Sat, Oct 10, 02:18 AM MEMPHIS - Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Session # 2

By David Rowe

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Fuel at the 11th annual Pennzoil Nationals presented by AutoZone, 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: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.623/312.78 Now # 1, (Best prior run: 5.329/172.70 Was # 9)
Right Lane: David Grubnic Runs 13.526/ 84.74 Now #11, (Best prior run: 5.691/149.45 Was #11)

8:24 PM and Cory starts out this 2nd round of qualifying by taking over the #1 spot. Grubnic goes up in smoke right off the line and has to back off the throttle.

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Left Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 6.341/130.37 Now # 6, (Best prior run: 4.727/316.01 Was # 5)
Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.681/293.09 Now # 2, (Best prior run: 5.350/181.74 Was #10)

Bernstein breaks the tires loose 100' out, pedals it, breaks loose again and aborts the run. Schumacher made a picture perfect run, blue flames coming out of the headers all the way through the lights.

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Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 5.526/180.50 Now #11, (Best prior run: 8.686/ 89.36 Was #13)
Right Lane: Bruce Sarver Runs 8.977/ 80.78 Now # 9, (Best prior run: 4.902/299.66 Was # 9)

Doug breaks the tires loose, gets off the throttle, on again, off again, then finally gives up the run. Sarver loses traction at the 300' mark.

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Left Lane: Mike Dunn Runs 4.720/311.34 Now # 6, (Best prior run: 4.718/297.82 Was # 5)
Right Lane: Joe Amato Runs 4.619/314.97 Now # 1, (Best prior run: 10.642/ 77.96 Was #18)

Amato takes advantage of the conditions and makes a great pass. Dunn makes a good run but doesn't improve on his earlier 4.71.

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Left Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 12.424/ 73.94 Now # 8, (Best prior run: 4.751/283.31 Was # 8)
Right Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 10.509/ 80.08 Now # 4, (Best prior run: 4.684/310.41 Was # 4)

Dixon goes up in smoke at about 60', Vandergriff soon after.

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Left Lane: Shelly Anderson Runs 11.637/ 72.34 Now #19, (Best prior run: 11.849/ 69.90 Was #19)
Right Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.692/319.14 Now # 5, (Best prior run: 9.429/ 79.93 Was #16)

Shelly and Scelzi up next, both trying to improve. Shelly goes up in smoke right off the line. Scelzi pedals it once , gets back on the throttle, and sets the track speed record.

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Left Lane: Eddie Hill Runs 13.288/ 81.89 Now # 6, (Best prior run: 4.703/304.12 Was # 6)
Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 13.276/ 76.97 Now #10, (Best prior run: 4.782/297.09 Was #10)

Neither driver improves here, both going up in smoke right off the line.

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Left Lane: Terry Mullins Runs 5.879/154.42 Now #15, (Best prior run: 8.492/ 99.85 Was #15)
Right Lane: Connie Kalitta Runs 6.612/123.69 Now #16, (Best prior run: 10.002/ 84.55 Was #17)

Both dragsters start out on a good run, Connie with an .850 60' time. Connie pulls the wheels at half-track and has to abort the run. Mullins goes up in smoke at half-track.

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Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.695/307.23 Now # 6, (Best prior run: 9.238/ 89.29 Was #17)
Right Lane: Steve Smith Runs 10.471/ 84.11 Now #19, (No prior time)

Herbert makes a good pass to get into the field. Smith goes up in smoke and is still on the outside looking in.

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Right Lane: Paul Romine Runs 10.383/ 88.24 Now #18, (Best prior run: 10.032/ 96.80 Was #18)

Romine makes a single on the last run of the night, needing to improve to get into the field. He'll have to wait until tomorrow, as he shakes the tires right off the line, aborts the run with no improvement. We leave with Amato on the pole with a 4.619 and Mullins on the bump with a 5.879.