Top Fuel

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Thursday Results for Qualifying Round 1

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Fuel 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: Left Lane: Stig Neergaard Runs 8.086/82.96, Now #2 Right Lane: Lex Joon Runs 4.349/205.01, Now #1 3:07 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 70 degrees, relative humidity 38 percent, barometer 28.65 inches, adjusted altitude 2,639 feet, track temperature 86 degrees. Yee Haw!! They may not say that in the Netherlands, but Joon makes a big time rodeo pass. He leaves hard with a nice.0.862 sixty foot time and then the car makes a hard move towards the 660 reflectors and then he over corrects to almost hit the wall right after that. Crazy! He wisely gives it up. Neergaard is in trouble at the 330 lights and slows. Left Lane: Tim Cullinan Runs 4.027/285.35, Now #1 Right Lane: Thomas Nataas Runs 12.158/72.33, Now #4 Nataas is up in smoke at the hit. Cullinan makes a clean near career best pass to set the mark for the rest of the cars. Tim Cullinan's incremental times: 60ft-0.912 sec., 330ft-2.257, 660ft-3.205/263.05 mph. Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 6.914/88.06, Now #4 Right Lane: Scott Palmer Runs 4.009/261.88, Now #1 Grubnic has the better numbers down low, but shakes and spins before the 330 lights. Palmer's Fueler is on a great looking pass until near the 1000 foot lights, where it makes a huge move out of the groove towards the wall. He takes over the top spot, but that was scary! Scott Palmer's incremental times: 60ft-0.863 sec., 330ft-2.193, 660ft-3.148/259.66 mph. Left Lane: C. Karamesines No Time, Now #8 Right Lane: Urs Erbacher Runs 4.033/270.97, Now #3 The Greek has a weird burnout and then has the blower go BANG before ten feet. Nice pass for Erbacher into the current #3 spot he stops on the track and has to be towed off. Left Lane: Steve Torrence Runs 3.891/306.53, Now #2 Right Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 3.881/308.99, Now #1 660ft-3.099/269.56 mph. Bob Vandergriff's incremental times: 60ft-0.866 sec., 330ft-2.185, 660ft-3.100/275.17 mph. Left Lane: Mike Strasburg Runs 7.362/94.91, Now #8 Right Lane: Steven Chrisman No Time, Now #12 Left Lane: Troy Buff Runs 8.099/91.57, Now #11 Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 3.836/316.82, Now #1 Buff leaves first and then goes silent first. Kalitta keeps the candles lit and has all of the numbers to take over the top spot on a clean pass. Nice run! Doug Kalitta's incremental times: 60ft-0.845 sec., 330ft-2.159, 660ft-3.071/277.09 mph. Left Lane: Shawn Langdon Runs 8.330/82.90, Now #13 Right Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 3.909/303.84, Now #4 Team Lucas to the line. Langdon is away first at the green and then slows with fuel coming out of the pipes. Lucas gets a full pull and moves well up the ladder into the top quarter of the field. Morgan Lucas' incremental times: 60ft-0.869 sec., 330ft-2.196, 660ft-3.122/273.22 mph. Left Lane: Spencer Massey Runs 3.922/308.14, Now #6 Right Lane: B. Bernstein Runs 3.919/309.49, Now #5 Troy Buff is on the bump spot at 8.099. Another great side by side pair. Big advantage off the line for Massey and he has the better numbers until after the 660 lights, where Bernstein gets on by to lead to the finish line. They take over the #5 and #6 spots on the ladder. Spencer Massey's incremental times: 60ft-0.854 sec., 330ft-2.198, 660ft-3.135/270.59 mph. Brandon Bernstein's incremental times: 60ft-0.873 sec., 330ft-2.217, 660ft-3.140/274.50 mph. Left Lane: Antron Brown Runs 4.592/158.48, Now #12 Right Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 3.838/316.38, Now #2 Left Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 3.833/314.31, Now #2 Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 3.832/316.52, Now #1 Oh,My! They fly down the track and Schumacher moves ahead by two points, as the Army car is 0.001 seconds ahead on the clocks. They leave almost together and Dixon has the better numbers until very close to the finish line, where Schumacher just gets by for the top spot. Picture perfect pass for both. Larry Dixon's incremental times: 60ft-0.844 sec., 330ft-2.150, 660ft-3.064/277.26 mph. Tony Schumacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.848 sec., 330ft-2.155, 660ft-3.066/277.49 mph. 3:43 p.m. Urs Erbacher is on the bump spot at 4.033.

