Sun, Oct 18, 01:40 AM TOPEKA - Federal-Mogul Dragster Round 2 Eliminations

By Rick Green

TOPEKA, Kan. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Federal-Mogul Dragster at the 10th annual Parts America Nationals:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Rick Santos         5.477 250.48  Q   9 Shelly Howard       5.878 240.06
   (Bye         ) 0.531  5.794 245.70 E1   (G Gossman   ) 0.459  5.925 237.09
 *****WINNER***** 0.510  5.558 255.68 E2                  0.530  5.911 216.50

8:06 PM Santos with a great pass for the win. Howard with a puff of smoke as she crosses the finishline.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  10 Mark Kinser         5.934 240.77  Q   2 Shane Gay           5.549 255.75
   (C Friesen   ) 0.373  5.611 250.62 E1   (M Bowers    ) 0.447  5.587 252.17
                  0.471 11.480  86.09 E2 *****WINNER***** 0.472  5.633 251.04

Kinser shakes the tires right off the starting line while Gay pedals it a couple times and takes the win light.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Jay Payne           5.624 249.65  Q   5 David Wells         5.647 252.73
   (T Baxter    ) 0.491  5.562 253.16 E1   (E Schmeekle ) 0.496  5.661 252.38
 *****WINNER***** 0.436  5.659 250.83 E2                  0.436  5.895 246.44

They leave together Payne is a little loose around the 330-foot mark, but stays with it for the win.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 John Costanza       5.582 253.52  Q   6 Melanie Troxel      5.745 249.79
   (D Stripe    ) 0.481  5.540 250.20 E1   (D Hummel    ) 0.620 13.607  54.03
                  0.481 16.040  44.25 E2 *****WINNER***** 0.451  9.593 148.19

Both cars lose traction and get off the throttle. Then they realize what each other is doing and get back on the throttle. Costanza loses traction again while Troxel's car acts like it never got back up to power, but she takes the win. She will lose lane choice to Gay.