Sat, 3 Nov 2001, 10:07 PM FMDRS 7-6 - Federal-Mogul Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 1 eliminations in Federal-Mogul Funny Car at the Division Seven FMDRS Final:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Marc White          5.726 249.39  Q   16 Larry Miner        11.529  58.08
 *****WINNER***** 0.496 11.150  72.83  E1                  0.000 No Time

Miner was unable to return for this round after breaking in the last round of qualifying. White with the freebie launched hard and got a 330-foot time before he clicked it off.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Jay Payne           5.732 249.58  Q   15 Jason Rupert        6.916 150.01
 *****WINNER***** 0.521  5.728 249.44  E1                  0.499  6.506 226.58

Rupert is out of the gate first, but Payne has the difference made up by 100 feet. Payne was real loose and got close to the centerline, but reeled it back into the groove.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Steve Harker        5.802 247.84  Q   14 Bernie Harrington   6.734 226.77
 *****WINNER***** 0.503  6.120 243.19  E1                  0.495 No Time

Harker dodge a bullet here, as Harrington was out of the gate first and marching on his way to victory when he got out of the groove. He got over close to the centerline and collected the half-track cones, getting disqualified and giving the win to Harker.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Steve Gasparrelli   5.817 243.02  Q   13 Michael Oliver      6.359 217.46
 *****WINNER***** 0.566  5.979 239.70  E1                  0.401  6.623 213.50

Oliver did his job on the tree with a great light, but Gasparrelli chased him down by the 330-foot mark. Gasparrelli got out of the groove and close to the wall, but kept his foot in it for the win.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 Bret Williamson     5.834 244.65  Q   12 Bill Gallio         6.269 220.84
                  0.551  6.264 238.60  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.571  6.038 238.55

Williamson was out of the gate first, but Gallio chased him down by the 330-foot mark and never looked back to win his first race in a Federal-Mogul Funny Car. He will give up lane choice to Gasparrelli in round two.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Bucky Austin        5.843 249.44  Q   11 John Patton         6.091 233.52
 *****WINNER***** 0.488  5.858 241.67  E1                  0.531  6.739 152.05

Austin with the starting line advantage and never looked back to take the win. Austin will have lane choice over Harker in round two. Patton had a big bang and big fireball around 1000 feet. He had the fire trailing him through the lights and finally got it put out. He is okay and we are down for a clean up.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 John Weaver         5.911 242.93  Q   10 Mert Littlefield    6.034 235.23
 *****WINNER***** 0.495  5.964 242.50  E1                  0.519  6.021 237.13

Weaver was out of the gate first and never looked back to take the win. Weaver was all over his lane, and Littlefield was also using up all of his lane. Both cars coming real close to each other around half track. Weaver will give up lane choice to Payne in round two.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   8 Doug Gordon         5.916 246.35  Q    9 Mike Andreotti      5.992 238.13
 *****WINNER***** 0.427  5.988 245.99  E1                  0.460  6.059 238.22

Gordon out of the gate first and used up all of his lane. Andreotti got real close to the centerline, but kep his foot in it and drove back into the groove. Gordon will have lane choice over White in round two.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink