Sun, 17 Nov 2019, 16:37 PM Top Fuel Round 2 Eliminations

By Rick Green

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 55th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  614 Shawn Reed                             58 Richie Crampton              
E2                   0.088  3.865 281.77     ****WINNER****  0.044  3.796 322.81
 Prior rounds:
E1    (B Torrence  ) 0.048  4.274 217.11      (M Salinas   ) 0.087  4.204 260.46
 Qualified:            #12  3.746 327.98                       #13  3.751 325.45

Weather conditions: air temperature 85 degrees, relative humidity 17 percent, barometer 28.82 inches, adjusted altitude 3,303 feet, track temperature 112 degrees.

Crampton is 1 - 0 against Reed in prior events.

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

Reed started to slow on the top end.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  777 Leah Pritchett                         24 Jordan Vandergriff           
E2   ****WINNER****  0.128  3.748 323.12                     0.067 18.760  59.83
 Prior rounds:
E1    (S Palmer    ) 0.074  3.753 319.90      (A Prock     ) 0.049  3.721 329.50
 Qualified:             #2  3.694 322.88                        #7  3.719 327.90

Vandergriff is 1 - 0 against Pritchett in prior events.

Vandergriff with the starting line advantage, but was up in smoke right at the hit and then banged the blower. The chutes deployed and he came to a stop just past the finish line.

Pritchett is straight down the groove with a great looking pass for the wim.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 1211 Justin Ashley                           8 Doug Kalitta                 
E2                   0.051  4.705 157.74     ****WINNER****  0.056  4.068 245.49
 Prior rounds:
E1    (C Millican  ) 0.052  4.364 183.44      (T McMillen  ) 0.052  3.740 328.38
 Qualified:            #14  3.763 318.32                        #6  3.717 324.28

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

Ashley with a slight starting line advantage, but rattled the tires and the chute came out. The chute out it started haze the tires and drop cylinders.

Kalitta started to mix up cylinders and then the engine let go with explosion. He holds on for the win. He will give up lane choice to Pritchett in the semifinal.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Brittany Force                          1 Steve Torrence               
E2                   0.079  3.776 302.41     ****WINNER****  0.053  3.749 326.48
 Prior rounds:
E1    (A Brown     ) 0.072  4.075 218.41      (C Ferre     ) 0.142  3.734 327.82
 Qualified:             #8  3.726 331.69                        #1  3.686 329.99

Torrence is 12 - 7 against Force in prior events.

Torrence launched first and kept it hooked up and never trailed for the win. Steve Torrence's MOV: 0.0533 seconds (approximately 24 feet). He will have lane choice over Crampton in the semifinal.

Force was on a good pass, but slowed on the top end.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink