Sun, 30 Oct 2016, 16:07 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Dave Rowe

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 16th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   76 Terry Ruckman                         883 Johan Lindberg               
E2   ****WINNER****  0.070  5.612 262.59                     0.062  5.635 259.26
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Payne     ) 0.042  5.795 262.33      (D Gordon    ) 0.072  5.597 250.00
 Qualified:             #5  5.571 264.44                       #13  5.647 255.15

12:54 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 40 percent, barometer 27.75 inches, adjusted altitude 4,501 feet.

This is the first time Ruckman and Lindberg have faced each other in eliminations.

Lindberg gets out of the gate first, stays in front to half track, then Ruckman is able to reel him in and drive around for the win.

Terry Ruckman's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.014), 330 ft(-0.011), 660ft(-0.004), 1,000ft(0.005). MOV: 0.0152 seconds (approximately 6 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   15 DJ Cox Jr.                             77 Steve Gasparrelli            
E2   ****WINNER****  0.041  5.539 262.79                     0.051  7.529 132.08
 Prior rounds:
E1    (N Januik    ) 0.031  5.548 262.54      (S Westerfiel) 0.052  5.612 257.92
 Qualified:             #3  5.536 263.56                       #11  5.633 258.57

This is the first time Cox Jr. and Gasparrelli have faced each other in eliminations.

Gasparrelli gives up a little off the line, gets about 200 feet out and rattles the tires. he pedals, then gives up on the run. Cox pulls away with a good run to take the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 John Lombardo Jr.                    6345 Clint Thompson               
E2                   0.125  6.930 142.87     ****WINNER****  0.050  5.576 262.13
 Prior rounds:
E1    (B Brown     ) 0.095  5.538 265.59      (C Beverett  ) 0.035  5.677 260.61
 Qualified:             #2  5.527 267.16                        #7  5.589 260.71

Lombardo is late off the line, gets about 400 feet out and the car noses over, not sure why. Thompson goes right down the groove with his quickest pass of the weekend to take the win.

Thompson will have lane choice over Cox in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  800 Ulf Leanders                            1 Jonnie Lindberg              
E2   ****WINNER****  0.059  5.628 260.76                     0.050  5.854 258.96
 Prior rounds:
E1    (A Whiteley  ) 0.064  5.602 260.26      (G Hunter    ) 0.100  5.487 266.69
 Qualified:             #9  5.606 258.81                        #1  5.463 267.48

Lindberg has clinched the TAFC National Championship for 2016.

Leanders is 1 - 0 against Lindberg in prior events.

Lindberg gets the advantage off the line but Leanders pulls even at the sixty foot mark. Leanders pulls ahead and takes then win.

Ruckman will have lane choice over Leanders in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink