Sun, 11 Nov 2001, 06:28 PM POMONA 3 - Top Fuel Round 3 Eliminations

By Dave Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 3 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
   1 Kenny Bernstein     4.498 327.59  Q    5 Clay Millican       4.555 318.92
   (R Reehl     ) 0.481  4.564 324.83  E1   (S Weis      ) 0.500  4.606 321.88
   (D Russell   ) 0.511  4.560 322.42  E2   (D Herbert   ) 0.491  4.633 311.20
 *****WINNER***** 0.483  4.548 321.35  E3                  0.479  4.996 204.82

3:00 PM We are down to crunch time for the 2001 Top Fuel Championship. Bernstein has not missed a beat in eliminations today and will win the championship with a round win here. Millican gets his chance at the start and makes the most of it with a small hole shot. They stay together until mid-track,where Millican pushes a head gasket and has a small fire. Bernstein nips one too, but continues on down track for the BIG WIN!!

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Larry Dixon         4.514 323.19  Q    3 Mike Dunn           4.533 329.67
   (R Hartman-Sm) 0.487  4.509 321.58  E1   (B Kalivoda  ) 0.487  4.514 330.15
   (G Scelzi    ) 0.477  4.507 322.11  E2   (T Gibson    ) 0.494  4.512 325.22
                  0.479  4.526 321.65  E3 *****WINNER***** 0.482  4.518 330.31

Dixon is still in the chase for the final 2001Winston Top Fuel Title. He pulls out ahead at the hit and they run together to the last 100 feet, where Dunn makes use of the big power to shoot past Dixon for the win. Margin of victory = 0.005 seconds (approximately 2 feet). Dunn resets top speed of the meet and will have lane choice over Bernstein in the final round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink