Top Alcohol Funny Car

Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Sunday

Thursday Results for Qualifying Round 1

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 45th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run: Right Lane: Bret Williamson Runs 5.756/249.67, Now #1 12:13 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 72 degrees, relative humidity 27 percent, barometer 28.71 inches, adjusted altitude 2,649 feet, track temperature 89 degrees. Williamson made a nice opening run, smooth and straight down the groove. Left Lane: Ron August Jr Runs 7.736/120.56, Now #3 Right Lane: Jason Rupert Runs 5.784/251.20, Now #2 Weather conditions: air temperature 72 degrees, relative humidity 30 percent, barometer 28.69 inches, adjusted altitude 2,712 feet, track temperature 89 degrees. August's car shook and danced early in the run and he clicked it off around half track. Rupert made a good run, with a strong launch, posting a 0.938 60-foot time. Left Lane: Thomas Carter Runs 7.728/120.01, Now #3 Right Lane: Mark Woznichak Runs 10.491/79.92, Now #5 Oh-for-two, Woznichak losing traction just off the line and Carter with lots of tire shake about 100 feet out. Left Lane: Dennis Taylor Runs 10.258/72.33, Now #6 Right Lane: Keeter Ray Runs 9.048/96.99, Now #5 Oh-for-two again, Taylor's car getting very tail-happy before he shut it down. Ray's car just shook hard, but didn't do a lot of dancing around. Left Lane: Paul Gill Runs 5.881/252.57, Now #4 Right Lane: Sean Bellemeur Runs 5.846/251.16, Now #3 Back to good runs, a pair of them this time. Clean, straight, no fuss, no muss. Left Lane: Daniel Oliver Runs 5.806/252.76, Now #4 Right Lane: Steve Burck Runs 5.665/249.21, Now #1 Vegas winner Oliver was quicker initially, but lost some time with shake in the first 330 feet, then made a nice top-end charge. Burck made a smooth, straight run that took him right to the head of the list. Left Lane: J. Lombardo Jr. Runs 5.661/254.62, Now #1 Right Lane: Brian Thiel Runs 5.769/247.70, Now #4 Lombardo's car took the long route to the other end, but still ended up atop the list with the best speed so far. Thiel's run was less exciting, just a clean pass from A to B. Left Lane: Vern Moats Runs 5.697/253.09, Now #3 Right Lane: Brian Hough Runs 5.745/252.24, Now #4 Moats' car got about 200 feet out, then made a hard move toward the wall and stayed left of the groove the rest of the way, kicking up a lot of dust on the top end. Hough's run was less aggressive and much smoother. Left Lane: Ken Webster Runs 9.302/90.54, Now #15 Right Lane: Doug Gordon Runs 5.761/255.15, Now #6 Webster got about 100 feet, then his car started shaking violently and dancing around, forcing him to lift. Gordon made a nice, smooth, straight run. Left Lane: Alexis De Joria Runs 5.851/252.99, Now #11 Right Lane: S. Gasparrelli Runs 6.097/243.85, Now #13 DeJoria's car started shaking about 100 feet out and she did a good job of pedaling to salvage the run. Gasparrelli's car shook harder and it took him a little longer to get the car tamed down. Left Lane: Mickey Ferro Runs 5.734/255.82, Now #5 Right Lane: Sean O'Bannon Runs 5.635/256.99, Now #1 Ferro's car used up a lot of the lane, but O'Bannon's went straight down the groove and straight to the top of the list, with top speed so far. Left Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 5.651/253.80, Now #3 Right Lane: Steve Harker Runs 5.596/257.09, Now #1 Last pair. Bartone's car moved around a lot, but he drove through it nicely. Meanwhile, Harker went straight down the groove and he is now quickest and fastest of the session.

Friday Order for Qualifying Round 1

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of qualifying in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 45th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Steve Harker Monte Carlo 5.596 257.09 2. Sean O'Bannon Monte Carlo 5.635 256.99 3. Tony Bartone Centre Pointe Collision Ford M 5.651 253.80 4. John Lombardo Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Camaro 5.661 254.62 5. Steve Burck ARC Speciaties Camaro 5.665 249.21 6. Vern Moats Kendall Motor Oil Mustang 5.697 253.09 7. Mickey Ferro Ryco Hydraulics Monte Carlo 5.734 255.82 8. Brian Hough Olympus Trailers Monte Carlo 5.745 252.24 9. Bret Williamson Team Eagle/Beams Automotive Co 5.756 249.67 10. Doug Gordon Morro Bay Cabinets Monte Carlo 5.761 255.15 11. Brian Thiel Olympus Trailers Camaro 5.769 247.70 12. Jason Rupert SynOil Monte Carlo 5.784 251.20 13. Daniel Oliver Randy Goodwin Racing Monte Car 5.806 252.76 14. Sean Bellemeur MasterCam/Lucis Oil Firebird 5.846 251.16 15. Alexis De Joria Tequila Patron Mustang 5.851 252.99 16. Paul Gill Moduline Mustang 5.881 252.57 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Steve Gasparrelli Gasparrelli Racing Mustang 6.097 243.85 18. Thomas Carter Jawbreaker Motorsports Monte C 7.728 120.01 19. Ron August Jr Lescure Corporation Mustang 7.736 120.56 20. Keeter Ray Keeter Ray Racing Mustang 9.048 96.99 21. Ken Webster Synoil Fluids Racing Monte Car 9.302 90.54 22. Dennis Taylor btosports.com Camaro 10.258 72.33 23. Mark Woznichak Rancho Framing Camaro 10.491 79.92

Friday Results for Qualifying Round 2

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 45th 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: Mark Woznichak Runs 5.779/250.78, Now #12 Best prior run: 10.491/79.92, Was #23 12:54 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 68 degrees, relative humidity 51 percent, barometer 28.70 inches, adjusted altitude 2,518 feet, track temperature 81 degrees. "The Woz" had a busted round yesterday, made a solid pass today to reset the field. That puts Alexis De Joria on the bump spot at 5.851. Left Lane: Keeter Ray Runs 5.654/253.99, Now #4 Best prior run: 9.048/96.99, Was #21 Right Lane: Dennis Taylor Runs 15.220/57.60, Now #23 Best prior run: 10.258/72.33, Was #23 These two ran side-by-side yesterday, both had a bad case of the shakes. Today it was just Taylor who had problems, one rear tire losing traction on the launch. The car got sideways immediately and he quickly pulled the plug. Meanwhile, Ray made a very nice run to jump way up into the top half of the field. That bumped DeJoria, putting Sean Bellemeur on the bump spot at 5.846. Left Lane: S. Gasparrelli Runs 5.735/257.24, Now #9 Best prior run: 6.097/243.85, Was #19 Right Lane: Ken Webster Runs 6.052/238.51, Now #20 Best prior run: 9.302/90.54, Was #22 Gasparrelli did a good job of driving yesterday to salvage the run after a shakey start, but it wasn't quick enough to make the field. Today he avoided the shakes and just missed the top half. Meanwhile, Webster's run today looked like Gasparrelli's yesterday, the car shaking and dancing early in the run. Webster managed to salvage the run, but did not make the field. Left Lane: Sean Bellemeur Runs 6.259/186.59, Now #17 Best prior run: 5.846/251.16, Was #17 Right Lane: Ron August Jr Runs 5.854/251.81, Now #19 Best prior run: 7.736/120.56, Was #22 August also battled tire shake yesterday, but Bellemeur made a good run - but was just bumped from the field. He was on a good pace to get back in on this run, but only to about half track, where the supercharger went BANG and the burst panel in the hood sailed high in the air. Meanwhile, August made a full pass, but was not quick enough to make the field. Then the Safety Safari went to work on Bellemeur's lane, from half track on. Left Lane: Jason Rupert Runs 5.831/247.84, Now #15 Best prior run: 5.784/251.20, Was #15 Right Lane: Thomas Carter Runs 8.784/101.66, Now #22 Best prior run: 7.728/120.01, Was #22 With the scattered shrapnel all cleaned up, Vegas-winner Daniel Oliver was on the bump spot at 5.806. Rupert's car made a big move about 200 feet out and he recovered nicely, but failed to improve. Carter shook and lifted at about the same spot. Left Lane: Brian Thiel Runs 5.644/252.52, Now #3 Best prior run: 5.769/247.70, Was #13 Right Lane: Paul Gill Runs 6.019/241.97, Now #20 Best prior run: 5.881/252.57, Was #20 Thiel made a nice run, tying his career-best ET. Gill's car shook about 200 feet out and he had to get way out of the throttle to tame it down. Left Lane: Doug Gordon Runs 5.670/256.06, Now #8 Best prior run: 5.761/255.15, Was #13 Right Lane: Alexis De Joria Runs 5.772/253.23, Now #14 Best prior run: 5.851/252.99, Was #18 Two strong runs, DeJoris actually quicker early in the run, Gordon quicker from 330 feet on. That bumped Oliver, putting Jason Rupert on the bump spot at 5.784. Left Lane: Bret Williamson Runs 9.026/84.51, Now #14 Best prior run: 5.756/249.67, Was #13 Right Lane: Daniel Oliver Runs 5.588/257.04, Now #1 Best prior run: 5.806/252.76, Was #17 Oliver made a great run here, with a career-best ET, to move from "first alternate" to "first." Williamson was also on a good pace but his car slowed before half track, the reason not evident from here. Daniel Oliver's incremental times: 60ft-0.942 sec., 330ft-2.469, 660ft-3.677/204.85 mph, 1,000ft-4.712. Left Lane: Brian Hough Runs 5.642/255.29, Now #5 Best prior run: 5.745/252.24, Was #13 Right Lane: Mickey Ferro Runs 5.570/258.62, Now #1 Best prior run: 5.734/255.82, Was #11 Two more strong runs and we have yet another new #1 qualifier. Brian Hough's incremental times: 60ft-0.959 sec., 330ft-2.503, 660ft-3.722/203.34 mph, 1,000ft-4.761. Mickey Ferro's incremental times: 60ft-0.937 sec., 330ft-2.465, 660ft-3.669/204.98 mph, 1,000ft-4.699. Left Lane: Steve Burck Runs 5.831/229.78, Now #10 Best prior run: 5.665/249.21, Was #10 Right Lane: Vern Moats Runs 14.583/56.58, Now #12 Best prior run: 5.697/253.09, Was #12 Moats' car shook almost immediately and he clicked it off. Burck had some early shake, driving through it to complete the run. Left Lane: Sean O'Bannon Runs 9.258/96.78, Now #5 Best prior run: 5.635/256.99, Was #4 Right Lane: J. Lombardo Jr. Runs 5.619/256.60, Now #4 Best prior run: 5.661/254.62, Was #9 O'Bannon shook hard almost immediately and lifted. Lombardo made a very nice run to move into the fourth spot, with a career-best speed. Left Lane: Steve Harker Runs 5.710/217.14, Now #3 Best prior run: 5.596/257.09, Was #3 Right Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 5.632/255.82, Now #5 Best prior run: 5.651/253.80, Was #8 Last pair. Harker went right down the groove, on a very quick pace, but "blowed it up" between the 1,000-foot marker and the finish line. Bartone's car took the long route for the first half of the run, right, then left of the groove. But he managed to improve enough to move up a few spots.

Friday Order for Qualifying Round 2

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 45th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Mickey Ferro Ryco Hydraulics Monte Carlo 5.570 258.62 2. Daniel Oliver Randy Goodwin Racing Monte Car 5.588 257.04 3. Steve Harker Monte Carlo 5.596 257.09 4. John Lombardo Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Camaro 5.619 256.60 5. Tony Bartone Centre Pointe Collision Ford M 5.632 255.82 6. Sean O'Bannon Monte Carlo 5.635 256.99 7. Brian Hough Olympus Trailers Monte Carlo 5.642 255.29 8. Brian Thiel Olympus Trailers Camaro 5.644 252.52 9. Keeter Ray Keeter Ray Racing Mustang 5.654 253.99 10. Steve Burck ARC Speciaties Camaro 5.665 249.21 11. Doug Gordon Morro Bay Cabinets Monte Carlo 5.670 256.06 12. Vern Moats Kendall Motor Oil Mustang 5.697 253.09 13. Steve Gasparrelli Gasparrelli Racing Mustang 5.735 257.24 14. Bret Williamson Team Eagle/Beams Automotive Co 5.756 249.67 15. Alexis De Joria Tequila Patron Mustang 5.772 253.23 16. Mark Woznichak Rancho Framing Camaro 5.779 250.78 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Jason Rupert SynOil Monte Carlo 5.784 251.20 18. Sean Bellemeur MasterCam/Lucis Oil Firebird 5.846 251.16 19. Ron August Jr Lescure Corporation Mustang 5.854 251.81 20. Paul Gill Moduline Mustang 5.881 252.57 21. Ken Webster Synoil Fluids Racing Monte Car 6.052 238.51 22. Thomas Carter Jawbreaker Motorsports Monte C 7.728 120.01 23. Dennis Taylor btosports.com Camaro 10.258 72.33

Friday Results for Qualifying Round 3

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from final, round 3 qualifying in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 45th 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: Dennis Taylor Runs 11.031/65.67, Now #23 Best prior run: 10.258/72.33, Was #23 Right Lane: Jason Rupert Runs 5.816/248.02, Now #17 Best prior run: 5.784/251.20, Was #17 4:49 p.m. Final session and Mark Woznichak is on the bump spot at 5.779. Both these cars should be in the field... Once again, Taylor's car went crazy as soon as he launched, dancing from one rear tire to the other and fishtailing violently. In the other lane, Rupert made a good run, but failed to improve and the field stayed the same. Left Lane: Thomas Carter Runs 5.744/257.28, Now #14 Best prior run: 7.728/120.01, Was #22 Right Lane: Mark Woznichak Runs 5.864/249.72, Now #17 Best prior run: 5.779/250.78, Was #16 Carter's car also tried to dance on the launch, but not as violently and he was able to tame it down enough to make a full pass and bump into the field. "The Woz" was in the other lane and failed to improve, so he is now on the outside and Alexis De Joria is on the bump spot at 5.772. Left Lane: Ken Webster Runs 5.623/258.42, Now #5 Best prior run: 6.052/238.51, Was #22 Right Lane: Bret Williamson Runs 8.788/93.19, Now #16 Best prior run: 5.756/249.67, Was #15 Williamson had problems before the 330-foot marker and he lifted. Webster made a nice run, matching his career-best speed, bumping DeJoria from the field. Bad news for Webster, his chutes did not deploy and he went off the end of the track and into the net in a huge cloud of dust. Webster's run puts Williamson on the bump spot at 5.756. Left Lane: Paul Gill Runs 5.690/252.14, Now #13 Best prior run: 5.881/252.57, Was #22 Right Lane: S. Gasparrelli Runs 5.809/254.76, Now #15 Best prior run: 5.735/257.24, Was #14 5:46 p.m. The new safety nets do a great job, but extracting the car and resetting the nets takes a long time. We have no word yet on Webster's condition, but the car is reported to be "a mess." Gill is another who should already be in the field, but has yet to make a good run. Nice run by Gill to bump Williamson and move Gasparrelli down a spot. Now Thomas Carter is on the bump spot at 5.744. Left Lane: Ron August Jr Runs 14.316/41.75, Now #22 Best prior run: 5.854/251.81, Was #22 Right Lane: Doug Gordon Runs 5.926/199.26, Now #12 Best prior run: 5.670/256.06, Was #12 August is another who figured to be in the field, but he'll need a season-best (or very close to it) to beat the current bump time. Won't happen, August lost traction, then there was a POP and he slowed. Gordon made a good run to half track, but slowed on the top end - could not see why in the darkness. Left Lane: Alexis De Joria Runs 5.744/255.43, Now #17 Best prior run: 5.772/253.23, Was #18 Right Lane: Steve Burck Runs 11.467/49.38, Now #11 Best prior run: 5.665/249.21, Was #11 6:55 p.m. Another delay, this time for the Safety Safari to take a close look at both lanes and remove the previous pair of cars from the track, then clean up both lanes. Updated weather conditions: air temperature 66 degrees, relative humidity 45 percent, barometer 28.73 inches, adjusted altitude 2,326 feet, track temperature 70 degrees. DeJoria appears to be the last car in the lanes and outside the field. Burck was already in the field. DeJoria left hard, her car made several early moves, and she stayed with it, matching the bump time to the thousandth. By virtue of speed, she ended up in the first alternate position. Since Webster is in the field and his car is destroyed, she will get to run tomorrow. Left Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 13.794/56.97, Now #6 Best prior run: 5.632/255.82, Was #6 Right Lane: Brian Thiel Runs 5.976/245.36, Now #9 Best prior run: 5.644/252.52, Was #9 Bartone's car made the same darting moves that DeJoria's did, but he was already in the field and lifted. Thiel got a bit further, then also started moving around and he, too, lifted. Right Lane: Brian Hough Runs 6.569/146.72, Now #8 Best prior run: 5.642/255.29, Was #8 Hough and Thiel are teammates and wanted to break up a first-round matchup. Hough went into the sand earlier today, so his team had to work overtime to get back and run tonight. Hough made a good launch, but shut off around half track and the teammates will run each other in round one. Right Lane: Sean O'Bannon Runs 5.562/257.28, Now #1 Best prior run: 5.635/256.99, Was #7 O'Bannon is the 2009 Division 7 champion and will apparently be the final car of the day. O'Bannon saved the best for last, going right to the head of the list, scrambling all the pairings except for Hough-Thiel.

Friday Order for Qualifying Round 3

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 45th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Sean O'Bannon Monte Carlo 5.562 257.28 2. Mickey Ferro Ryco Hydraulics Monte Carlo 5.570 258.62 3. Daniel Oliver Randy Goodwin Racing Monte Car 5.588 257.04 4. Steve Harker Monte Carlo 5.596 257.09 5. John Lombardo Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Camaro 5.619 256.60 6. Ken Webster Synoil Fluids Racing Monte Car 5.623 258.42 7. Tony Bartone Centre Pointe Collision Ford M 5.632 255.82 8. Brian Hough Olympus Trailers Monte Carlo 5.642 255.29 9. Brian Thiel Olympus Trailers Camaro 5.644 252.52 10. Keeter Ray Keeter Ray Racing Mustang 5.654 253.99 11. Steve Burck ARC Speciaties Camaro 5.665 249.21 12. Doug Gordon Morro Bay Cabinets Monte Carlo 5.670 256.06 13. Paul Gill Moduline Mustang 5.690 252.57 14. Vern Moats Kendall Motor Oil Mustang 5.697 253.09 15. Steve Gasparrelli Gasparrelli Racing Mustang 5.735 257.24 16. Thomas Carter Jawbreaker Motorsports Monte C 5.744 257.28 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Alexis De Joria Tequila Patron Mustang 5.744 255.43 18. Bret Williamson Team Eagle/Beams Automotive Co 5.756 249.67 19. Mark Woznichak Rancho Framing Camaro 5.779 250.78 20. Jason Rupert SynOil Monte Carlo 5.784 251.20 21. Sean Bellemeur MasterCam/Lucis Oil Firebird 5.846 251.16 22. Ron August Jr Lescure Corporation Mustang 5.854 251.81 23. Dennis Taylor btosports.com Camaro 10.258 72.33

Saturday Results for Elimination Round 1

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - (Revised) Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 45th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Alexis De Joria (Tequila Patron Mustang) 0.039 5.677 256.89 (L) Steve Burck (ARC Speciaties Camaro) 0.073 5.672 228.96 2:06 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 69 degrees, relative humidity 39 percent, barometer 28.84 inches, adjusted altitude 2,400 feet, track temperature 86 degrees. DeJoria is in as an alternate, for Ken Webster, who took a rough ride into the catch net yesterday. He is okay, but his car took a beating. DeJoria scores a holeshot victory here, the two cars just a few thousandths apart in performance today. Alexis De Joria's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.015), 330 ft(-0.044), 660ft(-0.040), 1,000ft(-0.024). MOV: 0.0299 seconds (approximately 10 feet). (W) Brian Hough (Olympus Trailers Monte Carlo) 0.021 5.624 255.39 (L) Brian Thiel (Olympus Trailers Camaro) 0.020 5.706 247.11 Hough also went into "the beach" in the first qualifying session yesterday, but stopped short of the net and his crew had the sand cleaned out of the car in time for the final qualifying session late in the afternoon. By the luck of the ladder, these two teammates ended up paired for the first round. Both drivers had outstanding lights, but Hough took the early lead and extended it on the top end. Brian Hough's incremental margins: 60ft(0.010), 330 ft(0.007), 660ft(0.005), 1,000ft(0.049). MOV: 0.0816 seconds (approximately 30 feet). (W) Keeter Ray (Keeter Ray Racing Mustang) 0.162 5.691 255.00 (L) Tony Bartone (Centre Pointe Collision Ford 0.005 7.486 132.23 Bartone had a psychic light and Ray was late, but Bartone's car went into almost immediate tire shake, smoking the tires and skating around, while Ray's went right down the groove for the win. (W) John Lombardo Jr. (NAPA Auto Parts Camaro) 0.054 5.590 257.28 (L) Doug Gordon (Morro Bay Cabinets Monte Carlo 0.076 5.588 258.57 Lombardo left first and did a good job of driving a loose race car to take the holeshot win. He actually had the quicker car for the first half of the track, but Gordon was closing the gap on the top half. John Lombardo Jr.'s MOV: 0.0206 seconds (approximately 8 feet). His dad ran a 5.88 to win nitro Funny Car here "back in the day" (1983) and low ET of the meet for nitro floppers back then was a 5.74. (W) Steve Harker (Monte Carlo) 0.058 5.576 258.71 (L) Paul Gill (Moduline Mustang) 0.053 5.640 257.97 This was a close race at the start, but Harker steadily opened the gap to win by a car length. Note: This pair was missing from the original report. (W) Daniel Oliver (Randy Goodwin Racing Monte C 0.086 5.658 255.39 (L) Vern Moats (Kendall Motor Oil Mustang) 0.135 10.474 68.09 Oliver had the better light and Moats shut off after about 400 feet. Oliver will have lane choice against DeJoria in the quarters. (W) Mickey Ferro (Ryco Hydraulics Monte Carlo) 0.069 5.593 257.92 (L) Steve Gasparrelli (Gasparrelli Racing Musta 0.064 DQ-Centerline This turned ugly at the green, something apparently breaking on Gasparrelli's car. The car made an immediate, hard right turn, with what appeared to be fluid under the right rear tire. The car barely missed the Christmas tree, then rolled on its side and rolled into the opposite wall, facing the starting line. The car hit the wall with the underside of the chassis and the car's momentum almost flipped it over the wall. The impact unlatched the body and the throttle hung wide open as the car bounced along the top of the wall. The car then fell back on the track and spun back to the centerline about 200 foot from the starting line before coming to a stop, the engine screaming for a few seconds after that. After some anxious moments, Gasparrelli came out of the car and was walked over to the ambulance for a checkout. The ESPN cameras captured the entire sequence in super-slow-motion, so you will probably see it several times on the TV shows this weekend. Fortunately, Gasparrelli's wild ride took place in relatively slow motion and Ferro was way down the track before Gasparrelli's car crossed into his lane. He will have lane choice against Ray in round two. (W) Sean O'Bannon (Monte Carlo) 0.104 5.607 258.91 (L) Thomas Carter (Jawbreaker Motorsports Monte 0.057 6.758 151.26 During the cleanup, O'Bannon decided to swap lanes, putting Carter in the just-cleaned left lane. Carter's car started going to the left right from the start and he lifted just in time to avoid contact with the wall. O'Bannon went right down the groove and will have lane choice against Hough in round two.

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 2

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 45th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Steve Harker (Monte Carlo) 0.052 5.542 256.70 (L) John Lombardo Jr. (NAPA Auto Parts Camaro) 0.082 5.588 255.00 12:46 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 73 degrees, relative humidity 33 percent, barometer 29.00 inches, adjusted altitude 2,396 feet, track temperature 89 degrees. Harker left first and was never headed, but Lombardo was not far back and ran a career-best ET trying to run him down. Steve Harker's MOV: 0.0768 seconds (approximately 29 feet). (W) Mickey Ferro (Ryco Hydraulics Monte Carlo) 0.028 5.561 259.61 (L) Keeter Ray (Keeter Ray Racing Mustang) 0.142 7.486 127.10 Ferro was in the other lane when Steve Gasparrelli had his spectacular accident - but never saw it because he was well clear of the starting line before the action began. Ferro had a very good light here and Ray was a bit tardy, then Ray shook and slowed. Ferro was uncontested, posting his best run of the event. (W) Sean O'Bannon (Monte Carlo) 0.041 5.542 259.96 (L) Brian Hough (Olympus Trailers Monte Carlo) -0.011(R) 5.637 253.85 Five-fifties seem to be the magic number for the winners this round, though this one was over at the start when Hough lit the red bulb. O'Bannon and Harker ran identical ETs,but O'Bannon had the bigger speed and will have lane choice in the semifinals. (W) Daniel Oliver (Randy Goodwin Racing Monte C 0.050 5.613 257.33 (L) Alexis De Joria (Tequila Patron Mustang) 0.085 5.620 259.06 Last pair. Oliver had the better light, then held on for the win. He meets Ferro in the semifinals, Ferro has lane choice (but that doesn't seem to be a factor).

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 3

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 45th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Daniel Oliver (Randy Goodwin Racing Monte C 0.056 5.567 257.24 (L) Mickey Ferro (Ryco Hydraulics Monte Carlo) 0.110 5.531 258.12 3:47 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 75 degrees, relative humidity 23 percent, barometer 28.98 inches, adjusted altitude 2,485 feet, track temperature 87 degrees. TAFC rookie Oliver continues to drive like a veteran, winning another round on a holeshot. Ferro was closing the gap all the way down the track, but Oliver's starting line advantage made the difference. Daniel Oliver's incremental margins: 60ft(0.048), 330 ft(0.044), 660ft(0.037), 1,000ft(0.027). MOV: 0.0185 seconds (approximately 7 feet). (W) Sean O'Bannon (Monte Carlo) 0.055 5.538 259.66 (L) Steve Harker (Monte Carlo) 0.037 5.571 252.00 O'Bannon has been denied national event wins in TAFC twice, Harker his opponent both times. He has won in TAD, but not in the flopper. Harker left first, but O'Bannon ran his nemesis down past the 1,000-foot marker and will be looking for his first TAFC national event win, holding lane choice against Oliver. Sean O'Bannon's margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.026), 330 ft(-0.038), 660ft(-0.029), 1,000ft(-0.010). MOV: 0.0159 seconds (approximately 6 feet).

Sunday Results for Final Round

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 45th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Sean O'Bannon (Monte Carlo) 0.049 5.534 260.26 (L) Daniel Oliver (Randy Goodwin Racing Monte C 0.062 5.549 258.91 5:29 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 70 degrees, relative humidity 30 percent, barometer 29.00 inches, adjusted altitude 2,217 feet. Oliver won the preceding race, in Las Vegas. O'Bannon was looking for his first national event win in TAFC. O'Bannon beat Oliver at his own game, leaving first, and even a career-best run by the rookie (both ET and speed) was not enough to close the gap. Sean O'Bannon's incremental margins: 60ft(0.005), 330 ft(0.002), 660ft(0.012), 1,000ft(0.022). MOV: 0.0288 seconds (approximately 11 feet). Great race, too bad the scrambled schedule had most of the crowd heading for their cars instead of watching it.

---