Mon, 02 Sep 2019, 17:13 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 2 Eliminations

By David Gerard

BROWNSBURG, Ind. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 65th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    7 Duane Shields                           3 Megan Meyer                  
E2                   0.063  5.296 274.55     ****WINNER****  0.048  5.239 272.94
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M Bucher    ) 0.061  5.234 276.18      (J Salinas   ) 0.057  5.269 271.30
 Qualified:             #7  5.295 276.18                        #2  5.181 279.32

4:55 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 85 degrees, relative humidity 50 percent, barometer 29.14 inches, adjusted altitude 3,397 feet, track temperature 120 degrees.

Shields and Meyer have each won 2 times against the other in prior events.

Meyers is away first and pulls steadily ahead to take a 29 foot win.

Duane Shields' incremental times: 60ft-0.964 sec., 330ft-2.444, 660ft-3.545/226.73 mph, 1,000ft-4.485. Megan Meyer's incremental times: 60ft-0.958 sec., 330ft-2.420, 660ft-3.504/230.96 mph, 1,000ft-4.428.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   53 Rachel Meyer                         725K Krista Baldwin               
E2   ****WINNER****  0.088  5.249 273.33                     0.079  5.376 271.52
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M Steele    ) 0.054  5.252 273.55      (S Collier   ) 0.063  5.311 273.00
 Qualified:             #3  5.229 269.13                        #6  5.287 274.05

This is the first time Meyer and Baldwin have faced each other in eliminations.

Baldwin's car doesn't want to start and Meyer waits a long time before starting her motor. The engine comes to life and Baldwin does a short burnout and hurries to the line.

Baldwin gets a small starting line advantage, but Meyer drives right on by and pulls steadily ahead for the easy win. She will give up lane choice to her sister in round three.

Rachel Meyer's incremental times: 60ft-0.949 sec., 330ft-2.418, 660ft-3.514/229.20 mph, 1,000ft-4.440. Krista Baldwin's incremental times: 60ft-0.970 sec., 330ft-2.482, 660ft-3.606/222.80 mph, 1,000ft-4.556.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 2030 Will Smith                             23 Josh Hart                    
E2   ****WINNER****  0.092  5.262 278.29                     0.039  5.324 275.17
 Prior rounds:
E1    (T Fox Jr    ) 0.046  5.272 277.60      (S Cowie     ) 0.035  5.290 274.44
 Qualified:             #5  5.277 267.37                       #13  5.363 271.30

Hart is 1 - 0 against Smith in prior events.

Hart gets a nice lead at the green and runs out in front all the way to right at the 1000 foot lights, where they are dead even

Smitch just squeezes on by for a close finish.

Will Smith's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.036), 330 ft(-0.014), 660ft(-0.009), 1,000ft(0.000). MOV: 0.0096 seconds (approximately 4 feet).

Will Smith's incremental times: 60ft-0.948 sec., 330ft-2.420, 660ft-3.529/227.27 mph, 1,000ft-4.461. Josh Hart's incremental times: 60ft-0.965 sec., 330ft-2.459, 660ft-3.573/225.15 mph, 1,000ft-4.514.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Troy Coughlin Jr.                       6 Jackie Fricke                
E2   ****WINNER****  0.063  5.210 279.27                     0.059  5.329 273.05
 Prior rounds:
E1    (B Greco     ) 0.142  5.217 277.66      (M Burns     ) 0.063  5.275 272.28
 Qualified:             #1  5.174 277.72                        #8  5.296 270.37

Coughlin Jr. is 3 - 0 against Fricke in prior events.

Just 0.004 difference i RT's and Fricke's small advantage quickly disappears, as Coughlin opens up a big lead going down the track. He keeps lane choice over Smith next round.

Troy Coughlin Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.962 sec., 330ft-2.407, 660ft-3.487/230.92 mph, 1,000ft-4.412. Jackie Fricke's incremental times: 60ft-0.997 sec., 330ft-2.478, 660ft-3.576/227.34 mph, 1,000ft-4.514.

5:10 p.m.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink