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Friday
Results for Qualifying Round 1ENNIS, Texas - DALLAS - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 17th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run: Left Lane: Don Garlits Runs 8.933/94.99, Now #1 Right Lane: Bill Ancona Runs 12.747/79.50, Now #24:15 PM It's 75 degrees, 51 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.10 and falling, under sunny skies. The track temperature is now 101 degrees.
"Big" is in the house and the crowd gave him a standing ovation when his name was announced. Both cars went up in smoke almost immediately, Garlits getting a little further down the track before losing traction and staying with it a little longer.Left Lane: Jim Cavalieri Runs 4.730/307.37, Now #1 Right Lane: Scott Palmer Runs 4.924/253.44, Now #2Good run for Cavalieri, a solid pass. Palmer was right with him to 1,000 feet, then he lost the engine, leaving oil on the track, in the lights.Left Lane: Joe Hartley Runs 10.398/92.30, Now #5 Right Lane: Mitch King Runs 6.877/114.24, Now #3Hartley shook the tires, then smoked them, about 100 feet off the line. King got a bit further down the track, then did the same.Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 12.683/67.16, Now #7 Right Lane: Clay Millican Runs 6.458/128.20, Now #3Head smoked the tires instantly. Millican got to about half track, then did the same.Left Lane: Scott Weis Runs 9.573/86.40, Now #6 Right Lane: David Grubnic Runs 13.803/72.44, Now #10Grubnic was up in smoke immediately. Weis got about 200 feet out, then started to turn the tires and shut it down.Left Lane: John Smith Runs 8.634/91.38, Now #6 Right Lane: Rhonda Hartman-Smith Runs 6.637/131.36, Now #4Maybe the husband-and-wife team can figure it out? Nope. John was up in smoke before going 100 feet, Rhonda about 200 feet.Left Lane: Andrew Cowin Runs 4.673/276.24, Now #1 Right Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.818/266.90, Now #3Both cars went right down the groove, both "blowed it up" on the top end, running almost as fast at half track as at the finish line. There's oil in the left lane, so we'll be down for a bit of cleanup.Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.651/314.46, Now #2 Right Lane: Darrell Russell Runs 4.615/320.97, Now #1Cory Mac's team is doing it up right for new sponsor Berryman B-12 ChemTooler, right down to the Ed "Big Daddy" Roth-designed Berryman mascot driving the team bus. This pair gave us two nice runs, Cory Mac losing a little ground to Russell early in the run, then keeping pace the rest of the way.Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 5.167/202.11, Now #7 Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 10.992/79.50, Now #15After watching the previous pair, Connie Kalitta went to work in the clutch control box, making some last-minute adjustments. Maybe he tweaked it a bit too much - Doug made a good run to almost half track, then started hazing the tires and clicked it off. Schumacher went up in smoke almost immediately.Left Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 12.218/73.64, Now #17 Right Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 4.672/321.42, Now #3It's two beer cars, must be the last pair. Bernstein started smoking the tires after about 100 feet, Dixon went right down the groove with no visible tire smoke at all and the best speed of the session.
Friday
Order for Qualifying Round 1ENNIS, Texas - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 17th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Darrell Russell Bilstein Eng. Flush Dragster 4.615 320.97 2. Cory McClenathan Berryman B-12 Chemtooler Drag 4.651 314.46 3. Larry Dixon Miller Lite Dragster 4.672 321.42 4. Andrew Cowin N.Y. Yankees Dragster 4.673 276.24 5. Jim Cavalieri harddrive.com Dragster 4.730 307.37 6. Doug Herbert Snap-On Tools Dragster 4.818 266.90 7. Scott Palmer Dragster 4.924 253.44 8. Doug Kalitta MAC Tools Dragster 5.167 202.11 9. Clay Millican Werner Dragster 6.458 128.20 10. Rhonda Hartman-Smith Fram Filters Dragster 6.637 131.36 11. Mitch King LaKings Confectionary Dragste 6.877 114.24 12. John Smith Prestone Dragster 8.634 91.38 13. Don Garlits Matco Tools Dragster 8.933 94.99 14. Scott Weis RaceGirl Dragster 9.573 86.40 15. Joe Hartley Hartley Racing Dragster 10.398 92.30 16. Tony Schumacher U.S. Army Dragster 10.992 79.50 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Kenny Bernstein Budweiser King Dragster 12.218 73.64 18. Jim Head Head Racing Dragster 12.683 67.16 19. Bill Ancona AT&T Wireless Dragster 12.747 79.50 20. David Grubnic BME Dragster 13.803 72.44
Friday
Results for Qualifying Round 2ENNIS, Texas - DALLAS - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 17th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run: Left Lane: Mike Smith Runs 4.842/307.37, Now #8 No Prior Run Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.750/295.17, Now #6 Best prior run: 12.683/67.16, Was #188:00 PM Under the lights, the temperature 62 degrees, relative humidity 66 percent, the barometer 30.06 and steady, the track temperature 82 degrees.
Smith did not run in the first session, Head smoked the tires (as did most drivers)Smith pedaled once just off the starting line, then drove it through. Head's right header came partially off, the right rear of the car looking like it was on fire through the run. Both managed to get in the field despite their problems, bumping Joe Hartley and Tony Schumacher.Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 4.726/260.19, Now #6 Best prior run: 13.803/72.44, Was #21 Right Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 4.612/322.69, Now #1 Best prior run: 12.218/73.64, Was #19Both drivers smoked the tires the first time out. Neither had any apparent problems here, though Grubnic's header flames went out well before the finish line. Bernstein made a solid pass, starting with a 0.856 60-foot time, the header flames steady all the way to the finish line. He moves to #1, but that time probably won't hold through this session.Left Lane: Bill Ancona No Time, Now #21 Best prior run: 12.747/79.50, Was #21 Right Lane: Joe Hartley Runs 9.664/93.37, Now #19 Best prior run: 10.398/92.30, Was #19Two more first-round tire smokers. Something broke on Ancona's car, the header flames going out immediately and the car rolling to a stop about 300 feet out. Hartley once again smoked the tires.Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.621/326.67, Now #3 Best prior run: 10.992/79.50, Was #20 Right Lane: Scott Weis Runs 4.798/269.05, Now #10 Best prior run: 9.573/86.40, Was #18Two more in a long list of first-round tire smokers. Nice pass by Schumacher. Weis pedaled once early in the run and then the header flames went out well before the finish line.Left Lane: Mitch King Runs 4.860/262.23, Now #13 Best prior run: 6.877/114.24, Was #17 Right Lane: Don Garlits Runs 5.332/199.73, Now #16 Best prior run: 8.933/94.99, Was #19We're still working through those who had problems in the first round. Garlits pedaled once early in the run and his header flames went out well before the finish line. King appeared to make a full pass, but his speed fell off on the top end.Left Lane: Rhonda Hartman-Smith Runs 4.693/309.06, Now #7 Best prior run: 6.637/131.36, Was #18 Right Lane: John Smith Runs 12.205/94.04, Now #19 Best prior run: 8.634/91.38, Was #19The Smith Family tried again. John smoked the tires almost immediately. Rhonda made a full pass with no apparent problems until the car went past the finish line, the header flames visible well past that point.Left Lane: Clay Millican Runs 4.634/314.57, Now #4 Best prior run: 6.458/128.20, Was #18 Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 9.865/83.66, Now #17 Best prior run: 5.167/202.11, Was #16Kalitta was up in smoke after 100 feet. Millican made a nice run, the header flames strong and solid.Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 7.431/126.15, Now #13 Best prior run: 4.818/266.90, Was #13 Right Lane: Jim Cavalieri Runs 11.642/89.22, Now #10 Best prior run: 4.730/307.37, Was #10The remaining cars are already in the field, but will probably shuffle the order a bit. Or maybe not, these two both up in smoke in the first 100 feet.Left Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 11.135/76.60, Now #7 Best prior run: 4.672/321.42, Was #6 Right Lane: Andrew Cowin Runs 4.627/323.74, Now #4 Best prior run: 4.673/276.24, Was #7Two pairs left. Dixon's header flames went out almost immediately. Cowin pedaled early in the run and made a nice run after that.Left Lane: Darrell Russell Runs 5.531/168.76, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.615/320.97, Was #2 Right Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.811/234.31, Now #6 Best prior run: 4.651/314.46, Was #6Last pair of the day, with fireworks to follow. Russell's header flames went out at half track. McClenathan's engine let go on the top end, the engine on fire as he pulled off the track - but the track was clean.
Friday
Order for Qualifying Round 2ENNIS, Texas - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 17th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Kenny Bernstein Budweiser King Dragster 4.612 322.69 2. Darrell Russell Bilstein Eng. Flush Dragster 4.615 320.97 3. Tony Schumacher U.S. Army Dragster 4.621 326.67 4. Andrew Cowin N.Y. Yankees Dragster 4.627 323.74 5. Clay Millican Werner Dragster 4.634 314.57 6. Cory McClenathan Berryman B-12 Chemtooler Drag 4.651 314.46 7. Larry Dixon Miller Lite Dragster 4.672 321.42 8. Rhonda Hartman-Smith Fram Filters Dragster 4.693 309.06 9. David Grubnic BME Dragster 4.726 260.19 10. Jim Cavalieri harddrive.com Dragster 4.730 307.37 11. Jim Head Head Racing Dragster 4.750 295.17 12. Scott Weis RaceGirl Dragster 4.798 269.05 13. Doug Herbert Snap-On Tools Dragster 4.818 266.90 14. Mike Smith Trick Tank Dragster 4.842 307.37 15. Mitch King LaKings Confectionary Dragste 4.860 262.23 16. Scott Palmer Dragster 4.924 253.44 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Doug Kalitta MAC Tools Dragster 5.167 202.11 18. Don Garlits Matco Tools Dragster 5.332 199.73 19. John Smith Prestone Dragster 8.634 94.04 20. Joe Hartley Hartley Racing Dragster 9.664 93.37 21. Bill Ancona AT&T Wireless Dragster 12.747 79.50
Saturday
Results for Qualifying Round 3ENNIS, Texas - DALLAS - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 17th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run: Left Lane: John Smith Runs 6.467/136.03, Now #20 Best prior run: 8.634/91.38, Was #19 Right Lane: Bill Ancona Runs 5.394/254.02, Now #19 Best prior run: 12.747/79.50, Was #2112:26 PM Smith lost traction and pedaled at least three times to get down the track. Ancona's car had ugly header flames, kind of green and reddish brown, mixed with lots of raw fuel.Left Lane: Jim Cavalieri Runs 6.650/127.60, Now #10 Best prior run: 4.730/307.37, Was #10 Right Lane: Scott Palmer Runs 4.802/297.22, Now #13 Best prior run: 4.924/253.44, Was #16Cavalieri's car struggled to about half track, then slowed. Palmer dropped a cylinder on the left side immediately, then grenaded the engine on the top end in a big flash of flame, the supercharger flopping around atop the engine.Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 4.669/325.73, Now #8 Best prior run: 5.167/202.11, Was #17 Right Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 4.611/324.20, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.672/321.42, Was #7Two nice runs, Dixon to #1 and Kalitta in the field with a big speed. Both cars went right down the groove, the header flames (clearly visible under overcast skies) tall and steady.Left Lane: Joe Hartley Runs 4.992/312.17, Now #18 Best prior run: 9.664/93.37, Was #21 Right Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.595/308.32, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.818/266.90, Was #15The track temperature is up to 89 degrees now, just about perfect. Hartley rattled the tires and pedaled, coming up short of Mike Smith's 4.842 bump time. Nice run by "Dougzilla," right down the groove and into the #1 spot - with a small explosion and a broken blower belt in the lights. Herbert was running 269 mph at half track, so the engine started eating itself before the finish line because his top speed should have been higher.Left Lane: Don Garlits Runs 7.325/109.06, Now #19 Best prior run: 5.332/199.73, Was #19 Right Lane: Darrell Russell Runs 4.645/313.58, Now #4 Best prior run: 4.615/320.97, Was #4Garlits' car launched hard, the front wheels in the air, then the blower belt broke. He had a 0.866 60-foot time, in the competitive range, before something sent the belt sailing across the track. Meanwhile, Russell was taking care of business, making another strong, smooth run.Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 5.156/192.71, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.651/314.46, Was #8 Right Lane: Mitch King Runs 8.457/95.00, Now #17 Best prior run: 4.860/262.23, Was #17Cory Mac was on a good run to half track, quicker than Herbert to 330 feet and just a few thousandths slower at half track, then the engine went silent. King smoked the tires, pedaled, then gave it up.Left Lane: Scott Weis Runs 5.059/218.65, Now #14 Best prior run: 4.798/269.05, Was #14 Right Lane: David Grubnic Runs 4.662/316.45, Now #9 Best prior run: 4.726/260.19, Was #11Weis fell off the pace almost immediately. Grubnic made a nice run, the car smooth and straight, to move a couple rungs up the ladder.Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 9.529/85.68, Now #13 Best prior run: 4.750/295.17, Was #13 Right Lane: Rhonda Hartman-Smith Runs 4.608/318.24, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.693/309.06, Was #11Head lost traction after a couple hundred feet. Hartman-Smith made a very nice run, with a season-best elapsed time and a career-best speed.Left Lane: Andrew Cowin Runs 4.550/321.19, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.627/323.74, Was #7 Right Lane: Clay Millican Runs 4.933/224.27, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.634/314.57, Was #8The temperature is now 70 degrees, the humidity falling as the temperature climbs. There ase some holes developing in the clouds overhead, but it's still mostly cloudy. Nice run by Cowin, clean and hard. Millican's car dropped a cylinder on the left side early and then the header flames went out around the 1,000-foot marker.Left Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 4.620/317.79, Now #5 Best prior run: 4.612/322.69, Was #5 Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.662/314.68, Now #7 Best prior run: 4.621/326.67, Was #7Final pair. Two good runs, but both teams will probably find them a little disappointing.
Saturday
Order for Qualifying Round 3ENNIS, Texas - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 17th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Andrew Cowin N.Y. Yankees Dragster 4.550 323.74 2. Doug Herbert Snap-On Tools Dragster 4.595 308.32 3. Rhonda Hartman-Smith Fram Filters Dragster 4.608 318.24 4. Larry Dixon Miller Lite Dragster 4.611 324.20 5. Kenny Bernstein Budweiser King Dragster 4.612 322.69 6. Darrell Russell Bilstein Eng. Flush Dragster 4.615 320.97 7. Tony Schumacher U.S. Army Dragster 4.621 326.67 8. Clay Millican Werner Dragster 4.634 314.57 9. Cory McClenathan Berryman B-12 Chemtooler Drag 4.651 314.46 10. David Grubnic BME Dragster 4.662 316.45 11. Doug Kalitta MAC Tools Dragster 4.669 325.73 12. Jim Cavalieri harddrive.com Dragster 4.730 307.37 13. Jim Head Head Racing Dragster 4.750 295.17 14. Scott Weis RaceGirl Dragster 4.798 269.05 15. Scott Palmer Dragster 4.802 297.22 16. Mike Smith Trick Tank Dragster 4.842 307.37 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Mitch King LaKings Confectionary Dragste 4.860 262.23 18. Joe Hartley Hartley Racing Dragster 4.992 312.17 19. Don Garlits Matco Tools Dragster 5.332 199.73 20. Bill Ancona AT&T Wireless Dragster 5.394 254.02 21. John Smith Prestone Dragster 6.467 136.03
Saturday
Results for Qualifying Round 4ENNIS, Texas - DALLAS - Notes from final, round 4 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 17th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run: Left Lane: Bill Ancona Runs 5.280/221.18, Now #19 Best prior run: 5.394/254.02, Was #204:10 PM It's 79 degrees, 57 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.08 and falling, with a the track temperature of 99 degrees under sunny skies.
Ancona's car labored down the track, then the dreaded red-brown cloud of partially-burned nitromethane started trailing the car, followed by a trail of oil. We'll be down for a bit while the Safety Safari cleans up both lanes - he moved over to the right lane before he stopped.Left Lane: Mitch King Runs 10.845/82.73, Now #18 Best prior run: 4.860/262.23, Was #17 Right Lane: John Smith Runs 4.720/314.79, Now #12 Best prior run: 6.467/136.03, Was #21Amazing what a few minutes of sunshine will do - the track temperature is now 108 degrees. King went up in smoke immediately. Smith, with wife Rhonda jumping up and down in glee at the starting line, sailed right down the groove and safely into the field. That bumped his older brother, Mike Smith, from the field.Left Lane: Mike Smith Runs 4.793/311.20, Now #15 Best prior run: 4.842/307.37, Was #17 Right Lane: Don Garlits Runs 6.990/116.83, Now #21 Best prior run: 5.332/199.73, Was #21Brother Mike, not to be outdone, got right back in with a nice run of his own, bumping Scott Palmer from the field. Meanwhile, Garlits lost his second blower belt of the day. He was right with Smith to 330 feet, then the belt sailed through the air.Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 4.693/318.80, Now #10 Best prior run: 4.662/316.45, Was #10 Right Lane: Joe Hartley Runs 4.889/310.55, Now #19 Best prior run: 4.992/312.17, Was #19Hartley needed to better Scott Weis' 4.798 to get in. He made a good effort, hiking the front wheels on the launch, but the car laid down in the middle of the run. Nice run by Grubnic, with three runs between 4.726 and 4.662 after an opening round tire-smoker.Left Lane: Clay Millican Runs 4.632/313.04, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.634/314.57, Was #8 Right Lane: Scott Weis Runs 4.942/251.95, Now #16 Best prior run: 4.798/269.05, Was #16No more bumping. Nice run by Millican, staying eighth. Weis fell behind early and shut off well before the finish line.Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 10.807/80.22, Now #7 Best prior run: 4.621/326.67, Was #7 Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 8.087/95.77, Now #14 Best prior run: 4.750/295.17, Was #14Tire smoke in both lanes, Head getting a bit further down the track before losing traction.Left Lane: Darrell Russell Runs 4.659/317.23, Now #6 Best prior run: 4.615/320.97, Was #6 Right Lane: Jim Cavalieri Runs 4.721/306.64, Now #13 Best prior run: 4.730/307.37, Was #13Russell ran his third "sixty" of the weekend, another straight, smooth pass with no sign of any problems. After two busted runs, Cavalieri came back to the form he showed right out of the box Friday and stepped up a few thousandths.Left Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 11.774/75.50, Now #4 Best prior run: 4.611/324.20, Was #4 Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 4.625/323.74, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.669/325.73, Was #11Dixon hiked the front wheels up at the launch and then lost traction. No problems for Kalitta, the car leaving hard and running right down the groove - and into the top half of the field. If nothing changes, he'll face Millican tomorrow.Left Lane: Rhonda Hartman-Smith Runs 7.854/99.97, Now #3 Best prior run: 4.608/318.24, Was #3 Right Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 10.845/79.54, Now #10 Best prior run: 4.651/314.46, Was #10Tire shake and smoke, followed by silence.Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 6.367/128.71, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.595/308.32, Was #2 Right Lane: Kenny Bernstein Runs 11.638/74.68, Now #5 Best prior run: 4.612/322.69, Was #5Last pair, Andrew Cowin's team skipping this session. Bernstein hazed the tires about 200 feet out, Herbert about 300. So we finish with a whimper, the field shuffled around a bit in the middle, but no changes at the top.
Saturday
Order for Qualifying Round 4ENNIS, Texas - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 4 rounds of qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 17th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Andrew Cowin N.Y. Yankees Dragster 4.550 323.74 2. Doug Herbert Snap-On Tools Dragster 4.595 308.32 3. Rhonda Hartman-Smith Fram Filters Dragster 4.608 318.24 4. Larry Dixon Miller Lite Dragster 4.611 324.20 5. Kenny Bernstein Budweiser King Dragster 4.612 322.69 6. Darrell Russell Bilstein Eng. Flush Dragster 4.615 320.97 7. Tony Schumacher U.S. Army Dragster 4.621 326.67 8. Doug Kalitta MAC Tools Dragster 4.625 325.73 9. Clay Millican Werner Dragster 4.632 314.57 10. Cory McClenathan Berryman B-12 Chemtooler Drag 4.651 314.46 11. David Grubnic BME Dragster 4.662 318.80 12. John Smith Prestone Dragster 4.720 314.79 13. Jim Cavalieri harddrive.com Dragster 4.721 307.37 14. Jim Head Head Racing Dragster 4.750 295.17 15. Mike Smith Trick Tank Dragster 4.793 311.20 16. Scott Weis RaceGirl Dragster 4.798 269.05 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Scott Palmer Dragster 4.802 297.22 18. Mitch King LaKings Confectionary Dragste 4.860 262.23 19. Joe Hartley Hartley Racing Dragster 4.889 312.17 20. Bill Ancona AT&T Wireless Dragster 5.280 254.02 21. Don Garlits Matco Tools Dragster 5.332 199.73
Sunday
Results for Elimination Round 1ENNIS, Texas - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 17th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec: W/L Driver RT ET Speed (W) Doug Kalitta (MAC Tools Dragster) 0.410 4.587 320.39 (L) Clay Millican (Werner Dragster) 0.496 4.688 309.2711:20 AM It's 59 degrees, 60 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.39 and steady, the track temperature 74 degrees, under a light overcast. The density altitude is just a couple hundred feet above sea level, almost 3,000 feet better than yesterday.
This is the first time Kalitta and Millican have raced each other this year. Kalitta buried Millican, cutting a psychic light and dipping into the fifties for the first time this weekend. Both cars made clean, full passes, but Kalitta was in a different league on this one.(W) Cory McClenathan (Berryman B-12 Chemtooler D0.485 4.588 322.00 (L) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.487 4.607 322.00Schumacher was 2-1 against Cory Mac this year, and Cory evened up the tally in a great drag race. They left right together, but McClenathan led all the way, Schumacher closing in a bit on the top end, but unable to catch the Berryman dragster today. Cory Mac's incremental margins: 60ft(0.015), 330ft(0.042), 660ft(0.033), 1,000ft(0.025). MOV: 0.0217 seconds (approximately 10 feet).(W) Darrell Russell (Bilstein Eng. Flush Dragste0.486 4.664 302.62 (L) David Grubnic (BME Dragster) 0.509 4.724 307.48Russell defeated Grubnic in their only prior meeting this year. Today is crew chief Wayne Dupuy's 39th birthday, by the way. Happy Birthday, Wayne. Russell was away first and both cars were eating engine parts on the top half of the track, but both drivers stayed in the throttle to the line. Russell got there first by about a car length. There's oil in Grubnic's lane, so we'll be down for a minute.(W) Kenny Bernstein (Budweiser King Dragster) 0.469 4.620 320.97 (L) John Smith (Prestone Dragster) 0.468 4.702 311.85Bernstein was 7-0 against John Smith this year. It's been 22 years since Bernstein lost to a driver named Smith, by the way. The string is intact and Bernstein is 8-0, but Smith gave him a drag race and if "Big Red" had faltered, Smith was right there. By a car length, Bernstein moves to a possible second-round match with Larry Dixon.(W) Larry Dixon (Miller Lite Dragster) 0.495 4.614 320.05 (L) Jim Cavalieri (harddrive.com Dragster) 0.539 4.706 299.00Cavalieri has pulled off some big upsets in the past, but this was probably his toughest challenge. Dixon's team did not take him lightly and Dixon was first away from the line. It was almost a carbon copy of the Bernstein-Smith race, except Cavalieri had a big flash of flame from the left side of the engine at about 1,000 feet. Dixon will face Bernstein with lane choice and a chance to virtually lock up the title. On the other hand, if Bernstein can put Dixon away and go on to win the race, he could cut the margin down to about tree rounds.(W) Doug Herbert (Snap-On Tools Dragster) 0.516 4.559 316.78 (L) Mike Smith (Trick Tank Dragster) 0.542 6.202 142.42This is the first time Herbert has faced Mike Smith this year. Herbert left first and ran away, the car on rails. Smith started to smoke the tires, pedaled, then saw Herbert disappear and lifted. Here are Herbert's incremental times on that great run: 60ft-0.853 sec., 330ft-2.147, 660ft-3.071/272.06mph, 1,000ft-3.862. That's a huge half-track speed! Herbert faces Cory Mac next round and will have lane choice.(W) Rhonda Hartman-Smith (Fram Filters Dragster)0.520 4.647 313.91 (L) Jim Head (Head Racing Dragster) 0.488 5.330 175.84This is the first time Head and Hartman-Smith have faced each other this season. There was a brief scare when Hartman-Smith fired her engine, her father's jacket getting tangled in the throttle linkage as she started to pull away. Fortunately there were no injuries and no damage to the car. Head left first and led to half track, his car back hard on the wheelie bar on the launch, but he appeared to lose the blower belt at half track and she went by for an easy win. Hartman-Smith races Russell next round and will have lane choice.(W) Andrew Cowin (N.Y. Yankees Dragster) 0.517 4.579 325.73 (L) Scott Weis (RaceGirl Dragster) 0.526 5.655 160.65Cowin was 1-0 against Weis coming into this one and he streaked away for an easy win, Weis grenading the engine at about 1,000 feet. The track is dry, so the engine blankets and other oil containment devices did their job. Cowin races Kalitta next round and will have lane choice. Kalitta ran the second-quickest elapsed time of the round and still lost lane choice by 0.008 seconds!
Sunday
Results for Elimination Round 2ENNIS, Texas - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 17th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec: W/L Driver RT ET Speed (W) Rhonda Hartman-Smith (Fram Filters Dragster)0.513 4.660 307.06 (L) Darrell Russell (Bilstein Eng. Flush Dragste0.478 4.793 301.701:28 PM It's 62 degrees, 60 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.39 and steady, the track temperature 77 degrees under overcast skies.(W) Kenny Bernstein (Budweiser King Dragster) 0.452 4.601 321.54 (L) Larry Dixon (Miller Lite Dragster) 0.486 4.662 321.08 This was a big race for both drivers, the championship at stake. It was a good drag race, but Bernstein was away first and steadily lengthened his lead, winning by more than a car length. That cuts 20 points off Dixon's lead and gives Bernstein the opportunity to cut it down by 60 more by winning the event. (W) Doug Kalitta (MAC Tools Dragster) 0.483 4.567 323.27 (L) Andrew Cowin (N.Y. Yankees Dragster) 0.472 4.617 296.44However, Bernstein will have to get around the hottest driver in the closing stages of the season, Kalitta making his quickest run of the weekend for the win and lane choice over Bernstein in the semifinals. Cowin left first, but Kalitta had the lead by 60 feet and slowly opened the margin to about 17 feet at the line, getting half that margin in the last section of the track when Cowin's engine started destroying itself.(W) Cory McClenathan (Berryman B-12 Chemtooler D0.508 4.602 315.01 (L) Doug Herbert (Snap-On Tools Dragster) 0.485 4.710 314.46These two were 1-1 in prior races this year. Herbert went out about 200 feet and then had to pedal it, probably feeling the tires start to shake. That let Cory Mac grab a car-length lead and he never gave it back, even though there was a flash of flame from the engine just past 1,000 feet. McClenathan has lane choice against Hartman-Smith in the semifinals.
Sunday
Results for Elimination Round 3ENNIS, Texas - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 17th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec: W/L Driver RT ET Speed (W) Cory McClenathan (Berryman B-12 Chemtooler D0.595 10.132 82.25 (L) Rhonda Hartman-Smith (Fram Filters Dragster)0.000(R) (Broke)3:07 PM It's 63 degrees, 60 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.38 and falling, the track temperature 81 degrees, under overcast skies.
Cory Mac was 4-1 against Hartman-Smith in prior races this season. Making it 5-1 was easy because Hartman-Smith's car stopped on the track at the end of the burnout and she climbed over the wall to clear the track for Cory Mac's run. He launched hard, with a 0.861 60-foot time, then the engine went silent and he coasted through.(W) Doug Kalitta (MAC Tools Dragster) 0.474 5.468 289.29 (L) Kenny Bernstein (Budweiser King Dragster) 0.478 5.886 203.71Bernstein was 5-1 against Kalitta in prior races this year, but Kalitta has been on a hot streak lately and was a clear favorite based on his first two runs today. Kalitta was lined up in the left lane, then elected to switch. The race was a good old-fashioned pedaling contest. Kalitta was up in smoke first, but recovered better and managed to get hooked back up again, while Bernstein's tires never did regain traction. Realistically, that puts a big dent in bernstein's title hopes because he now trails Dixon by 108 points with just two races left. Kalitta will have lane choice against Cory Mac in the finals.
Sunday
Results for Final RoundENNIS, Texas - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 17th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec: W/L Driver RT ET Speed (W) Doug Kalitta (MAC Tools Dragster) 0.491 4.582 322.58 (L) Cory McClenathan (Berryman B-12 Chemtooler D0.487 6.565 130.624:43 PM One of these two will be Bob Frey's "big event," the 500th Top Fuel winner in NHRA history. But the 500th national event was Indy this year, you say? True, but Top Fuel was not contested at all of them.
These two are just about dead even in prior races, Cory Mac with a career 8-7 record against Kalitta. They each won once against the other this year and this is the first time they have met in a final round. It was Kalitta's 24th final round, with 10 wins, Cory Mac's 41st, with 26 wins. THis one was over quickly, McClenathan first away from the starting line and then up in smoke. Kalitta wasn't far behind at the green and made another almost flawless run, his third 4.50s elapsed time of the day.