Fri, 04 Aug 2017, 20:34 PM Top Fuel Harley Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By David Gerard

KENT, Wash. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Fuel Harley at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 30th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals listing lane, rider name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Right Lane: Len Darnell Runs 8.297/114.66, Now #1

5:16 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 94 degrees, relative humidity 30 percent, barometer 29.47 inches, adjusted altitude 3,396 feet, track temperature 131 degrees.

The track is just starting to cool off a little, but it is still over 130 degrees.Nine bikes are scheduled to run for an eight bike field.

Darnell gets off the line clean, but the engine goes sour about 300 feet out and he rolls back the throttle early.

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Left Lane: Toni Froehling No Time, Now #3
Right Lane: Andy Beauchemin Runs 6.737/198.38, Now #1

Toni Froehling's engine has issues before he pulls up to stage and he motions the starting line crew to give the single to Beauchemin.

Andy Beauchemin is on a strong pass until about the 1000 foot mark and the bike noses over and slows.

Andy Beauchemin's incremental times: 60ft-1.094 sec., 330ft-2.865, 660ft-4.341/158.65 mph, 1,000ft-5.604.

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Left Lane: Mike Beland Runs 12.522/89.86, Now #4
Right Lane: Randal Andras Runs 6.580/201.37, Now #1

Beland is second off the line and second to the sixty foot mark. The engine sounds off tune and he is coasting early.

Great looking pass for Andras, right off the line to the finish line. He is number one by a bunch!

Randal Andras' incremental times: 60ft-1.122 sec., 330ft-2.910, 660ft-4.307/172.74 mph, 1,000ft-5.496.

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Left Lane: Kevin Boyer Runs 6.462/211.06, Now #1
Right Lane: Tii Tharpe Runs 23.080/54.10, Now #6

...and the hits keep coming! Boyer goes red by a ton, but that doesn't matter, as he hurdles the H-D right on down the track for a big speed and ET. Another big bump for the top spot.

Tharpe's bike is unhappy and the green and he barely makes it to the finish line, before stopping on the track.

Kevin Boyer's incremental times: 60ft-1.097 sec., 330ft-2.839, 660ft-4.206/179.95 mph, 1,000ft-5.413.

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Left Lane: Rickey House Runs 13.592/80.82, Now #7
Right Lane: Jay Turner Runs 6.541/203.68, Now #2

Turner gets a huge advantage off the line and just drives away, as House has problems right at the green and lifts. Turner's bike runs strong to the finish line and takes over the #2 position with the second quickest and fastest pass of the session to wrap up the round.

5:28 p.m. Keven Boyer is number one at 6.462 and Tii Tharpe is on the bump spot at 23.080.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink