Sun, 8 Oct 2000, 04:56 PM MEMPHIS - Federal-Mogul Dragster Round 3 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Federal-Mogul Dragster at the 13th annual AutoZone Nationals presented by Pennzoil:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Keith Stark         5.570 269.24  Q        Bye
   (D Hirata    ) 0.527  5.556 271.24  E1
   (J Bohr      ) 0.541  5.497 265.27  E2
 *****WINNER***** 0.585  5.500 264.60  E3

3:42 PM Stark's crew let his engine idle on gasoline for much longer than usual in order to build some heat in the block before switching over to nitromethane. He made a strong, clean pass, obviously trying for lane choice in the final round.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Troy Buff           5.457 251.25  Q    3 Shelly Howard       5.487 256.55
   (D Fiorelli  ) 0.464  5.444 255.77  E1   (J Wilson    ) 0.482  5.452 260.11
                  0.614  5.477 256.70  E2   (B Reichert  ) 0.457  5.523 254.81
 *****WINNER***** 0.466  5.484 254.18  E3                  0.484 14.093  48.12

Two of the best in the country squared off here, but the race was over quickly. Howard's car was once again shaking hard, back on the wheelie bars with the front wheels in the air, then nosed over sharply, something apparently breaking. Buff sailed right down the groove on a smooth, clean run to earn lane choice against Stark in the final round.