Sat, 12 Nov 2016, 18:07 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 52nd annual Auto Club NHRA Finals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 1212 Jackie Fricke                         748 Cameron Ferre                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.081  5.288 276.18                     0.021  5.460 267.96
 Qualified:             #8  5.333 276.18                        #9  5.347 272.78

This is the first time Fricke and Ferre have faced each other in eliminations. Ferre with the starting line advantage, but Fricke chases him down by 400 feet and drives away for the win. She runs her quickest pass of the weekend for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 7610 Derik Milanesio                        76 Johnny Ahten                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.066  5.307 272.94                     0.065  5.476 249.26
 Qualified:             #7  5.332 272.78                       #10  5.349 262.49

Ahten is 1 - 0 against Milanesio in prior events. They leave together with Ahten getting a tick advantage on the tree, but Milanesio has the lead by 150 feet and never trails from there on for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 6067 Don St. Arnaud                       725K Krista Baldwin               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.110  5.220 285.11                     0.104  5.430 265.48
 Qualified:             #1  5.200 285.83                       #16  5.453 267.75

This is the first time St. Arnaud and Baldwin have faced each other in eliminations. St. Arnaud with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. St. Arnaud with another great pass and big time speed. The fourth fastest pass in the history of Top Alcohol Dragster history. Don St. Arnaud's incremental times: 60ft-0.937 sec., 330ft-2.411, 660ft-3.513/228.77 mph, 1,000ft-4.435. He will have lane choice over Fricke in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  681 Shawn Cowie                             1 Joey Severance               
E1                   0.036  5.401 270.75     ****WINNER****  0.055  5.230 275.34
 Qualified:            #15  5.420 270.81                        #2  5.232 274.61

Severance is 3 - 2 against Cowie in prior events. Cowie with a great light, but Severance has the difference made up by the time they go by the Christmas tree and never trailed from there on for the win. Severance with his quickest pass of the weekend for the win and lane choice in the next round over Milanesio.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  713 Jay Livingston                          2 Chris Demke                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.099  5.388 263.77                     0.039 12.440  63.31
 Qualified:            #12  5.392 265.01                        #5  5.281 271.62

This is the first time Livingston and Demke have faced each other in eliminations. Demke with a great light, but was up in smoke right at the hit. Livingston with his quickest pass of the weekend for the win. Jay Livingston's incremental times: 60ft-0.924 sec., 330ft-2.387, 660ft-3.546/212.63 mph, 1,000ft-4.540.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  802 Monty Bugeja                           73 Megan McKernan               
E1                         No Time           ****WINNER****  0.327  5.441 265.74
 Qualified:             #6  5.321 269.67                       #11  5.353 266.85

This is the first time Bugeja and McKernan have faced each other in eliminations. Bugeja double step it and turned on the red light. McKernan with a good clean pass for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   10 Garrett Bateman                       568 Cody Perkins                 
E1                   0.060 13.106  69.32     ****WINNER****  0.038  5.407 261.57
 Qualified:             #4  5.242 263.67                       #13  5.393 263.00

Perkins is 1 - 0 against Bateman in prior events. Perkins with the starting line advantage and never trailed as Bateman was up in smoke as soon as he hit the throttle. He will give up lane choice to Livingston in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    9 Rich McPhillips                       724 Casey Grisel                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.034  5.267 272.94                     0.078  5.410 266.21
 Qualified:             #3  5.235 269.13                       #14  5.412 268.76

This is the first time McPhillips and Grisel have faced each other in eliminations. McPhillips with a great light and never trailed for the win. McPhillips with the second quickest pass of the round for the win and will have lane choice over McKernan in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink