 211.79                        #5  6.510 212.93

This is the first time Laughlin and Nobile have faced each other in eliminations. Nobile with the starting line advantage and they run identical E.T.s so Nobile gets the win on a hole shot. Vincent Nobile's MOV: 0.0373 seconds (approximately 12 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   19 Richie Stevens                        390 Drew Skillman                
E1                  -0.010  6.620 209.17     ****WINNER****  0.033  6.543 211.79
 Qualified:            #13  6.560 210.90                        #4  6.509 213.84

Richie Stevens won his first national event when he beat Jeg Coughlin here in 1998. This is the first time Stevens and Skillman have faced each other in eliminations. Stevens goes red and Skillman with the win. Skillman will have lane choice over Nobile in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  150 Kenny Delco                             4 Shane Gray                   
E1                  -0.006  6.566 210.57     ****WINNER****  0.066  8.316 116.78
 Qualified:            #14  6.561 210.73                        #3  6.505 213.20

Weather conditions: air temperature 68 degrees, relative humidity 53 percent, barometer 28.75 inches, adjusted altitude 2,509 feet, track temperature 96 degrees.

Shane Gray won this race in 2010..This is just the 6th time that Kenny Delco has competed at this event. His last race here was in 1991. Gray is 2 - 0 against Delco in prior events. Delco goes red and then Gray with problems early, but still gets the win. He will give up lane choice to Johnson 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                   0.023  6.594 210.01     ****WINNER****  0.048  6.536 211.96
 Qualified:            #16  6.581 211.00                        #1  6.490 213.03

Greg Anderson has five wins here and that is the third most in Pro Stock behind Bob Glidden (11) and Warren Johnson (6). Greg has now qualified for 299 consecutive races. This is the 80th time he has qualified #1 and he has gone on to win 36 of those races. Anderson is 5 - 0 against Hartford in prior events. Hartford with the starting line advantage, but Anderson has the lead by 500 feet and takes the win by 0.0336 seconds (approximately 10 feet). 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
    9 V. Gaines                               1 Erica Enders                 
E1                         No Time           ****WINNER**** -0.022  6.526 212.56
 Qualified:            #15  6.570 211.63                        #2  6.503 213.33

Erica Enders claimed her fist Pro Stock championship when she beat Jason Line in the final round here last year. Her crew member, Rickie Jones, won his only race when he won here in 2013...V. Gaines starts from the #15 spot. The 15th qualifier hasn't won in round one at this race since 2008. Enders is 14 - 2 against Gaines in prior events. Gaines' car with problems on the burnout and is pushed back to the starting line and off to give Enders a single. Enders with a great pass and runs low E.T. of race day and she will have lane choice over Morgan in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink