Top Alcohol Dragster

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Friday Results for Qualifying Round 1

JOLIET, Ill. - CHICAGO - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 12th annual United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run: Left Lane: Randy Meyer Runs 5.656/251.86, Now #2 Right Lane: Brian Mans Runs 5.606/256.84, Now #1 1:16 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 75 degrees, relative humidity 38 percent, barometer 29.23 inches, adjusted altitude 2,353 feet, track temperature 109 degrees. Meyer returned to the driving seat of his potent A/Fuel dragster and probably won't be happy with this run - about a half-second off his career-best after a relatively sluggish start. Mans made his best run of the season, with a career-best speed, in his blown dragster. Left Lane: Ray Hack Runs 6.338/241.80, Now #4 Right Lane: Jeff Veale Runs 5.839/254.14, Now #3 A pair of A/Fuelers here. Both cars labored, Hack with dropped cylinders immediately, Veale down one or two by half track. Left Lane: Brandon Booher Runs 5.629/257.92, Now #2 Right Lane: Dave Hill Runs 5.816/237.63, Now #4 Hill dropped a cylinder or two on the right side early in the run, trailing raw fuel. Booher kept them all lit to move into the second spot - for now, anyway - with a career-best ET. Left Lane: Brandon Pierce Runs 18.785/53.43, Now #8 Right Lane: Tim Bowgren Runs 5.609/249.72, Now #2 Two more A/Fuelers...Pierce lost traction immediately, then lost fire and coasted through. Bowgren made a clean pass, slid into the second spot with his best run of the season. Left Lane: Dave Hirata Runs 5.335/263.62, Now #1 Right Lane: Marty Thacker Runs 9.304/87.91, Now #9 Injected nitro for Hirata, blown alcohol for Thacker, two of the better-known proponents for their respective combinations. Thacker's car shook, then went silent. Hirata's thundered on through with a very nice run, all eight candles lit. Dave Hirata's incremental times: 60ft-0.925 sec., 330ft-2.397, 660ft-3.523/221.52 mph, 1,000ft-4.491. That's a career-best ET for Hirata, by two thousandths of a second. Left Lane: Joey Severance Runs 5.412/264.08, Now #2 Right Lane: Ken Perry Runs 6.063/166.85, Now #9 Perry's car poipped the burst panel around half track. Nice, full pass for Severance's blown car to take over the second spot. Left Lane: Brittany Force Runs 6.022/246.39, Now #10 Right Lane: Courtney Force Runs 5.458/262.33, Now #3 It's "all Force, all the time." Brittany's car shook, Courtney's didn't. Left Lane: Brandon Lewis Runs 5.311/273.33, Now #1 Right Lane: Chase Copeland Runs 16.974/59.61, Now #15 Two A/Fuel cars here...Copeland lost traction almost immediately, but Lewis found plenty of grip and racked up low ET and top speed of the round on a pretty run. Brandon Lewis' incremental times: 60ft-0.947 sec., 330ft-2.433, 660ft-3.545/224.32 mph, 1,000ft-4.494. Left Lane: Jared Dreher Runs 11.342/100.49, Now #16 Right Lane: Robin Samsel Runs 8.193/105.36, Now #14 Busted runs in both lanes. Dreher's car lost power almost immediately. Samsel started off well, with a 0.942 60-foot time, but the rear tires started losing grip about 200 feet out and he shut it off. Left Lane: Edwin Schmeeckle Runs 5.387/263.56, Now #3 Right Lane: Malcolm Wahle Runs 5.441/259.16, Now #5 Good runs in both lanes, but Schmeeckle ran away from Wahle from the start. Edwin Schmeeckle's incremental times: 60ft-0.919 sec., 330ft-2.379, 660ft-3.540/212.96 mph, 1,000ft-4.536. Malcolm Wahle's incremental times: 60ft-0.962 sec., 330ft-2.476, 660ft-3.615/220.08 mph, 1,000ft-4.588. Left Lane: Michael Manners Runs 5.363/270.32, Now #4 Right Lane: John Finke Runs 5.280/267.96, Now #1 These two have been among the strongest runners so far this season, with strong ETs and big speeds. Both made good runs here, but Manners could not keep up with Finke, who made his quickest run of the year to take over the #1 spot, losing a lot of ground in the first half of the track. Michael Manners' incremental times: 60ft-0.995 sec., 330ft-2.500, 660ft-3.605/225.97 mph, 1,000ft-4.545. John Finke's incremental times: 60ft-0.941 sec., 330ft-2.425, 660ft-3.528/227.84 mph, 1,000ft-4.459. Left Lane: Bill Evans Runs 5.438/263.51, Now #8 Right Lane: Jim Whiteley Runs 5.320/269.62, Now #3 Whiteley has been the strongest-running blown car this season, but had to settle for third-quickest car of the session, though there was nothing obviously wrong with his run. Jim Whiteley's incremental times: 60ft-0.916 sec., 330ft-2.370, 660ft-3.510/217.42 mph, 1,000ft-4.487. Left Lane: Chris Demke Runs 5.325/266.21, Now #5 Right Lane: Bill Reichert Runs 5.289/272.23, Now #2 Last pair, two more of the best in their respective car types, Demke's car with a supercharger, Reichert's with injectors and nitro. Two more nice runs, Reichert taking over the second spot and Demke just a few ticks slower than Whiteley. Hey, when there's an All Star race at a national event, it gets crowded at the top.

Friday Order for Qualifying Round 1

JOLIET, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 12th annual United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. John Finke Bobcat Express A/FD 5.280 267.96 2. Jim Whiteley J&A Service/Rator B/AD 5.320 269.62 3. Chris Demke Peen-Rite-Abrasive Finishing B 5.325 266.21 4. Dave Hirata Schepel Auto Group A/FD 5.335 263.62 5. Michael Manners A/FD 5.363 270.32 6. Edwin Schmeeckle LSS Racing B/AD 5.387 263.56 7. Joey Severance Severance Racing B/AD 5.412 264.08 8. Bill Evans Evans Petroleum Services A/FD 5.438 263.51 9. Malcolm Wahle 5.441 259.16 10. Courtney Force Sanyo Supercharged HD A/FD 5.458 262.33 11. Brian Mans Bolt Tech B/AD 5.606 256.84 12. Tim Bowgren Five Star Hydraulics A/FD 5.609 249.72 13. Brandon Booher B/AD 5.629 257.92 14. Randy Meyer Lend America 5.656 251.86 15. Dave Hill A/FD 5.816 237.63 16. Jeff Veale JVR/Brown Motorsports A/FD 5.839 254.14 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Brittany Force Brand Source A/FD 6.022 246.39 18. Ken Perry Pump Systems Interfacing B/AD 6.063 166.85 19. Marty Thacker Rapid Transit B/AD 9.304 87.91 20. Jared Dreher VP Racing Fuels A/FD 11.342 100.49 21. Chase Copeland Snowman Racing A/FD 16.974 59.61 22. Ray Hack Hack Motorsports A/FD DQ 23. Brandon Pierce Sooner One A/FD DQ 24. Brandon Lewis Tigerflow A/FD DQ 25. Robin Samsel Samsels/Goodson A/FD DQ 26. Bill Reichert Bars Leak/Rislone A/FD DQ

Friday Results for Qualifying Round 2

JOLIET, Ill. - CHICAGO - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 12th annual United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals 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: Robin Samsel Runs 5.419/266.85, Now #8 No Prior Run Right Lane: Ray Hack Runs 7.594/153.63, Now #20 No Prior Run 5:37 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 77 degrees, relative humidity 36 percent, barometer 29.17 inches, adjusted altitude 2,544 feet, track temperature 98 degrees. Jeff Veale is on the bump spot at 5.839. The TAFC session was very active, great runs, the field shuffling after every pair. This should be more of the same. Samsel was DQ'ed after the first run, either weight or fuel (there were five in all, about evenly divided).. He made another good run here, hopefully he will get to keep this one. Hack was one of the "weight" DQs, skipped the scales after a bad run. He had another bad run here, shook almost immediately. Left Lane: Bill Reichert Runs 5.341/268.92, Now #5 No Prior Run Right Lane: Brandon Pierce Runs 5.451/258.76, Now #12 No Prior Run Reichert and Pierce were also DQ'ed after their first run - rce skipped the scales after a bad run, but reichert was solidly in the field. Both got back in again, hopefully they will clear tech. Left Lane: Chase Copeland Runs 5.417/270.81, Now #10 Best prior run: 16.974/59.61, Was #25 Right Lane: Brandon Lewis Runs 5.334/269.56, Now #4 No Prior Run Lewis was the fifth DQ, after making a great run in the first session. He made another good run here, as did Copeland (Gene Snow's driver this year). Left Lane: Marty Thacker Runs 5.375/267.48, Now #8 Best prior run: 9.304/87.91, Was #25 Right Lane: Jared Dreher Runs 5.725/237.55, Now #21 Best prior run: 11.342/100.49, Was #26 Dreher had problems once again. Thacker made a good run, bumping into the field. That puts Courtney Force on the bump spot at 5.458. Left Lane: Ken Perry Runs 5.374/263.20, Now #8 Best prior run: 6.063/166.85, Was #25 Right Lane: Brittany Force Runs 8.835/97.99, Now #25 Best prior run: 6.022/246.39, Was #24 Once again Brittany Force had problems, shaking and slowing early in the run. Nice pass by perry to bump Courtney Force from the field. Left Lane: Jeff Veale Runs 6.042/240.00, Now #24 Best prior run: 5.839/254.14, Was #24 Right Lane: Randy Meyer Runs 5.551/259.46, Now #18 Best prior run: 5.656/251.86, Was #21 No help for either driver here, Veale with early shake, Meyer also losing a lot of time in the first half of the track. Left Lane: Dave Hill No Time, Now #23 Best prior run: 5.816/237.63, Was #23 Right Lane: Brandon Booher Runs 6.393/157.30, Now #21 Best prior run: 5.629/257.92, Was #21 Hill's car would not back up after the burnout and John Force jumped over the wall to try to help get the car into reverse - but Hill ended up driving out the top end. Booher slowed before half track. Left Lane: Tim Bowgren Runs 5.506/250.83, Now #18 Best prior run: 5.609/249.72, Was #20 Right Lane: Bill Evans Runs 5.442/261.72, Now #14 Best prior run: 5.438/263.51, Was #14 Two full passes, Bowgren not quick enough to make the field, but making his best run of the season. Left Lane: Brian Mans Runs 5.558/252.95, Now #20 Best prior run: 5.606/256.84, Was #20 Right Lane: Joey Severance Runs 6.164/160.31, Now #11 Best prior run: 5.412/264.08, Was #11 Mans improved slightly, ran his best ET of the season, but missed the cut. Severance, safely in the field, popped a burst panel around half track. Left Lane: Courtney Force Runs 5.340/269.56, Now #6 Best prior run: 5.458/262.33, Was #17 Right Lane: Edwin Schmeeckle Runs 5.413/263.62, Now #11 Best prior run: 5.387/263.56, Was #10 Force made a nice run to bump back into the field - apparently far enough up the list to be safe in tomorrow's final session. That bumped Brandon Pierce. Now Malcolm Wahle is on the bump spot at 5.441. Left Lane: Malcolm Wahle Runs 5.386/256.16, Now #11 Best prior run: 5.441/259.16, Was #16 Right Lane: Michael Manners Runs 5.278/266.16, Now #1 Best prior run: 5.363/270.32, Was #8 Wahle is safe for this round because there are no drivers in line who are not already in the field, but 16th is not a good position to be in with one qualifying session left. oth drivers made nice runs, Wahle off the bump spot and Manners going all the way up to #1. Michael Manners' incremental times: 60ft-0.943 sec., 330ft-2.419, 660ft-3.522/226.51 mph, 1,000ft-4.461. Left Lane: Jim Whiteley Runs 5.316/265.95, Now #3 Best prior run: 5.320/269.62, Was #3 Right Lane: Dave Hirata Runs 5.383/262.54, Now #6 Best prior run: 5.335/263.62, Was #6 Good runs, but no changes. Right Lane: Chris Demke Runs 5.319/267.06, Now #4 Best prior run: 5.325/266.21, Was #4 Demke closed the round with a nice run, but it wasn't good enough to change anything. Pending tech, Manners is #1 at 5.278 and Bill Evans is on the bump spot at 5.438. They have one more qualifying session scheduled, tomorrow.

Friday Order for Qualifying Round 2

JOLIET, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 12th annual United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Michael Manners A/FD 5.278 270.32 2. John Finke Bobcat Express A/FD 5.280 267.96 3. Jim Whiteley J&A Service/Rator B/AD 5.316 269.62 4. Chris Demke Peen-Rite-Abrasive Finishing B 5.319 267.06 5. Brandon Lewis Tigerflow A/FD 5.334 269.56 6. Dave Hirata Schepel Auto Group A/FD 5.335 263.62 7. Courtney Force Sanyo Supercharged HD A/FD 5.340 269.56 8. Bill Reichert Bars Leak/Rislone A/FD 5.341 268.92 9. Ken Perry Pump Systems Interfacing B/AD 5.374 263.20 10. Marty Thacker Rapid Transit B/AD 5.375 267.48 11. Malcolm Wahle 5.386 259.16 12. Edwin Schmeeckle LSS Racing B/AD 5.387 263.62 13. Joey Severance Severance Racing B/AD 5.412 264.08 14. Chase Copeland Snowman Racing A/FD 5.417 270.81 15. Robin Samsel Samsels/Goodson A/FD 5.419 266.85 16. Bill Evans Evans Petroleum Services A/FD 5.438 263.51 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Brandon Pierce Sooner One A/FD 5.451 258.76 18. Tim Bowgren Five Star Hydraulics A/FD 5.506 250.83 19. Randy Meyer Lend America 5.551 259.46 20. Brian Mans Bolt Tech B/AD 5.558 256.84 21. Brandon Booher B/AD 5.629 257.92 22. Jared Dreher VP Racing Fuels A/FD 5.725 237.55 23. Dave Hill A/FD 5.816 237.63 24. Jeff Veale JVR/Brown Motorsports A/FD 5.839 254.14 25. Brittany Force Brand Source A/FD 6.022 246.39 26. Ray Hack Hack Motorsports A/FD 7.594 153.63

Saturday Results for Qualifying Round 3

JOLIET, Ill. - CHICAGO - Notes from final, round 3 qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 12th annual United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals 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: Ray Hack Runs 6.910/205.66, Now #26 Best prior run: 7.594/153.63, Was #26 Right Lane: Jeff Veale Runs 5.932/244.29, Now #24 Best prior run: 5.839/254.14, Was #24 9:06 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 67 degrees, relative humidity 59 percent, barometer 29.28 inches, adjusted altitude 1,891 feet, track temperature 82 degrees. Bill Evans is on the bump spot at 5.438. The first round of the All Stars (scheduled to follow the final TAFC session) will also count as qualifying, so only the cars not involved in that event will appear in this session. No help for this pair, their weekend is over. Left Lane: Brittany Force Runs 5.446/263.51, Now #17 Best prior run: 6.022/246.39, Was #25 Force's car hasn't gotten down the track in two tries. Finally, a full pass, but that's not good enough this weekend, with this quality field. Left Lane: Jared Dreher Runs 11.580/104.54, Now #23 Best prior run: 5.725/237.55, Was #23 Right Lane: Brian Mans Runs 5.566/255.10, Now #21 Best prior run: 5.558/252.95, Was #21 Mans will need a career-best to get in. Dreher's car smoked the tires and he coasted through. Mans failed to improve, so we're "oh-for-five" so far. Left Lane: Brandon Booher Runs 6.205/166.68, Now #22 Best prior run: 5.629/257.92, Was #22 Right Lane: Tim Bowgren Runs 5.494/238.72, Now #19 Best prior run: 5.506/250.83, Was #19 Booher will also need a CB to get in. Meanwhile, Dave Hill is not in the field and just towed past the window, headed back to the pits. Nope, no help for either team and we are oh-for-whatever so far. Left Lane: Randy Meyer Runs 5.451/257.43, Now #19 Best prior run: 5.551/259.46, Was #20 Right Lane: Robin Samsel Runs 5.479/255.39, Now #15 Best prior run: 5.419/266.85, Was #15 Meyer is driving in his first national event since Norwalk last year, has struggled so far this weekend, way off his normal pace. Samsel is in, but dangerously close to the bottom of the field. Meyer made a good-looking run, improved by a full tenth from yesterday, but he also came up short. Samsel failed to improve, will start no better then fifteenth. Right Lane: Chase Copeland Runs 5.833/234.61, Now #14 Best prior run: 5.417/270.81, Was #14 With the All Stars cars out of the session, we will have four singles before the floppers run. Copeland trailed a heavy plume of unburned fuel, with several dead cylinders from the start and almost all of them dead at the end. Right Lane: Malcolm Wahle Runs 16.691/47.91, Now #11 Best prior run: 5.386/256.16, Was #11 Wahle "boiled the hides" as soon as he hit the throttle. Right Lane: Marty Thacker Runs 5.445/265.22, Now #10 Best prior run: 5.375/267.48, Was #10 Even Thacker can't run quick enough to beat the bump time. Right Lane: Ken Perry Runs 5.384/262.39, Now #9 Best prior run: 5.374/263.20, Was #9 Finally a nice run - Perry ran within a hundredth of his best run yesterday. Left Lane: Dave Hirata Runs 5.360/261.27, Now #6 Best prior run: 5.335/263.62, Was #6 Right Lane: Courtney Force Runs 5.437/258.47, Now #7 Best prior run: 5.340/269.56, Was #7 John Force and a dejected Brittany were standing alongside Courtney's car as the crew fired the engine on Courtney's car. Force failed to improve, ran a thousandth better than the current bump time. Hirata also failed to improve. So far, the round has been disappointing, given the conditions - the air is good and the track is cool, so they should be running better than they did in the heat of the afternoon yesterday. Left Lane: Brandon Lewis Runs 11.004/83.96, Now #5 Best prior run: 5.334/269.56, Was #5 Right Lane: Jim Whiteley Runs 5.346/265.06, Now #3 Best prior run: 5.316/265.95, Was #3 Lewis chattered the tires, but Whitely made the best run of the session , just a few hundredths off his pace yesterday. The eight All Stars will be up in about 45 minutes. We will post revised qualifying notes when they make their runs. Left Lane: Edwin Schmeeckle Runs 5.543/247.66, Now #12 Best prior run: 5.387/263.56, Was #12 Right Lane: Bill Reichert Runs 5.303/273.72, Now #3 Best prior run: 5.341/268.92, Was #8 This is the first round of The Jeg's Allstars...Reichert with his quickest pass of the weekend to move up to the number three spot. Bill Reichert's incremental times: 60ft-0.943 sec., 330ft-2.423, 660ft-3.539/224.21 mph, 1,000ft-4.487. No help here for Schmeeckle... Left Lane: Joey Severance Runs 5.356/265.64, Now #9 Best prior run: 5.412/264.08, Was #13 Right Lane: Chris Demke Runs 5.330/267.00, Now #5 Best prior run: 5.319/267.06, Was #5 Severance with his quickest pass of the weekend to move up the ladder. Joey Severance's incremental times: 60ft-0.930 sec., 330ft-2.381, 660ft-3.526/215.68 mph, 1,000ft-4.513. Demke with another good looking pass, but will not improve. Left Lane: Bill Evans Runs 16.241/81.28, Now #16 Best prior run: 5.438/263.51, Was #16 Right Lane: John Finke Runs 5.402/266.16, Now #2 Best prior run: 5.280/267.96, Was #2 Evans is up in smoke as soon as he hits the throttle. Finke with a good clean pass, but will not improve. Left Lane: Michael Manners Runs 5.229/277.60, Now #1 Best prior run: 5.278/266.16, Was #1 Right Lane: Brandon Pierce Runs 5.544/257.73, Now #18 Best prior run: 5.451/258.76, Was #18 Pierce with his quickest pass of the weekend, but not quick enough to get in the show. Manners with a great looking pass...the quickest pass of the event. He will hold on to the number one spot...Michael Manners' incremental times: 60ft-0.953 sec., 330ft-2.412, 660ft-3.499/229.94 mph, 1,000ft-4.427.

Saturday Order for Qualifying Round 3

JOLIET, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 12th annual United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Michael Manners A/FD 5.229 277.60 2. John Finke Bobcat Express A/FD 5.280 267.96 3. Bill Reichert Bars Leak/Rislone A/FD 5.303 273.72 4. Jim Whiteley J&A Service/Rator B/AD 5.316 269.62 5. Chris Demke Peen-Rite-Abrasive Finishing B 5.319 267.06 6. Brandon Lewis Tigerflow A/FD 5.334 269.56 7. Dave Hirata Schepel Auto Group A/FD 5.335 263.62 8. Courtney Force Sanyo Supercharged HD A/FD 5.340 269.56 9. Joey Severance Severance Racing B/AD 5.356 265.64 10. Ken Perry Pump Systems Interfacing B/AD 5.374 263.20 11. Marty Thacker Rapid Transit B/AD 5.375 267.48 12. Malcolm Wahle 5.386 259.16 13. Edwin Schmeeckle LSS Racing B/AD 5.387 263.62 14. Chase Copeland Snowman Racing A/FD 5.417 270.81 15. Robin Samsel Samsels/Goodson A/FD 5.419 266.85 16. Bill Evans Evans Petroleum Services A/FD 5.438 263.51 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Brittany Force Brand Source A/FD 5.446 263.51 18. Brandon Pierce Sooner One A/FD 5.451 258.76 19. Randy Meyer Lend America 5.451 259.46 20. Tim Bowgren Five Star Hydraulics A/FD 5.494 250.83 21. Brian Mans Bolt Tech B/AD 5.558 256.84 22. Brandon Booher B/AD 5.629 257.92 23. Jared Dreher VP Racing Fuels A/FD 5.725 237.55 24. Dave Hill A/FD 5.816 237.63 25. Jeff Veale JVR/Brown Motorsports A/FD 5.839 254.14 26. Ray Hack Hack Motorsports A/FD 6.910 205.66

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 1

JOLIET, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 12th annual United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Courtney Force (Sanyo Supercharged HD A/FD) 0.100 5.307 269.13 (L) Joey Severance (Severance Racing B/AD) 0.056 5.578 245.94 3:21 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 77 degrees, relative humidity 62 percent, barometer 29.14 inches, adjusted altitude 2,858 feet, track temperature 89 degrees. Severance left first, but his car shook early and Force's A/Fueler ran away and hid with her best ET of the weekend. That's her second career round win. (W) Ken Perry (Pump Systems Interfacing B/AD) 0.040 5.428 258.76 (L) Dave Hirata (Schepel Auto Group A/FD) 0.062 5.425 258.52 Perry left first, pulled away for a nice initial lead, then held on for the holeshot victory in a very close drag race, Hirata closing fast on the top end. Ken Perry's incremental margins: 60ft(0.040), 330 ft(0.073), 660ft(0.056), 1,000ft(0.027). MOV: 0.0190 seconds (approximately 7 feet). (W) Chase Copeland (Snowman Racing A/FD) 0.053 5.306 271.84 (L) Bill Reichert (Bars Leak/Rislone A/FD) 0.058 5.387 267.32 Reichert "sealed the deal" yesterday, his final round win in the All Stars giving Division 3 their first All Stars victory in a decade. Now he needed four more win lights to earn a double-up bonus. Nope, Copeland is the 141st different driver Reichert has faced and he led this one wire to wire, pulling away at the finish to win by a car length and change. That's Copeland's best run of the weekend, by a tenth of a second. (W) Jim Whiteley (J&A Service/Rator B/AD) 0.093 5.388 257.63 (L) Edwin Schmeeckle (LSS Racing B/AD) 0.039 5.466 255.58 Schmeeckle had a very good light and the early lead, but Whiteley ran him down before half track and led the rest of the way. Jim Whiteley's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.040), 330 ft(-0.009), 660ft(0.014), 1,000ft(0.020). MOV: 0.0244 seconds (approximately 9 feet). Whiteley was vulnerable, but Schmeeckle could not match his qualifying time and Whiteley will be back next round. (W) Chris Demke (Peen-Rite-Abrasive Finishing B 0.057 5.362 260.51 (L) Malcolm Wahle (TA/D) 0.212 10.307 79.35 Wahle was late, then his car shook and he shut it off. Demke would have been tough to beat, with a good light and a good run - good enough to earn lane choice against Whiteley in the quarterfinals. (W) Brandon Lewis (Tigerflow A/FD) 0.062 5.510 254.52 (L) Marty Thacker (Rapid Transit B/AD) -0.106(R) 9.516 81.62 Thacker left early and Lewis will return to face Copeland in the quarters. Copeland will choose the lanes. (W) John Finke (Bobcat Express A/FD) 0.062 5.397 265.85 (L) Robin Samsel (Samsels/Goodson A/FD) 0.058 6.793 132.28 Finke and Samsel swapped the lead back and forth between the starting line and about 400 feet, then Samsel's car lost power, raw fuel pouring from the headers. Finke lost a tenth from his torrid qualifying pace, but was still quick enough to earn lane choice against Perry in round two. (W) Michael Manners (A/FD) 0.134 5.394 269.56 (L) Bill Evans (Evans Petroleum Services A/FD) 0.062 5.508 259.21 Manners' car stuttered on the launch, managed to run Evans down past half track for the win. Michael Manners' incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.066), 330 ft(-0.062), 660ft(-0.025), 1,000ft(0.007). MOV: 0.0425 seconds (approximately 16 feet). He faces Force next round, Force has lane choice.

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 2

JOLIET, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 12th annual United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Ken Perry (Pump Systems Interfacing B/AD) 0.134 5.436 236.67 (L) John Finke (Bobcat Express A/FD) -9.999(R) NT-No Show 5:06 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 77 degrees, relative humidity 62 percent, barometer 29.14 inches, adjusted altitude 2,858 feet, track temperature 89 degrees. Finke was a no-show and Perry soloed to the semifinals. He made a "full pull," probably looking for lane choice. (W) Jim Whiteley (J&A Service/Rator B/AD) 0.020 5.543 260.91 (L) Chris Demke (Peen-Rite-Abrasive Finishing B 0.036 11.775 64.87 Two of the best blown cars in the country squared off here to see which one will be in the semifinals. It will be Whiteley, Demke's car popping the burst panel about 100 feet off the starting line. Whiteley had to pedal his car early in the run and lost a lot of time in the process. (W) Courtney Force (Sanyo Supercharged HD A/FD) 0.140 5.643 258.07 (L) Michael Manners (A/FD) 0.232 5.559 262.79 Ashley Force, who is in the Funny Car final round, was standing by for her sister's run and helped the track crew pick up the metal fragments from the burst panel explosion in the prior pair. Both drivers had leisurely lights. Force gets a holeshot victory to advance to the finals, but she lost lane choice to Whiteley. Courtney Force's MOV: 0.0085 seconds (approximately 3 feet). (W) Brandon Lewis (Tigerflow A/FD) 0.046 5.388 273.77 (L) Chase Copeland (Snowman Racing A/FD) 0.069 5.389 269.51 Copeland had a couple hundredths in hand as he passed the tree, then the two were locked together, just a thousandth apart in performance. Actually, Copeland led for the first half of the race, but Lewis took over and led the rest of the way. Brandon Lewis' incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.014), 330 ft(-0.021), 660ft(0.002), 1,000ft(0.013). MOV: 0.0244 seconds (approximately 10 feet). He faces Perry in the semifinals, Perry has lane choice.

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 3

JOLIET, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 12th annual United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Jim Whiteley (J&A Service/Rator B/AD) 0.027 5.365 262.18 (L) Courtney Force (Sanyo Supercharged HD A/FD) 0.061 5.870 242.23 6:27 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 79 degrees, relative humidity 58 percent, barometer 29.17 inches, adjusted altitude 2,941 feet, track temperature 92 degrees. Force's car shook, she pedaled, and it dropped a cylinder. Whiteley steamed right on down the track and into the finals. (W) Brandon Lewis (Tigerflow A/FD) 0.029 5.409 269.67 (L) Ken Perry (Pump Systems Interfacing B/AD) 0.056 5.406 257.78 Lewis had three hundredths in the bank as he passed the tree and gets credit for a holeshot win, but the two were not locked together the rest of the way down the track, even though they ran almost identical times. Perry's car made a strong charge off the starting line, then Lewis made a strong charge to take the lead back beyond the 1,000 foot marker. Brandon Lewis' incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.016), 330 ft(-0.103), 660ft(-0.067), 1,000ft(-0.016). MOV: 0.0248 seconds (approximately 9 feet). Whiteley will have lane choice against Lewis in the final, a classic blown alcohol versus injected nitro matchup.

Sunday Results for Final Round

JOLIET, Ill. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 12th annual United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Jim Whiteley (J&A Service/Rator B/AD) 0.033 5.321 264.03 (L) Brandon Lewis (Tigerflow A/FD) 0.051 9.176 82.86 7:28 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 75 degrees, relative humidity 63 percent, barometer 29.16 inches, adjusted altitude 2,679 feet, track temperature 83 degrees. Lewis and Whiteley have each won 1 time against the other in prior events and Whiteley is 1 - 0 against Lewis in prior final rounds. This is Whiteley's ninth final round, Lewis' fourth. The rain this morning relegated the TAD warriors to a waiting game, not even making their first round eliminations runs until after two full rounds of Professional eliminations, in mid-afternoon. Now they are ready to bring this event to a conclusion - on the same day it was scheduled end, making it a "good event" by Bob Frey's definition. Whiteley was away first and Lewis was up in smoke early, making this an anticlimax. Whiteley scores his eighth national event win and second in a row. That's it, we're done!

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