Sun, 3 Oct 2004, 02:05 PM Nitro Harley Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

JOLIET, Ill. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Fourth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals:

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 Doug Vancil                           104 Mark Turner
E1   ****WINNER****  0.142  6.439 202.42                     0.095  6.998 206.80
 Qualified:             #1  6.290 223.69                        #8  7.626 143.75

Turner with the starting line advantage, but from there on it was all Vancil. Vancil got out of the groove and got so close to the centerline, but was able to keep it in his lane. That was a great job of driving.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Larry Brancaccio                       13 Tracy Kile
E1                   0.044  6.705 190.65     ****WINNER****  0.064  6.629 209.20
 Qualified:             #4  6.546 200.14                        #5  6.709 206.99

Brancaccio was out of the gate first, but Kile was able to chase him down just before the finish line. Tracy Kile's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.041), 330 ft(-0.021), 660ft(-0.062), 1,000ft(-0.045). MOV: 0.0565 seconds (approximately 16 feet).

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   20 Mark Conner                           381 Doc Hopkins
E1   ****WINNER****  0.105  6.395 209.43                     0.104  6.736 206.86
 Qualified:             #2  6.294 219.94                        #7  6.997 183.39

Conner with a great looking pass and the quickest of the round so far.

Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed----Bike#-Rider-(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Mike Romine                           911 Tii Tharpe
E1   ****WINNER****  0.114  6.473 215.31                     0.075  7.004 209.07
 Qualified:             #3  6.439 220.22                        #9  7.721 202.39

Tharpe is out of the gate first, but Romine has the lead by 60 feet and just drives away for the win. Romine will give up lane choice to Conner and Vancil will have lane choice over Kile in the semifinals.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink