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Thursday
Results for Qualifying Round 1POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run: Left Lane: Steven Chrisman Runs 5.002/292.14, Now #2 Right Lane: Steve Torrence Runs 4.599/318.92, Now #13:05 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 77 degrees, relative humidity 42 percent, barometer 29.02 inches, adjusted altitude 2,506 feet, track temperature 94 degrees.Looks like the right lane is not as big a problem for the long cars, as Torrance runs a straight and true pass to set the standard for the rest of the qualifiers. Chrisman struggles with the tune up and will not likely stay in the field.
Left Lane: Joe Hartley Runs 10.887/87.12, Now #4 Right Lane: Troy Buff Runs 9.318/81.82, Now #3Buff has shown himself well at the last couple of races, but the car starts to move out of the groove at the hit and goes up in smoke by the 60 foot lights. No joy for Hartley, as his tires are smoking at the green.Left Lane: Mike Strasburg Runs 4.578/324.44, Now #1 Right Lane: Scott Palmer No Time, Now #6Palmer's crew shuts him off after the burnout and pulls the car back behind the line. Strasburg makes a great looking pass into the current top spot, but it looks expensive as there is a plume of dust from the sand trap at the end of the track. No announcer's feed or TV monitors today, so I couldn't tell exactly what happened, but I'm told that there were no chutes deployed. This pass is a career best ET for Strasburg.3:11 p.m.
Left Lane: Alan Bradshaw Runs 4.693/300.86, Now #4 Right Lane: Clay Millican Runs 4.640/307.16, Now #33:21 p.m. ...and we are back. Bill Miller Engineering announced a "new and improved" supercharger for the fuel cars earlier this week and Millican is running a new basic black paint scheme this week with Motorvation in big letters down the side of the car, along with a big Nitro Fish decal. Bradshaw is away first, but Millican has a lot better 60 foot time and quickly passes him by. They run together until right near the lights, where both cars go bang and we have a lot of smoke in both lanes. Once again we are in delay, as the Safety Safari begins their dusting and cleaning activities on the top end.Left Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 4.728/309.84, Now #6 Right Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.614/302.82, Now #33:28 p.m. Lots of holes out in Vandergriff's car after mid-track and he still runs 4.72. Herbert engine runs well until about the 1000 foot mark and then give up the ghost. The parade of clean up trucks starts their trek to the finish line again.Left Lane: David Baca Runs 4.583/310.98, Now #3 Right Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 4.567/324.75, Now #13:42 p.m. Lucas is coming off of his first ever DNQ at Las Vegas and makes a strong pass to ensure a spot in this weeks eliminations. Say Hello to your new #1 qualifier! Baca continues to show improvements and runs right behind him into the current #3 spot.Left Lane: Hillary Will Runs 4.620/311.77, Now #7 Right Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.561/331.85, Now #1 Left Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 4.565/313.15, Now #2 Right Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 4.568/327.90, Now #4Todd is likely to be the Rookie of the year and he shows why with a current #2. The car uses all of his lane getting to the finish line. Dixon's tune up was a little milder and he moves into the current #4 spot.Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 4.524/323.97, Now #1 Right Lane: Rod Fuller Runs 4.537/327.19, Now #2The power is starting to show, with both cars making a good looking side by side run into the current top spots. Troy Buff is the first car on the bump spot at 9.318.Left Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 10.612/83.85, Now #18 Right Lane: B. Bernstein Runs 4.519/330.47, Now #1Troxel and Bernstein have been on and off this year. Troxel's tune up is too stout for the track and the tires start to spin before the 60 foot lights. The Bud Car has the tune up and streaks into the new #1 position on a clean pass.Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.490/328.54, Now #1 Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 4.546/326.87, Now #5Last two cars of the session. Steven Chrisman is on the bump spot at 5.002. No National Record today, but the Army car has the power and tune up to nail the top spot. Kalitta's car is .02 sec slower in 60 feet and has to settle for the #5 spot today.3:58 p.m. Long session and Alan Bradshaw is on the bump spot at 4.693.
Thursday
Order for Qualifying Round 1POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Tony Schumacher U.S. Army Dragster 4.490 328.54 2. Brandon Bernstein Budweiser/Lucas Oil Dragster 4.519 330.47 3. David Grubnic StriVectin-SD Dragster 4.524 323.97 4. Rod Fuller David Powers Motorsports Drags 4.537 327.19 5. Doug Kalitta MAC Tools Dragster 4.546 326.87 6. Cory McClenathan Carrier Boyz/Fram Boost 2 Drag 4.561 331.85 7. J.R. Todd Skull Shine Dragster 4.565 313.15 8. Morgan Lucas Lucas Oil Dragster 4.567 324.75 9. Larry Dixon Miller Lite Dragster 4.568 327.90 10. Mike Strasburg B & J Transmissions Dragster 4.578 324.44 11. David Baca Mach 1 Air Services Dragster 4.583 310.98 12. Steve Torrence Skull Shine Dragster 4.599 318.92 13. Doug Herbert Snap-On Tools Dragster 4.614 302.82 14. Hillary Will KB Racing Dragster 4.620 311.77 15. Clay Millican Werner Enterprises Dragster 4.640 307.16 16. Alan Bradshaw Bill Miller Engineering/Okuma 4.693 300.86 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Bob Vandergriff UPS Dragster 4.728 309.84 18. Steven Chrisman Chrisman Driveline Components 5.002 292.14 19. Troy Buff Coughlan Racing Dragster 9.318 81.82 20. Melanie Troxel Skull Gear/Torco Dragster 10.612 83.85 21. Joe Hartley Hartley Racing Dragster 10.887 87.12
Friday
Results for Qualifying Round 2POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals 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: Scott Palmer Runs 7.024/118.65, Now #20 No Prior Run Right Lane: Joe Hartley Runs 4.868/261.12, Now #18 Best prior run: 10.887/87.12, Was #212:24 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 28 percent, barometer 29.15 inches, adjusted altitude 2,497 feet, track temperature 101 degrees.Alan Bradshaw is on the bump spot at 4.693.
Hartley's pass was expensive. He had at least one hole out by 60 feet and then started to spread oil and small pieces of aluminum across his lane before the 1000 foot lights. He is spectacular with fire and smoke to boot. Palmer gives it up early and coasts on down the track. The dusting and cleaning has started in ernest in the right lane.
Left Lane: Troy Buff Runs 4.641/291.45, Now #17 Best prior run: 9.318/81.82, Was #21 Right Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 4.559/321.35, Now #6 Best prior run: 10.612/83.85, Was #222: 28 p.m. ...and we are back. If Buff had run 1320 feet he would have qualified, but a 1500 foot pass made that difficult. He uses both sides and the middle of his lane getting to the finish line. Troxel gets back to her earlier style with a nice clean pass to the lights. She'll take the current #6 spot.Left Lane: Clay Millican Runs 9.561/71.91, Now #16 Best prior run: 4.640/307.16, Was #16 Right Lane: Steven Chrisman Runs 4.940/290.19, Now #21 Best prior run: 5.002/292.14, Was #21Millican moves ten feet and smokes the tires. Chrisman continues to sneak up on a qualifying ET, but has a lot of smoke in the lights.Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.535/318.24, Now #4 Best prior run: 4.614/302.82, Was #14 Right Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 4.610/322.50, Now #15 Best prior run: 4.728/309.84, Was #19Herbert makes a big move up the ladder with a great looking pass into the current #4 spot. Vandergriff has smoke off the engine by the 1000 foot lights and still bumps into the field. No "stuff" on the track and the call goes out to start the next pair.Left Lane: Steve Torrence Runs 4.614/315.71, Now #14 Best prior run: 4.599/318.92, Was #14 Right Lane: Alan Bradshaw Runs 4.615/320.28, Now #16 Best prior run: 4.693/300.86, Was #19If this was Sunday, it would be a great looking race. The two cars leave within .004 of each other and have ET's within .001! Torrance gets the minor advantage and will stay #14, but Bradshaw moves into the field in the bump spot.Left Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 4.549/322.34, Now #7 Best prior run: 4.568/327.90, Was #11 Right Lane: Hillary Will Runs 4.574/326.48, Now #12 Best prior run: 4.620/311.77, Was #17Two more strong passes and both cars make good moves up the ladder. Dixon into the top half of the field and Will into the field in the #12 spot.Left Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 4.579/312.86, Now #11 Best prior run: 4.567/324.75, Was #11 Right Lane: David Baca Runs 4.620/304.80, Now #14 Best prior run: 4.583/310.98, Was #14Bob Vandergriff is on the bump spot at 4.610. Two clean passes until near the lights, where Lucas lights up the engine. Look for the "in car" camera shots in tomorrow's qualifying TV show. Lots of fire for a long time! Baca had better 60 foot times, but could not match his earlier pass.Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.559/330.88, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.561/331.85, Was #9 Right Lane: Mike Strasburg Runs 7.482/112.98, Now #13 Best prior run: 4.578/324.44, Was #132:57 p.m. No serious oil on the track, so the next pair comes to life. Strasburg starts to drop cylinders by 100 feet and then strikes the tires. Another great MPH for McClenathan and he moves the Fram dragster up into the top half of the field. Lots of smoke from the engine in the lights, but no oil on the track.Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 8.373/98.43, Now #6 Best prior run: 4.546/326.87, Was #6 Right Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 4.745/250.64, Now #10 Best prior run: 4.565/313.15, Was #10Two broken runs, with Kalitta smoking the tires off the line and Todd dropping cylinders after the 330 lights. Both cars click it early.Left Lane: Rod Fuller Runs 4.509/323.89, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.537/327.19, Was #5 Right Lane: David Grubnic Runs 11.439/76.61, Now #4 Best prior run: 4.524/323.97, Was #3Grubnic strikes the tires after the 60 foot lights and has to watch Fuller streak down the track and into the current #2 spot. Nice clean pass!Left Lane: B. Bernstein Runs 12.877/64.51, Now #3 Best prior run: 4.519/330.47, Was #3 Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.506/326.24, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.490/328.54, Was #1Last two fuelers in the session. Schumacher just misses another four forty pass and keeps bragging rights for the round for low ET. Bernstein's car matches the Army car for 60 feet and then is too agressive for the lane. Lots of smoke and he gives it up.3:09 p.m. Bob Vandergriff stays on the bump spot at 4.610.
Friday
Order for Qualifying Round 2POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Tony Schumacher U.S. Army Dragster 4.490 328.54 2. Rod Fuller David Powers Motorsports Drags 4.509 327.19 3. Brandon Bernstein Budweiser/Lucas Oil Dragster 4.519 330.47 4. David Grubnic StriVectin-SD Dragster 4.524 323.97 5. Doug Herbert Snap-On Tools Dragster 4.535 318.24 6. Doug Kalitta MAC Tools Dragster 4.546 326.87 7. Larry Dixon Miller Lite Dragster 4.549 327.90 8. Cory McClenathan Carrier Boyz/Fram Boost 2 Drag 4.559 331.85 9. Melanie Troxel Skull Gear/Torco Dragster 4.559 321.35 10. J.R. Todd Skull Shine Dragster 4.565 313.15 11. Morgan Lucas Lucas Oil Dragster 4.567 324.75 12. Hillary Will KB Racing Dragster 4.574 326.48 13. Mike Strasburg B & J Transmissions Dragster 4.578 324.44 14. David Baca Mach 1 Air Services Dragster 4.583 310.98 15. Steve Torrence Skull Shine Dragster 4.599 318.92 16. Bob Vandergriff UPS Dragster 4.610 322.50 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Alan Bradshaw Bill Miller Engineering/Okuma 4.615 320.28 18. Clay Millican Werner Enterprises Dragster 4.640 307.16 19. Troy Buff Coughlan Racing Dragster 4.641 291.45 20. Joe Hartley Hartley Racing Dragster 4.868 261.12 21. Steven Chrisman Chrisman Driveline Components 4.940 292.14 22. Scott Palmer Grand Crowne/Nitro Plate Drags 7.024 118.65
Saturday
Results for Qualifying Round 3POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals 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: David Grubnic Runs 10.206/78.31, Now #4 Best prior run: 4.524/323.97, Was #4 Right Lane: B. Bernstein Runs 4.510/332.34, Now #3 Best prior run: 4.519/330.47, Was #31:15 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 74 degrees, relative humidity 47 percent, barometer 29.07 inches, adjusted altitude 2,234 feet, track temperature 91 degrees.Lots of great runs in Funny Car bodes well for the Long Cars. Both cars had problems in the last session and Grubnic's run is over before the 330 lights, after a .866 sixty foot time, as the tires are up in smoke. Bernstein runs it softer off the line and thunders on down the track for a Big MPH and a better ET. He will stay #3 for now. Looks like the Bud car is sporting a new Miller style fuel injector and scope on top of the blower. Bob Vandergriff is on the bump spot at 4.610.
Left Lane: Mike Strasburg Runs 8.671/99.91, Now #13 Best prior run: 4.578/324.44, Was #13 Right Lane: Clay Millican Runs 4.643/312.86, Now #18 Best prior run: 4.640/307.16, Was #18No joy for either team. Strasburg spins about where Grubby did, while Millican is consistent.Left Lane: Steven Chrisman Runs 5.027/287.47, Now #21 Best prior run: 4.940/290.19, Was #21 Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 4.502/328.86, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.546/326.87, Was #6Chrisman takes the long way down and slows from his prior run. Kalitta makes a big statement and runs a clean pass into the #2 spot. The real starts in the lights, as they is a wall of sparks from underneath the front of the car. The chutes are late to boot and he has his hands full getting the car stopped. The TV replay shows a major bend in the main rails right behind the front axle.Left Lane: Joe Hartley Runs 4.761/305.77, Now #20 Best prior run: 4.868/261.12, Was #20 Right Lane: Scott Palmer Runs 5.330/184.32, Now #22 Best prior run: 7.024/118.65, Was #22Hartley picks up a dime in ET, but stays #20. Palmer picks up a second and a half and stays #22.Left Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 4.515/324.28, Now #5 Best prior run: 4.565/313.15, Was #10 Right Lane: Troy Buff Runs 8.532/91.19, Now #19 Best prior run: 4.641/291.45, Was #19Buff is up in smoke just before the 330 lights. Todd continues to improve and moves well up into the top half of the field in the current #5 position.Left Lane: David Baca Runs 4.642/312.50, Now #14 Best prior run: 4.583/310.98, Was #14 Right Lane: Steve Torrence Runs 4.623/320.58, Now #15 Best prior run: 4.599/318.92, Was #15Neither car improves, but they both make a strong side by side pass. They will get one more chance later today.Left Lane: Alan Bradshaw Runs 4.636/316.82, Now #17 Best prior run: 4.615/320.28, Was #17 Right Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 4.587/305.01, Now #11 Best prior run: 4.567/324.75, Was #11Bradshaw is looking to bump Vandergriff, who currently is only .005 quicker. Not this time, as the tune up isn't quite there. Lucas uses a lot of parts getting to the finish line and won't improve either.Left Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 4.627/319.67, Now #16 Best prior run: 4.610/322.50, Was #16 Right Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.561/327.66, Now #9 Best prior run: 4.559/330.88, Was #9The clouds have started to move across the Pomona skies and may provide Schumacher with the advantage he need to set a record. The header flames are bright for both cars going down the track, but they both slow from their prior runs. However, consistency is a good thing! Vandergriff will stay on the bump.Left Lane: Hillary Will Runs 10.280/80.27, Now #12 Best prior run: 4.574/326.48, Was #12 Right Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 4.508/331.12, Now #3 Best prior run: 4.549/322.34, Was #8WOW! Nice pass for the Miller Lite Team. They card a strong .846 off the line and then run strong and clean into the current #5 spot. Will's tune up is too strong for the left lane and the tires are up in smoke before 100 feet.Left Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 4.527/327.59, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.559/321.35, Was #10 Right Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.608/321.50, Now #9 Best prior run: 4.535/318.24, Was #8Both of these cars capable of top half of the field performance. Both cars run with flames over the wings down the track. Melanie gets the advantage and pushes Herbert down a spot to take his place on the ladder.Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.458/328.46, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.490/328.54, Was #1 Right Lane: Rod Fuller Runs 4.780/250.97, Now #4 Best prior run: 4.509/323.89, Was #4Allen Johnson makes his final adjustments to the US Army car and Schumacher does his job getting the car from one end of the track to the other. Tony's prediction of a new National Record in yesterday's after qualifying interview is getting closer to being true. A clean and true pass gets his back up numbers for a possible record in the final session, where the weather conditions should be even better. Fuller's Valvoline dragster runs with him at the start, but slows from his prior best.
Saturday
Order for Qualifying Round 3POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Tony Schumacher U.S. Army Dragster 4.458 328.54 2. Doug Kalitta MAC Tools Dragster 4.502 328.86 3. Larry Dixon Miller Lite Dragster 4.508 331.12 4. Rod Fuller David Powers Motorsports Drags 4.509 327.19 5. Brandon Bernstein Budweiser/Lucas Oil Dragster 4.510 332.34 6. J.R. Todd Skull Shine Dragster 4.515 324.28 7. David Grubnic StriVectin-SD Dragster 4.524 323.97 8. Melanie Troxel Skull Gear/Torco Dragster 4.527 327.59 9. Doug Herbert Snap-On Tools Dragster 4.535 321.50 10. Cory McClenathan Carrier Boyz/Fram Boost 2 Drag 4.559 331.85 11. Morgan Lucas Lucas Oil Dragster 4.567 324.75 12. Hillary Will KB Racing Dragster 4.574 326.48 13. Mike Strasburg B & J Transmissions Dragster 4.578 324.44 14. David Baca Mach 1 Air Services Dragster 4.583 312.50 15. Steve Torrence Skull Shine Dragster 4.599 320.58 16. Bob Vandergriff UPS Dragster 4.610 322.50 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Alan Bradshaw Bill Miller Engineering/Okuma 4.615 320.28 18. Clay Millican Werner Enterprises Dragster 4.640 312.86 19. Troy Buff Coughlan Racing Dragster 4.641 291.45 20. Joe Hartley Hartley Racing Dragster 4.761 305.77 21. Steven Chrisman Chrisman Driveline Components 4.940 292.14 22. Scott Palmer Grand Crowne/Nitro Plate Drags 5.330 184.32
Saturday
Results for Qualifying Round 4POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from final, round 4 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals 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: Scott Palmer Runs 9.219/101.71, Now #22 Best prior run: 5.330/184.32, Was #224:49 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 67 degrees, relative humidity 52 percent, barometer 29.07 inches, adjusted altitude 1,778 feet, track temperature 77 degrees.Wild times in the final Funny Car session. I'll bet that Schumacher would like to run right now. It continues to cool off and there may not be enough track temperature at the end of the session.
Palmer hammers out a .889 sixty foot time and then clicks it off. Bob Vandergriff is on the bump spot at 4.610.
Left Lane: Troy Buff Runs 4.592/305.56, Now #15 Best prior run: 4.641/291.45, Was #19 Right Lane: Steven Chrisman No Time, Now #21 Best prior run: 4.940/290.19, Was #21We only have broken clouds now, but it's almost full dark on the track. Chrisman's car has problems and is pushed away. Buff gets a full pull and powers his way into the field in the current #15 position. I'd be worried that my time would last for long.Left Lane: Clay Millican Runs 4.767/266.11, Now #19 Best prior run: 4.640/307.16, Was #19 Right Lane: Joe Hartley Runs 10.601/91.01, Now #20 Best prior run: 4.761/305.77, Was #20Both cars leave hard and Hartley is up in smoke before the 330 lights. Millican's car just doesn't have the power down track and he will not qualify this weekend.Left Lane: Steve Torrence Runs 4.577/319.14, Now #13 Best prior run: 4.599/318.92, Was #16 Right Lane: Alan Bradshaw Runs 4.585/308.21, Now #16 Best prior run: 4.615/320.28, Was #18This is likely the battle for the bump with both cars running almost equal times to date. Two more good passes and we equal the quickest TF field ever. Bradshaw had better incremental times than Torrance until the 1000 foot mark and then the Skull Shine dragster drove on by.Left Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 5.183/185.61, Now #11 Best prior run: 4.567/324.75, Was #11 Right Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 10.940/79.16, Now #18 Best prior run: 4.610/322.50, Was #18Expensive pass for Lucas as it lights up the night at mid-track and flames on down the course. Vandergriff strikes the tires near the 330 lights.Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 10.084/73.64, Now #10 Best prior run: 4.559/330.88, Was #10 Right Lane: David Baca Runs 4.629/312.57, Now #15 Best prior run: 4.583/310.98, Was #155:13 p.m. That was a long clean up. Cory Mac goes about 200 feet and clicks it. Baca is on a good one until near the finish line and "blows up real good". He still improves on his MPH, but stays number fifteen. The car coasts on down with fire out of both sides of the engine. The Safety Safari rolls again to do a little dusting and cleaning in the right lane this time.Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.544/316.82, Now #9 Best prior run: 4.535/318.24, Was #9 Right Lane: Mike Strasburg Runs 9.249/98.06, Now #14 Best prior run: 4.578/324.44, Was #13Herbert makes another great pass, but will stay #9. Strasburg clicks it early.Left Lane: B. Bernstein Runs 4.473/330.15, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.510/332.34, Was #5 Right Lane: Hillary Will Runs 4.535/324.36, Now #9 Best prior run: 4.574/326.48, Was #12And the hits keep coming. The new parts on Bernstein's car are definitely working tonight. Both cars make strong and straight pass and move up the ladder. The Bud car makes it look easy.Left Lane: Rod Fuller Runs 4.534/324.20, Now #6 Best prior run: 4.509/323.89, Was #5 Right Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 4.485/329.83, Now #3 Best prior run: 4.527/327.59, Was #8Another four forty pass for Troxel makes the top of the field even stronger. Fuller makes another good looking pass in the left lane, but gets bumped back one by the Skull Gear car. We are down again for oil in Troxel's lane.Left Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 10.135/92.14, Now #6 Best prior run: 4.508/331.12, Was #5 Right Lane: David Grubnic Runs 4.488/326.00, Now #4 Best prior run: 4.524/323.97, Was #8Dixon strikes the tire and Grubnic is the next member of the Pomona Four Forty Club. He makes a great looking pass into the current #4 spot.Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 4.452/328.22, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.502/328.86, Was #5 Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 16.139/72.90, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.458/328.46, Was #1Well, this will certainly be on the TV highlights tonight! Schumacher's dragster backs up from the burn out and the NHRA guys start pointing to a likely leak. Rick Stewart gives them the sign to shut it off, but no one pays attention. The crew does a little poking around and Allen Johnson gives Stewart the big OK sign. Stewart shrugs his shoulder and gives the two cars the green. All chances for a record run are out the window, when the black car strikes the tires at the hit. To add insult to injury, Kalitta proceeds to thunder on down the track into the new number one position. This change will ensure that the two cars can't meet until the finals. When the starting line camera focused on Connie Kalitta, he was all smiles and grins...There was just an official NHRA announcement in the tower that two starting line officials had instructed the Army team to shut off the engine and that the incident was "under review". Hmmmm!! This may get even more interesting!
Saturday
Order for Qualifying Round 4POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 4 rounds of qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Doug Kalitta MAC Tools Dragster 4.452 328.86 2. Tony Schumacher U.S. Army Dragster 4.458 328.54 3. Brandon Bernstein Budweiser/Lucas Oil Dragster 4.473 332.34 4. Melanie Troxel Skull Gear/Torco Dragster 4.485 329.83 5. David Grubnic StriVectin-SD Dragster 4.488 326.00 6. Larry Dixon Miller Lite Dragster 4.508 331.12 7. Rod Fuller David Powers Motorsports Drags 4.509 327.19 8. J.R. Todd Skull Shine Dragster 4.515 324.28 9. Hillary Will KB Racing Dragster 4.535 326.48 10. Doug Herbert Snap-On Tools Dragster 4.535 321.50 11. Cory McClenathan Carrier Boyz/Fram Boost 2 Drag 4.559 331.85 12. Morgan Lucas Lucas Oil Dragster 4.567 324.75 13. Steve Torrence Skull Shine Dragster 4.577 320.58 14. Mike Strasburg B & J Transmissions Dragster 4.578 324.44 15. David Baca Mach 1 Air Services Dragster 4.583 312.57 16. Alan Bradshaw Bill Miller Engineering/Okuma 4.585 320.28 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Troy Buff Coughlan Racing Dragster 4.592 305.56 18. Bob Vandergriff UPS Dragster 4.610 322.50 19. Clay Millican Werner Enterprises Dragster 4.640 312.86 20. Joe Hartley Hartley Racing Dragster 4.761 305.77 21. Steven Chrisman Chrisman Driveline Components 4.940 292.14 22. Scott Palmer Grand Crowne/Nitro Plate Drags 5.330 184.32
Sunday
Results for Elimination Round 1POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) J.R. Todd (Skull Shine Dragster) 0.060 4.534 325.53 (L) Hillary Will (KB Racing Dragster) 0.087 4.553 325.6911:01 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 74 degrees, relative humidity 42 percent, barometer 29.20 inches, adjusted altitude 2,049 feet, track temperature 91 degrees. This morning brings higher temperatures and a few high clouds.Todd has been in the top half of the field in twelve of the eighteen times he has qualified this year. Will is his favorite opponent, having beaten her more times than any other driver. He has won four of the five times that they have met in eliminations. Will has qualified at all twenty three races in her rookie year and is currently in the last slot in the annual Top Ten points chase by just one point.
Great side by side drag race to start eliminations. Todd gets the advantage off the line and is able to hold off a quicker Will at the lights for a very narrow win.
(W) Rod Fuller (David Powers Motorsports Dragst 0.072 4.544 327.35 (L) Doug Herbert (Snap-On Tools Dragster) 0.075 10.318 97.42Fuller has a 4-2 advantage over Herbert in eliminations and has lane choice this morning. Herbert is making his 254th professional start and this will be the nineteenth time from the tenth position.Herbert's weekend is over before 100 feet as the tires are up in smoke. Fuller makes a full pull and runs close to his qualifying times to take the easy win.
(W) Larry Dixon (Miller Lite Dragster) 0.028 4.535 323.04 (L) Cory McClenathan (Carrier Boyz/Fram Boost 2 0.066 4.543 331.28Dixon has faced Cory Mac more times in eliminations than any other driver. To date he has maintained a 29-16 win advantage. Fortunately, McClenathan has a better record against the rest of the competition. He is making his 301st start and won here in 1992 and 2002. He needs to go some rounds to improve on his current #9 spot in points for the year.Another great race and Dixon ensures that the last race for Miller Lite will be a good one. He is away first and stays there from start to finish. McClenathan makes another strong pass, but just can't catch Dixon.
(W) Morgan Lucas (Lucas Oil Dragster) 0.083 4.685 272.67 (L) David Grubnic (StriVectin-SD Dragster) 0.058 7.625 115.95This will be the three hundredth round in competition for Grubnic and he has a 5 to 4 win advantage over Lucas on race day. Lucas comes into eliminations in eleventh place, just one round behind Will. He will be looking for some round wins to vault him into the valued Top Ten for the year.Grubnic is up in smoke by 100 feet and tries desperately to gather it back with lots of throttle pumping. It too little, too late, as Lucas is long gone. He starts to mix up the cylinders at mid-track and has some fire in the lights. It's another expensive pass and the Safety Safari rolls down the track to start the clean up. The round win points may not count against the potential oil down penality. 11:14 a.m.
(W) Melanie Troxel (Skull Gear/Torco Dragster) 0.074 4.553 323.66 (L) Steve Torrence (Skull Shine Dragster) 0.103 4.622 294.8811:17 a.m. Torrence will be the thirty-forth different driver that Troxel has met in eliminations. She was the runner up here in 2005. Torrance is a late in the year starter in Top Fuel, but was runner up in Top Alcohol Dragster here in 2005.Troxel is ready for Torrance and leads him off the line and down the track to the win. Torrance's engine needed a longer fuze, as the engine expires before the lights. No oil on the track, so we keep on running. Troxel will have lane choice over Lucas in round two.
(W) Brandon Bernstein (Budweiser/Lucas Oil Drag 0.078 4.508 330.15 (L) Mike Strasburg (B & J Transmissions Dragste -0.007(R) 7.645 115.53In his short professional career, Bernstein is qualifying for the seventy-seventh straight time. Strasburg ran a careen best time of 4.578 to qualify this weekend.Strasburg goes for the lights and just misses by -0.007. He is up in smoke after that to add insult to injury. Bernstein makes a picture perfect pass and will have lane choice over Dixon next round.
(W) Doug Kalitta (MAC Tools Dragster) 0.047 4.482 331.77 (L) Alan Bradshaw (Bill Miller Engineering/Okum 0.057 9.095 81.40Kalitta has been the number one qualifier twenty eight times in his career and this event will be his second time for 2006. He was the runner up here in 1999. This will be Bradshaw's eleventh start as a TF driver.I would have thought that Kalitta would have forced Schumacher to run before him, but there is no serious challenge, when Bradshaw strikes the tires off the line. Kalitta shows the power and makes the quickest run of eliminations to make his point. He will have lane choice over Todd.
(W) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.067 4.489 328.38 (L) David Baca (Mach 1 Air Services Dragster) 0.118 9.882 95.22Schumacher is chasing Kalitta for the National Championship and has a statistical advantage, having won her in 2004 and 2005. A "Three-peat" would get him closer to his goal. He has a career 6-1 advantage over Baca in eliminations. Baca started the year well with a runner up spot at the Winternationals. He is making his seventy-fifth start as a professional.As a result of last night's starting line incident, NHRA has announced a $20,000 fine to Team Schumacher for "failing to follow the commands of NHRA Chief Starter Rick Stewart".
The pressure is really on now, but you would never know it. Schumacher thunders right down the track to card a great number. Baca smokes the tires in the left lane. In round two, Schumacher will have lane choice over Fuller
11:28 a.m. Great first round!
Sunday
Results for Elimination Round 2POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Melanie Troxel (Skull Gear/Torco Dragster) 0.055 4.521 329.02 (L) Morgan Lucas (Lucas Oil Dragster) 0.089 4.616 305.561:10 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 72 degrees, relative humidity 36 percent, barometer 29.19 inches, adjusted altitude 1,931 feet, track temperature 93 degrees.Lucan only gained 5 precious points for his first round win towards getting into the top ten. His oil down cost him 15 points and $4000. His hopes are dashed when the engine starts to drop cylinders at mid-track. Troxel continues to show her early season performance and just puts a final nail in Lucas' coffin.
(W) Brandon Bernstein (Budweiser/Lucas Oil Drag 0.072 4.496 330.07 (L) Larry Dixon (Miller Lite Dragster) 0.081 10.812 94.81This will be the last time the "Beer Wagons" meet in TF. The Miller Lite Team's swan song comes form smoking tires at the hit. Bernstein puts the Red Car into the four forties again with a good leave, ET, and speed.(W) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.065 4.475 328.38 (L) Rod Fuller (David Powers Motorsports Dragst 0.066 4.953 210.80Lane choice is important for Schumacher's hopes for the championship. The US Army car is first off the line by .001 and pulls away to run another four forty. The usually strong Fuller, has problems, as there are flashes of fire from the engine at mid-track and the Valvoline dragster slows.(W) Doug Kalitta (MAC Tools Dragster) 0.090 4.580 330.96 (L) J.R. Todd (Skull Shine Dragster) 0.039 11.829 84.73Kalitta can't afford to make any kind of mistake this round. He has to pedal it off the line, but reins the big red car back in to ensure the win. Todd is off the line first, but the tune up is too strong for the slippery left lane. The Skull Shine dragster's tires are up in smoke before the 330 lights.1:22 p.m. Schumacher has lane choice over Bernstein, but Troxel will have lane choice over Kalitta in round three. This may be decisive.
Sunday
Results for Elimination Round 3POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Melanie Troxel (Skull Gear/Torco Dragster) 0.026 4.502 330.07 (L) Doug Kalitta (MAC Tools Dragster) 0.058 4.500 330.233:05 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 73 degrees, relative humidity 34 percent, barometer 29.16 inches, adjusted altitude 2,024 feet, track temperature 94 degrees.We are down to the final four and all Kalitta has to do to win the 2006 TF Championship is win this round. Troxel has lane choice and has been running almost as well as Kalitta.
Troxel gets a great .026 RT and powers through the first 330 feet to open up a bigger lead. The Red Car matches her performance from there, but can't catch and pass her.
(W) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.074 4.482 329.50 (L) Brandon Bernstein (Budweiser/Lucas Oil Drag 0.066 4.511 332.18Schumacher has to win the race and set a new National Record better than 4.437 to get around Team Kalitta for the 2006 Championship. Bernstein is off the line first, but the Johnson power pull the US Army car ahead by the 330 foot lights. They keep the same margin to the finish line and Schumacher gets the close win. Tony Schumacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.865 sec., 330ft-2.147, 660ft-3.049/278.63mph, 1,000ft-3.816. About 12 feet! He will keep lane choice over Troxel in the final round.
Sunday
Results for Final RoundPOMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.095 4.428 327.98 (L) Melanie Troxel (Skull Gear/Torco Dragster) 0.085 4.585 308.504:45 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 79 degrees, relative humidity 28 percent, barometer 29.19 inches, adjusted altitude 2,385 feet, track temperature 89 degrees.This is a rematch of last year's finals, where Troxel fouled to give the win to Schumacher. This is her third final round appearance at Pomona with a win at the Winternationals at the beginning of the year. She has a 2-8 win ratio in her final round appearances. Schumacher has bested Troxel five times in the seven prior career meetings.
Schumacher has to win and run better than his current National Record of 4.437. Troxel gets a small lead off the line and has to watch the black car drive on by at 60 feet. Her hopes are dashed when the engine starts to drop cylinders way down track. Schumacher is almost perfect in the right lane and runs the second quickest ET in NHRA history to take the round win, the National Record, and the 2006 Top Fuel Championship. Unbelievable!
Tony Schumacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.841 sec., 330ft-2.114, 660ft-3.003/283.19mph, 1,000ft-3.759
