Sunday

Top Fuel Dragster Results for Elimination Round 1

TOPEKA, Kan. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 15th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX: W/L Driver RT ET Speed (W) Paul Romine (CARQUEST Auto Parts Dragster) 0.046 4.850 286.38 (L) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.052 4.850 292.71 11:02 AM Current weather conditions: 64 degrees, 54 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.13 inches under sunny skies. Schumacher holds a 4-2 career edge over Romine in previous races. But none of them were as close as this one! Romine had a slight edge at the tree, but Schumacher was slightly ahead at the 60-foot marker. They were locked together all the way down the track, both cars hazing the tires at half track and both drivers doing a good job of handling it. Paul Romine's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.003), 330 ft(0.007), 660ft(0.024), 1,000ft(0.021). MOV: 0.0067 seconds (approximately 3 feet). (W) Doug Herbert (Snap-On Tools Dragster) 0.098 4.703 306.40 (L) Scott Weis (RaceGirl Dragster) 0.095 4.731 252.85 Herbert won both prior meetings between these two. They left together and Herbert had a small lead to half track, then started hazing the tires. Weis went by, pulling away with a half-track speed of 269.40 mph at half track, leading past the 1,000-foot marker. Then it appeared that Weis lost the blower belt, his car slowing abruptly, and Herbert took the lead just before the finish line. Doug Herbert's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.011), 330 ft(0.014), 660ft(-0.019), 1,000ft(-0.066). MOV: 0.0252 seconds (approximately 9 feet). (W) Doug Kalitta (MAC Tools Dragster) 0.048 4.566 328.54 (L) John Smith (Prestone Dragster) 0.094 7.167 114.54 Kalitta came in with a 3-2 career edge over Smith. He extended that to 4-2 when Smith lost traction and then lost the blower belt. Kalitta's run was flawless, straight down the groove, a welcome sight to that team because Kalitta struggled during qualifying. (W) Cory McClenathan (N.Y. Yankees/Berryman Drag0.101 4.848 277.43 (L) Scott Palmer (O'Reilly Auto Parts Dragster) 0.106 5.133 221.16 This was Palmer's first round of eliminations in Top Fuel, his car sporting the race sponsor's O'Reilly colors. He kept Cory Mac honest, but dropped a cylinder early in the run, then lost the blower belt and was unable to take advantage of McClenathan's tire smoke and engine problems on the top end. McClenathan slowed and trailed oil through the shutdown area. he faces Kalitta in round two, Kalitta with lane choice. (W) Darrell Russell (Bilstein Eng. Flush Dragste0.082 4.604 321.58 (L) David Grubnic (BME Dragster) 0.043 5.655 160.33 Russell came into this round with a 3-2 career edge over Grubnic. Grubnic tattooed Russell on the tree, but started smoking the tires just before half track and the defending event winner went on to win by a big margin. (W) Rhonda Hartman-Smith (Fram Filters Dragster)0.056 4.765 301.60 (L) David Baca (American Racing Dragster) 0.055 6.964 118.48 Baca's team swapped lanes under the tower, even before Grubnic smoked the tires. Baca and Hartman-Smith have met twice before during their careers, each winning once. Baca lost traction about 100 feet out. He pedaled once, then watched Hartman-Smith disappear down the track. "Momma" faces Russell next round and Russell will get to choose the lanes, but as this one showed, lane choice isn't everything. (W) Kenny Bernstein (Budweiser King Dragster) 0.092 4.572 328.70 (L) Melanie Troxel (Western Racing Dragster) 0.103 5.174 243.55 Bernstein and Troxel have only raced each other once before, in the first round at Dallas in 2000. She went to the finals at that race. Reports from the hospital are good, Brandon responding well to his current medication and working in physical therapy to get ready to go home soon. This time, Bernstein overcame his "first round female opponent jinx" and won going away, troxel's car dropping a cylinder immediately and trailing smoke all the way down the track. KB faces Herbert next round and will have lane choice. (W) Larry Dixon (Miller Lite Dragster) 0.074 4.533 329.67 (L) Chris Karamesines (Chizler Dragster) 0.182 4.862 285.59 Karamesines and Dixon have raced each other twice before, Dixon winning both times. Karamesines' last round win came at Maple Grove, during the 1990 season, when he defeated Michael Brotherton. Karamesines is the only member of this year's Top Fuel; field who was also in the Top Fuel field at the first race here, in 1989. Kenny Bernstein was in the field at that 1989 race, but he was in the Funny Car field. "The Golden Greek" kept Dixon honest, with no tire smoke from the tires on either car. The Miller team turned in low ET of the round and will have lane choice against Romine in round two.

Top Fuel Dragster Results for Elimination Round 2

TOPEKA, Kan. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 15th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX: W/L Driver RT ET Speed (W) Darrell Russell (Bilstein Eng. Flush Dragste0.071 4.588 323.81 (L) Rhonda Hartman-Smith (Fram Filters Dragster)0.047 4.669 311.56 1:01 PM Current weather conditions: 70 degrees, 35 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.12 inches with scattered clouds. These two have met just twice before, each winning once. Hartman-Smith was first off the line and led almost to half track, but Russell was running 10 mph faster at that point and then her engine started mixing the cylinders up on the top end, while Russell made his best run of the event. Darrell Russell's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.001), 330 ft(-0.005), 660ft(0.009), 1,000ft(0.034). MOV: 0.0576 seconds (approximately 26 feet). (W) Kenny Bernstein (Budweiser King Dragster) 0.075 4.689 312.50 (L) Doug Herbert (Snap-On Tools Dragster) 0.057 4.718 310.77 These two have raced each other 31 times in the past, Bernstein holding a 21-10 edge in those prior races. Bernstein was the first driver to 300 mph, Herbert the second. Herbert rolled in a bit deep and had an apparent holeshot, but KB took over the led by the 60-foot timer and then held on for the win in a very close race. Kenny Bernstein's incremental margins: 60ft(0.015), 330 ft(0.016), 660ft(0.019), 1,000ft(0.011). MOV: 0.0114 seconds (approximately 5 feet). (W) Doug Kalitta (MAC Tools Dragster) 0.061 4.582 319.75 (L) Cory McClenathan (N.Y. Yankees/Berryman Drag0.074 4.956 203.06 These two have faced each other in competition 17 times in prior races, Kalitta holding a 9-8 edge in those races. This one was interesting, Kalitta away first and Cory mac trying to run him down. We'll never know if he could do it because his parachute popped out around the 1,000-foot mark and he towed it the rest of the way. Kalitta will have lane choice against Bernstein in the semifinals. (W) Larry Dixon (Miller Lite Dragster) 0.082 4.554 325.92 (L) Paul Romine (CARQUEST Auto Parts Dragster) 0.077 6.411 134.73 Dixon came in with a 7-3 edge over Romine in prior races during their careers and he made it 8-3 when Romine lost traction and then a blower belt. Romine beat Tony Schumacher in the first round, and after this final pair ran, Don Schumacher announced that he has hired Alan Johnson as crew chief for the U.S. Army dragster. Dixon will have lane choice when he meets Russell in the semifinals.

Top Fuel Dragster Results for Elimination Round 3

TOPEKA, Kan. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 15th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX: W/L Driver RT ET Speed (W) Doug Kalitta (MAC Tools Dragster) 0.113 4.550 325.61 (L) Kenny Bernstein (Budweiser King Dragster) 0.060 5.184 208.91 2:33 PM Current weather conditions: 72 degrees, 33 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.10 inches under scattered clouds. The crew chiefs probably would welcome a bit more cloud cover, but it isn't here yet. Bernstein enjoyed a 12-8 edge over Kalitta in prior events, but Kalitta has been the hottest driver on the tour lately. It may have come down to lane choice, Bernstein getting a big starting line advantage only to lose traction at half track. As soon as Bernstein's tires started to smoke, Kalitta went by like a rocket ship for an "easy win" with his best elapsed time of the weekend. (W) Larry Dixon (Miller Lite Dragster) 0.062 4.541 329.67 (L) Darrell Russell (Bilstein Eng. Flush Dragste0.028 4.634 321.35 Dixon came in with a 10-3 edge over Russell and used his third mid-fifty of the day to overcome Russell's holeshot, Russell led almost to half track, then Dixon's power took over and he pulled away to win by a car length. Larry Dixon's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.023), 330 ft(-0.018), 660ft(0.007), 1,000ft(0.039). MOV: 0.0595 seconds (approximately 28 feet). Dixon will have lane choice against Kalitta in the finals, it should be a doozie!

Top Fuel Dragster Results for Final Round

TOPEKA, Kan. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 15th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX: W/L Driver RT ET Speed (W) Larry Dixon (Miller Lite Dragster) 0.051 4.534 327.82 (L) Doug Kalitta (MAC Tools Dragster) 0.043 4.575 324.20 4:11 PM Current weather conditions: 71 degrees, 34 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.08 inches under partly cloudy skies, the track currently shaded by a cloud. In 23 prior contests, Dixon held a 14-9 edge and was 3-2 in final rounds. Kalitta beat Dixon in Englishtown last weekend, while Dixon won in Las Vegas earlier this year. Kalitta left first, but Dixon erased that advantage in the first 60 feet, then moved out to a half car length lead and held it to the stripe. Larry Dixon's incremental margins: 60ft(0.000), 330 ft(0.041), 660ft(0.037), 1,000ft(0.032). MOV: 0.0336 seconds (approximately 16 feet). Dixon extends his points lead over Kalitta to 171 points - and, as a bonus, Dixon's team will be on the "Junkyard Mega Wars: Speedway Edition" on The Learning Channel tonight, at 9 and midnight Eastern time."

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