Sat, 10 Nov 2018, 21:26 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, 54th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  800 Ulf Leanders                            2 John Lombardo Jr.            
E2   ****WINNER****  0.067  5.383 272.50                     0.065  5.867 187.05
 Prior rounds:
E1    (R Martin    ) 0.086  5.403 270.10      (J Payne     ) 0.054  5.505 269.08
 Qualified:             #3  5.461 268.17                       #11  6.230 169.59

6:04 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 71 degrees, relative humidity 18 percent, barometer 28.80 inches, adjusted altitude 2,428 feet, track temperature 75 degrees.

They leave right together with just 0.002 difference in RT's. Lombardo stays in front until near the 330 lights where the blower goes bang.

Leaders was going to be tough to beat, as he runs the second quickest ET, a career best, and his best career speed to take the decisive win.

Ulf Leanders' incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.012), 330 ft(0.027), 660ft(0.056), 1,000ft(0.180). MOV: 0.4825 seconds (more than 100 feet).

Ulf Leanders' incremental times: 60ft-0.952 sec., 330ft-2.428, 660ft-3.577/215.17 mph, 1,000ft-4.557.
John Lombardo Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.942 sec., 330ft-2.457, 660ft-3.635/208.94 mph, 1,000ft-4.739.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Doug Gordon                             5 Sean Bellemeur               
E2   ****WINNER****  0.052  5.426 272.01                     0.018  9.168 100.76
 Prior rounds:
E1    (B Williamson) 0.093  5.444 271.68      (C Marshall  ) 0.025  5.444 271.13
 Qualified:             #8  5.664 268.65                        #1  5.411 271.79

These two posted identical ET's in round one and Gordon gets lane choice by speed.

Bellemeur gets a substantial starting line advantage, but has the car jump up on the tires shortly after that. He does a quick pedal slap, but Gordon is long gone for the decisive win.

Doug Gordon's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.035), 330 ft(0.423), 660ft(1.246), 1,000ft(2.412). MOV: 3.7080 seconds (more than 100 feet).

Doug Gordon's incremental times: 60ft-0.932 sec., 330ft-2.447, 660ft-3.612/213.23 mph, 1,000ft-4.597.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Annie Whiteley                          7 Kris Hool                    
E2   ****WINNER****  0.059  5.431 272.56                    -0.042  5.566 265.12
 Prior rounds:
E1    (R Turner    ) 0.100  5.444 268.65      (T Parker    ) 0.140  5.557 264.55
 Qualified:             #2  5.455 272.23                        #7  5.539 265.22

Hool is too quick on the lights and gives the red light win to Whiteley. He runs hard anyway and makes his best speed of the weekend.

Whiteley continues to improve and posts her best ET and speed of the weekend with an easy win.

She will give up lane choice to Leanders in round three tomorrow.

Annie Whiteley's incremental times: 60ft-0.940 sec., 330ft-2.459, 660ft-3.623/213.74 mph, 1,000ft-4.605.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Shane Westerfield                      66 Brian Hough                  
E2   ****WINNER****  0.017  5.470 267.85                     0.093  5.448 269.94
 Prior rounds:
E1    (H Wernhart  ) 0.046  5.526 267.85      (T Swinford  ) 0.064  5.535 267.43
 Qualified:             #4  5.486 265.90                        #5  5.499 266.95

Stellar RT for Westerfield and then he has his hands full all the way from the 330 lights to the finish line. The Camaro drifts towards the centerline at the 330 lights and he fights hard to keep the car off the center line and out in front. He holds off a quicker and faster Hough, to take the hole shot win. Great driving to wrap up today's racing!

Gordon will have lane choice in their match up tomorrow.

Shane Westerfield's incremental margins: 60ft(0.093), 330 ft(0.087), 660ft(0.073), 1,000ft(0.063). MOV: 0.0546 seconds (approximately 22 feet).

Shane Westerfield's incremental times: 60ft-0.930 sec., 330ft-2.448, 660ft-3.628/211.43 mph, 1,000ft-4.627.
Brian Hough's incremental times: 60ft-0.947 sec., 330ft-2.459, 660ft-3.625/212.73 mph, 1,000ft-4.614.

6:15 p.m.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink