Sun, 22 May 2016, 13:26 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Rick Green

TOPEKA, Kan. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car 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
  468 Jeff Jones                           2606 Mark Billington              
E2   ****WINNER****  0.030  5.643 261.22                           No Time      
 Prior rounds:
E1    (K Hool      ) 0.094  5.620 260.71      (N Januik    ) 0.070  5.840 248.98
 Qualified:             #6  5.631 252.99                       #12 10.257  85.75

Weather conditions: air temperature 81 degrees, relative humidity 54 percent, barometer 28.85 inches, adjusted altitude 3,453 feet, track temperature 106 degrees.

Billington is a no show...Jones with a good looking pass on good clean pass. Jones will get the bye into the final.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 6345 Clint Thompson                         77 Steve Gasparrelli            
E2   ****WINNER****  0.057  5.590 258.32                     0.060  5.673 256.55
 Prior rounds:
E1    (C McLaws    ) 0.128  5.577 260.81      (N Matter    ) 0.078  5.601 259.96
 Qualified:             #4  5.564 262.49                        #3  5.562 260.16

Thompson is 4 - 3 against Gasparrelli in prior events. Thompson with a few ticks on the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Doug Gordon                            10 Jay Payne                    
E2   ****WINNER****  0.062  5.587 262.44                     0.053  5.643 261.57
 Prior rounds:
E1    (S Burck     ) 0.114  5.530 265.53      (L Van Hauen ) 0.145  5.574 263.92
 Qualified:             #2  5.521 264.96                        #5  5.567 264.91

Gordon and Payne have each won 7 times against the other in prior events. Payne with the starting line advantage, but Gordon has the lead by the time they go by the Christmas tree and never trails from the on. Gordon with the quickest pass of the round. Gordon will get lane choice over Thompson by a few ticks.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink