Mon, 4 Oct 1999, 12:59 PM TOPEKA - Top Fuel Round 2 Eliminations

By Rick Green

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

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Doug Kalitta        4.539 321.96  Q    5 Tony Schumacher     4.555 327.90
   (P Romine    ) 0.488  4.804 293.66  E1   (J Head      ) 0.516  6.691 213.77
                  0.496  7.476 104.63  E2 *****WINNER***** 0.507  4.527 317.19

Here we go with day two of eliminations. The track temperature is 64 degrees, sunny skies, temperature is 45 degrees, 76% humidity, and the barometer is 30.40 inches. This is the fifth time these two have faced off this year and Kalitta has had Schumacher's number whipping him the four previous times. Kalitta is up in smoke right off the starting line. Schumacher starts to lose traction past half-track, pedals it once and drives it on through for the win and continues to hold on to his point lead.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   8 Doug Herbert        4.641 318.99  Q    1 Eddie Hill          4.520 323.74
   (C McClenatha) 0.486  4.636 304.67  E1   (D Grubnic   ) 0.493  5.548 203.55
 *****WINNER***** 0.404  4.619 314.83  E2                  0.469 11.054  85.07

Hill is up in smoke right off the starting line and Herbert keeps his championship hopes alive with a win here. Herbert explains on the top end interview that they banged the blower on that pass.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Joe Amato           4.538 322.11  Q    6 Kenny Bernstein     4.569 312.71
   (M Smith     ) 0.496  4.688 322.73  E1   (L Dixon     ) 0.467  4.725 320.74
 *****WINNER***** 0.465  4.607 317.19  E2                  0.482  4.677 318.24

Amato with the advantage in the head-to-head matchups, leading 3-1. Amato gets the slight starting line advantage, but they are glued together until just past half-track where Bernstein pedaled it. Amato's tire goes flat just past the finish line and he gets real close Bernstein. Bernstein does a great job of driving, avoiding Amato.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  10 Mike Dunn           4.672 310.27  Q    2 Gary Scelzi         4.524 304.46
   (A Cowin     ) 0.500  4.619 307.30  E1   (R Parks     ) 0.494  5.619 282.07
                  0.452  4.938 246.03  E2 *****WINNER***** 0.501  4.679 302.96

Dunn is out of the gate first and is in the lead until half track and that is when he starts to haze the tires and mix up the cylinders. That is all this Team Winston team needed to move on to round three. There was a big puff of smoke out of Scelzi's car as he crossed the finish line, but no clean up so it must be okay.

Schumacher will get to pick his lane against Herbert, and Scelzi will have his choice against Amato in the semis.