Sun, 14 Nov 1999, 04:43 PM POMONA - Pro Stock Round 1 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock 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 Richie Stevens      6.928 198.00  Q    9 Mike Thomas         6.932 198.03
 *****WINNER***** 0.470  7.370 173.83  E1                  0.494  8.495 115.90

1:02 PM Both cars were skating around in this pair, couldn't see anything particularly bad in Thomas' lane but he shut it down very early.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Kurt Johnson        6.926 199.26  Q   10 Bruce Allen         6.937 198.79
                  0.497  6.983 197.48  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.450  7.012 196.19

Allen took the holeshot win here, aided by yet another crooked launch by KJ. The margin of victory = 0.018 seconds (approximately 5 feet).

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Mark Pawuk          6.920 198.09  Q   11 Steve Schmidt       6.943 197.83
 *****WINNER***** 0.470  6.952 195.25  E1                  0.490  7.515 140.80

Schmidt's car was skating all over while "Cowboy's" went right down the groove.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 Jeg Coughlin        6.912 199.32  Q   12 V. Gaines           6.945 199.37
 *****WINNER***** 0.472  6.917 198.88  E1                  0.520  6.966 198.17

With KJ already out, Jeg has a chance to move into second in the points and he shows surprising muscle here with the low ET of the round against a pretty good run by Gaines. The margin of victory = 0.097 seconds (approximately 28 feet)

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Warren Johnson      6.908 201.07  Q   14 Darrell Alderman    6.951 197.74
 *****WINNER***** 0.478  6.901 199.88  E1                  0.448  7.021 196.33

Alderman is the Winston "No Bull" selectee for this race. To nobody's surprise, neither driver wanted to stage first, but WJ broke the deadlock first. Alderman won the tree, but his car was all over the lane and the "No Bull" money is safe once again, WJ with low ET of the round and lane choice against Pawuk in round two.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Troy Coughlin       6.901 198.99  Q   16 Mike Trumble        6.963 198.41
 *****WINNER***** 0.448  6.927 198.29  E1                  0.449  7.045 196.73

Coughlin wins handily and will have lane choice against Stevens in round two.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Tom Martino         6.904 199.82  Q   15 Arturo Delgado      6.958 198.20
                  0.495  7.033 196.85  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.492  7.017 196.33

Martino was quicker to half track, but then his car made a hard right turn and by the time he reeled it in Delgado was past him for Delgado's first round win ever in Pro Stock. He loses lane choice to Allen, however, when the two upset winners face each other next round.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Jim Yates           6.910 198.44  Q   13 Allen Johnson       6.947 198.12
 *****WINNER***** 0.447  6.936 197.77  E1                  0.460  6.968 197.74

The second-closest drag race of the round, Yates the victor with a margin of victory = 0.045 seconds (approximately 13 feet). He loses lane choice to Jeg Coughlin, however.