Sun, 10 Nov 2002, 06:55 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Dave Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 38th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals:

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Tate Branch         5.663 252.90  Q    7 Mike Andreotti      5.855 223.76
   (B Williamson) 0.440  5.673 252.05  E1   (D Taylor    ) 0.445  5.771 247.84
 *****WINNER***** 0.471  5.742 249.26  E2                  0.442 No Time

3:33 PM Andreotti is away first and has his hand's full with spin and shake. The car makes a move to the centerline and takes out the 660 foot ET and MPH lights. The Division Four Champ, Branch, makes a clean pass to the finish.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 Doug Gordon         5.774 240.59  Q   11 Bernie Harrington   5.948 243.72
   (J Payne     ) 0.465  5.754 249.03  E1   (V Moats     ) 0.442  5.815 245.32
 *****WINNER***** 0.480  5.821 221.34  E2                  0.389  5.911 242.32

We were down for a brief cleanup and resetting of the 660 foot lights.

A regular Div. 7 matchup. Harrington takes a shot at the lights and just misses. Gordon slows from his prior run, with smoke out from underneath the body near the top end.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Bucky Austin        5.621 254.09  Q        Bye
   (M White     ) 0.502  5.630 256.36  E1
 *****WINNER***** 0.513  5.681 255.77  E2

Austin gets the competition single and makes a clean pass to the finish line. One of the chutes hangs up on the wheelie bars, but no problems.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Steve Gasparrelli   5.717 251.30  Q    9 Mert Littlefield    5.907 242.98
   (J Rupert    ) 0.468  5.702 251.02  E1   (J Weaver    ) 0.502  6.186 171.01
 *****WINNER***** 0.503  5.696 247.70  E2                  0.495  6.923 137.78

Another regular match up in Div. 7 LODRS. Littlefield gets a little jump on Gasparrelli and struggles near mid-track when the blower bangs.

Lane choice next round: Austin over Gordon and Gasparrelli over Branch.