Sun, 30 Sep 2001, 10:52 PM IMPORT -6 - Pro Round 2 Eliminations

By Michael L Jex Best Import Drag Race of the Year!

PONOMA, Calif. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Pro at the Mazda NHRA Import World Finals Presented by Toyo Tires:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Jose Torres         7.583 176.92  Q    4 Hiroshii Shiobara   7.938 180.46
                  0.759 12.556  87.50  E1   (A Saruwatari) 0.830  7.536 181.81
                  0.000 No Time        E2 *****WINNER***** 0.745  7.498 182.81

Jose broke too much "stuff" in round one, so Shiobara will have a single. The Japanese driver ran it out, and laid down one of the best passes of the weekend. The numbers are even more amazing - it's over 98 degrees outside!

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Abel Ibarra         7.602 177.86  Q    3 R.J. Simrock        7.604 175.78
   (D Bollschwei) 0.704  7.674 174.96  E1   (E Vazqauez  ) 0.484  7.449 179.78
                  0.525  7.629 180.07  E2 *****WINNER***** 0.474  7.501 178.71

There have been many big drag races this year - this is one of the biggest for the new Import Pro Class. If Abel Ibarra is going to have a chance of taking the points championship from Simrock he MUST beat him NOW. Mazda versus Ford, Young Gun versus Experienced NHRA racer - this pairing has all the makings of the best high noon drama there is in this sport.... What a drag race! Ibarra had just a bit of a wiggle off the starting line, while the Focus of Simrock went like a string down the middle of the lane. At the top end that proved to be the difference, Abel just didn't have enough horsepower to regain the distance he lost from that little wiggle..... We are checking points, but Simrock may have clinched with this pass....

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink