Sun, 11 Nov 2018, 17:17 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 3 Eliminations

By Rick Green

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster 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
   52 James Stevens                         611 Garrett Bateman              
E3   ****WINNER****  0.066  5.271 276.97                     0.053  8.925 102.59
 Prior rounds:
E2    (S Conway    ) 0.086  5.384 275.90      (J Fricke    ) 0.053  5.498 256.70
E1    (S Cowie     ) 0.110  5.368 236.84      (R Eakins    ) 0.057  5.268 277.66
 Qualified:            #17  5.603 267.48                        #4  5.266 277.37

Weather conditions: air temperature 75 degrees, relative humidity 18 percent, barometer 28.89 inches, adjusted altitude 2,558 feet, track temperature 101 degrees.

Bateman is 2 - 1 against Stevens in prior events.

Stevens with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. He runs his quickest and fastest pass of the weekend for the win. He is advancing to his first final round.

Bateman lost traction right at the hit and clicked it off.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 8002 Julie Nataas                           17 Dan Mercier                  
E3   ****WINNER****  0.083  5.286 278.40                     0.089  5.347 272.50
 Prior rounds:
E2    (D Milanesio ) 0.053  5.272 278.92      (J Severance ) 0.085  5.517 274.55
E1    (J Ahten     ) 0.074  5.431 275.73      (D St Arnaud ) 0.111  5.401 275.73
 Qualified:             #3  5.232 279.79                        #7  5.298 277.37

This is the first time Nataas and Mercier have faced each other in eliminations.

Nataas with a slight starting line advantage, but made a quick move toward the wall. She reeled it in and took the win. Julie Nataas' MOV: 0.0674 seconds (approximately 27 feet). She is going to her fourth final round and third this year.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink