Sun, 14 Nov 2004, 05:45 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 3 Eliminations

By Darryl Jackman

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 40th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 6515 Brian Hough                           312 Danny Townsend
E3   ****WINNER****  0.061  5.640 253.33                     0.101  5.707 249.12
 Prior rounds:
E2    (M Woznichak ) 0.077  5.649 252.43      (J Weaver    ) 0.078  5.726 244.52
E1    (C Thompson  ) 0.079  5.656 252.38      (B Williamson) 0.029  5.701 251.72
 Qualified:             #6  5.673 252.47                        #7  5.674 253.52

2:33 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 73 degrees, relative humidity 43 percent, barometer 28.93 inches, adjusted altitude 2,329 feet, track temperature 96 degrees.

The semi finals are coming through the opening to the left of the press room here at Pomona. Hough had almost .08 on Townsend on prior round performance but we'll see what happens here. Hough leaves first and never looks back.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Jay Payne                               9 Steve Gasparrelli
E3   ****WINNER****  0.086  5.638 252.90                     0.111  5.674 255.29
 Prior rounds:
E2    (D Gordon    ) 0.112  5.583 258.07      (R August Jr ) 0.093  5.678 253.14
E1    (H Wernhart  ) 0.077  5.634 253.85      (B Austin    ) 0.323  5.664 255.34
 Qualified:             #1  5.557 256.55                       #13  5.711 253.09

Payne has the numbers on paper but we all know that's not where we race. Well, no upsets here. Payne pulls away for the win and there was lots of smoke from the engine on Gasparrelli's car. Nothing on the track so we move on. Payne has lane choice over Hough by .002 in the final. 2:40 p.m.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink