Sat, Oct 10, 04:37 PM MEMPHIS - Pro Stock Truck Round 1 Eliminations

By Ed Dykes Record-Setting Performances This Round

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock Truck at the 11th annual Pennzoil Nationals presented by AutoZone:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   8 Grant Lewis         7.708 174.66  Q   9 Craig Eaton         7.709 172.36
                  0.500  7.717 174.48 E1 *****WINNER***** 0.442  7.694 173.72

10:53 AM and we roll out the first pro eliminations of the weekend, under sunny skies and low-sixties temps.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Randy Daniels       7.705 175.32  Q  10 David Nickens       7.713 171.97
 *****WINNER***** 0.445  7.655 175.82 E1                  0.689  7.828 146.86

Daniels makes a career-best run to advance to the next round, here.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Tim Freeman         7.704 173.99  Q  11 Roy Simmons         7.727 173.97
 *****WINNER***** 0.479  7.680 174.05 E1                  0.460  7.771 173.03

Home-state hero Freeman downs the Dodge early.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 John Lingenfelter   7.699 173.65  Q  12 Dave McConnell      7.733 172.04
 *****WINNER***** 0.466  7.689 174.46 E1                  0.459  8.591 122.11

Looks like seven-sixties are cheap this round... that bodes well for the Pro Stock drivers that aren't in the show, as they're up next.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Jerry Haas          7.697 175.02  Q  13 Dale Eaton          7.736 172.72
                  0.256  7.673 175.68 E1 *****WINNER***** 0.478  7.706 173.54

Haas is a bit too impatient this morning.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Bob Panella Jr      7.680 174.39  Q  14 Mark Ingersoll      7.737 172.12
 *****WINNER***** 0.425  7.620 176.12 E1                  0.471  7.738 172.56

That's a new national record for Panella, his qualifying time easily backing it up, too.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Larry Kopp          7.653 175.34  Q  15 John Lukovich       7.739 173.34
                  0.383  7.617 175.59 E1 *****WINNER***** 0.476  7.707   0.00

Good news, bad news, here: Kopp redlights away his win (and likely the points lead), but resets the national record.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Brad Jeter          7.635 175.62  Q  16 Roy Hill            7.896 170.02
 *****WINNER***** 0.449  7.601 175.94 E1                  0.267  7.885 169.66

That national record has taken a beating this round, and it falls again here. Roy leaves way early, but that little red light caught him. That's the last pair of a very exciting round, one that will likely have a big effect on the Championship battle.