Fri, 15 Nov 2019, 14:12 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #2

By David Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 55th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:

---

Left Lane: Sean Bellemeur Runs 5.436/269.62, Now #1; Best prior run: 12.033/70.24, Was #13

10:50 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 62 degrees, relative humidity 74 percent, barometer 29.98 inches, adjusted altitude 1,952 feet, track temperature 88 degrees.

Steve Gasparrelli is number one with a 5.543. Field not filled, no bump spot. Bellemeur makes a massive ol'school John Force burnout on his single. He had big tire shake issues yesterday.

No problems today as he leaves hard and runs straight and true to just right up to the top of the field. NICE!

Sean Bellemeur's incremental times: 60ft-0.939 sec., 330ft-2.448, 660ft-3.612/213.27 mph, 1,000ft-4.601.

---

Left Lane: Jay Payne Runs 5.538/258.67, Now #3; Best prior run: 10.526/81.71, Was #12
Right Lane: Shane Westerfield Runs 5.498/268.92, Now #2; Best prior run: 11.017/77.16, Was #13

Both of these drivers had big shake problem too.

Two strong passes this time and they both slot in right behind Bellemeur to take over the #2 and #3 spots.

Payne took the long way down, as the Camaro got out of the groove abut 100 feet out and he had to hurd it back into the groove.

No issues for Westerfield and a better ET.

Jay Payne's incremental times: 60ft-0.964 sec., 330ft-2.508, 660ft-3.693/209.85 mph, 1,000ft-4.692.
Shane Westerfield's incremental times: 60ft-0.949 sec., 330ft-2.494, 660ft-3.668/211.76 mph, 1,000ft-4.661.

---

Left Lane: Mike Doushgounian Runs 5.620/255.43, Now #6; Best prior run: 8.905/120.31, Was #11
Right Lane: Brian Hough Runs 5.496/264.44, Now #2; Best prior run: 9.771/80.70, Was #13

Both cars get to the finish line under power this time too.

Clean pass for Doushgounian to the top half of the field in number six.

Great pass for Hough to just miss the top spot by 0.06 seconds He will be happy with #2.

Mike Doushgounian's incremental times: 60ft-0.976 sec., 330ft-2.534, 660ft-3.736/206.67 mph, 1,000ft-4.756.
Brian Hough's incremental times: 60ft-0.941 sec., 330ft-2.450, 660ft-3.635/209.17 mph, 1,000ft-4.644.

---

Left Lane: Chris Marshall Runs 6.446/169.64, Now #9; Best prior run: 8.865/123.85, Was #12
Right Lane: Terry Ruckman Runs 6.548/149.20, Now #10; Best prior run: 9.669/90.59, Was #13

Two strong leaves and then both cars started to drive left. They work the pedals and steering, but can't recover.

---

Left Lane: Hunter Jones Runs 5.804/253.90, Now #8; Best prior run: 7.443/117.57, Was #12
Right Lane: Ray Martin Runs 10.292/110.57, Now #13; Best prior run: 8.649/155.17, Was #13

Martin's Monte Carlo strikes the tires hard at the green.

Jones snakes his way to the finish line to move four spots up the ladder to #8.

Hunter Jones' incremental times: 60ft-1.001 sec., 330ft-2.639, 660ft-3.872/201.97 mph, 1,000ft-4.920.

---

Left Lane: Tyson Parker No Time, Now #12; Best prior run: 6.664/160.38, Was #12
Right Lane: Ulf Leanders Runs 5.440/267.75, Now #2; Best prior run: 6.310/178.33, Was #9

Parker has issues at the end of his burnout and motors on down the track. He pulls off at the finish line.

A strong leave and the Camaro starts to hunt a little around mid track. He stays after it and power right up to the #2 position, just 0.004 behind Bellemeur.

Ulf Leanders' incremental times: 60ft-0.947 sec., 330ft-2.439, 660ft-3.604/211.79 mph, 1,000ft-4.600.

---

Left Lane: Steve Gasparrelli Runs 8.762/122.39, Now #6; Best prior run: 5.543/264.65, Was #6
Right Lane: Bret Williamson Runs 10.103/94.15, Now #8; Best prior run: 5.667/254.42, Was #8

Gasparrelli came into the session in number one and is now number six! He will stay there, as both cars are loose early and slow.

11:08 a.m. Sean Bellemeur is number one at 5.436 Field not filled, no bump spot.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink