Sun, 14 Nov 1999, 07:43 PM POMONA - Top Fuel Round 3 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Fuel 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
   2 Tony Schumacher     4.574 327.03  Q    3 Mike Dunn           4.580 311.70
   (A Cowin     ) 0.518  4.707 304.53  E1   (L Dixon     ) 0.476  4.651 299.53
   (K Bernstein ) 0.483  4.622 314.68  E2   (J Head      ) 0.484  4.640 303.09
                  0.466 11.054  79.28  E3 *****WINNER***** 0.473  4.710 297.68

4:33 PM There are nothing but quality cars and drivers left in Top Fuel competition - Scelzi, Schumacher, Doug Kalitta, and Dunn (in no particular order) - as we wind the season down to its final two rounds.

The new Winston champion comes up short in his attempt to win his second national event, the tires breaking loose in a dense cloud of smoke about 100 feet off the starting line. Dunn sails to the finals on an off-pace pass - but a win is a win.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Doug Kalitta        4.586 307.16  Q    1 Gary Scelzi         4.570 322.11
   (T Mullins   ) 0.517  4.574 308.00  E1   (R Parks     ) 0.477  4.624 313.51
   (J Amato     ) 0.499  4.561 303.64  E2   (D Lampus    ) 0.481  4.627 317.79
 *****WINNER***** 0.475  4.553 314.31  E3                  0.452  5.192 184.32

Scelzi's hopes of picking up the event win and the double-up bonus went away when his engine gave up the ghost at mid track, Kalitta already pulling away to record low ET of the event. He will have lane choice against Dunn in the final round.