Sun, 9 Jun 2002, 11:51 AM Pro Stock Round 1 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

GRAND BEND, Ont. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Stock at the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series, Third annual Mopar Performance Parts Canadian Nationals presented by Castrol:

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   9 Tim Nabors          6.612 202.61  Q    8 Elijah Morton       6.605 210.08
 *****WINNER***** 0.414  6.635 208.81  E1                  0.468  7.486 139.25

11:34 AM It's sunny, 73 degrees, 64 percent relative humidity, barometer 30.18 and steady, the track temperature near 100 degrees.

We open with the closest pair of qualifiers, just 0.007 seconds apart in qualifying. Nabors got a huge holeshot and the race was over, Morton slowing before half track.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  10 Jeff Dobbins        6.614 210.47  Q    7 Ron Miller          6.604 209.15
 *****WINNER***** 0.483  6.632 210.67  E1                  0.534  6.641 207.90

Upset city! Two winners from the bottom half of the field in the first two pairs. Miller was a bit tardy and Dobbins outran him for a surprisingly easy win. MOV: 0.0603 seconds (approximately 18 feet).

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  11 Carl Baker          6.617 209.54  Q    6 Dwayne Rice         6.596 209.39
 *****WINNER***** 0.495  6.616 210.23  E1                  0.521  6.663 208.33

Make that three upsets in three pairs, Baker with a better reaction time and a better run. MOV: 0.0735 seconds (approximately 22 feet).

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  12 Jason Collins       6.622 210.67  Q    5 Chris Holbrook      6.594 210.18
 *****WINNER***** 0.475  9.091  97.85  E1                  0.281  6.597 209.83

Four upsets...Holbrook was early and then Collins launched into "shake and skate."

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Charlie Peppers     6.591 209.83  Q   13 John Bartunek       6.631 208.09
 *****WINNER***** 0.501  6.639 209.05  E1                  0.483  6.698 204.91

Peppers is the first winner qualified in the top half of the field. He is also the first to pick the left lane instead of the right. Peppers has lane choice over Collins in round two.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 John Montecalvo     6.586 209.93  Q   14 Rick Jones          6.643 209.01
 *****WINNER***** 0.501  6.609 209.64  E1                  0.496  9.116 101.39

Jones' Neon was all over the lane on the launch, very close to crossing the centerline, forcing him to lift. Montecalvo has lane choice against baker in round two.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Doug Kirk           6.586 210.52  Q   15 Steve Spiess        6.654 207.66
                  0.503  7.722 126.90  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.518  6.693 205.38

This time it was the right lane with the "yaha run," Kirk's car fishtailing and almost crossing the centerline. Spiess gets the fifth upset win of the round, but loses lane choice to Dobbins in the next round.

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Brian Gahm          6.565 211.61  Q   16 Wally Stroupe       6.665 207.32
 *****WINNER***** 0.456  6.612 210.32  E1                  0.472  6.738 205.15

Gahm was "on his game," with a good reaction time and a good run to win by a couple car lengths. He will have lane choice against Nabors in round two.