Sun, 14 Nov 2004, 05:51 PM Top Alcohol Dragster Round 3 Eliminations

By David Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster 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
    2 Morgan Lucas                         7321 Ashley Force
E3                   0.100  5.293 265.27     ****WINNER****  0.084  5.289 270.32
 Prior rounds:
E2    (R Meyer     ) 0.052  5.223 269.89      (C Demke     ) 0.051  5.239 268.38
E1    (D Hitchman  ) 0.066  5.249 270.27      (S Federlin  ) 0.078  5.340 269.24
 Qualified:             #2  5.254 272.28                        #3  5.260 270.86

2:39 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.

Lucas is still working on a double class win this weekend and is facing his team from last year. Ashley Force has the benefit of the years of experience in the left lane and takes the lead from the start. Lucas makes a great effort, but Force is going on to the finals!

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  603 Mitch Myers                             7 Duane Shields
E3   ****WINNER****  0.117  5.244 266.00                     0.055  8.777  94.49
 Prior rounds:
E2    (H Will      ) 0.096  5.175 268.17      (B Reichert  ) 0.052  5.348 269.56
E1    (D Hudson    ) 0.131  5.109 278.23      (D Wells     ) 0.094  5.314 266.37
 Qualified:             #1  5.118 271.08                        #4  5.272 264.34

Myers needs the win to take the 2004 TAD Championship. No pressure though! The black and yellow EPHA dragster is late off the line, but Shields shakes and spins in the right lane. Myers' engine has a flash near the light, but he will keep lane choice over Force in the finals.p>2:46 p.m.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink