Thu, 06 Feb 2020, 19:41 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Qualifying Notes, Session #2

By Rick Green

POMONA, Calif. - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 60th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com 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:

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Left Lane: Nick Childers Runs 13.201/84.41, Now #9; Best prior run: 7.037/114.22, Was #9

Weather conditions: air temperature 69 degrees, relative humidity 27 percent, barometer 28.90 inches, adjusted altitude 2,171 feet, track temperature 75 degrees.

Childers was up in smoke right at the hit and clicked it off.

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Left Lane: Mike Austin Runs 5.811/238.34, Now #7; Best prior run: 6.074/228.54, Was #7
Right Lane: Dusty Green Runs 6.074/220.55, Now #8; No Prior Run

Austin improves, but was dropping cylinders from half track on. Mike Austin's incremental times: 60ft-0.933 sec., 330ft-2.481, 660ft-3.762/190.78 mph, 1,000ft-4.870.

Green on his first pass of the weekend and was dropping cylinders all the way down the track.

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Left Lane: James Stevens Runs 5.395/267.59, Now #6; Best prior run: 5.470/263.67, Was #6
Right Lane: Jerry Kumre Runs 5.560/261.17, Now #7; No Prior Run

Stevens made a quick move toward the centerline and kept it on his side...he tip toed down the centerline. He still improves, but stays in the number six spot. James Stevens' incremental times: 60ft-0.914 sec., 330ft-2.391, 660ft-3.555/212.29 mph, 1,000ft-4.553.

Kumre with his first full pass of the weekend and is straight down the groove. Jerry Kumre's incremental times: 60ft-1.005 sec., 330ft-99.999, 660ft-3.721/213.87 mph, 1,000ft-4.710.

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Left Lane: Johnny Ahten Runs 5.458/263.51, Now #5; Best prior run: 5.369/264.70, Was #5
Right Lane: Ron Anderson No Time, Now #13; Best prior run: 10.353/83.53, Was #13

Ahten started to shake right at the hit and pedaled it. He got it to hook up and makes a clean pass, but will not improve. Johnny Ahten's incremental times: 60ft-0.940 sec., 330ft-2.502, 660ft-3.649/219.04 mph, 1,000ft-4.618.

Anderson with problems and is pushed off the starting line.

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Left Lane: Chris Demke Runs 5.520/198.88, Now #4; Best prior run: 5.289/269.35, Was #4
Right Lane: Duane Shields Runs 6.044/254.66, Now #9; Best prior run: 9.760/120.10, Was #12

Demke launched hard and then started to mix up cylinders and the engine let go with a quick flash of flames.

Shields with a full pass...

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Left Lane: Garrett Bateman Runs 11.549/79.03, Now #2; Best prior run: 5.251/276.01, Was #2
Right Lane: Casey Grisel Runs 15.953/61.65, Now #11; Best prior run: 6.536/161.69, Was #11

Bateman shook and clicked it off and coasted on down the track.

Grisel was up in smoke right at the hit and clicked it off.

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Left Lane: Shawn Cowie Runs 19.853/36.31, Now #1; Best prior run: 5.181/280.08, Was #1

Cowie was up in smoke right at the hit and clicked it off to wrap up day one of Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink