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Top Fuel

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Sunday

Thursday Results for Qualifying Round 1

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 1 - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run: Right Lane: Troy Buff Runs 6.115/135.67, Now #1 3:20 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 71 degrees, relative humidity 24 percent, barometer 28.98 inches, adjusted altitude 2,233 feet, track temperature 88 degrees. Team Miller has persevered with their tech problems at Phoenix and will be the first down the track today. The new BME black TF'er with new driver Troy Buff, makes a strong pass to mid-track. Looks like it was planned that way. Troy Buff's incremental times: 60ft-0.864 sec., 330ft-2.206, 660ft-3.300/194.63mph, 1,000ft-4.623 Left Lane: Antron Brown Runs 4.560/326.16, Now #1 Right Lane: Urs Erbacher Runs 5.952/160.40, Now #2 Brown makes a statement with his first National Event pass in Top Fuel. A little stuff from the engine on the top end, but still good numbers. Erbacher's car was slow off the line and clicks it early. Left Lane: Steven Chrisman Runs 13.679/75.15, Now #5 Right Lane: Alan Bradshaw Runs 4.524/306.40, Now #1 Bradshaw's new sponsor, Vis Viva, makes a nice looking race car. The car leaves hard and runs well to near mid-track where there is head gasket flames and a lot of smoke form the engine. He stays on it and cards a low four fifty. Chrisman's car is up in smoke by sixty feet. Left Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 4.557/322.42, Now #3 Right Lane: Hillary Will Runs 4.534/333.58, Now #2 Lucas is already #1 qualifier in Top Alcohol Dragster and looking for the same position here in Top Fuel. Great side by side pass with Will betting the first and running her quickest MPH ever! Morgan Lucas' incremental times: 60ft-0.870 sec., 330ft-2.183, 660ft-3.099/274.94mph, 1,000ft-3.876 Hillary Will's incremental times: 60ft-0.855 sec., 330ft-2.187, 660ft-3.098/276.86mph, 1,000ft-3.867 Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.539/321.81, Now #4 Right Lane: David Grubnic Runs 4.530/318.62, Now #2 ...and the hits keep coming. Nine thousands difference is the difference in #2 and #4 currently. They leave together and Grubnic starts to pull steadily ahead down the track. Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 4.647/315.34, Now #8 Right Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 4.575/294.18, Now #7 You got your good news and you got your bad news. The bad news: Todd tagged the ride side guard rail and shot across the track into Kalitta lane. The good news: The contact was right after the finish line lights, so the run counts! Kalitta's car was off the line and still runs well enough to stay in the top half of the field for now. 3:40 p.m. Lots of dusting and cleaning in the right lane and the Torco car is still on the track near the last turnout. Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.545/327.98, Now #5 Right Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 4.678/311.56, Now #10 3:46 p.m. ...and we are back. Vandergriff was off the line first, but Herbert was quickly around him and pulled ahead all the way down the track and into the current top half of the field. Vandergriff may have clicked it early. Left Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 4.543/324.28, Now #5 Right Lane: B. Bernstein Runs 9.831/78.90, Now #14 New Sponsor wraps on both cars. Nice! Bernstein's car is up in smoke before the 330 lights. Dixon's car is right down Broadway and into the current #5 spot. They are checking the top end, but no Stuff on the track. Left Lane: Rod Fuller Runs 4.558/325.30, Now #9 Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.513/331.53, Now #1

Thursday Order for Qualifying Round 1

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Tony Schumacher U.S. Army Dragster 4.513 331.53 2. Alan Bradshaw Vis Viva Living Force Dragster 4.524 306.40 3. David Grubnic Kalitta Motorsports Dragster 4.530 318.62 4. Hillary Will KB Racing Dragster 4.534 333.58 5. Cory McClenathan Fram Dragster 4.539 321.81 6. Larry Dixon U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Dragste 4.543 324.28 7. Doug Herbert Snap-On Tools Dragster 4.545 327.98 8. Morgan Lucas Lucas Oil/Torco Racing Fuels D 4.557 322.42 9. Rod Fuller Caterpillar Dragster 4.558 325.30 10. Antron Brown Matco Dragster 4.560 326.16 11. J.R. Todd Torco/Lucas Dragster 4.575 294.18 12. Doug Kalitta MAC Tools Dragster 4.647 315.34 --------- Not Qualified --------- 13. Bob Vandergriff UPS Dragster 4.678 311.56 14. Urs Erbacher Midland Oil Dragster 5.952 160.40 15. Troy Buff Bill Miller Racing/Okuma Drags 6.115 135.67 16. Brandon Bernstein Budweiser/Lucas Oil Dragster 9.831 78.90 17. Steven Chrisman Chrisman Driveline Dragster 13.679 75.15

Friday Results for Qualifying Round 2

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 1 - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals 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: B. Bernstein Runs 4.534/330.31, Now #5 Best prior run: 9.831/78.90, Was #16 2:31 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 79 degrees, relative humidity 19 percent, barometer 28.92 inches, adjusted altitude 2,846 feet, track temperature 96 degrees. Bernstein will get the single to start the session. The Colonel has the tune up for today and moves the Bud car off the bump and into the top half of the field for now. Left Lane: Troy Buff Runs 4.708/254.18, Now #15 Best prior run: 6.115/135.67, Was #16 Right Lane: Steven Chrisman Runs 4.977/258.12, Now #16 Best prior run: 13.679/75.15, Was #17 J.R. Todd is on the bump spot at 4.575. Buff gets to the 1000 foot lights this time and moves up a spot. Chrisman gets further down the track and picks up a spot too. Left Lane: Urs Erbacher Runs 4.786/310.05, Now #16 Best prior run: 5.952/160.40, Was #17 Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 7.311/109.97, Now #13 Best prior run: 4.647/315.34, Was #13 Erbacher will be evaluating his overall performance after this race and then decide whether to stay in the US for the first five NHRA races. He'll then return to Europe to his defend his 2007 TF Championship. He makes a full pull this time and makes a nice improvement in ET and MPH. Kalitta strikes the tires and clicks it off. 2:39 p.m. A short delay for cleaning on the top end. Left Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 9.727/77.27, Now #14 Best prior run: 4.678/311.56, Was #14 Right Lane: Antron Brown Runs 4.495/330.07, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.560/326.16, Was #11 2:42 p.m. ...and we are back.Oh, WOW! Our first forty of the 2008 season for the "Rookie". Strong three thirty speed too.Vandergriff strikes the tires and slows. Antron Brown's incremental times: 60ft-0.862 sec., 330ft-2.152, 660ft-3.059/278.40mph, 1,000ft-3.824 Left Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 4.570/327.74, Now #12 Best prior run: 4.575/294.18, Was #12 Right Lane: Rod Fuller Runs 4.539/327.51, Now #7 Best prior run: 4.558/325.30, Was #11 Todd says that the A-arm or wing broke on the front of the Torco/Lucas TF car yesterday, sending the car into the wall. Looks like they fixed every thing right, as he picks up on yesterday's times to stay on the bump. Fuller picks up less than 0.02 in ET and four seconds on the ladder. Left Lane: Hillary Will Runs 4.548/330.80, Now #6 Best prior run: 4.534/333.58, Was #5 Right Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 4.522/331.04, Now #3 Best prior run: 4.557/322.42, Was #11 Another side by side pair. Lucas gets the better of the two and picks up eight positions on the field. Will was right there too and both cars run over 330 MPH. Looks like that 90% stuff is pretty good! Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 8.960/82.75, Now #5 Best prior run: 4.530/318.62, Was #5 Right Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 4.551/327.35, Now #11 Best prior run: 4.545/327.98, Was #11 Grubnic gets over center on the low end tune up and strikes the tires before a hundred feet out. Herbert is on another strong pass until the car makes a hard move towards the center line near the 1000 foot light. He has to really work hard to keep the car in his lane. Once he gets the car straight, he is past the finish line and only one chute deploys fully. He's hard on the brakes and puts the Snap-On Tools dragster straight into the Kitty Litter. The front wheel seem to bounce up and only skim the sand, while the big slicks drag the car to a safe stop. The front end looks OK with the wing still on the car. A big mess to clean up, but it doesn't look too serious. 2:55 p.m. Left Lane: Alan Bradshaw Runs 11.853/84.89, Now #4 Best prior run: 4.524/306.40, Was #4 Right Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 11.384/87.40, Now #10 Best prior run: 4.543/324.28, Was #10 3:00 p.m. Dueling tire smoke after sixty feet. Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.526/331.77, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.513/331.53, Was #2 Right Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.536/330.23, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.539/321.81, Was #9 Last pair and Brown's team has thrown down the gauntlet for the Army team to match. Not today. Big MPH for the black car, but no forty. McClenathan finds some top end power and picks up a spot on the ladder. Tony Schumacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.865 sec., 330ft-2.173, 660ft-3.087/275.79mph, 1,000ft-3.858 Cory McClenathan's incremental times: 60ft-0.867 sec., 330ft-2.168, 660ft-3.091/273.27mph, 1,000ft-3.865 3:03 p.m. Antron Brown is number one with a 4.495 and J.R. Todd is on the bump spot at 4.570.

Friday Order for Qualifying Round 2

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Antron Brown Matco Dragster 4.495 330.07 2. Tony Schumacher U.S. Army Dragster 4.513 331.77 3. Morgan Lucas Lucas Oil/Torco Racing Fuels D 4.522 331.04 4. Alan Bradshaw Vis Viva Living Force Dragster 4.524 306.40 5. David Grubnic Kalitta Motorsports Dragster 4.530 318.62 6. Hillary Will KB Racing Dragster 4.534 333.58 7. Brandon Bernstein Budweiser/Lucas Oil Dragster 4.534 330.31 8. Cory McClenathan Fram Dragster 4.536 330.23 9. Rod Fuller Caterpillar Dragster 4.539 327.51 10. Larry Dixon U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Dragste 4.543 324.28 11. Doug Herbert Snap-On Tools Dragster 4.545 327.98 12. J.R. Todd Torco/Lucas Dragster 4.570 327.74 --------- Not Qualified --------- 13. Doug Kalitta MAC Tools Dragster 4.647 315.34 14. Bob Vandergriff UPS Dragster 4.678 311.56 15. Troy Buff Bill Miller Racing/Okuma Drags 4.708 254.18 16. Urs Erbacher Midland Oil Dragster 4.786 310.05 17. Steven Chrisman Chrisman Driveline Dragster 4.977 258.12

Saturday Results for Qualifying Round 3

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 1 - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals 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: Larry Dixon Runs 4.555/319.82, Now #10 Best prior run: 4.543/324.28, Was #10 Right Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 6.283/132.91, Now #13 No Prior Run 1:10 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 74 degrees, relative humidity 18 percent, barometer 28.95 inches, adjusted altitude 2,462 feet, track temperature 102 degrees. Vandergriff smokes the tires after the 330 foot mark. Dixon basically repeats on his prior best in the tougher conditions. Nice pass! Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 4.721/298.14, Now #13 No Prior Run Right Lane: David Grubnic Runs 10.049/79.67, Now #5 Best prior run: 4.530/318.62, Was #5 Right lane is tough for the TF'ers too! More tire smoke and Grubnic will stay #5 for now. Kalitta's car had good numbers to mid-track and then couldn't get the quick ET. He's in for now, but this will likely be close to the bump before it's over. Left Lane: Steven Chrisman Runs 4.932/291.51, Now #14 No Prior Run Right Lane: Urs Erbacher Runs 11.749/40.00, Now #16 No Prior Run Another right lane smoker. Chrisman gets to the finish line under power and is in the field. Stellar Bump! Urs Erbacher at 11.749. At the end of session two yesterday, the sixteenth car was a 4.786!! Left Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 7.212/154.32, Now #11 Best prior run: 4.545/327.98, Was #11 Right Lane: Troy Buff Runs 4.908/226.81, Now #14 No Prior Run Herbert is up in smoke before the 330 mark in the so called better left lane. Buff runs well to near the top end, where there is a bunch of smoke out of the engine. He will still get into the field in the #14 position. 1:23 p.m. The trucks are rolling to the top end to start the clean up in the right lane. Left Lane: Rod Fuller Runs 5.146/187.36, Now #9 Best prior run: 4.539/327.51, Was #9 Right Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 5.726/157.78, Now #12 Best prior run: 4.570/327.74, Was #12 1:26 p.m. That didn't take long! Bob Vandergriff is on the bump spot at 6.283. Two half passes and neither car will improve. Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 4.532/329.58, Now #6 Best prior run: 4.536/330.23, Was #8 Right Lane: Hillary Will Runs 4.571/310.05, Now #7 Best prior run: 4.534/333.58, Was #6 Will has made two almost identical passes and still has top speed of the meet. Cory Mac with the advantage this time. A strong straight pass into the new #6 position. Will's pass was just a little slower than earlier. It got real exciting right after the lights. Will's car started moving hard towards the center line at the 1000 foot mark and crossed over into the left lane right after the 1320. She got within 6-8 feet of the Fram car before pulling back into her lane. Left Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 9.859/85.38, Now #3 Best prior run: 4.522/331.04, Was #3 Right Lane: B. Bernstein Runs 9.793/80.33, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.534/330.31, Was #8 Both cars shake, spin, and shut off together. Left Lane: Antron Brown Runs 10.455/80.18, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.495/330.07, Was #1 Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.530/328.86, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.513/331.53, Was #2 Brown's car smokes the tires before the 330 lights and slows. Another low four fifty for the Army Team, but no number one spot yet. 1:40 p.m. Bob Vandergriff is on the bump spot at 6.283.

Saturday Order for Qualifying Round 3

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Antron Brown Matco Dragster 4.495 330.07 2. Tony Schumacher U.S. Army Dragster 4.513 331.77 3. Morgan Lucas Lucas Oil/Torco Racing Fuels D 4.522 331.04 4. Alan Bradshaw Vis Viva Living Force Dragster 4.524 306.40 5. David Grubnic Kalitta Motorsports Dragster 4.530 318.62 6. Cory McClenathan Fram Dragster 4.532 330.23 7. Hillary Will KB Racing Dragster 4.534 333.58 8. Brandon Bernstein Budweiser/Lucas Oil Dragster 4.534 330.31 9. Rod Fuller Caterpillar Dragster 4.539 327.51 10. Larry Dixon U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Dragste 4.543 324.28 11. Doug Herbert Snap-On Tools Dragster 4.545 327.98 12. J.R. Todd Torco/Lucas Dragster 4.570 327.74 13. Doug Kalitta MAC Tools Dragster 4.721 315.34 14. Troy Buff Bill Miller Racing/Okuma Drags 4.908 254.18 15. Steven Chrisman Chrisman Driveline Dragster 4.932 291.51 16. Bob Vandergriff UPS Dragster 6.283 311.56 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Urs Erbacher Midland Oil Dragster 11.749 310.05

Saturday Results for Qualifying Round 4

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 1 - Notes from final, round 4 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals 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: Urs Erbacher Runs 4.859/296.11, Now #14 Best prior run: 11.749/40.00, Was #17 4:34 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 15 percent, barometer 28.93 inches, adjusted altitude 2,806 feet, track temperature 86 degrees. Bob Vandergriff is on the bump spot at 6.283. Erbacher's crew has to run out and help push the car back to the starting line after the burnout. It may have been an expensive problem, as the engine expires in flames near the top end. It looks to be worth it, so far, as they are qualified #14 in the seventeen car field. Left Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 4.590/290.38, Now #13 Best prior run: 6.283/132.91, Was #17 Right Lane: Steven Chrisman Runs 11.537/100.27, Now #17 Best prior run: 4.932/291.51, Was #16 5:02 p.m. That took a while. Lots of clean up on the top end from the 1000 foot lights. This follows a significant delay in cleaning Pedregon's Stuff in the last pair of Funny Cars. Last chance for Vandergriff to get into the show and he makes the best of it with a safe high four-fifty ET. Chrisman is up in smoke at the hit and won't qualify. Troy Buff is on the bump spot at 4.908 and the field is set. Let the shuffling begin! Left Lane: Troy Buff Runs 4.675/291.51, Now #15 Best prior run: 4.908/226.81, Was #16 Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 4.615/319.67, Now #14 Best prior run: 4.721/298.14, Was #14 Buff finds some hook and moves off the bump. Kalitta picks up about a dime and twenty MPH to stay #14! Urs Erbacher will stay on the bump spot at 4.859. Left Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 4.644/313.07, Now #12 Best prior run: 4.570/327.74, Was #12 Right Lane: Doug Herbert Runs 5.120/226.73, Now #11 Best prior run: 4.545/327.98, Was #11 Herbert has to double pump about 100 feet out and he won't improve. No joy for Todd either in their back up car, as the car slows from his session two best. Left Lane: B. Bernstein Runs 4.533/325.85, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.534/330.31, Was #8 Right Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 4.497/325.14, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.543/324.28, Was #10 Nice runs a pair! Dixon joins the 2008 four-forty club with a clean pass from start to finish.Dixon said that the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco dragster had it's tongue hanging out in the lights. BTW: That Donny Bender's first four-forty pass. Larry Dixon's incremental times: 60ft-0.850 sec., 330ft-2.152, 660ft-3.053/278.98mph, 1,000ft-3.822 Bernstein picks up 0.001 ET and will stay #8 for now. Nice back to back runs. Left Lane: Hillary Will Runs 4.521/334.65, Now #4 Best prior run: 4.534/333.58, Was #9 Right Lane: Rod Fuller Runs 11.494/71.73, Now #10 Best prior run: 4.539/327.51, Was #10 Fuller fires and falls back after smoking the tires. Big Power for the Will car with a 0.013 improvement in ET and a 334.650 MPH run. That will move the black car way up the ladder into the top half of the field. Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 9.419/88.09, Now #7 Best prior run: 4.530/318.62, Was #7 Right Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 9.877/78.70, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.532/329.58, Was #8 Dueling tire smoke before the 330 mark. Too bad, the conditions are great with the sun behind the grandstands and a 81 degree track temperature. Left Lane: Alan Bradshaw Runs 11.687/79.38, Now #6 Best prior run: 4.524/306.40, Was #6 Right Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 4.514/333.33, Now #4 Best prior run: 4.522/331.04, Was #5 Another big MPH [333.33] and a nice move up the ladder for the resurgent Lucas Oil/Torco Racing Fuels Team. 90% is great for big speeds! Bradshaw set out the third session and is up in smoke at the hit. He'll stay #6 for now. Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 4.533/329.34, Now #3 Best prior run: 4.513/331.53, Was #3 Right Lane: Antron Brown Runs 4.526/331.61, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.495/330.07, Was #1 The Army Car can't match the Matco power this time and Brown runs quicker and faster to get there first by 0.0028 seconds. He will stay #1 in his first attempt to qualify in Top Fuel. Nice way to start 2008... Urs Erbacher is on the bump spot at 4.859.

Saturday Order for Qualifying Round 4

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 4 rounds of qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Antron Brown Matco Dragster 4.495 331.61 2. Larry Dixon U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Dragste 4.497 325.14 3. Tony Schumacher U.S. Army Dragster 4.513 331.77 4. Morgan Lucas Lucas Oil/Torco Racing Fuels D 4.514 333.33 5. Hillary Will KB Racing Dragster 4.521 334.65 6. Alan Bradshaw Vis Viva Living Force Dragster 4.524 306.40 7. David Grubnic Kalitta Motorsports Dragster 4.530 318.62 8. Cory McClenathan Fram Dragster 4.532 330.23 9. Brandon Bernstein Budweiser/Lucas Oil Dragster 4.533 330.31 10. Rod Fuller Caterpillar Dragster 4.539 327.51 11. Doug Herbert Snap-On Tools Dragster 4.545 327.98 12. J.R. Todd Torco/Lucas Dragster 4.570 327.74 13. Bob Vandergriff UPS Dragster 4.590 311.56 14. Doug Kalitta MAC Tools Dragster 4.615 319.67 15. Troy Buff Bill Miller Racing/Okuma Drags 4.675 291.51 16. Urs Erbacher Midland Oil Dragster 4.859 310.05 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Steven Chrisman Chrisman Driveline Dragster 4.932 291.51

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 1

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Cory McClenathan (Fram Dragster) 0.044 4.518 329.34 (L) Brandon Bernstein (Budweiser/Lucas Oil Drag 0.075 4.576 322.81 11:03 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 71 degrees, relative humidity 25 percent, barometer 28.99 inches, adjusted altitude 2,245 feet, track temperature 88 degrees.Cory Mac has a 400 to 295 win/lose ratio so far in his career. The younger Bernstein has a 17 to 2 advantage over the Fram Team and currently has an eleven in a row string going. Time to go RACING!! McClenathan nails the Red Car at the start and begins to march steadily ahead for the decisive win. Bernstein's car had a better 60 foot time and identical 330 times, but the Fram car was long gone. Great race to start the season. (W) Rod Fuller (Caterpillar Dragster) 0.055 4.494 326.24 (L) David Grubnic (Kalitta Motorsports Dragster 0.083 5.420 212.49 Aussie Dave is making his 198th career start in Top Fuel this weekend. Bionic Man Fuller has a nine to three win advantage over Grubnic coming into today's eliminations Once again the quicker car picks the right lane, but the tune up is too strong for the track and the slicks are smoking hard By 100 feet. Fuller was going to be hard to beat, as he cards a low ET of the weekend in his picture perfect pass. Rod Fuller's incremental times: 60ft-0.870 sec., 330ft-2.160, 660ft-3.054/282.60mph, 1,000ft-3.819 (W) Doug Herbert (Snap-On Tools Dragster) 0.078 4.644 325.06 (L) Alan Bradshaw (Vis Viva Living Force Dragst 0.141 11.776 80.75 Bradshaw starts 2008 with a new team and a Career Best #6 qualifying position. This is his twenty-ninth TF race. Herbert made his TF start here in 1991 and today will be his 311th race. Looks like a rerun of the last pair, as Bradshaw smokes the tires right away. Herbert gets a clean and safe pass into round two. Getting the first win of the season is tough! (W) Morgan Lucas (Lucas Oil/Torco Racing Fuels 0.065 4.546 331.77 (L) Bob Vandergriff (UPS Dragster) 0.065 8.210 96.24 Lucas ran a Career Best 333.33 MPH pass in qualifying. He has a three to two win advantage over Vandergriff, so far. Vandergriff is making his 169th start this weekend. Both cars leave with identical RT's and this time it's the left lane up in smoke. Vandergriff gets a little further out than the prior races and then kicks the tires. Lucas makes another strong three-thirty MPH pass and runs close to his qualifying time to take the win. (W) Antron Brown (Matco Dragster) 0.104 4.522 329.26 (L) Urs Erbacher (Midland Oil Dragster) 0.085 4.571 324.98 Brown is making his first start in Top Fuel this weekend after extensive success in Pro Stock Bikes and is the thirty-second driver to be the number one qualifier at the Winternationals and the ninety-ninth TF driver to be number one. Erbacher is making his second start in US Top Fuel racing. He was the 2007 European TF Champion. The team will be reviewing their performance after this weekend and determining whether to stay for four more races before returning to Europe to defend their #1 spot. Erbacher leaves first and picks up almost three tenths over his best time in qualifying. The Matco Tools tuneup is strong enough though and Brown is able to get past him right after mid-track. It's still close in the lights with about a half a car advantage. Antron Brown's incremental times: 60ft-0.868 sec., 330ft-2.179, 660ft-3.088/278.35mph, 1,000ft-3.852 McClanathan will have lane choice in round two. (W) Larry Dixon (U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Dragste 0.079 4.512 331.61 (L) Troy Buff (Bill Miller Racing/Okuma Dragste 0.123 4.686 286.25 Dixon starts today's eliminations with a career 454 to 242 win/loss advantage and has qualified thirty-five times in the number two spot on the ladder. Buff is making his fifth start in Top Fuel and has one round win, so far. Another great race , as Dixon gets out first and pulls steadily ahead all the way down the track. Buff was on a good pass until near the finish line, where smoke started to come off the engine. Fuller will have lane choice next round. (W) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.077 4.508 328.30 (L) Doug Kalitta (MAC Tools Dragster) 0.060 30.838 52.32 Schumacher starts the 2008 season outside of his usual #1 spot in the third qualifying position. Kalitta made his first TF start here in 1998 and is even with Schumacher with 23 wins each. Kalitta's car doesn't move a foot before kicking the tires. The Army car runs clean and straight to the finish line and improves on his qualifying best. Schumacher will keep lane choice against Herbert later today. (W) Hillary Will (KB Racing Dragster) 0.142 5.992 168.89 (L) J.R. Todd (Torco/Lucas Dragster) 0.091 7.014 175.73 Will ran her Career Best 334.65 MPH earlier this weekend, the fifth fastest in history. Three of her four qualifying attempts were over 330 MPH. Todd has a six to two advantage over Will in prior meetings. Well, that was ugly! Todd's car was off the line first and looked to have the big advantage, but the slicks started to spin almost immediately. The advantage then went to Will until just after the 330 lights, where the KB Racing dragster start to smoke the tires too. Both cars tried to regain power and Will's car had the momentum and road speed to get to the line first. It took a couple of pumps on the throttle and a bunch of sawing on the steering wheel, but she got the win. 11:25 a.m. Lucas will have lane choice in round two.

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 2

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Morgan Lucas (Lucas Oil/Torco Racing Fuels 0.081 4.564 322.73 (L) Hillary Will (KB Racing Dragster) 0.411 4.594 325.85 1:38 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 78 degrees, relative humidity 16 percent, barometer 28.93 inches, adjusted altitude 2,651 feet, track temperature 104 degrees. Something bad happen to Will at the green! A 0.411 RT is just not like her at all. Lucas had better numbers and would have been tough to beat! Good run for the Lucas/Torco Racing Fuel Team. (W) Cory McClenathan (Fram Dragster) 0.064 4.530 329.34 (L) Antron Brown (Matco Dragster) 0.062 16.894 47.41 Brown's magic weekend is over at the hit, as the slicks are up in smoke at the green. McClenathan basically repeats on his first round performance and takes an easy one into round three, with lane choice over Lucas. (W) Larry Dixon (U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Dragste 0.054 4.551 310.05 (L) Rod Fuller (Caterpillar Dragster) 0.092 4.691 297.75 Dixon wire to wire. He cards a respectable 0.858 sixty foot time and then just pulls steadily away for the easy win. The car slowed on the top end, when the blower belt broke. Any chance the Caterpillar Team had went away with a blower bang near the top end. (W) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.078 4.511 331.45 (L) Doug Herbert (Snap-On Tools Dragster) 0.056 4.678 315.42 Last pair of the session. Herbert gives Schumacher a run for his money with a better RT at the green. The Army car has the power and starts a march to the finish line for a strong finish. 1:54 p.m. He will have lane choice over Dixon in the next round.

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 3

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Cory McClenathan (Fram Dragster) 0.072 4.555 329.34 (L) Morgan Lucas (Lucas Oil/Torco Racing Fuels 0.080 4.612 278.98 3:12 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 16 percent, barometer 28.92 inches, adjusted altitude 2,883 feet, track temperature 94 degrees. A really close race until near the lights. Cory Mac gets a 0.008 advantage off the line and holds Lucas off until near mid-track, where Lucas slowly drivers on by. The fuse was just too short on the Red and White car and the 0.001 advantage at 1000 feet goes away with the engine and the Fram car drives back on by for the car length win. Morgan Lucas' incremental times: 60ft-0.868 sec., 330ft-2.174, 660ft-3.086/274.94mph, 1,000ft-3.873 Cory McClenathan's incremental times: 60ft-0.872 sec., 330ft-2.175, 660ft-3.101/271.46mph, 1,000ft-3.880 Cory McClenathan's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.004), 330 ft(0.007), 660ft(-0.007), 1,000ft(0.001). MOV: 0.0657 seconds (approximately 27 feet). (W) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.081 4.510 329.75 (L) Larry Dixon (U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Dragste 0.055 4.573 317.27 ...and another low four-fifty pass puts the Alan Johnson tuned Army car into the finals with lane choice. Dixon gets a nice advantage off the line and stays out front until after half-track, where the black car drives on by. Tony Schumacher's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.021), 330 ft(-0.004), 660ft(-0.003), 1,000ft(0.013). MOV: 0.0373 seconds (approximately 17 feet).>The big top end power ensures an all DSR final for the first time since November 2006.

Sunday Results for Final Round

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.041 4.499 331.28 (L) Cory McClenathan (Fram Dragster) 0.071 4.536 329.26 4:59 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 21 percent, barometer 28.90 inches, adjusted altitude 2,931 feet, track temperature 86 degrees. McClenathan is in his fifth Winternationals final with a 3/2 win/loss ratio and last won here in 2004. This will be his 51st final round appearance. Schumacher is the four time TF Champion and has a 19 to 11 win advantage over Cory Mac, with two wins and one loss in the final rounds. An all Don Schumacher Racing TF final and The Army car is away first and powers on down the track for a decisive win. McClanathan in the Fram dragster was right there and closely followed with another strong four-fifty pass at almost three hundred thirty MPH. What a great race to wrap up the 2008 NHRA season opener!! The new ninety percent Nitro fuel rule is working great!