Sun, 14 Nov 1999, 04:56 PM POMONA - Federal-Mogul Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Michael L. Jex A Pomona Kiss For Payne

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Federal-Mogul Funny Car 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
   1 Fran Monaghan       5.628 254.52  Q    8 Steve Harker        5.749 251.30
   (J Rupert    ) 0.498  5.770 248.66  E1   (R Parker    ) 0.513  5.752 250.41
 *****WINNER***** 0.490  5.770 250.78  E2                  0.494  5.799 249.86

1:40 PM Frank had a better reaction time, and lead at every interval.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 John Weaver         5.667 246.53  Q    5 Bucky Austin        5.722 251.81
   (B Williamson) 0.484  5.756 249.81  E1   (S Gasparrell) 0.506  5.719 250.04
                  0.525  5.756 248.52  E2 *****WINNER***** 0.494  5.707 251.72

Austin's run was pretty stout - over 200 mph at halftrack. He legged it out from there, taking the win by about a car length.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Jay Payne           5.736 250.09  Q    2 Pat Austin          5.657 253.42
   (P Swayne    ) 0.436  5.816 253.61  E1   (T Branch    ) 0.479  5.727 249.81
                  0.480  6.118 179.68  E2 *****WINNER***** 0.470  5.650 254.62

Payne took out Division 7 Champ Pete Swayne on a monster hole-shot yesterday. Austin has been on a tear lately, so this should be a great drag race. A little staging duel ensues, then both drivers go in.

Payne collected a "Pomona Stripe", Mr. Neverlifts got out about a thousand feet then kissed the wall with the left side header pipes, pushing them flat against the body.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  11 Larry Miner         5.795 250.27  Q   14 Sam Blue            5.823 247.79
   (J Hyland    ) 0.471  5.892 246.84  E1   (R Bateman   ) 0.506  5.745 249.90
                  0.473 12.069  86.71  E2 *****WINNER***** 0.445  5.796 236.38

Miner blew the tires off twice at the start, first at the hit of the throttle, then again after he pedaled. After that he could only watch Sam Blue march on the semis dancing left and right at the top end of the track.

In the Semis Monaghan will face Bucky Austin, while Blue was race Bucky's nephew Pat. 1:50 PM