Thursday Order for Qualifying Round 1

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 45th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Tony Schumacher U.S. Army Dragster 3.832 316.52 2. Larry Dixon Al-Anabi Racing Dragster 3.833 314.31 3. Doug Kalitta Technicoat Dragster 3.836 316.82 4. Cory McClenathan Fram Tough Guard Dragster 3.838 316.38 5. Bob Vandergriff C&J Energy Services Dragster 3.881 308.99 6. Steve Torrence Tuttle Motorsports Dragster 3.891 306.53 7. Morgan Lucas Geico Powersport/ Lucas Oil Dr 3.909 303.84 8. Brandon Bernstein Budweiser/Lucas Oil Dragster 3.919 309.49 9. Spencer Massey US Smokeless Dragster 3.922 308.14 10. Scott Palmer Tigerflow Dragster 4.009 261.88 11. Tim Cullinan JP Phillips Dragster 4.027 285.35 12. Urs Erbacher Midland Oil Dragster 4.033 270.97 --------- Not Qualified --------- 13. Lex Joon MPM Oil Dragster 4.349 205.01 14. Antron Brown Matco Tools Dragster 4.592 158.48 15. David Grubnic Hawaiian Industrial Dragster 6.914 88.06 16. Mike Strasburg B & J Transmissions Dragster 7.362 94.91 17. Stig Neergaard Persaker Speeds Dragster 8.086 82.96 18. Troy Buff Bill Miller Racing/Okuma Drags 8.099 91.57 19. Shawn Langdon Lucas Oil/Dixie Chopper Dragst 8.330 82.90 20. Thomas Nataas Dragster 12.158 72.33 21. Chris Karamesines Strange/Chizler Dragster NT

Friday Results for Qualifying Round 2

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Fuel 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: Del Cox Jr No Time, Now #24 No Prior Run Right Lane: Ron August Runs 4.125/291.01, Now #13 No Prior Run 2:38 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 70 degrees, relative humidity 41 percent, barometer 28.68 inches, adjusted altitude 2,658 feet, track temperature 84 degrees. Urs Erbacher is on the bump spot at 4.033. Cox's car can't even do the burnout and has to be pushed away. August gets a full pull, but not good enough to get into the show. Left Lane: Steven Chrisman Runs 7.163/94.24, Now #18 No Prior Run Right Lane: C. Karamesines Runs 3.897/308.57, Now #7 No Prior Run Chrisman basically repeats his pass from yesterday and blows off the tires after the sixty foot lights. The Golden Greek gives himself a great 81st Birthday present with a career best ET and MPH. He's in his eighties and the car runs in the eighties. There is a bunch of smoke in the lights and the car doesn't want to declutch, after stopping on the track. After a short time, the track guys are able to drag the car off the track. Left Lane: Thomas Nataas No Time, Now #23 Best prior run: 12.158/72.33, Was #23 Right Lane: Shawn Langdon Runs 8.658/77.36, Now #22 Best prior run: 8.330/82.90, Was #22 Nataas' parachute drops out on the starting line and he is done for this round. Langdon's car has a 0.861 sixty foot time and then shakes. Left Lane: Lex Joon No Time, Now #16 Best prior run: 4.349/205.01, Was #15 Right Lane: Troy Buff Runs 4.004/289.63, Now #11 Best prior run: 8.099/91.57, Was #21 Joon's day goes from OK to really bad, as the car leaves hard with a 0.974 sixty foot time and then drifts steadily towards the guardrail. He bounces off just before the 1000 foot lights and continues on down the track. The clocks show a 3.952 @ 260.15 MPH, but that will be DQ'ed. Definitely "white walled" the rear tire, with other damage yet to be determined. Buff has a boomer in the lights, after he runs a 0.870 sixty foot and not so good incrementals. Left Lane: Urs Erbacher Runs 3.994/290.26, Now #11 Best prior run: 4.033/270.97, Was #14 Right Lane: Stig Neergaard Runs 6.299/96.18, Now #18 Best prior run: 8.086/82.96, Was #21 2:57 p.m. Scott Palmer is on the bump spot at 4.009. Two more of the European racers to the line. Erbacher makes a nice pass until near the lights, where the car makes a Joon-like move towards the wall. He brings it back into the groove and then has a wall of smoke from the engine. Still good enough for the new #11 position. Neergaard has the better 0.872 sixty foot number and then shakes and spins. He coasts on down. Left Lane: Scott Palmer Runs 4.044/276.97, Now #14 Best prior run: 4.009/261.88, Was #13 Right Lane: Mike Strasburg Runs 3.999/303.23, Now #12 Best prior run: 7.362/94.91, Was #21 Troy Buff is on the bump spot at 4.004. Both cars get down the track, but Strasburg is the only one to improve into the new bump spot. Left Lane: B. Bernstein Runs 3.832/312.28, Now #2 Best prior run: 3.919/309.49, Was #9 Right Lane: David Grubnic Runs 3.914/317.42, Now #10 Best prior run: 6.914/88.06, Was #20 Mike Strasburg is on the bump spot at 3.999. Interesting change in the Budweiser car just before the burnout. The crew has quickly removed the "Wicker Bill" from the back of the car to "loosen" it up down track. Looks like it worked well, as the car runs hard from start to finish. Ironically, they make up most of their improvements before the 660 lights. He is now the new #2 qualifier. Grubnic's numbers wer slower all the way down the track, but The Hawaiian Industries fueler runs the new top speed of the meet. Good enough for the current #10 position. Brandon Bernstein's incremental times: 60ft-0.849 sec., 330ft-2.152, 660ft-3.060/278.46 mph. David Grubnic's incremental times: 60ft-0.858 sec., 330ft-2.227, 660ft-3.149/276.46 mph. Left Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 3.973/278.58, Now #10 Best prior run: 3.909/303.84, Was #9 Right Lane: Antron Brown Runs 3.853/313.88, Now #6 Best prior run: 4.592/158.48, Was #19 Urs Erbacher is back on the bump spot at 3.994. Lots of funny flames and flashes from Lucas' car and he takes the long way to the finish line. After breaking an input shaft yesterday, Brown hits most of the numbers well on this pass and pushes Lucas down a spot. He moves into the top half of the field. Not a home run, but good enough for today. Morgan Lucas' incremental times: 60ft-0.851 sec., 330ft-2.183, 660ft-3.131/263.72 mph. Antron Brown's incremental times: 60ft-0.868 sec., 330ft-2.170, 660ft-3.082/276.97 mph. Left Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 7.149/80.75, Now #7 Best prior run: 3.881/308.99, Was #7 Right Lane: Tim Cullinan Runs 4.163/283.67, Now #17 Best prior run: 4.027/285.35, Was #17 Spencer Massey is on the bump spot at 3.922. Too much too soon for Vandergriff and the car strikes the tires before the 330 lights. No joy for Cullinan either, as his car struggles to the lights. Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 5.226/128.37, Now #6 Best prior run: 3.838/316.38, Was #5 Right Lane: Spencer Massey Runs 3.809/317.94, Now #1 Best prior run: 3.922/308.14, Was #12 Not the typical spot for Massey in round two of qualifying. McClenathan is looking better in the current #5 position. Cory Mac has a strong 0.847 sixty foot time and then smokes the tires hard near the 330 lights to slow. Massey has the power and the tune up to run right down Broadway into the new top spot with best MPH to boot! Nice run. Spencer Massey's incremental times: 60ft-0.845 sec., 330ft-2.149, 660ft-3.049/280.49 mph. Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 7.898/54.24, Now #5 Best prior run: 3.836/316.82, Was #5 Right Lane: Steve Torrence Runs 4.729/160.06, Now #9 Best prior run: 3.891/306.53, Was #9 Final four for today! David Grubnic is on the bump spot at 3.914. Both cars have a good leave and then the left lane captures another run, as Kalitta smokes them hard at about the 330 lights. Torrence was on a good pass until after the 660 lights, where the car starts to move around a bunch, doing some strong Tail Wags. Neither car will improve. Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 5.255/125.97, Now #3 Best prior run: 3.832/316.52, Was #2 Right Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 3.801/318.99, Now #1 Best prior run: 3.833/314.31, Was #4 Well, Dixon makes the point chase even more challenging with a terrific pass into the new top spot with the number one spot on the ladder, top speed, and a tie for the seventh fastest pass in thousand foot history. By my calculations, that puts Dixon out in front by one point with two more qualifying sessions to go tomorrow. Schumacher loses his lead for today, when the slicks are up in smoke in the dreaded left lane. Larry Dixon's incremental times: 60ft-0.844 sec., 330ft-2.141, 660ft-3.043/280.89 mph. 3:22 p.m. David Grubnic is on the bump spot at 3.914.

