Sun, 27 Oct 2002, 02:29 PM Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations

By Darryl Jackman

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Second annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals:

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   9 David Grubnic       4.640 318.02  Q    8 Darrell Russell     4.628 315.71
                  0.498  9.007  82.51  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.492  4.804 292.39

The first pair is fired and we're ready to go. The drivers react almost as one. Grubnic gets to about 100 feet and smokes the tires. Russell drops cylinders and spins the tires down track. Ugly but a win for the Amato crew.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Cory McClenathan    4.602 312.35  Q   10 Rhonda Hartman-Smi  4.652 314.02
                  0.538  4.633 319.22  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.506  4.646 316.97

Rhonda leaves first and scores the holeshot win. It appeared that Cory slapped the pedal once at about 200 feet as the tires were beginning to rattle. Big win for the Hartman team.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Andrew Cowin        4.601 318.32  Q   11 John Smith          4.671 298.01
 *****WINNER***** 0.518  4.569 328.38  E1                  0.457 10.981 101.36

Cowin just got everyone's attention. He picks up almost a nickel and runs a big speed. Smith blew the Goodyear's off right at the hit and could only watch Cowin disappear. The was a career best speed for Cowin.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Kenny Bernstein     4.577 321.50  Q   13 Shirley Muldowney   4.688 301.54
                  0.469  9.051  78.26  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.465  4.585 317.64

Oh wow. Shirley does it again. Bernstein moved about 50 feet and the smoke just poured off the tires. Muldowney goes out and runs her career best ET and moves on to the second round. A case of Miller to be delivered later?

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 Tony Schumacher     4.589 323.27  Q   12 Yuichi Oyama        4.674 302.21
 *****WINNER***** 0.484  4.598 326.48  E1                  0.522  6.118 140.61

Oyama stays with Schumacher until about half track. That was it though as something goes wrong with his racer and he watches Schumacher disappears into the distance. Muldowney will have lane choice over The Sarge in the second round.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Doug Kalitta        4.575 324.67  Q   14 Melanie Troxel      4.710 298.21
 *****WINNER***** 0.473  4.592 321.81  E1                  0.491  6.401 135.73

4.5's are really cheap right now. Kalitta has Kiss sponsorship this weekend and a couple members of the group are here to watch. Troxel puts a hole out at the hit and got to about 200 feet before the engine started eating it's self alive. Blower booms and the belt comes off. Kalitta will face Cowin next round without lane choice.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Doug Herbert        4.537 301.13  Q   16 Mike Strasburg      4.719 306.81
 *****WINNER***** 0.468  4.621 317.94  E1                  0.501 12.258  95.52

Strasburg blows the tires of and Dougzilla takes the win. West said he detuned the car a small amount to be safe. The still will have the lane choice over Russell in the next round.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Larry Dixon         4.569 323.81  Q   15 Scott Weis          4.716 307.79
 *****WINNER***** 0.488  4.626 321.81  E1                  0.475  4.867 294.24

By may math Dixon needs to go to the semi final round to close out Bernstein. He gets the first round win over Weis with a fairly tame tuneup. Dixon will face Rhonda Hartman-Smith with lane choice in his pocket. That's all for round one.