Sun, 10 Oct 1999, 07:49 PM MEMPHIS - Top Fuel Dragster Round 3 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan Hot Streak Continues

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Fuel Dragster at the 12th annual AutoZone Nationals presented by Pennzoil:

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   8 Terry Mullins       4.655 287.23  Q   13 Doug Herbert        4.715 308.57
   (R Parks     ) 0.478  4.693 296.63  E1   (D Kalitta   ) 0.469  4.727 304.60
   (J Amato     ) 0.494  4.708 295.72  E2   (E Hill      ) 0.491  4.750 300.86
                  0.490  4.742 303.09  E3 *****WINNER***** 0.446  4.676 305.15

6:33 PM Will it be the new guy or the hot guy against Head in the final round? It will be the hot guy, Herbert extending his round win streak to 10 in a row (three at Rockingham two weeks ago, four at Topeka a week ago, three more here) in a good drag race. Mullins' car moved around a bit too much to record a good run, though it wasn't all that bad - but Herbert left first and extended his lead all the way down the track, with a margin of victory = 0.110 seconds (approximately 49 feet). The win wasn't without cost, however, he hurt the engine on the top end, leaving a trail of oil in the shutdown area.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  14 Jim Head            4.716 299.60  Q    7 Kenny Bernstein     4.648 314.39
   (S Kalitta   ) 0.463  4.747 302.48  E1   (L Dixon     ) 0.490  4.573 306.53
   (B Vandergrif) 0.481  4.708 297.61  E2   (T Schumacher) 0.489  4.653 300.73
 *****WINNER*****        4.753 294.24  E3                        No Time      

Bernstein was a no-show, of course, after his frightening accident in round two, so Head was running for lane choice. He missed, the rear tires spinning and smoking on the top end of the run. Herbert will have lane choice in the finals, going for his second NHRA event win in a week, the first coming Monday at the rain-delayed Advance Auto Parts Nationals in Topeka, and his third event win in two weeks, having also won at the IHRA event at Rockingham just two weeks ago.