Sat, 13 Nov 1999, 03:27 PM BIG BUD - Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the 1999 Big Bud Top Fuel Shootout:

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 Tony Schumacher     5.000  28.90  Q    4 Larry Dixon         4.000  29.20
 *****WINNER***** 0.512  4.636 314.90  E1                  0.482  4.799 288.46

12:00 Noon and right on schedule the P-51 flyby and the National Anthem open the action. Schumacher's crew made a last-minute nitro percentage change on the line. Dixon led this one early on a holeshot, but then started spinning the tires at half track and Schumacher stormed by to win easily. By the by, this round counts as the third qualifying run for the Finals.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   9 Cory McClenathan    9.000  27.50  Q    3 Doug Kalitta        3.000  29.70
                  0.501  4.700 299.60  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.483  4.645 299.33

Cory Mac got into the Shootout when Eddie Hill was parked by the doctors, his back injuries needing at least another six weeks before he can even think about getting back in a race car. Kalitta led this one all the way, but he almost gave it back to Cory Mac when Kalitta's car started spinning the tires and eating aluminum parts on the top half of the run, the engine letting go in the lights. The margin of victory = 0.073 seconds (approximately 32 feet).

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Joe Amato           2.000  30.40  Q    7 Mike Dunn           7.000  28.35
 *****WINNER***** 0.483  4.654 314.97  E1                  0.480  4.748 286.32

After a quick Safety Safari cleanup in the shutdown area of the right lane, action resumed with a great matchup, two of the main principals in the season-long championship race. It was a close race to half track, then the right-lane traction problems on the top end bit Dunn and he fell back, trailing tire smoke through the lights. Amato won by a margin of victory = 0.091 seconds (approximately 38 feet) but lost lane choice to Kalitta by 0.009 seconds and it looks like that is a factor today.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Gary Scelzi         1.000  31.85  Q    8 Kenny Bernstein     8.000  27.95
 *****WINNER***** 0.470  4.701 292.46  E1                  0.472  4.720 297.35

This one was close, the margin of victory = 0.021 seconds (approximately 9 feet). Scelzi led by a big margin early, but then the engine started eating parts on the top end while Bernstein battled with the loose traction on the top end and got over next to the centerline. Scelzi held on for the win, but lost lane choice to Schumacher for round two.