Fri, 27 Oct 2000, 05:28 PM HOUSTON-2 - Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Larry Sullivan

BAYTOWN, Texas - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Fuel at the 4th annual Matco Tools SuperNationals presented by Racing Champions listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Left Lane: Mike Dunn Runs 4.894/229.70, Now #1
Right Lane: Bobby Baldwin Runs 8.673/96.74, Now #2

3:39 PM Dunn finally gets to debut the new Yankees-sponsored car, on the heels of the Yankees winning the World Series. The car has showed aggressive quickness in the incremental times during testing, but had almost no full passes prior to today - and they are still looking for their first full pass, dropping a cylinder early after a 0.854 60-foot time, then pulling hard in the middle before losing the blower belt around the 1,000-foot marker. Baldwin was up in smoke instantly, the car getting very sideways before he could pull the plug.

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Left Lane: Andrew Cowin Runs 9.435/84.53, Now #4
Right Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 5.747/180.00, Now #2

Melanie is "back" in the Exide car here, Tony Schumacher expected to be able to drive the Army-sponsored car here this weekend - thus missing no races since his accident. Cowin lost traction early in the run, pedaled, then lost traction once again. Troxel made it to half track, then started to spin the tires and called it off.

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Left Lane: Rhonda Hartman-Smith Runs 5.542/169.70, Now #3
Right Lane: Don Lampus Runs 4.674/317.87, Now #1

These two were about a car length apart at half track, Lampus leading, then Hartman-Smith's car started to spin the tires, the rear end kicking out to the right, and she shut it down. Lampus made a nice opening run, right down the groove with no tire smoke (at least, none we could see from here).

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Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 4.641/317.12, Now #1
Right Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 7.669/98.93, Now #6

Herbert went water skiing after the Dallas rainout and fell hard, breaking his eardrum. Ouch! His engine went silent early in this run, with no problems we could see. No problems in the other lane, the Aussie right down the groove with all eight candles lit all the way through.

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Left Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 4.962/278.92, Now #5
Right Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.656/316.08, Now #2

Rumors are flying about Cory Mac's ride for next year, his brand new MBNA dragster making a smooth, straight pass to move right in behind Grubnic in the order. Vandergriff's engine started losing power right off the line, with at least one dead cylinder early in the run and lots of smoke from the headers on the top end. The Safety Safari rolls to clean up oil in the left lane, so Vandergriff will be out $500 for an oildown violation, the slick stuff starting right around the finish line and extending into the shutdown area.

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Left Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 5.045/224.40, Now #6
Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 11.097/87.55, Now #12

Kalitta lost traction very early in the run. Bernstein was on a good pass to about half track, then he started smoking the tires and he lifted around the 1,000-foot marker.

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Left Lane: Joe Amato Runs 4.702/303.30, Now #4
Right Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 9.066/89.68, Now #12

Dixon's first pass was a short one, the car losing traction after 100 feet or so. Amato's car appeared to be on a conservative setup for the opening run, smoothly down the track with no tire smoke or engine damage we could see.

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Right Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.599/311.34, Now #1

There are rumors galore flying about Scelzi and team owner Alan Johnson's plans for 2001 - possibly a second Funny Car with Scelzi driving it, with Cory Mac rumored to be the choice to fill the vacant Top Fuel seat. Hey, it's "Silly Season."

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Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 11.995/76.74, Now #16

With the rain delay in Dallas, Schumacher was able to return without missing a race, though some were doubtful he'd actually be able to drive the car. He convinced the NHRA he was ready and this aborted run should let him determine whether he's really ready. The car lost traction early and smoked the tires hard before he could get it shut down. If his leg got through all that shaking without making him flinch, he's in remarkable shape after taking a horrendous ride.