Sun, 15 Sep 2019, 12:53 PM Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 1 Eliminations

By Jim Samuel

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

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Matt Smith                             10 Scotty Pollacheck            
E1   ****WINNER****  0.025  6.843 198.15                     0.095  7.109 192.91
 Qualified:             #8  6.824 199.52                        #9  6.843 197.74

12:36 p.m. - Weather conditions: air temperature 81 degrees, relative humidity 48 percent, barometer 29.57 inches, adjusted altitude 2,551 feet, track temperature 109 degrees.

Matt Smith won this race in 2008 and 2013. He is 10 - 4 against Pollacheck in prior events.

Smith was quicker out of the gate and stayed in front the whole way down the track for the win.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  235 Hector Arana                            5 Jerry Savoie                 
E1                  -0.043  8.961  99.70     ****WINNER****  0.018  6.807 195.11
 Qualified:            #10  6.855 197.62                        #7  6.813 196.44

Savoie is 7 - 3 against Arana in prior events. Arana's red light gave the win to Savoie, who had his quickest run of the weekend so far.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Eddie Krawiec                           8 Angie Smith                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.042  6.891 196.36                     0.066  6.902 196.19
 Qualified:             #6  6.812 197.88                       #11  6.857 197.16

Krawiec is 14 - 4 against Smith in prior events. He has five wins in Reading. In 12 starts here, he has never lost in the first round. He starts the day with 421 round wins and is now in 26th place on the all-time win list.

Krawiec was quicker at the tree. Smith closed the gap a bit but then Krawiec started to pull away after 330 feet to take the win.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  751 Steve Johnson                        1981 Kelly Clontz                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.102  6.837 194.72                     0.059  6.971 193.18
 Qualified:             #4  6.810 196.24                       #13  6.919 193.65

Johnson is 1 - 0 against Clontz in prior events. Clontz had the quicker start but Johnson pulled even with her at 60 feet, then pulled away for the win.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Hector Arana Jr                      3284 Ryan Oehler                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.031  6.897 197.19                     0.049  6.946 194.46
 Qualified:             #5  6.812 197.97                       #12  6.911 194.38

Hector Arana Jr. is the defending event champion. He also won here in 2011. Arana Jr is 5 - 0 against Oehler in prior events.

Arana was first off the starting line and stayed in front for the win. He gave up lane choice to Johnson in the second round.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 1138 Ron Tornow                            777 Karen Stoffer                
E1                         No Time           ****WINNER****  0.025  6.822 197.31
 Qualified:            #14  7.041 187.73                        #3  6.790 198.90

Karen Stoffer won this race in 2006. This is the first time Tornow and Stoffer have faced each other in eliminations.

Tornow did not answer the call. he took his motorcycle into the sandtrap during qualifying on Friday and has not made a pass since. Stoffer will have lane choice over Krawiec in the next round.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    7 Angelle Sampey                       7253 Jianna Salinas               
E1   ****WINNER****  0.013  6.865 195.03                     0.032  6.976 191.40
 Qualified:             #1  6.761 197.51                       #16  7.317 186.07

Angelle Sampey won her first race here in 1996. She has six wins overall here in Reading. She is 13 - 3 in round 1 here. The top qualifier in the bike class has never lost in round 1 in Reading. This is the first time Sampey and Salinas have faced each other in eliminations.

Sampey got the win here but gave up lane choice to Matt Smith in the next round.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    6 Andrew Hines                          413 Michael Ray                  
E1   ****WINNER****  0.044  6.871 197.31                     0.019  7.009 189.71
 Qualified:             #2  6.774 198.64                       #15  7.215 159.76

Andrew Hines has a pair of wins at this track. He is 14 - 3 in the first round in Reading. Hines is 5 - 4 against Ray in prior events.

Ray was quicker at the tree but slower on the track. That let Hines ride by him to take the win. He gave up lane choice to Savoie in the second round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink