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Fri, 9 Nov 2001, 08:04 PM

POMONA 3 - Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Session #2

By Dave Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Fuel at the 37th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:

Right Lane: Brady Kalivoda Runs 7.175/116.37, Now #17; No Prior Run

3:59 PM It's time for Top Fuel... Kalivoda, a second generation racer, will have a single for this session. He has a good .880 time in the first sixty feet, but loses the blower belt before mid-track.

Left Lane: Don Garlits Runs 9.947/89.94, Now #20; Best prior run: 10.228/71.85, Was #19
Right Lane: Scott Weis Runs 8.939/85.58, Now #19; No Prior Run

Both cars are not qualified. The bump is currently 6.959. Both of tthe dragsters are decorated to resemble American flags. A great look. This could be Indy all over again for Garlits, as the two dragster are up in smoke together before the 330 mark.

Left Lane: Arley Langlo Runs 11.242/78.16, Now #16; Best prior run: 6.959/117.91, Was #16
Right Lane: Joe Hartley Runs 9.585/84.28, Now #20; Best prior run: 10.945/81.89, Was #21

Lango will need to pick up the pace to stay in the field. Hartley has the potential and needs to get it down the track to get into the show. No joy here, as we get a replay of the last pair, with good leaves and smoke before they get to 330 feet.

Left Lane: Rhonda Hartman-Smith Runs 4.745/300.73, Now #13; Best prior run: 4.842/290.76, Was #14
Right Lane: Wyatt Radke Runs 5.494/239.48, Now #16; Best prior run: 8.346/93.21, Was #18

Lango won't have to sweat out the rest of this session. Radke gets into the field, for now, in a spectacular way. The dragster is up in flames just past the 330 mark and continues to keep the pedal down until just past the lights. The flames are over the wing until he lifts. Hartman quietly moves up a spot by lowering her prior ET by a tenth. Radke's 5.494 is the new bump spot.

Left Lane: Robert Reehl Runs 8.135/95.51, Now #14; Best prior run: 4.786/302.01, Was #14
Right Lane: Mark Kinsella Runs 4.911/253.42, Now #15; Best prior run: 5.257/208.68, Was #15

We are in a oil down wait. Local SoCal racer, Reehl made a good baseline yesterday and is capable of laying down a big number. He has a career best of 4.591. Kinsella pick up a ton and stays in the number 15 spot. He has to lift near the top end as his dragster made a move toward the center line. Reehl has a much better 60 foot time, but must have lost the blower belt ,as he has a lot of fuel out of the pipes.

Left Lane: Tim Gibson Runs 10.617/90.28, Now #11; Best prior run: 4.707/297.88, Was #11
Right Lane: Darrell Russell Runs 9.454/75.30, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.722/305.84, Was #12

Both cars shake hard and go up in smoke together.

Left Lane: Clay Millican Runs 4.555/318.92, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.695/309.91, Was #10
Right Lane: Don Lampus Runs 4.797/295.72, Now #10; Best prior run: 4.654/316.82, Was #9

These two drivers are crossing over from the IHRA ranks for the finals this weekend. They both leave hard together and Millican makes a big move up the ladder into the number two spot. A great looking run with header flames over the wings in the twilight.

Left Lane: Mike Dunn Runs 4.533/329.67, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.624/318.32, Was #9
Right Lane: Andrew Cowin Runs 4.655/317.42, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.622/319.60, Was #8

This will be the last race for K&N with the Cowin family. Dunn sends a message and just misses the number one spot. Cowin runs well too, but can't match his prior time. I really love to watch the fueler at this time of day !!

Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.637/298.80, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.612/317.42, Was #8
Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.569/316.23, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.598/323.12, Was #7

Another great side by side pair until near the lights. Herbert has a big bang and some fire. He doesn't improve. Schumacher moves up two spots and show good consistency.

Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 4.592/320.74, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.559/321.81, Was #4
Right Lane: Gary Scelzi No Time, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.592/320.97, Was #7

They are taking a few minutes to clean up the left lane. Here is a preview of tomorrow's Bud Shootout. These two will meet tomorrow in the first round. A big disappointment for the Winston team. After backing up after the burnout, they can't get the dragster out of reverse and have to shut it off. Kalitta make a clean and straight run to the finish line, but can't improve on yesterday's time.

Left Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 4.529/323.66, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.528/324.59, Was #1
Right Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 4.542/318.24, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.575/317.05, Was #6

Last pair of the set and a great side by side run. Bernstein shows that he can repeat with only a .001 difference from yesterday. Dixon is right beside him and moves to the number 3 spot.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink