Sat, 13 Nov 2004, 02:43 PM Pro Stock Bike Qualifying Notes, Session #3

By David Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Pro Stock Bike at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 40th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals listing lane, rider 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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Right Lane: Redell Harris Runs 7.933/177.67, Now #23; Best prior run: 7.389/175.80, Was #23

11:07 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 67 degrees, relative humidity 57 percent, barometer 28.89 inches, adjusted altitude 2,034 feet, track temperature 84 degrees.

Harris has the single to start the session. It's good weather conditions for the little engines this morning. Harris has problems with the shift and won't improve.

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Left Lane: Michael Phillips Runs 7.237/186.33, Now #5; Best prior run: 7.137/187.26, Was #5
Right Lane: Mike Lozano No Time, Now #24; Best prior run: 7.441/177.09, Was #24

Lozano has problems and pulls back behind the line. Phillips set out the session yesterday with his Thursday times and can't improve this morning.

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Left Lane: GT Tonglet Runs 7.115/187.16, Now #3; Best prior run: 7.126/188.83, Was #4
Right Lane: Connie Cohen Runs 7.269/182.55, Now #18; Best prior run: 7.353/177.56, Was #21

Both bikes approve, but Cohen misses the 7.23 bump spot. Tonglet's Harley moves up a spot.

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Left Lane: Wesley Wells Runs 7.352/178.57, Now #21; Best prior run: 7.332/177.58, Was #21
Right Lane: Karen Stoffer Runs 7.321/177.25, Now #20; Best prior run: 7.284/176.81, Was #20

No joy for either rider.

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Left Lane: Jay Matthews Runs 7.260/183.59, Now #16; Best prior run: 7.239/183.72, Was #16
Right Lane: Ryan Schnitz Runs 7.780/153.26, Now #19; Best prior run: 7.279/182.50, Was #19

Schnitz has problems on the top end and slows. Mathews runs close to his easier times and will stay on the bump for now.

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Left Lane: Joe DeSantis Runs 7.311/182.82, Now #8; Best prior run: 7.162/185.23, Was #8
Right Lane: Kurt Matte Runs 7.179/186.05, Now #10; Best prior run: 7.244/183.42, Was #17

Matte picks up a ton and moves well into the field to bump Mathews. DeSantis slows down track.

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Left Lane: Fred Camarena Runs 7.210/183.49, Now #14; Best prior run: 7.219/182.95, Was #16
Right Lane: Angelle Savoie Runs 7.111/186.85, Now #3; Best prior run: 7.157/185.95, Was #6

The bump is now Camarena and he gets off the hot spot for now. Savoie makes a nice run into the current #3 spot.

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Left Lane: Blaine Hale Runs 7.199/185.43, Now #12; Best prior run: 7.216/185.79, Was #16
Right Lane: Mike Berry Runs 7.223/184.95, Now #11; Best prior run: 7.185/185.84, Was #11

Two good passes and they both move up the ladder. Smith is up next with his 7.221 bump.

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Left Lane: Chip Hunter Runs 7.167/186.18, Now #10; Best prior run: 7.204/185.95, Was #14
Right Lane: Matt Smith Runs 7.207/185.28, Now #15; Best prior run: 7.211/184.45, Was #16

Smith moves off the bump for now and Hunter moves closer to middle of the field with two more good passes.

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Left Lane: Steve Johnson Runs 7.142/186.51, Now #7; Best prior run: 7.165/186.36, Was #9
Right Lane: Andrew Hines Runs 12.410/54.03, Now #14; Best prior run: 7.202/165.23, Was #14

Camarena is back on the bump spot with his 7.210 ET. Hines doesn't help his championship hopes as he has to shut off early with major engine damage at about the 330 foot lights. The top end cameras show him limping around as the Safety Safari is cleaning up the mess. Johnson improves two spots into the top half of the field.

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Left Lane: Antron Brown Runs 7.092/188.15, Now #3; Best prior run: 7.118/187.31, Was #5
Right Lane: Craig Treble Runs 7.131/191.59, Now #6; Best prior run: 7.157/185.51, Was #8

11:26 a.m. The Army bikes are flying WWII colors this weekend to honor the veterans. Brown gets into the 0's with a smooth pass. Treble is right behind him and will move up two positions too.

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Left Lane: Chip Ellis Runs 7.024/188.38, Now #1; Best prior run: 7.063/187.36, Was #1
Right Lane: Geno Scali Runs 7.110/188.17, Now #2; Best prior run: 7.091/188.65, Was #2

Ellis continues to break the backs of the other competitors with another stellar pass to improve on his person best performance. He runs the forth quickest Pro Stock Bike pass and gets ever closer to a six second run. Scali makes a good pass and slows slightly from his prior passes.

11:30 a.m.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink