Sun, 14 Nov 1999, 06:48 PM POMONA - Federal-Mogul Funny Car Round 3 Eliminations

By Michael L. Jex One Austin In Final

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 3 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    5 Bucky Austin        5.722 251.81
   (J Rupert    ) 0.498  5.770 248.66  E1   (S Gasparrell) 0.506  5.719 250.04
   (S Harker    ) 0.490  5.770 250.78  E2   (J Weaver    ) 0.494  5.707 251.72
                        No Time        E3 *****WINNER***** 0.508  5.692 251.34

3:36 PM Fran is running Alan Johnson's wedge head motor and the Hoosier slicks. Here he gets way out of shape at the start and takes out the 330-foot cone, T-boning it with the front of the racecar. Austin was long gone by that point with his best pass of the weekend.

From the cup and chatter tire marks in the lane Monaghan will have quite a headache later...

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  14 Sam Blue            5.823 247.79  Q    2 Pat Austin          5.657 253.42
   (R Bateman   ) 0.506  5.745 249.90  E1   (T Branch    ) 0.479  5.727 249.81
   (L Miner     ) 0.445  5.796 236.38  E2   (J Payne     ) 0.470  5.650 254.62
 *****WINNER***** 0.457  5.721 249.76  E3                  0.438  5.758 252.80

One Austin is already in the final round - Blue keeps it from being a family affair. Austin lead early, but must have pedaled at least once on the way downtrack.

In the final Bucky Austin will have lane choice. 3:43 PM