Sat, 22 Apr 2017, 19:42 PM Pro Modified Round 1 Eliminations

By Bob Orme

BAYTOWN, Texas - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Modified at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 30th annual SpringNationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  288 Sidnei Frigo                            3 Bob Rahaim                   
E1                   0.033 No Time                           0.056 No Time      
 Qualified:             #9  5.846 251.53                        #8  5.837 248.02

5:45 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 83 degrees, relative humidity 55 percent, barometer 29.84 inches, adjusted altitude 2,483 feet, track temperature 107 degrees.

Rahaim got out of shape and made a hard right into the retaining wall. He was airborne and on top of the wall, then the car moved back onto the track and headed into the left lane wall. He is out of the car and talking to race personnel. Frigo crossed the centerline and took out one of the half track timing blocks, so they were both disqualified.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    7 Khalid alBalooshi                       2 Troy Coughlin                
E1                   0.060 10.699  82.60     ****WINNER****  0.076  5.789 251.77
 Qualified:            #10  5.847 249.44                        #7  5.820 253.90

6:01 p.m. alBalooshi pedaled it once at about 300 feet before he gave up on the run. Coughlin makes a very good looking pass.

Troy Coughlin's incremental times: 60ft-0.983 sec., 330ft-2.605, 660ft-3.844/200.80 mph, 1,000ft-4.900.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Steve Matusek                        5200 Steven Whiteley              
E1   ****WINNER****  0.026  5.817 250.18                     0.053  6.273 175.11
 Qualified:             #5  5.813 252.28                       #12  5.859 247.20

Whiteley was off the throttle before the finish, the reason not apparent from here. A solid pass by Matusek.

Steve Matusek's incremental times: 60ft-0.966 sec., 330ft-2.576, 660ft-3.842/197.71 mph, 1,000ft-4.915.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 1938 Eric Latino                          1456 Mike Janis                   
E1                   0.086  5.934 224.06     ****WINNER****  0.022  5.825 246.53
 Qualified:            #11  5.853 245.81                        #6  5.815 247.29

Latino was trailing thick smoke at the finish. Eric Latino was charged with an oildown, #1 for the season. That will cost 5 points. Janis makes a trouble-free pass and moves on to round two. 6:08 p.m.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    8 Danny Rowe                            357 Larry Morgan                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.056  5.811 250.00                     0.031  6.707 161.83
 Qualified:             #4  5.800 250.00                       #13  5.861 241.71

6:20 p.m. Morgan was skating around before half track and he lifted. Rowe will have lane choice over Matusek in round two.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 1262 Chuck Little                         6718 Shane Molinari               
E1                   0.057  5.816 247.34     ****WINNER****  0.053  5.815 254.76
 Qualified:            #14  5.864 246.12                        #3  5.792 257.24

That was a great looking drag race! Shane Molinari's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.034), 330 ft(-0.068), 660ft(-0.050), 1,000ft(-0.022). MOV: 0.0051 seconds (approximately 22 inches). He'll have lane choice over Janis in round two.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   13 Jonathan Gray                          77 Shannon Jenkins              
E1   ****WINNER****  0.023  5.815 223.17                     0.063  5.809 240.68
 Qualified:             #2  5.788 250.97                       #15  5.868 247.02

Gray's engine expired with a big flash of flames just before the finish line. Gray gets the holeshot win and he will give lane choice to Coughlin in round two.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Michael Biehle                         44 Mike Castellana              
E1                   0.042  5.845 254.66     ****WINNER****  0.029  5.722 251.77
 Qualified:            #16  5.893 253.09                        #1  5.759 250.46

Castellana runs career best numbers and sets the class elapsed time record ona great pass. He'll have a bye run in round two. Mike Castellana's incremental times: 60ft-0.950 sec., 330ft-2.529, 660ft-3.769/200.35 mph, 1,000ft-4.828.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink