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Sat, 9 Sep 2000, 04:20 PM

ENGLISHTOWN - Top Fuel Round 2 Eliminations

By Rick Green

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Fuel at the 31st Matco Tools Spring SuperNationals presented by Racing Champions:


 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   8 Steve Smith         5.218 272.94  Q    1 Larry Dixon         4.644 311.70
   (J Bailey    ) 0.527 11.265  87.38  E1                  0.519  7.712 102.99
                  0.510  5.032 271.62  E2 *****WINNER***** 0.494  4.689 315.05

Dixon launched hard as he carried the front end for a good 200 feet. When he sat the front end down the LaHaie tune machine just blasted through the 1320 to move into the semis. Smith had problems in the shut down area stopping short of the turnoff


 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Cory McClenathan    4.715 290.32  Q    3 David Grubnic       4.691 298.40
   (R Hartman-Sm) 0.510  4.644 319.29  E1   (R Pustari   ) 0.524  4.802 304.19
 *****WINNER***** 0.528  4.650 319.82  E2                  0.502  4.753 313.37

Grubnic with the slight starting line advantage, but Cory chase him down by the 330-foot mark and then just drove a way. Cory running like a bracket car today.


 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Gary Scelzi         4.797 256.65  Q    2 Joe Amato           4.680 304.53
   (K Bernstein ) 0.496  4.689 313.22  E1   (B Lagana    ) 0.514  4.730 309.84
 *****WINNER***** 0.480  5.910 285.83  E2                  0.497  6.055 184.30

Scelzi was out of the gate first and up in smoke immediately, just when he thought his day was over Amato was up in smoke. That is when Scelzi got back on the throttle and then it was a pedaling contest. Amato was completely side ways around a 1000 feet and that is when Scelzi drove around him to take the exciting win.


 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  12 Doug Kalitta       13.360  79.05  Q    4 Tony Schumacher     4.693 320.36
   (D Herbert   ) 0.510  4.683 309.70  E1   (D Lampus    ) 0.554  5.094 262.95
 *****WINNER***** 0.499  5.427 271.08  E2                  0.490  6.781 189.79

Schumacher went up in smoke right off the starting line and then Kalitta lost traction and this turned into another tire smoking, on and off the throttle drag race. Dixon's hero now becomes his foe in the semis with Dixon getting lane choice. Cory Mac with his choice over Scelzi.