Fri, 20 May 2016, 21:50 PM Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Session #2

By Rick Green

TOPEKA, Kan. - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 28th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:

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Left Lane: Smax Smith Runs 5.836/117.91, Now #10; No Prior Run

Smith launched hard and then the engine went silent around half track, not sure if it was not a planned shut off.

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Left Lane: Scott Palmer Runs 3.872/312.86, Now #9; Best prior run: 7.605/90.78, Was #13
Right Lane: Rob Passey Runs 12.086/47.03, Now #14; No Prior Run

Palmer launched hard and keep it hitting on all eight and was straight down the groove to make his career quickest and fastest pass. Scott Palmer's incremental times: 60ft-0.864 sec., 330ft-2.191, 660ft-3.104/278.75 mph. Passey with severe tire shake then then the word from the Safety Safari is there is oil in Passey's lane. Rob Passey was charged with an oildown, #1 for the season. That will cost 5 points and $1K.

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Left Lane: Terry McMillen Runs 3.762/324.59, Now #6; Best prior run: 6.711/104.13, Was #12
Right Lane: Shawn Langdon Runs 3.726/330.15, Now #4; Best prior run: 7.449/95.05, Was #13

McMillen launched hard and keep it hitting on all eight to make his career quickest pass. He moves into the top half of the show. Terry McMillen's incremental times: 60ft-0.848 sec., 330ft-2.143, 660ft-3.022/287.90 mph. Langdon with a great looking pass, his quickest and fastest of the season. Shawn Langdon's incremental times: 60ft-0.828 sec., 330ft-2.111, 660ft-2.993/290.01 mph.

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Left Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 3.759/326.40, Now #7; Best prior run: 3.797/324.20, Was #9
Right Lane: Clay Millican Runs 3.736/318.24, Now #5; Best prior run: 3.806/325.77, Was #10

Todd was straight down the groove with a nice pass until right in the lights when the engine let go with a quick pop and bang. The word from the top end there is oil in in Todd's lane. J.R. Todd was charged with an oildown, #2 for the season. That will cost 10 points and $2K. Millican had it hitting on all eight all the way down the track to get into the top half of the show. Clay Millican's incremental times: 60ft-0.848 sec., 330ft-2.117, 660ft-2.994/288.52 mph.

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Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 3.724/324.05, Now #4; Best prior run: 3.768/321.27, Was #10
Right Lane: Antron Brown Runs 3.877/242.50, Now #7; Best prior run: 3.743/323.12, Was #6

Weather conditions: air temperature 65 degrees, relative humidity 66 percent, barometer 28.86 inches, adjusted altitude 2,254 feet, track temperature 75 degrees.

Schumacher with a real nice pass with the header flames shooting high over the rear wing. He moves up to the number four spot. Tony Schumacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.827 sec., 330ft-2.104, 660ft-2.982/289.07 mph. Brown's car was shooting sparklers out of the right side right for the hit and then the engine went silent on the top end.

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Left Lane: Brittany Force Runs 3.676/325.45, Now #1; Best prior run: 3.768/322.50, Was #10
Right Lane: Richie Crampton Runs 3.710/318.99, Now #3; Best prior run: 3.718/323.50, Was #3

Force launched hard and keep it hitting on all eight, she was straight down the groove to set the National E.T. record. Brittany Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.823 sec., 330ft-2.082, 660ft-2.942/293.09 mph. Crampton with another great pass, but will stay in the number three spot. Richie Crampton's incremental times: 60ft-0.836 sec., 330ft-2.108, 660ft-2.968/294.56 mph.

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Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 3.701/330.88, Now #2; Best prior run: 3.713/328.70, Was #4
Right Lane: Steve Torrence Runs 3.741/329.42, Now #3; Best prior run: 3.709/329.91, Was #2

Kalitta launched hard and keep it hitting on all eight to go to the number two spot. Kalitta runs his career quickest pass and the fastest pass this season. Doug Kalitta's incremental times: 60ft-0.840 sec., 330ft-2.113, 660ft-2.974/293.73 mph. Torrence with another good looking pass, but will not improve, but gets bumped back one spot by Kalitta. Steve Torrence's incremental times: 60ft-0.846 sec., 330ft-2.136, 660ft-3.007/290.88 mph.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink