Sat, 15 Oct 2016, 16:53 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

ENNIS, Texas - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 31st annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Jonnie Lindberg                       433 Bryan Brown                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.073  5.527 259.01                    -0.046  5.603 262.03
 Qualified:             #1  5.451 269.03                       #16  5.635 259.86

Weather conditions: air temperature 82 degrees, relative humidity 63 percent, barometer 29.37 inches, adjusted altitude 2,862 feet, track temperature 108 degrees.

This is the first time Lindberg and Brown have faced each other in eliminations. Brown goes red and Lindberg is straight down the groove for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Annie Whiteley                         77 Steve Gasparrelli            
E1                   0.084  5.592 264.18     ****WINNER****  0.068  5.553 261.12
 Qualified:             #7  5.509 266.69                       #10  5.574 261.22

Whiteley is 3 - 1 against Gasparrelli in prior events. Gasparrelli with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Steve Gasparrelli's MOV: 0.0559 seconds (approximately 22 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  799 Sean Bellemeur                          9 Kris Hool                    
E1   ****WINNER****  0.060  5.546 259.91                     0.054  5.695 260.11
 Qualified:             #3  5.487 267.59                       #14  5.619 260.11

Bellemeur and Hool have each won 1 times against the other in prior events. Hool with the starting line, but Bellemeur has the difference made up by 100 feet and never trailed from there on for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    8 Shane Westerfield                      65 Brian Hough                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.018  5.513 268.44                     0.088  5.631 258.86
 Qualified:             #2  5.460 270.75                       #15  5.627 259.66

Westerfield and Hough have each won 1 times against the other in prior events. Westerfield with a great light and never trailed for the win. He will have lane choice over Gasparrelli in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 John Lombardo Jr.                      76 Terry Ruckman                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.073  5.470 271.46                     0.032  5.530 267.16
 Qualified:             #5  5.506 270.64                       #12  5.608 263.20

Lombardo Jr. is 2 - 0 against Ruckman in prior events. Ruckman with a great light, but Lombardo Jr. chases him down by 1000 feet and takes the win. John Lombardo Jr.'s MOV: 0.0194 seconds (approximately 8 feet). Lombardo Jr. the quickest of round one and his quickest pass of the weekend.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Doug Gordon                           599 Bill Bernard                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.048  5.533 265.53                     0.069  5.577 258.76
 Qualified:             #6  5.508 257.19                       #11  5.584 230.06

This is the first time Gordon and Bernard have faced each other in eliminations. Gordon with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. He will have lane choice over Bellemeur in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  468 Jeff Jones                             10 Jay Payne                    
E1                   0.129 10.070  97.35     ****WINNER****  0.070  5.627 260.81
 Qualified:             #4  5.488 269.40                       #13  5.616 237.59

This is the first time Jones and Payne have faced each other in eliminations. Payne with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Jones with severe tire shake right at the hit. Payne will give up lane choice to Lombardo Jr in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 6345 Clint Thompson                        729 Nick Januik                  
E1                   0.055  5.550 264.49     ****WINNER****  0.017  5.581 263.31
 Qualified:             #8  5.522 263.67                        #9  5.531 264.55

Januik is 2 - 1 against Thompson in prior events. Januik with the starting line advantage and the power to hold on for the hole shot win. Januik with his second career hole shot win and Thompson's eighth career hole shot lost. Januik will give up lane choice to Lindberg in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink