Sat, 13 Nov 1999, 02:06 PM POMONA - Pro Stock Truck Round 1 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan It's Still Not Clinched, But...

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock Truck at the 35th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals:

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   8 Randy Daniels       7.590 178.50  Q    9 Brian Self          7.592 178.00
 *****WINNER***** 0.412  7.641 177.74  E1                  0.443  7.617 175.02

10:45 AM It's eliminations time for the Pro Stock Truck contingent, the closest matchup from qualifying opening the show as usual. Daniels takes a small holeshot to the win light, the margin of victory = 0.007 seconds (approximately 22 inches).

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Brad Jeter          7.588 177.46  Q   10 John Coughlin       7.593 176.84
 *****WINNER***** 0.449  7.599 177.93  E1                  0.441  7.620 176.81

Jeter keeps his slim championship hopes alive with a margin of victory = 0.013 seconds (approximately 3 feet).

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Don Smith           7.584 178.02  Q   11 John Lingenfelte    7.605 178.07
                  0.472  7.674 177.28  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.471  7.674 177.37

Lingenfelter's truck had to be push-started in the staging area but he managed to keep it running long enough to take a 0.001 "holeshot" victory here, the margin of victory = approximately 3 inches and Smith's very crooked launch possibly a factor in the upset.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Mark Osborne        7.552 178.66  Q   14 Craig Eaton         7.618 176.07
 *****WINNER***** 0.449  7.568 178.33  E1                  0.480  7.647 176.19

Osborne left first and pulled away to a big lead early in the run, winning by a margin of victory = 0.110 seconds (approximately 28 feet). Ozzie has lane choice against Lingenfelter in round two.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 Jerry Haas          7.574 178.26  Q   12 Todd Patterson      7.611 175.34
                  0.397  7.558 178.71  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.464  7.639 175.82

Haas redlighted away the quickest run of the round so far.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Steve Johns         7.539 178.85  Q   15 Scott Perin         7.620 176.90
 *****WINNER***** 0.458  7.559 178.26  E1                  0.421  7.633 177.14

Johns had to rely on engine power to win this one, Perin with the holeshot and Johns with a very crooked launch, the truck diving to the left immediately. Johns pulled it out for a margin of victory = 0.037 seconds (approximately 10 feet). Johns has lane choice against Jeter in round two.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Bob Panella Jr      7.491 178.92  Q   16 Mark Whisnant       7.620 176.77
 *****WINNER***** 0.447  7.532 178.50  E1                  0.474  7.681 175.89

That just about does it - his new national record should stand up and this round win closes the door for Jeter. Panella will have lane choice against Daniels in round two. To be officially "clinched," however, he need one more round win.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Greg Stanfield      7.570 177.46  Q   13 Mike Coughlin       7.614 177.04
 *****WINNER***** 0.439  7.565 177.49  E1                  0.419  7.640 176.93

And the final pair closes the round with a win for Stanfield by a margin of victory = 0.055 seconds (approximately 14 feet), quick enough to give him lane choice against Patterson next round.