Sun, 13 Nov 2016, 15:45 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By David Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car 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
  883 Johan Lindberg                         77 Steve Gasparrelli            
E2                   0.039  5.668 261.47     ****WINNER****  0.050  5.534 265.01
 Prior rounds:
E1    (S Bellemeur ) 0.039  5.490 258.07      (U Leanders  ) 0.043  5.520 263.51
 Qualified:             #3  5.478 262.85                       #11  5.541 263.77

12:34 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 81 degrees, relative humidity 26 percent, barometer 28.95 inches, adjusted altitude 2,978 feet, track temperature 111 degrees.

This is the first time Lindberg and Gasparrelli have faced each other in eliminations. Lindberg has a terrific round two record with almost 74% wins. Gasparrelli has won almost 52% of the time in round two.

Lindberg gets a small starting line advantage and then shakes the tires. Gasparrelli pulls steadily ahead for the decisive upset wi,

Johan Lindberg's incremental times: 60ft-0.967 sec., 330ft-2.579, 660ft-3.794/206.35 mph, 1,000ft-4.810.
Steve Gasparrelli's incremental times: 60ft-0.952 sec., 330ft-2.487, 660ft-3.673/208.84 mph, 1,000ft-4.683.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 John Lombardo Jr.                      15 DJ Cox Jr.                   
E2                   0.082  5.468 269.62     ****WINNER****  0.081  5.466 267.43
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Payne     ) 0.074  5.499 268.97      (C Thompson  ) 0.089  5.509 266.90
 Qualified:             #5  5.483 270.16                        #4  5.479 268.28

Lombardo Jr. is 2 - 1 against Cox Jr. in prior events. Cox is making his third National event appearance in round two. He won two of those races. Lombardo has won over 45% of his second round races.

Just 0.001 difference in RT's and Cox gets a strong lead early. Lombardo is slowly running him down, but just misses by less that 2 feet in the lights.

DJ Cox Jr.'s incremental margins: 60ft(0.023), 330 ft(0.036), 660ft(0.024), 1,000ft(0.012). MOV: 0.0039 seconds (approximately 19 inches).

John Lombardo Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.957 sec., 330ft-2.485, 660ft-3.649/213.47 mph, 1,000ft-4.635.
DJ Cox Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.935 sec., 330ft-2.450, 660ft-3.626/210.57 mph, 1,000ft-4.624.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    8 Shane Westerfield                     729 Nick Januik                  
E2   ****WINNER****  0.021  5.536 267.11                    -0.025  5.582 262.49
 Prior rounds:
E1    (A Whiteley  ) 0.033  5.506 268.49      (J Lindberg  ) 0.031  5.590 260.86
 Qualified:             #8  5.500 253.37                       #16  5.591 257.28

Westerfield and Januik have each won 2 times against the other in prior events. Westerfield has just over a 60% win advantage in round two match ups. Januik has over a 46% advantage to date.

Januik needed a good light, but goes red. Westerfield makes a strong pass , but gives up lane choice to Cox later.

Shane Westerfield's incremental times: 60ft-0.960 sec., 330ft-2.506, 660ft-3.690/210.24 mph, 1,000ft-4.692.
Nick Januik's incremental times: 60ft-0.983 sec., 330ft-2.510, 660ft-3.707/206.99 mph, 1,000ft-4.724.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   76 Terry Ruckman                           4 Doug Gordon                  
E2                   0.042  5.550 265.33     ****WINNER****  0.062  5.490 269.62
 Prior rounds:
E1    (G Hunter    ) 0.029  5.682 260.86      (B Brown     ) 0.062  5.493 269.24
 Qualified:             #7  5.500 267.53                        #2  5.459 270.05

Ruckman is 1 - 0 against Gordon in prior events. Gordon has won over 57% of the time in round two. Ruckman has a round two win record of over 46%

Another great side by side race. Ruckman gets a head start and stays out in front until after the 330 lights. Gordon then drives on by and slowly pulls steadily ahead for the win. Gordon will have lane choice over Gasparrelli in round two.

Doug Gordon's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.017), 330 ft(-0.006), 660ft(0.010), 1,000ft(0.026). MOV: 0.0401 seconds (approximately 16 feet).

Terry Ruckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.959 sec., 330ft-2.498, 660ft-3.691/207.75 mph, 1,000ft-4.700.
Doug Gordon's incremental times: 60ft-0.956 sec., 330ft-2.484, 660ft-3.661/211.43 mph, 1,000ft-4.654.

12:42 p.m.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink