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Sun, 11 Nov 2001, 04:46 PM

POMONA 3 - Top Fuel Round 2 Eliminations

By Dave Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 2 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
   5 Clay Millican       4.555 318.92  Q    4 Doug Herbert        4.555 325.06
   (S Weis      ) 0.500  4.606 321.88  E1   (D Lampus    ) 0.490  4.649 308.57
 *****WINNER***** 0.491  4.633 311.20  E2                  0.480  4.668 309.84

1:19 PM The high clouds are still with us and it's a little warmer than first round. These two racers have seen each other in the past at IHRA races. Herbert takes the lead from the line and is quickly passed by Millican. Millican has a hole out, but keeps ahead of a slowing Herbert. Herbert has another Big Bang in the lights. Millican reports that they had clutch problems in the pits and they were lucky to even get to the line. He didn't have neutral and had problems staging the car.


 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Kenny Bernstein     4.498 327.59  Q    8 Darrell Russell     4.580 313.95
   (R Reehl     ) 0.481  4.564 324.83  E1   (A Cowin     ) 0.496  4.596 311.20
 *****WINNER***** 0.511  4.560 322.42  E2                  0.465  4.786 258.81

The championship is still at risk. Both cars ran ran similar numbers last round. Russell is away first and hazes the tires at mid-track. The engine quickly expires after that. Bernstein shows the consistency that wins championships.


 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Mike Dunn           4.533 329.67  Q   11 Tim Gibson          4.626 312.50
   (B Kalivoda  ) 0.487  4.514 330.15  E1   (D Kalitta   ) 0.488  4.787 291.45
 *****WINNER***** 0.494  4.512 325.22  E2                  0.484  4.729 314.53

Dunn marches down the track for a needed win. Gibson leaves on him and runs well, but can't keep the pace.


 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Larry Dixon         4.514 323.19  Q   10 Gary Scelzi         4.592 320.97
   (R Hartman-Sm) 0.487  4.509 321.58  E1   (T Schumacher) 0.475  4.531 322.88
 *****WINNER***** 0.477  4.507 322.11  E2                  0.485  7.744 102.18

Scelzi, in the right lane, is likely to be Bernstein's new best friend. A win here will wrap up the championship. Dixon needs all of the number to win. Dixon takes no prisoners. He's away first and runs low ET of the round. Scelzi is up in smoke by the 330 mark. The ET will back up a badly need national record if he can improve later in the day. If Bernstein wins next round, it's over. Dixon will have lane choice over Dunn and Bernstein will have lane choice over Millican.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink