Sat, Oct 3, 10:31 PM TOPEKA - Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Final Session

By Rick Green

TOPEKA, Kan. - Notes from final, round 3 qualifying in Top Fuel at the 10th annual Parts America Nationals, 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: Kenny Bernstein Runs 4.655/321.08 Now # 5, (Best prior run: 5.429/304.67 Was #14)
Right Lane: Eddie Hill Runs 9.404/ 85.42 Now #12, (Best prior run: 5.013/307.58 Was #11)

The final round of qualifying still under overcast skies at 57 degrees, 82% humidity, and the barometer is 30.01 inches. We start with the Gibson holding on to the bump at 5.821 seconds. Bernstein is completely off and then back on the throttle, so Bernstein will be happy with that pass. Hill is up in smoke and clicks it off.

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Left Lane: Mike Dunn Runs 4.671/314.13 Now # 6, (Best prior run: 4.754/308.85 Was # 7)
Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.783/312.06 Now # 8, (Best prior run: 5.243/265.95 Was #14)

Here are a couple clean passes, but Dunn only moves up one spot. Schumacher jumps into the top half of the field.

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Left Lane: Tim Gibson Runs 5.876/156.87 Now #16, (Best prior run: 5.821/148.22 Was #16)
Right Lane: Shelly Anderson Runs 6.215/121.83 Now #12, (Best prior run: 4.913/237.71 Was #12)

Gibson wanting to get off the bubble, and he does not. Gibson is spitting sparklers out of the headers as soon as he hits the throttle. The engine finally goes away just past half-track. Shelly clicks it early.

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Left Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 9.466/ 86.01 Now # 3, (Best prior run: 4.620/318.92 Was # 3)
Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 7.375/104.76 Now # 2, (Best prior run: 4.561/315.78 Was # 2)

Both cars looking to see just how much the track will hold, and it will not hold what they throw at it. Both cars up in smoke, Dixon losing traction first, and then Kalitta.

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Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.672/317.68 Now # 7, (Best prior run: 4.674/315.23 Was # 7)
Right Lane: Robert Reehl Runs 5.168/283.28 Now #14, (Best prior run: 5.104/280.54 Was #14)

McClenathan lifts the front wheels on the launch, and starts to lose traction. He pedals it one time and then motors on through the quarter-mile with another 4.67. Reehl starts to lose traction and pedals it, but just does not have the power.

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Left Lane: Pat Dakin Runs 5.003/307.90 Now #13, (Best prior run: 9.995/ 97.70 Was #18)
Right Lane: Bruce Sarver Runs 4.789/305.81 Now # 9, (Best prior run: 4.875/305.18 Was #11)

Dakin gets in the show with an off and on the throttle pass.

Sarver pedals it at least once and still runs a 4.78.

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Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 5.458/166.54 Now #11, (Best prior run: 4.819/296.44 Was #11)
Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 12.552/ 84.87 Now #10, (Best prior run: 4.800/292.58 Was #10)

Grubnic starts to lose traction, pedals it and then starts to spin the tires just past half-track and that is when he aborts the run. Head is up in smoke early and clicks it off.

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Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 9.313/ 97.65 Now #16, (Best prior run: 5.689/159.29 Was #16)
Right Lane: Cristen Powell Runs 14.368/ 61.88 Now #18, (Best prior run: 8.254/ 94.42 Was #18)

Herbert is now on the bump and Cristen is not in the show, this will be a great match up. Cristen will not make the show as she is up in smoke as soon as she stomps the throttle. Herbert does not help himself as he starts to lose traction and pedals it, but then really blisters the big Goodyears and clicks it off. He will have to just wait and watch.

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Left Lane: Joe Amato Runs 4.800/317.90 Now #11, (Best prior run: 11.783/ 78.44 Was #20)
Right Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 4.648/318.92 Now # 5, (Best prior run: 10.181/ 75.13 Was #19)

Amato hikes the front tires skyward and pedals it to bring them back to earth and then just motors on through to make the show. Vandergriff with a great pass to go from the outside to the top half of the show.

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Right Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 11.528/ 74.76 Now # 1, (Best prior run: 4.561/321.77 Was # 1)

The number one qualifier with nothing to lose attempts to rotate the earth, but instead rotates the Goodyears and clicks it off. Hill holds on to the sixteen spot and will face off against the hottest guy on the tour Scelzi. The most interesting match-up in round one is Amato and Bernstein.