Sun, Oct 11, 01:05 AM MEMPHIS - Federal-Mogul Dragster Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Federal-Mogul Dragster at the 11th annual Pennzoil Nationals presented by AutoZone:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Bill Reichert       5.629 247.70  Q  10 Chris Dakin         5.676 244.69
                  0.459  5.716 246.08 E1 *****WINNER***** 0.404  5.713 247.29

Dakin is out of the gate first and we can clearly see the header flames from the injected nitro car here under the night sky.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  16 Dana Stripe         6.228 190.16  Q   1 Rick Santos         5.505 255.24
                  0.475  6.134 219.19 E1 *****WINNER***** 0.521  5.693 251.30

Santos continues his march for another World Championship.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Michael Gunderson   5.550 253.52  Q  15 Bill McCornack      5.897 243.59
 *****WINNER***** 0.510  5.596 247.29 E1                  0.469  6.109 238.05

Gunderson gets real close to the centerline, but stays with it for the win.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Troy Buff           5.608 253.37  Q  13 Greg Roberts        5.760 240.55
 *****WINNER***** 0.493  5.566 253.04 E1                  0.458  5.842 237.84

Buff with low et of the round, so far.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  12 Denny Hummel        5.711 214.55  Q   5 Bob McCosh          5.616 250.27
                  0.566  8.373 151.71 E1 *****WINNER***** 0.650  6.581 151.71

Hummel lifts the front tires way up in the air, and lifts. McCosh pops a blower around 900 feet, that is when Hummel gets back on the throttle attempting th chase him down.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   9 David Wells         5.666 247.47  Q   8 Mark Kinser         5.647 246.03
                  0.527  8.114 105.57 E1 *****WINNER***** 0.461  5.891 237.71

Wells launches into a big wheel stand and when the front end comes back down to earth he takes out the 330-foot cones.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  11 Shelly Howard       5.704 246.62  Q   6 Jay Payne           5.617 250.83
 *****WINNER***** 0.095 12.413  64.57 E1                  0.370 (Broke)      

Howard gives Payne the freebie, and then Payne gives it back to her when he crosses the centerline.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  14 Darrell Russell     5.779 247.43  Q   3 Jeff Wilson         5.554 254.66
 *****WINNER***** 0.480  5.761 246.08 E1                  0.397  5.759 242.32

Russell keeps his Championship hopes alive. He will have lane choice over Howard, Gunderson with his choice Over Dakin, Buff his pick over McCosh, and Santos gets his choice over Kinser.