Sun, 11 Nov 2001, 02:49 PM POMONA 3 - Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations

By Dave Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the 37th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   8 Darrell Russell     4.580 313.95  Q    9 Andrew Cowin        4.591 319.75
 *****WINNER***** 0.496  4.596 311.20  E1                  0.457  4.913 235.02

11:04 AM What looked like a washout this morning has turned around to be a good day to go racing. We have had heroic efforts by the NHRA team to get the track ready to run. This will be the last race for Winston and the last race of the 2001 season. We have high clouds and the temperature is moderate at 61 degrees. The humidity is 90% and the barometer is 30.17. The prayers have been said, the National Anthem played, and we are ready to race. The track conditions will be a big unknown for the crew chiefs after this mornings rain. The two cars leave together and run well down the track. Russell pulls away and takes the win. Cowin has smoke from the engine near the top end and slows.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Tony Schumacher     4.566 329.10  Q   10 Gary Scelzi         4.592 320.97
                  0.508  4.517 329.34  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.475  4.531 322.88

The track is ready and the teams are ready. Scelzi earns his pay as a driver. He straps a big hole shot on Schumacher for the win. Best runs for the weekend for both drivers.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Doug Kalitta        4.557 321.73  Q   11 Tim Gibson          4.626 312.50
                  0.517  7.715 106.18  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.488  4.787 291.45

Gibson is away first and Kalitta is up in smoke by 200 feet. Gibson lifted early at the top end when the car started to move around.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 Clay Millican       4.555 318.92  Q   12 Scott Weis          4.644 295.01
 *****WINNER***** 0.500  4.606 321.88  E1                  0.264  9.299  87.09

Weis is up in smoke at the hit, but it doesn't matter as he left too early. Millican runs clean to the finish line.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Mike Dunn           4.533 329.67  Q   14 Brady Kalivoda      4.670 316.38
 *****WINNER***** 0.487  4.514 330.15  E1                  0.000 No Time

Kalivoda couldn't make the call after going into the sand on his qualifying run yesterday. Dunn is set on kill and makes a classic pass to the finish.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Doug Herbert        4.555 325.06  Q   13 Don Lampus          4.654 316.82
 *****WINNER***** 0.490  4.649 308.57  E1                  0.473 11.327  76.90

Lampus puts out the top light to get the starting line advantage. He is away first, but it's an expensive win for Herbert. The motor starts to go south at about the 900 foot mark. The header flame start to turn green and the smoke starts to pour from the engine. A big bang follows, that blows the manifold off the car. The blower and injectors are in a ball of flame and hanging off from the side. It will be a busy 75 minutes for the team to be ready for the next round.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Larry Dixon         4.514 323.19  Q   15 Rhonda Hartman-Smi  4.702 312.93
 *****WINNER***** 0.487  4.509 321.58  E1                  0.517  7.595 106.09

Dixon told the reporters that his team used three sets of "scuffed" tires in yesterday's Budweiser Shootout. He said that they would run them again today. This is a must win round for the Miller Lite team in their quest for the championship. Larry sends a message. He is away first and improves on his qualifying time. Hartman loses the blower belt.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Kenny Bernstein     4.498 327.59  Q   16 Robert Reehl        4.708 307.58
 *****WINNER***** 0.481  4.564 324.83  E1                  0.518  4.717 304.25

It's up to Bernstein now. The left lane has been consistent for the fast qualifiers. Bernstein is in control from the start and leads Reehl from the start. Reehl gives him a run for his money. This is the last pair in the round and the championship will go on into the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink