O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals NHRA Full Throttle DragRacing
Comp Eliminator
 
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Friday
Results for Qualifying Round 1
MADISON, Ill. - ST. LOUIS - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Competition Eliminator at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 13th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, amount over/under index, and position in order following run, class and class index: 
 
      Left Lane: Shaun Vincent    Runs 8.602/151.04/-0.528, Now #1
      C/TA Index: 9.13
     Right Lane: B. Stufflebeam   Runs 7.455/177.39/-0.415, Now #2
      B/AA Index: 7.87
Weather conditions: air temperature 68 degrees, relative humidity 56 percent, barometer 29.55 inches, adjusted altitude 1,567 feet, track temperature 76 degrees.

Vincent with a nice pass to start the weekend...

      Left Lane: Mike Farrell     Runs 21.732/37.29/13.862, Now #3
      A/EA Index: 7.87
     Right Lane: Duane Robison    No Time, Now #4
      C/A Index: 7.98
Farrell with a lot of tire shake right off the starting line...Robinson with problems as soon as he hit the throttle.
      Left Lane: Bub Miller       Runs 9.168/149.03/-0.502, Now #3
      I/SMA Index: 9.67
     Right Lane: Matthew Harris   Runs 7.688/174.66/-0.642, Now #1
      E/A Index: 8.33
Harris with a real nice pass to go to the number one spot. Miller starts the weekend with a nice pass.
      Left Lane: Bob Hass         Runs 7.076/192.99/-0.564, Now #2
      B/AA Index: 7.64
     Right Lane: Michael Johnson  Runs 8.729/151.95/-0.501, Now #5
      H/AA Index: 9.23
Hass goes to the number two spot.
      Left Lane: Cordis Johnson   Runs 9.050/147.52/-0.500, Now #6
      H/SMA Index: 9.55
     Right Lane: Pete Carbery     Runs 7.090/194.27/-0.470, Now #7
      B/A Index: 7.56

      Left Lane: Dennis Mitchell  Runs 8.915/107.98/0.295, Now #10
      E/A Index: 8.62
     Right Lane: Jason Coan       Runs 8.236/155.49/-0.644, Now #1
      G/EA Index: 8.88
Mitchell is off the throttle early. Coan with a great looking pass to go to then number one spot.
      Left Lane: Will Hatcher     Runs 6.603/204.57/-0.537, Now #4
      A/DA Index: 7.14
     Right Lane: Doug Warren      Runs 6.757/204.60/-0.383, Now #11
      A/DA Index: 7.14
Warren rattled the tires and lifted the front end to about 100 feet. Hatcher goes to the number four spot...
      Left Lane: Jody Holland     Runs 13.678/61.24/4.128, Now #14
      L/AA Index: 9.55
     Right Lane: David Rampy      Runs 7.323/170.64/-0.547, Now #4
      A/EA Index: 7.87
Rampy goes to the number four spot.
      Left Lane: Arnie Martel     Runs 8.301/135.48/-0.259, Now #13
      F/AA Index: 8.56
     Right Lane: Art Hodges       Runs 7.019/168.94/-0.051, Now #14
      A/PM Index: 7.07
As these two pulled through the water it began to sprinkle

We were down for about four hours for rain delay
Weather conditions: air temperature 60 degrees, relative humidity 64 percent, barometer 29.62 inches, adjusted altitude 961 feet.



Hodges was real loose off the starting line.

      Left Lane: Robert Bailey    Runs 6.780/185.51/-0.420, Now #12
      A/ED Index: 7.20
     Right Lane: Todd Patterson   Runs 7.767/176.19/-0.563, Now #4
      E/A Index: 8.33
Patterson with a nice pass to go to the number four spot...
      Left Lane: J. Gebhardt-StillRuns 14.549/54.82/7.349, Now #20
      A/ED Index: 7.20
     Right Lane: Lee Sharp        Runs 7.682/175.71/-0.598, Now #3
      D/SMA Index: 8.28
Sharp with a good looking pass to go to the number three spot.
      Left Lane: Craig Bourgeois  Runs 21.130/37.94/13.600, Now #21
      B/ND Index: 7.53
Bourgeois loses traction right off the the starting line.

Friday
Order for Qualifying Round 1
MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of qualifying in Competition Eliminator at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 13th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol: 
 Psn  Driver                   Class Index     ET   Ov/Un
   1. Jason Coan                G/EA  8.88  8.236  -0.644
   2. Matthew Harris             E/A  8.33  7.688  -0.642
   3. Lee Sharp                 D/AA  8.28  7.682  -0.598
   4. Bob Hass                  B/AA  7.64  7.076  -0.564
   5. Todd Patterson             E/A  8.33  7.767  -0.563
   6. David Rampy               A/EA  7.87  7.323  -0.547
   7. Will Hatcher              A/DA  7.14  6.603  -0.537
   8. Shaun Vincent             C/TA  9.13  8.602  -0.528
   9. Bub Miller               I/SMA  9.67  9.168  -0.502
  10. Michael Johnson           H/AA  9.23  8.729  -0.501
  11. Cordis Johnson           H/SMA  9.55  9.050  -0.500
  12. Pete Carbery               B/A  7.56  7.090  -0.470
  13. Robert Bailey             A/ED  7.20  6.780  -0.420
  14. Brian Stufflebeam         A/EA  7.87  7.455  -0.415
  15. Doug Warren               A/DA  7.14  6.757  -0.383
  16. Arnie Martel              F/AA  8.56  8.301  -0.259
  17. Art Hodges                A/PM  7.07  7.019  -0.051
  18. Dennis Mitchell            F/A  8.62  8.915   0.295
  19. Jody Holland              L/AA  9.55 13.678   4.128
  20. Jacklyn Gebhardt-Sti      A/ED  7.20 14.549   7.349
  21. Craig Bourgeois           B/ND  7.53 21.130  13.600
  22. Mike Farrell              A/EA  7.87 21.732  13.862
  23. Duane Robison              C/A  7.98   NT

Saturday
Results for Qualifying Round 2
MADISON, Ill. - ST. LOUIS - Notes from final, round 2 qualifying in Competition Eliminator at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 13th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed this round, amount over/under index this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time, speed & over/under Index, and position in order prior to run: 
 
      Left Lane: Michael Johnson  Runs 8.664/153.49/-0.566, Now #4
      H/AA Index: 9.23            Prior Best: 8.729/151.95/-0.501, Was #10
     Right Lane: Cordis Johnson   Runs 9.035/148.10/-0.515, Now #10
      H/SMA Index: 9.55           Prior Best: 9.050/147.52/-0.500, Was #11
11:12 a.m.

Weather conditions: air temperature 68 degrees, relative humidity 40 percent, barometer 29.59 inches, adjusted altitude 1,422 feet, track temperature 88 degrees.



The air's a bit wet but it's still cool enough to see some good performances.

Michael gets a better pass than Cordis and moves up 6 spots.

      Left Lane: Jason Coan       Runs 8.165/157.78/-0.715, Now #1
      G/EA Index: 8.88            Prior Best: 8.236/155.49/-0.644, Was #1
     Right Lane: Will Hatcher     No Time, Now #8
      A/DA Index: 7.14            Prior Best: 6.603/204.57/-0.537, Was #8
Hatcher does his burnout and the crew gathers around the car as he pulls toward the line. After much fingerpointing, the rail is shut off and Hatcher is pushed back from the line.

Coan continues to prove we haven't seen everything he's holding. 
      Left Lane: Pete Carbery     Runs 6.965/198.76/-0.595, Now #4
      B/A Index: 7.56             Prior Best: 7.090/194.27/-0.470, Was #12
     Right Lane: Dennis Mitchell  Runs 8.922/98.85/0.302, Now #18
      E/A Index: 8.62             Prior Best: 8.915/107.98/0.295, Was #18
Nice pass for Carbery. We're all anxious to see what the PS cars do in just a few minutes.

Mitchell stays put.
      Left Lane: Duane Robison    Runs 7.500/181.30/-0.480, Now #13
      C/A Index: 7.98             No Prior Run
     Right Lane: Jody Holland     Runs 9.350/136.36/-0.200, Now #18
      L/AA Index: 9.55            Prior Best: 13.678/61.24/4.128, Was #19

      Left Lane: Doug Warren      Runs 6.870/196.62/-0.270, Now #16
      A/DA Index: 7.14            Prior Best: 6.757/204.60/-0.383, Was #16
     Right Lane: Bob Hass         Runs 11.833/64.66/4.193, Now #6
      B/AA Index: 7.64            Prior Best: 7.076/192.99/-0.564, Was #6
Hass heads towards the center line and steps off the gas.

No help for Warren.
      Left Lane: David Rampy      Runs 7.233/180.89/-0.637, Now #3
      A/EA Index: 7.87            Prior Best: 7.323/170.64/-0.547, Was #8
     Right Lane: Arnie Martel     Runs 7.955/169.70/-0.605, Now #4
      F/AA Index: 8.56            Prior Best: 8.301/135.48/-0.259, Was #17
Rampy struts some big power. So much for his stealth qualifying routine. Martel jumps up right behind him in the order.
      Left Lane: Todd Patterson   Runs 7.651/176.84/-0.679, Now #2
      E/A Index: 8.33             Prior Best: 7.767/176.19/-0.563, Was #9
     Right Lane: Robert Bailey    Runs 6.641/202.00/-0.559, Now #10
      A/ED Index: 7.20            Prior Best: 6.780/185.51/-0.420, Was #15
Like I said, even with the humidity the ponies are happy right now.
      Left Lane: B. Stufflebeam   Runs 7.427/178.76/-0.443, Now #17
      B/AA Index: 7.87            Prior Best: 7.455/177.39/-0.415, Was #16
     Right Lane: Mike Farrell     Runs 7.301/179.90/-0.569, Now #8
      A/EA Index: 7.87            Prior Best: 21.732/37.29/13.862, Was #23
Farrell finally gets a representative pass and goes to #8.
      Left Lane: Lee Sharp        Runs 7.570/177.67/-0.710, Now #2
      D/AA Index: 8.28            Prior Best: 7.682/175.71/-0.598, Was #6
     Right Lane: Craig Bourgeois  Runs 6.965/187.68/-0.565, Now #10
      B/ND Index: 7.53            Prior Best: 21.130/37.94/13.600, Was #23

      Left Lane: Matthew Harris   Runs 7.659/175.39/-0.671, Now #4
      E/A Index: 8.33             Prior Best: 7.688/174.66/-0.642, Was #4
     Right Lane: Bub Miller       Runs 9.142/146.97/-0.528, Now #15
      I/SMA Index: 9.67           Prior Best: 9.168/149.03/-0.502, Was #16

      Left Lane: Art Hodges       Runs 6.453/219.47/-0.617, Now #6
      A/PM Index: 7.07            Prior Best: 7.019/168.94/-0.051, Was #21
     Right Lane: Shaun Vincent    Runs 8.537/154.21/-0.593, Now #9
      C/TA Index: 9.13            Prior Best: 8.602/151.04/-0.528, Was #14
It will be interesting to see what the monster that Hodges drives can do under these conditions. I don't have a real good viewing angle to the left lane but haven't noticed any major problems off the line.

The plain white Stratus puts up some big numbers, including speed that would have been good for Alcohol Funny car not too long ago.

Vincent just misses six under.
     Right Lane: J. Gebhardt-StillRuns 6.695/199.94/-0.505, Now #18
      A/ED Index: 7.20            Prior Best: 14.549/54.83/7.349, Was #23
Jacklyn makes a straight pass and moves into the order. That's the last car in line.

Saturday
Order for Qualifying Round 2
MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Competition Eliminator at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 13th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol: 
 Psn  Driver                   Class Index     ET   Ov/Un
   1. Jason Coan                G/EA  8.88  8.165  -0.715
   2. Lee Sharp                 D/AA  8.28  7.570  -0.710
   3. Todd Patterson             E/A  8.33  7.651  -0.679
   4. Matthew Harris             E/A  8.33  7.659  -0.671
   5. David Rampy               A/EA  7.87  7.233  -0.637
   6. Art Hodges                A/PM  7.07  6.453  -0.617
   7. Arnie Martel              F/AA  8.56  7.955  -0.605
   8. Pete Carbery               B/A  7.56  6.965  -0.595
   9. Shaun Vincent             C/TA  9.13  8.537  -0.593
  10. Mike Farrell              A/EA  7.87  7.301  -0.569
  11. Michael Johnson           H/AA  9.23  8.664  -0.566
  12. Craig Bourgeois           B/ND  7.53  6.965  -0.565
  13. Bob Hass                  B/AA  7.64  7.076  -0.564
  14. Robert Bailey             A/ED  7.20  6.641  -0.559
  15. Will Hatcher              A/DA  7.14  6.603  -0.537
  16. Bub Miller               I/SMA  9.67  9.142  -0.528
  17. Cordis Johnson           H/SMA  9.55  9.035  -0.515
  18. Jacklyn Gebhardt-Sti      A/ED  7.20  6.695  -0.505
  19. Duane Robison              C/A  7.98  7.500  -0.480
  20. Brian Stufflebeam         A/EA  7.87  7.427  -0.443
  21. Doug Warren               A/DA  7.14  6.757  -0.383
  22. Jody Holland              L/AA  9.55  9.350  -0.200
  23. Dennis Mitchell            F/A  8.62  8.915   0.295

Saturday
Results for Elimination Round 1
MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Competition Eliminator at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 13th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol: 
 W/L  Driver               Class  Index    RT        ET   Ov/Un
 
 (W) Pete Carbery             B/A   7.56  0.164     7.529 -0.031
 (L) Duane Robison            C/A   7.98  -0.107(R) 7.492 -0.488
2:01 p.m.

We're still overcast and still have decent conditions. It's going to be a drivers' race.

Robinson goes way red. I'll forgo the usual comments about reaction times in this class.

 (W) Michael Johnson         H/AA   9.23  0.119     8.831 -0.399
 (L) Jody Holland            L/AA   9.55  -0.043(R)11.378  1.828

 (W) Will Hatcher            A/DA   7.14  0.003     6.896 -0.244
 (L) Matthew Harris           E/A   8.33  -0.023(R) 8.443  0.113

 (W) Cordis Johnson         H/SMA   9.55  0.075     9.310 -0.240
 (L) Art Hodges              A/PM   7.07  -0.050(R) 6.449 -0.621
Two and a half second spot -- this should be good.

Hey, I doubt if I could have waited either.

 (W) Mike Farrell            A/EA   7.87  0.070     9.317  1.447
 (L) Doug Warren             A/DA   7.14  -0.081(R) 6.916 -0.224

 (W) Todd Patterson           E/A   8.33  0.030     7.778 -0.552
 (L) Robert Bailey           A/ED   7.20  0.024     6.774 -0.426
We finally get a race and Patterson runs hard to win easily.
 (W) Craig Bourgeois         B/ND   7.53  0.027     7.725  0.195
 (L) Dennis Mitchell          F/A   8.62  -0.013(R) 8.163 -0.457
The slower car bulbs this time. Bourgeois spins hard and moves toward the center line but smoothly brings the rail back into the groove by 330.,mnn
 (W) Shaun Vincent           C/TA   9.13  0.011     8.555 -0.575
 (L) Brian Stufflebeam       A/EA   7.87  -0.011(R) 7.389 -0.481

 (W) David Rampy             A/EA   7.87  0.021     7.363 -0.507
 (L) Bub Miller             I/SMA   9.67  0.081     9.115 -0.555
David Rampy's MOV: 0.0124 seconds (approximately 3 feet).
 (W) Arnie Martel            F/AA   8.56  0.041     8.003 -0.557
 (L) Jacklyn Gebhardt-Still  A/ED   7.20  0.060     6.676 -0.524
One of the best races in the session has Martel running a bit further to take the win.

Arnie Martel's MOV: 0.0527 seconds (approximately 16 feet).

 (W) Lee Sharp               D/AA   8.28  0.051     9.179  0.899
 (L) Bob Hass                B/AA   7.64  -0.003(R) 7.391 -0.249

 (W) Jason Coan              G/EA   8.88  0.065     8.936  0.056
     was unopposed
That's the end of the session. Next time, it's Coan vs Martel (I can hear the indexes screaming already), Hatcher vs Farrell, Patterson vs Vincent, Johnson vs Bourgeois, Sharp vs Carbery, and Rampy vs Johnson.

Saturday
Results for Elimination Round 2
MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Competition Eliminator at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 13th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol: 
 W/L  Driver               Class  Index    RT        ET   Ov/Un
 
 (W) Cordis Johnson         H/SMA   9.55  0.074     9.068 -0.482
 (L) Craig Bourgeois         B/ND   7.53  0.018     8.229  0.699
5:36 p.m.

Weather conditions: air temperature 71 degrees, relative humidity 34 percent, barometer 29.47 inches, adjusted altitude 1,734 feet, track temperature 86 degrees.

The temps have dropped considerably but the humidity is on the rise.

Bourgeois blasts off with a great light but begins to spin the tires in the first couple hundred feet. It's easy to hear him feather the throttle and then romp down again. He must have decided he wouldn't be able to catch the little Cobalt as he lifts very early.

Track personnel are taking a very close look at the right lane, walking it from about half track on. I'm not sure what the issue is as we have not heard of any oil.

The next pair is backed out of the water and the tractor heads down to clean boths lanes on the top end. After a pass or two, it's now concentrating on the left lane so Bourgeois may have been the one with engine problems.

5:43 p.m.

 (W) Will Hatcher            A/DA   7.14  0.035     6.655 -0.485
 (L) Mike Farrell            A/EA   7.87  0.101     7.542 -0.328
5:47 p.m. and the next pair is fired.

Hatcher goes to the next round and will face either Coan or Martel. It doesn't get any easier, does it?

 (W) David Rampy             A/EA   7.87  0.700    10.534  2.664
 (L) Michael Johnson         H/AA   9.23  -9.999(R)NT-Broke Before Staging
Michael Johnson is pushed back and Rambo gets a single.
 (W) Shaun Vincent           C/TA   9.06  0.046     8.541 -0.519
 (L) Todd Patterson           E/A   8.28  0.133    11.541  3.261
I thought this one might get ugly as Patterson was dead late or had mechanical problems. He doesn't continue the run and the index lives for another day.
 (W) Arnie Martel            F/AA   8.51  0.036     7.967 -0.543
 (L) Jason Coan              G/EA   8.88  0.080     8.312 -0.568
We just knew a hit was coming on this one, but it wasn't as bad as I expected.
 (W) Lee Sharp               D/AA   8.28  0.090     7.757 -0.523
 (L) Pete Carbery             B/A   7.56  0.083     7.055 -0.505
Sharp is all over his lane on a snaky run, but still manages to turn on the win light.

Lee Sharp's MOV: 0.0112 seconds (approximately 3 feet).

Next round it's Martel vs Hatcher, Vincent vs Johnson, and Sharp vs Rampy.

Sunday
Results for Elimination Round 3
MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Competition Eliminator at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 13th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol: 
 W/L  Driver               Class  Index    RT        ET   Ov/Un
 
 (W) Shaun Vincent           C/TA   9.05  0.034     8.635 -0.415
 (L) Cordis Johnson         H/SMA   9.55  0.169     9.052 -0.498
Johnson leaves a bit too much on the table at the starting line and Vincent gets to return next round.

Weather conditions: air temperature 69 degrees, relative humidity 39 percent, barometer 29.48 inches, adjusted altitude 1,644 feet, track temperature 86 degrees.

 (W) Will Hatcher            A/DA   7.14  0.021     6.594 -0.546
 (L) Arnie Martel            F/AA   8.47  0.022     7.936 -0.534
Great lights on both sides. Hatcher runs Martel down surprisingly easily and coasts across the line.

Will Hatcher's MOV: 0.0138 seconds (approximately 3 feet).

Hatcher comes back to face Vincent in the semifinals.

 (W) Lee Sharp               D/AA   8.26  0.066     7.710 -0.550
 (L) David Rampy             A/EA   7.87  0.086     7.804 -0.066
Big race here with lots of power in each lane plus the winner gets a bye into the final round. Sharp has been running very well this weekend but it's hard to overlook the value of Rampy's experience in rounds like this.

We hear one of the cars out of the throttle early and Sharp takes the easy win.

Great racing and another reason to love Comp.

Sunday
Results for Elimination Round 4
MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 4 eliminations in Competition Eliminator at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 13th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol: 
 W/L  Driver               Class  Index    RT        ET   Ov/Un
 
 (W) Shaun Vincent           C/TA   9.05  0.032     8.613 -0.437
 (L) Will Hatcher            A/DA   7.10  0.033     6.720 -0.380
None of the racers remaining in Comp have ever won a National Event.

That was pretty scary. In a race reminiscent of some of the Pro Mod action, Hatcher's rail shot out of the groove toward the wall at about 800 feet. He did a very nice job of gathering the car up but it looked dicey for a few moments.

Vincent's truck was a stable as could be wanted and drives into the final round.

 (W) Lee Sharp               D/AA   8.21  1.183    NT-Took the green light
     was unopposed
Sharp is having a career day as he goes to the final in one of the two classes he's still competing in today. He stages, takes the green, and pushes back to the pits.

Sunday
Results for Final Round 
MADISON, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 5 eliminations in Competition Eliminator at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 13th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol: 
 W/L  Driver               Class  Index    RT        ET   Ov/Un
 
 (W) Lee Sharp               D/AA   8.21  0.148    10.307  2.097
 (L) Shaun Vincent           C/TA   9.05  -0.003(R) 9.455  0.405
Sharp gets his first ever National Event win. Congratulations to Sharp Racing!