Sun, 26 Sep 2021, 14:20 PM Top Fuel Round 2 Eliminations

By Rick Green

MADISON, Ill. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, 10th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 7211 Mike Salinas                          144 Tripp Tatum                  
E2   ****WINNER****  0.042  3.736 329.10                    -0.142  3.808 327.27
 Prior rounds:
E1    (K Wurtzel   ) 0.069  3.843 244.69      (D Kalitta   ) 0.067  3.714 331.36
 Qualified:             #1  3.652 327.74                        #8  3.731 319.22

Weather conditions: air temperature 79 degrees, relative humidity 42 percent, barometer 30.01 inches, adjusted altitude 2,042 feet, track temperature 109 degrees.

Mike Salinas is 16 - 19 in rd. 2 in his career.

This is the first time Salinas and Tatum have faced each other in eliminations.

Tatum double steps it and turns on the red light to give Salinas the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   77 Josh Hart                             745 Brittany Force               
E2   ****WINNER****  0.061  3.793 325.69                     0.092  3.767 321.27
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Ashley    ) 0.058  3.758 326.95      (T Zizzo     ) 0.080  3.641 337.66
 Qualified:            #10  3.761 323.19                        #2  3.663 330.39

Force is 2 - 1 against Hart in prior events.

Hart with the starting line advantage and the power to hold on for the hole shot win in a close one. Josh Hart's MOV: 0.0051 seconds (approximately 2 feet).

Force had the lead when they went by the Christmas tree and it dropped a cylinder or two on the left side. Force with the lead until just past the 1/8 mile when Hart chases her down and takes the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Billy Torrence                        777 Leah Pruett                  
E2                   0.095  6.575 122.59     ****WINNER****  0.045  3.769 316.01
 Prior rounds:
E1    (S Palmer    ) 0.111  3.748 320.13      (C Millican  ) 0.064  3.701 326.16
 Qualified:             #5  3.717 330.96                        #4  3.714 326.00

Billy Torrence with the win in round one moved into number three in the Countdown to the Championship.

Billy Torrence has been to the semi-finals at three of his last 6 races.

Leah Pruett "leaves first" in 60% of her races against Torrence.

Pruett with the starting line advantage and never trailed as Torrence was up in smoke early and clicked it off. Pruett is straight down the groove for the win. She will give up lane choice to salinas in the semifinal.

The winner of that race will move into fourth place.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Antron Brown                            1 Steve Torrence               
E2                   0.040  4.445 190.35     ****WINNER****  0.050  3.709 331.36
 Prior rounds:
E1    (S Massey    ) 0.065  3.708 330.39      (S Langdon   ) 0.056  3.669 329.42
 Qualified:            #11  3.765 323.97                        #3  3.697 329.75

Antron Brown is 33 - 18 against Steve Torrence and those 33 losses are the most by Steve to any opponent.

When these two meet Antron "leaves fist" 74% of the time.

Brown with the starting line advantage, but drives into tire smoke. Torrence had the difference made up by the time they went by the Christmas tree and never trailed from there on for the win. He will have lane choice over Hart in the semifinal.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink

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