Fri, 11 Oct 2002, 09:45 PM Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Session #2

By Larry Sullivan

ENNIS, Texas - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 17th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:

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Left Lane: Mike Smith Runs 4.842/307.37, Now #8; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.750/295.17, Now #6; Best prior run: 12.683/67.16, Was #18

8:00 PM Under the lights, the temperature 62 degrees, relative humidity 66 percent, the barometer 30.06 and steady, the track temperature 82 degrees.

Smith did not run in the first session, Head smoked the tires (as did most drivers)Smith pedaled once just off the starting line, then drove it through. Head's right header came partially off, the right rear of the car looking like it was on fire through the run. Both managed to get in the field despite their problems, bumping Joe Hartley and Tony Schumacher.

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Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 4.726/260.19, Now #6; Best prior run: 13.803/72.44, Was #21
Right Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 4.612/322.69, Now #1; Best prior run: 12.218/73.64, Was #19

Both drivers smoked the tires the first time out. Neither had any apparent problems here, though Grubnic's header flames went out well before the finish line. Bernstein made a solid pass, starting with a 0.856 60-foot time, the header flames steady all the way to the finish line. He moves to #1, but that time probably won't hold through this session.

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Left Lane: Bill Ancona No Time, Now #21; Best prior run: 12.747/79.50, Was #21
Right Lane: Joe Hartley Runs 9.664/93.37, Now #19; Best prior run: 10.398/92.30, Was #19

Two more first-round tire smokers. Something broke on Ancona's car, the header flames going out immediately and the car rolling to a stop about 300 feet out. Hartley once again smoked the tires.

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Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.621/326.67, Now #3; Best prior run: 10.992/79.50, Was #20
Right Lane: Scott Weis Runs 4.798/269.05, Now #10; Best prior run: 9.573/86.40, Was #18

Two more in a long list of first-round tire smokers. Nice pass by Schumacher. Weis pedaled once early in the run and then the header flames went out well before the finish line.

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Left Lane: Mitch King Runs 4.860/262.23, Now #13; Best prior run: 6.877/114.24, Was #17
Right Lane: Don Garlits Runs 5.332/199.73, Now #16; Best prior run: 8.933/94.99, Was #19

We're still working through those who had problems in the first round. Garlits pedaled once early in the run and his header flames went out well before the finish line. King appeared to make a full pass, but his speed fell off on the top end.

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Left Lane: Rhonda Hartman-Smith Runs 4.693/309.06, Now #7; Best prior run: 6.637/131.36, Was #18
Right Lane: John Smith Runs 12.205/94.04, Now #19; Best prior run: 8.634/91.38, Was #19

The Smith Family tried again. John smoked the tires almost immediately. Rhonda made a full pass with no apparent problems until the car went past the finish line, the header flames visible well past that point.

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Left Lane: Clay Millican Runs 4.634/314.57, Now #4; Best prior run: 6.458/128.20, Was #18
Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 9.865/83.66, Now #17; Best prior run: 5.167/202.11, Was #16

Kalitta was up in smoke after 100 feet. Millican made a nice run, the header flames strong and solid.

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Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 7.431/126.15, Now #13; Best prior run: 4.818/266.90, Was #13
Right Lane: Jim Cavalieri Runs 11.642/89.22, Now #10; Best prior run: 4.730/307.37, Was #10

The remaining cars are already in the field, but will probably shuffle the order a bit. Or maybe not, these two both up in smoke in the first 100 feet.

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Left Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 11.135/76.60, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.672/321.42, Was #6
Right Lane: Andrew Cowin Runs 4.627/323.74, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.673/276.24, Was #7

Two pairs left. Dixon's header flames went out almost immediately. Cowin pedaled early in the run and made a nice run after that.

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Left Lane: Darrell Russell Runs 5.531/168.76, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.615/320.97, Was #2
Right Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.811/234.31, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.651/314.46, Was #6

Last pair of the day, with fireworks to follow. Russell's header flames went out at half track. McClenathan's engine let go on the top end, the engine on fire as he pulled off the track - but the track was clean.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink