Sun, 01 May 2016, 13:38 PM Pro Stock Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

BAYTOWN, Texas - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 29th annual SpringNationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    6 Vincent Nobile                         40 Alex Laughlin                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.030  6.655 207.50                     0.067  6.651 208.10
 Qualified:             #7  6.639 208.17                        #8  6.644 208.36

Vincent Nobile won this event in back-to-back years of 2011 & 2012. Nobile is 1 - 0 against Laughlin in prior events. Nobile with the starting line advantage and the power to hold on for the hole shot win. Vincent Nobile's MOV: 0.0338 seconds (approximately 10 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Erica Enders                            4 Chris McGaha                 
E1                   0.035  6.659 207.18     ****WINNER****  0.018  6.668 206.26
 Qualified:             #6  6.635 208.39                        #9  6.646 208.39

Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 73 percent, barometer 29.79 inches, adjusted altitude 2,531 feet, track temperature 102 degrees.

Erica Enders has won this race in each of the last two years. The only Dodge drivers to win here in 27 years are Vincent Nobile, Darrell Alderman and Scott Geoffrion..Chris McGaha was the runner-up here last year so this is a rematch of last year's final round. McGaha with the starting line advantage and the power to hold on for the hole shot win. Chris McGaha's MOV: 0.0085 seconds (approximately 3 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Allen Johnson                         730 Shane Gray                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.027  6.635 208.46                     0.040  6.661 208.30
 Qualified:             #5  6.635 208.97                       #10  6.653 208.65

Allen Johnson went to the final round here in 2007, 2010 & 2014. He is looking for his first win at this event. Johnson is 15 - 3 against Gray in prior events. Johnson with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. He matches his qualifying E.T. for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Drew Skillman                          25 Jeg Coughlin                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.024  6.973 160.63                    -0.002  6.684 207.02
 Qualified:             #4  6.632 208.75                       #11  6.655 207.91

Jeg Coughlin won here in 2000 & 2010. Skillman is 1 - 0 against Coughlin in prior events. Coughlin is just a couple ticks too quick on the tree to turn on the red light and gives Skillman the win. This is Coughlin's 868th round of eliminations in his career and only the 24th red light in his career. Skillman then has problems and clicks it off, but get 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
  361 Bo Butner                             677 Aaron Strong                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.064  6.636 208.65                     0.011  6.708 206.61
 Qualified:             #3  6.623 208.91                       #12  6.683 207.21

Butner is 1 - 0 against Strong in prior events. Strong with the starting line advantage and the lead until right in the lights when Butner is able to chase him down and take the win. Bo Butner's MOV: 0.0193 seconds (approximately 6 feet). He will have lane choice over McGaha in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    8 Jason Line                             55 V. Gaines                    
E1   ****WINNER****  0.032  6.608 209.43                     0.063 13.741  58.89
 Qualified:             #2  6.590 210.28                       #13  6.968 170.77

Jason Line won this event in 2007 & 2013 and he also went to the final round in 2004 & 2005..Because of the short field this is a 2-for-1 round, meaning the winner gets the automatic bye into the semi-finals. Line is 29 - 12 against Gaines in prior events. Line with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win as Gaines with severe tire shake right at the hit.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Greg Anderson                              Bye
E1   ****WINNER****  0.028  6.597 209.92     
 Qualified:             #1  6.589 210.41                     Bye

Greg Anderson won here in 2004 & 2008. The #1 qualifier in Pro Stock has not won here since 2006. Anderson launched hard and keep it hooked up to make the quickest pass of race day. He will have lane choice over Nobile in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink