Sun, 13 Oct 2002, 02:03 PM Pro Stock Round 1 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

ENNIS, Texas - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Stock 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
   8 Gene Wilson         6.870 201.11  Q    9 Tom Lee             6.875 201.29
 *****WINNER***** 0.449  6.840 202.06  E1                  0.409  8.999 105.69

It's 61 degrees, 60 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.40 and steady, the track temperature 78 degrees, under a light overcast. The density altitude is near sea level, about 3,000 feet better than yesterday, so the Pro Stockers should be flying today and upsets could be plentiful.

Two Dodges in the field and they meet in round one. If you believe the rumors, Wilson could replace Lee in the Allen Johnson Dodge next year, so this matchup was an interesting one and the first time they have raced each other in NHRA Pro Stock. They have met in several IHRA "Mountain Motor" finals, just about evenly split.

Lee nailed Wilson to the tree, but something broke and Wilson went by for a surprisingly easy win and his best elapsed time for the weekend.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Greg Anderson       6.870 201.43  Q   10 Bruce Allen         6.877 200.66
 *****WINNER***** 0.451  6.828 202.97  E1                  0.430  7.069 163.54

Allen was 2-1 against Anderson in prior races this year and Allen had this one in the bag until half track, then his car just quit running. Anderson's margins (negative means he's behind): G And Margin 60ft(-0.038), 330 ft(-0.044), 660ft(-0.041), 1,000ft(0.015). MOV: 0.2208 seconds (approximately 53 feet).

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 Kurt Johnson        6.865 202.24  Q   12 Larry Nance         6.882 200.62
 *****WINNER***** 0.440  6.792 203.94  E1                  0.445  7.360 147.92

For the third time in a row, the car in the right lane slowed markedly past half track. Strange things going on??? Look at KJ's speed, a career-best for Johnson and a track record.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Jim Yates           6.865 200.13  Q   11 Tom Hammonds        6.877 200.62
 *****WINNER***** 0.462  6.810 201.74  E1                  0.454 21.259  34.76

Yates beat Hammonds in their only prior meeting this year. Yates has been struggling to find speed this weekend, changing just about everything that can be changed, including the engine and drive train. He's consistently been among the quickest for the first half of the race track in every session, but the car has been "laying down" on the top end. This time the right lane car broke early in the run. Yates wins, but he's still looking for speed.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Brad Jeter          6.862 201.07  Q   13 Tom Martino         6.883 200.31
 *****WINNER***** 0.452  7.631 133.29  E1                  0.325  6.844 201.52

Not much to say here...jeter slowed, but the win light was already on in his lane. He loses lane choice to Kurt Johnson in round two.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Warren Johnson      6.855 201.79  Q   14 Mike Edwards        6.886 200.40
                  0.483  6.795 203.43  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.425  6.826 201.25

These two were 1-1 in prior races this year, WJ winning in Columbus and Edwards in Denver, enroute to Edwards' second win of the year. Edwards cut the tree down and WJ could not catch him, Edwards overcoming the right-lane jinx for a huge holeshot win. WJ was closing fast, but ran out of race track, Edwards winning by a car length. Edwards faces Yates next round, Yates with lane choice.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Jeg Coughlin        6.854 201.47  Q   15 George Marnell      6.888 199.64
 *****WINNER***** 0.421  6.817 202.06  E1                  0.445  6.860 201.20

Jeg defeated Marnell once before during this season, in the first round at Topeka. This one was all Coughlin, away first then holding a car length lead all the way down the track. He races Anderson next round and will have lane choice.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Ron Krisher         6.850 201.88  Q   16 Steve Schmidt       6.891 200.26
                  0.000 No Data        E1 *****WINNER***** 0.871  6.826 202.02

Krisher's car had a leak when they fired it for the burnout and the crew pulled the nose off, fixed the leak, then put it back on. meanwhile, Schmidt had done his burnout and was back behind the line, waiting for Krisher. Starter Rick Stewart signaled Krisher to make a short burnout and stage immediately. Krisher made a normal burnout, across the line, and as soon as he backed up, the starter sent Schmidt without giving Krisher a chance to stage. Schmidt faces Wilson next round and will have lane choice.