Sun, 17 Sep 2000, 01:26 PM READING - Pro Stock Round 1 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

MOHNTON, Pa. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock at the 16th annual Keystone Nationals:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   9 Kurt Johnson        6.884 200.44  Q    8 Mark Pawuk          6.875 199.08
 *****WINNER***** 0.461  6.881 200.23  E1                  0.466  6.913 198.29

1:10 PM Pawuk chose the right lane, KJ in the unusual position of not having first-round lane choice. Looks like the lanes are pretty even, Johnson slowly pulling ahead for a margin of victory = 0.037 seconds (approximately 11 feet).

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  10 Mike Thomas         6.884 199.26  Q    7 Jeg Coughlin        6.875 200.08
                  0.488  6.939 199.61  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.453  6.886 198.64

This was the third meeting between these two this year, Jeg winning both of the prior meetings as well as this one. Thomas was a bit late and then shook in first gear, while the "Jeggernaut" just keeps clocking round wins.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  11 Troy Coughlin       6.886 199.23  Q    6 Jim Yates           6.872 199.85
                  0.485  6.908 199.20  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.473  6.888 199.32

Looks like it takes a 6.88 to win this round...Yates getting his first win against Troy this year after losing in their previous two outings by a margin of victory = 0.032 seconds (approximately 9 feet).

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  12 Larry Morgan        6.887 199.55  Q    5 George Marnell      6.869 199.35
 *****WINNER***** 0.435  6.948 199.05  E1                  0.516  6.908 198.64

Morgan nailed Marnell to the tree and took the holeshot win by a margin of victory = 0.041 seconds (approximately 12 feet).

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  13 Rickie Smith        6.889 198.93  Q    4 Richie Stevens      6.861 198.52
 *****WINNER***** 0.442  6.911 198.67  E1                  0.464  6.894 198.17

THese two have only met once before this year, Stevens winning that time. "Tricky Rickie" evens the score with a holeshot, the margin of victory = 0.005 seconds (approximately 17 inches). He also wins lane choice against the other holeshot winner this round, Morgan.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  14 Robert Patrick      6.911 199.61  Q    3 Warren Johnson      6.855 200.71
                  0.520  7.480 145.03  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.474  6.920 199.35

THis was the first meeting between these two this season. Patrick's Mustang was second off the starting line and got very loose just past half track, forcing Patrick to lift. WJ was off-pace, but advances, losing lane choice to Yates in round two.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  15 Allen Johnson       6.912 197.65  Q    2 Darrell Alderman    6.853 199.17
                  0.450  6.942 197.57  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.466  6.887 199.05

AJ won both prior meetings between these two this year, but got only a small starting line advantage this time out and it wasn't enough against the Mopar Hemi, the margin of victory = 0.039 seconds (approximately 11 feet). But Alderman loses lane choice to Jeg Coughlin, by 0.001 seconds.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  16 Scott Geoffrion     6.915 198.64  Q    1 Ron Krisher         6.846 200.56
                  0.474  6.962 198.06  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.485  6.898 200.26

Final pair. Geoffrion gets a small starting line advantage, not nearly enough to hold off Krisher, who is once again running true to his dominant form earlier this season, the margin of victory = 0.053 seconds (approximately 15 feet). But he's not quick enough to have lane choice against Kurt Johnson next round.