Sun, 3 Oct 1999, 03:08 PM TOPEKA - Federal-Mogul Dragster Round 2 Eliminations

By Bob Orme

TOPEKA, Kan. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Federal-Mogul Dragster at the 11th annual Advance Auto Parts Nationals:

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Shawn Bowen         5.627 249.07  Q   14 Calvin Friesen      5.745 226.28
   (B McCosh    ) 0.481  5.576 229.31  E1   (R Henkelman ) 0.501  5.863 236.17
                  0.434  5.880 236.71  E2 *****WINNER***** 0.502  5.684 245.14

1:50 PM and we begin second round eliminations in Federal-Mogul Dragster. Bowen had a cylinder out from the beginning and it cost him dearly in performance. We'll see if Friesen's personal best ET of the weekend gets him lane choice in the semi's.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Melanie Troxel      5.443 255.87  Q    8 Duane Sheilds       5.641 247.16
   (G Gossman   ) 0.548  5.624 260.11  E1   (S Howard    ) 0.520  5.531 254.71
 *****WINNER***** 0.468  5.512 261.37  E2                  0.521  5.624 249.35

Shields drifted dangerously close to the wall at 400' and he had to fight to keep it straight the rest of the way down the track.-

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 David Wells         5.518 251.16  Q   10 Michael Gunderson   5.680 248.80
   (T Buff      ) 0.462  5.608 254.28  E1   (K Stark     ) 0.520  5.625 252.38
                  0.467 16.027  36.27  E2 *****WINNER***** 0.494  5.692 251.63

Wells had severe tire shake, then the engine went silent at 200'. Gunderson will give up lane choice to Friesen in the third round.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  13 Bruce Bowler        5.743 237.50  Q   12 Mark Kinser         5.716 245.67
   (D Nicholson ) 0.568  6.008 228.65  E1   (R Wendland  ) 0.580  5.655 233.28
                  0.579  6.389 184.19  E2 *****WINNER***** 0.521  5.481 260.46

Bowler had traction troubles for the first 300' and never really had a chance. Kinser carries the front wheels in the air for about 100' on the way to a very stong finish. He will have lane choice over Melanie Troxel in third round.