Sun, Nov 1, 06:21 PM BAYTOWN - Federal-Mogul Dragster Round 2 Eliminations

By Michael L. Jex Great Racing, Clouds Darkening

BAYTOWN, Texas - Results of round 2 eliminations in Federal-Mogul Dragster at the 2nd Annual Matco Tools Supernationals:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  14 Darrell Russell     5.824 245.83  Q  11 Mark Taliaferro     5.678 247.79
   (J Costanza  ) 0.408  5.605 254.09 E1   (S Gay       ) 0.478  5.625 251.25
                  0.414  6.057 250.55 E2 *****WINNER***** 0.452  5.699 228.83

12:03 PM Both drivers took out an A Fuel dragster in round one, the blower boys doing pretty good in round one.

Russell shook, smoked, short shifted, and then chased Mark all the way to the finish line.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Shawn Bowen         5.530 253.73  Q   7 Tom Beecham         5.630 252.31
   (B Bybee     ) 0.516  5.684 237.78 E1   (J Thompson  ) 0.684  5.599 250.83
                  0.486  5.625 252.31 E2 *****WINNER***** 0.414  5.568 250.00

Both cars were smooth and straight all the way down broadway, Beecham had a great light to top off a great run.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  12 Shelly Howard       5.693 250.06  Q   4 Troy Buff           5.576 255.24
   (J Payne     ) 0.498  5.650 251.25 E1   (L Calaway   ) 0.453  5.580 254.59
                  0.455  9.443  92.07 E2 *****WINNER***** 0.507  5.575 254.59

Howard shook some parts loose, and wisely lifted off the throttle. Buff will face either Rick Henkelman or Gene Snow in Round three.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   8 Gene Snow           5.633 246.64  Q   1 Rick Henkelman      5.402 260.94
   (D Hitchman  ) 0.667  6.239 163.84 E1   (M Bowers    ) 0.658  5.443 258.02
                  0.456  5.838 229.70 E2 *****WINNER***** 0.527  5.411 257.95

Rick staged first, and Snow let him sit in there for a moment before "going on the high side" and staging. The mini burn down doesn't work however, Henkelman and crew chief Dana Hopewell have a very consistent race car so far this weekend.