Sun, 15 Sep 2019, 11:45 AM Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

MOHNTON, Pa. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 35th annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   24 Jordan Vandergriff                    374 Austin Prock                 
E1                   0.058  3.757 322.34     ****WINNER****  0.050  3.698 331.61
 Qualified:            #10  3.712 325.77                        #7  3.697 328.94

Weather conditions: air temperature 79 degrees, relative humidity 51 percent, barometer 29.60 inches, adjusted altitude 2,411 feet, track temperature 84 degrees.

Prock is 1 - 0 against Vandergriff in prior events.

Prock with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Austin Prock's MOV: 0.0677 seconds (approximately 32 feet).

He was just a tick off his qualifying time.

Vandergriff slowed from his qualifying time in the losing effort.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  474 Billy Torrence                       7211 Mike Salinas                 
E1                   0.077  4.727 163.53     ****WINNER****  0.106  3.818 252.80
 Qualified:            #11  3.732 327.03                        #6  3.693 328.78

Torrence is 2 - 0 against Salinas in prior events.

Torrence with the starting line advantage, but started to lose traction early and pedaled it. Salinas had the lead by 330 feet. His car started having problems on the top end, but was able to hold on for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  304 Todd Paton                              5 Brittany Force               
E1                   0.092  4.265 207.98     ****WINNER****  0.109  3.691 326.79
 Qualified:            #16  9.993  66.59                        #1  3.623 331.61

Brittany Force comes into today as the new Top Fuel record holder. The last time the Top Fuel E/T record was set at this track was in 2012 when Antron Brown did it. She has been to the final round in three of the last five years here and she won it in 2017. The No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel is 30 - 4 in round 1 at this event. This is the 15th race in Top Fuel for Todd Paton.

Force is 1 - 0 against Paton in prior events.

Paton the starting line advantage, but Force had the difference made up by the time they went by the Christmas tree and never trailed from there on with a great pass. The quickest pass of race day for the win.

Patton was on a good pass and then clicked it off just past half track.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  845 Lex Joon                              777 Leah Pritchett               
E1                   0.124  4.858 152.73     ****WINNER****  0.088  3.731 326.40
 Qualified:            #15  4.804 153.75                        #2  3.673 332.92

Joon is 1 - 0 against Pritchett in prior events.

Pritchett with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. She will give up lane choice to Prock in the next round.

Joon started to drop cylinders and clicked it off.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  354 Smax Smith                              8 Doug Kalitta                 
E1                   0.091  8.356  74.14     ****WINNER****  0.100  3.722 330.96
 Qualified:            #14  4.578 197.68                        #3  3.688 332.59

Doug Kalitta won here in 2002. He starts the day with 677 round wins and that is just one behind Larry Dixon who is in 8th place on the all-time pro list.

This is the first time Smith and Kalitta have faced each other in eliminations.

Smith with a slight starting line advantage, but made a quick move toward the centerline and clicked it off.

Kalitta was straight down the groove with a good clean pas for the win. He will have lane choice over Salinas in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  182 Dan Mercier                            58 Richie Crampton              
E1                   0.118  3.892 310.63     ****WINNER****  0.085  3.733 329.26
 Qualified:            #13  4.001 299.26                        #4  3.689 328.14

Crampton is 1 - 0 against Mercier in prior events.

Crampton with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win.

Mercier starts using up and engine and is trailing smoke down the track. This is Mercier first oil down this season and it will cost him $500.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   21 Terry McMillen                          6 Antron Brown                 
E1                   0.072  4.130 237.59     ****WINNER****  0.066  3.743 328.30
 Qualified:            #12  3.792 314.75                        #5  3.689 323.81

Antron Brown won the Top Fuel title here in 2015 and 2016.

Brown is 19 - 4 against McMillen in prior events.

Brown with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. He will give up lane choice to Crampton in the next round.

McMilllen was up in smoke around half track and clicked it off.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   25 Clay Millican                           1 Steve Torrence               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.047  3.752 329.67                     0.065  3.741 330.15
 Qualified:             #9  3.702 319.14                        #8  3.697 328.62

Steve Torrence is the defending event champion and he was the runner-up in 2017.

Torrence is 12 - 8 against Millican in prior events.

Millican with the starting line advantage and the power to hold on for the hole shot win in a close one. Clay Millican's MOV: 0.0073 seconds (approximately 4 feet).

He will give up lane choice to Force in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink