Sun, 13 Oct 2002, 03:53 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 3 Eliminations

By Dave Rowe

ENNIS, Texas - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 17th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec:

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Von Smith           5.644 254.95  Q    4 Jay Payne           5.686 254.95
   (K Kinsley   ) 0.497  5.694 253.02  E1   (C Chesterman) 0.438  5.726 254.23
   (J Stidham   ) 0.471  5.594 257.28  E2   (S Harker    ) 0.465  5.638 256.41
 *****WINNER***** 0.458  5.646 256.33  E3                  0.437  5.799 250.27

These two have met each other a few times this year. Smith seems to have the performance advantage this weekend. He gives Payne a little advantage off the line but reels him in quickly. He starts pulling away at the sixty-foot mark and goes on for the win.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Steve Gasparrelli   5.671 254.02  Q    7 Marc White          5.749 249.58
   (S Griboski  ) 0.485  5.717 251.88  E1   (K Williams  ) 0.427  5.814 246.44
   (T Branch    ) 0.466  5.625 256.84  E2   (B Newberry  ) 0.451  5.658 253.66
                  0.488  5.607 255.75  E3 *****WINNER***** 0.409  5.668 252.38

White cuts the tree down and holds off Gasparrelli for the win. He will take on Smith in the finals, Smith with lane choice. White's margin 60ft(0.063), 330ft(0.057), 660ft(0.043), 1,000ft(0.029). MOV: 0.0183 seconds (approximately 7 feet).