Sun, 11 Nov 2001, 04:13 PM POMONA 3 - Federal-Mogul Dragster Round 2 Eliminations

By Dave Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Federal-Mogul Dragster 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
   4 Duane Shields       5.413 261.88  Q   12 Paul Jones          5.501 256.70
   (B Bernstein ) 0.531  5.397 264.65  E1   (T Meredyk   ) 0.422  5.635 256.89
 *****WINNER***** 0.493  5.415 258.76  E2                  0.475  6.076 180.26

12:43 PM The weather is continuing to improve and we start the second round with two West Coast blown dragsters. Jones is away first and starts to smoke from mid-track. The lane has oil, so we are down. Shields had much better numbers all the way down to win.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Steve Federlin      5.447 259.01  Q    3 Mark Niver          5.409 258.17
   (M Strasburg ) 0.424  5.466 259.31  E1   (D Hudson    ) 0.579  5.766 242.58
 *****WINNER***** 0.474  5.471 259.01  E2                  0.501  5.507 258.52

We have been down for a while with lots of oil after the 900 foot mark in the right lane. We have a classic Fuel and Blown dragster shootout for this pair, Niver slowed from his qualifying pace in the last round and may have his hands full with Federlin. Lots of tire shake for Federlin, but he drives on through for the win. Niver is down on power and can't keep the pace.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Rick Santos         5.352 262.08  Q    7 Mark Hentges        5.455 256.45
   (D Nicholson ) 0.466  5.369 263.20  E1   (B Bowler    ) 0.498  5.404 261.93
 *****WINNER***** 0.450  5.366 261.93  E2                  0.443  5.475 258.71

Hentges is away first and gets passed before 60 feet. Santos picks up the pace from yesterday and runs to the victory.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   8 David Wells         5.456 258.47  Q    1 Brandon Henkelman   5.349 260.97
   (B Hough     ) 0.454  5.525 256.80  E1   (D Hirata    ) 0.458  5.674 263.36
                  0.443  5.541 254.14  E2 *****WINNER***** 0.441  5.518 257.92

Both dragsters were slower in their first round wins. Blown car consistency Vs. Fuel power. Henkelman is away first and shakes the tires. He stays with it and pulls away for the win. Wells is right behind him and can't keep the pace.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink