Sun, 22 May 2016, 12:36 PM Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations |
By Rick Green |
TOPEKA, Kan. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 28th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals:
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 25 Clay Millican 21 Terry McMillen E1 ****WINNER**** 0.087 3.783 320.74 0.126 3.984 245.58 Qualified: #7 3.736 318.24 #10 3.762 324.59Weather conditions: air temperature 79 degrees, relative humidity 54 percent, barometer 28.87 inches, adjusted altitude 3,277 feet, track temperature 100 degrees.
Millican is 3 - 2 against
McMillen in prior events. Millican with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the
win. His second quickest pass of the weekend and his fastest pass of the weekend. McMillen was
mixing up cylinders just past half track and used up an engine on the top end with a big cloud of
engine smoke. the word from the top end is there is oil in McMillen's lane. Terry McMillen was
charged with an oildown, #4 for the season. That will cost 15 points and $4K.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
2 Tony Schumacher 394 Luigi Novelli
E1 ****WINNER**** 0.113 3.748 327.90 No Time
Qualified: #5 3.724 324.05 #12 4.029 256.65
This will be Tony Schumacher's 1,099th round of competition. Only John Force and Warren Johnson
have competed in more rounds than "The Sarge." Tony won here in 2010. Schumacher is 3 - 0 against
Novelli in prior events. Novelli pulled up to the waterbox and the engine died and he is pushed
off the starting line, so Schumacher will get the single here. Schumacher was straight down the
groove with his second quickest pass of the weekend and his fastest of the weekend.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
3 Richie Crampton 121 Terry Haddock
E1 ****WINNER**** 0.082 4.033 218.72 No Time
Qualified: #4 3.710 318.99 #13 4.494 186.64
Richie Crampton is the defending event champion. In the 27years of this event no Top Fuel
driver has ever won in back-to-back years. This is the first time Crampton and Haddock have faced
each other in eliminations. Haddock did the burnout and couldn't get it to back up and drove off
the top end. Crampton will get the single. Crampton was on a good pass and then clicked it off
just past half track. He will give up lane choice to Schumacher in the next round.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
7 Brittany Force Bye
E1 ****WINNER**** 0.121 3.707 326.24
Qualified: #1 3.676 325.45 Bye
This is the 5th time that Brittany Force has qualified #1. She has never won from the top spot
and the #1 qualifier in TF has only won here three times in the last 20 years. Force launched hard
and keep it hitting on eight and hooked up to make the quickest pass on Race Day.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
5 Doug Kalitta 723 Rob Passey
E1 ****WINNER**** 0.023 3.795 287.23 0.128 14.800 34.25
Qualified: #2 3.701 330.88 #15 No Time
Doug Kalitta's win in Atlanta was his 40th and that is 9th best among all drivers in the nitro
classes. He also became the first Top Fuel driver in history to win back-to-back races with a
holeshot in the final round. Doug won here in 2006. Kalitta is 1 - 0 against Passey in prior
events. Kalitta with a great reaction time and was on a great pass until in the lights when the
engine let go with big fireball. The word from of the top end the track is clean. Passey's car
shut off right at the hit and he coast to the finish line.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
8 Steve Torrence 354 Smax Smith
E1 ****WINNER**** 0.087 3.800 324.12 No Time
Qualified: #3 3.709 329.91 #14 No Time
This is the 3rd start for Smax Smith..This is the first time Torrence and Smith have faced each
other in eliminations. Smith does his burnout and then when he gets back to the starting line and
the rpms go up real high and the crew shuts him off. Torrence get the single. Torrence on a nice
clean pass to move one.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
6 Shawn Langdon 5050 Scott Palmer
E1 ****WINNER**** 0.060 3.915 242.71 0.083 3.940 311.70
Qualified: #6 3.726 330.15 #11 3.872 312.86
Shawn Langdon won her in 2013. Langdon is 3 - 0 against Palmer in prior events. Langdon with
the starting line advantage and then around half track the engine lets go with a big fireball, but
he holds on for the win. Shawn Langdon's MOV: 0.0482 seconds (approximately 22 feet). Palmer was
on a good pass, but couldn't chase him down. Langdon will give up lane choice to Torrence in the
next round.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
1 Antron Brown 373 J.R. Todd
E1 ****WINNER**** 0.044 3.723 319.82 0.046 3.767 322.96
Qualified: #8 3.743 323.12 #9 3.758 320.89
Antron Brown has 580 round wins coming into eliminations and that has him tied with Jeg
Coughlin for 9th place on the all-time professional list. Antron has never won this race, in fact,
he has a losing record (7-8) overall in Topeka. Brown is 12 - 1 against Todd in prior events.
They leave together with Brown getting a couple ticks and never trailed from there on for the win.
Antron Brown's MOV: 0.0461 seconds (approximately 22 feet). Brown with his quickest pass of the
weekend for the win, but will give up lane choice to Force in the next round. Todd was just a few
ticks off his qualifying time and this was his second quickest pass of the weekend in the losing
effort.
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