Friday Order for Qualifying Round 2

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 45th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Larry Dixon Al-Anabi Racing Dragster 3.801 318.99& 2. Spencer Massey US Smokeless Dragster 3.809 317.94 3. Tony Schumacher U.S. Army Dragster 3.832 316.52 4. Brandon Bernstein Budweiser/Lucas Oil Dragster 3.832 312.28 5. Doug Kalitta Technicoat Dragster 3.836 316.82 6. Cory McClenathan Fram Tough Guard Dragster 3.838 316.38 7. Antron Brown Matco Tools Dragster 3.853 313.88 8. Bob Vandergriff C&J Energy Services Dragster 3.881 308.99 9. Steve Torrence Tuttle Motorsports Dragster 3.891 306.53 10. Chris Karamesines Strange/Chizler Dragster 3.897 308.57 11. Morgan Lucas Geico Powersport/ Lucas Oil Dr 3.909 303.84 12. David Grubnic Hawaiian Industrial Dragster 3.914 317.42 --------- Not Qualified --------- 13. Urs Erbacher Midland Oil Dragster 3.994 290.26 14. Mike Strasburg B & J Transmissions Dragster 3.999 303.23 15. Troy Buff Bill Miller Racing/Okuma Drags 4.004 289.63 16. Scott Palmer Tigerflow Dragster 4.009 276.97 17. Tim Cullinan JP Phillips Dragster 4.027 285.35 18. Ron August Lescure Company Dragster 4.125 291.01 19. Lex Joon MPM Oil Dragster 4.349 205.01 20. Stig Neergaard Persaker Speeds Dragster 6.299 96.18 21. Steven Chrisman Chrisman Driveline Dragster 7.163 94.24 22. Shawn Langdon Lucas Oil/Speedco Dragster 8.330 82.90 23. Thomas Nataas Dragster 12.158 72.33 & = Track Speed Record

Saturday Results for Qualifying Round 3

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Top Fuel 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: Shawn Langdon Runs 5.231/163.12, Now #13 No Prior Run Right Lane: Lex Joon Runs 6.587/90.67, Now #14 No Prior Run 1:24 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 68 degrees, relative humidity 44 percent, barometer 28.87 inches, adjusted altitude 2,312 feet, track temperature 91 degrees. Looks like Joon's "white wall" bump off the guard rail yesterday wasn't too damaging, as he is rolling up to the line to qualify. No official bump until four cars complete a pass. Both cars run mid-eight fifty sixty foot times and then fall to shake and spin. Langdon hammers the throttle a couple of times to no avail before clicking it off. Left Lane: Stig Neergaard Runs 4.087/284.09, Now #13 No Prior Run Right Lane: Thomas Nataas Runs 10.381/70.79, Now #16 No Prior Run Two "Division 8" dragsters come to the line. No joy for Nataas, as the tires are up in smoke before the 330 lights. Neergaard keeps the tires in speed with the track and gets to the finish line under power. Left Lane: Steve Torrence Runs 4.694/166.70, Now #9 Best prior run: 3.891/306.53, Was #9 Right Lane: Del Cox Jr Runs 3.984/300.60, Now #13 No Prior Run Thomas Nataas is on the bump spot at 10.381. Cox is this year's IHRA TF Champion and is at the bottom of the ladder. The team finds the tune up this time and he runs straight down the track into the current #13 spot. No joy for Torrance, as his car has too much shake to get into the field. Del Cox Jr's incremental times: 60ft-0.890 sec., 330ft-2.239, 660ft-3.181/267.11 mph. Left Lane: Tim Cullinan Runs 4.040/290.76, Now #14 No Prior Run Right Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 3.875/315.27, Now #5 Best prior run: 3.836/316.82, Was #5 Lex Joon is on the bump spot at 6.587. Kalitta has the beans and the tune up and runs down the tricky right lane and into the #5 spot on a clean and smooth pass. Cullinan's fueler is lazy off the line and looked to have clicked it early, but still gets into the field in the current #14 spot. Tim Cullinan's incremental times: 60ft-0.913 sec., 330ft-2.270, 660ft-3.222/264.49 mph. Doug Kalitta's incremental times: 60ft-0.856 sec., 330ft-2.181, 660ft-3.104/273.94 mph. Left Lane: Ron August Runs 4.980/148.15, Now #17 No Prior Run Right Lane: Steven Chrisman Runs 4.753/171.49, Now #16 No Prior Run Shawn Langdon is on the bump spot at 5.231. Two good startsl and then two broken runs. Chrisman gets the best of it to take over the current bump spot. Left Lane: Troy Buff Runs 5.892/109.03, Now #19 No Prior Run Right Lane: Bob Vandergriff Runs 7.391/80.52, Now #8 Best prior run: 3.881/308.99, Was #8 Vandergriff is already in the current top half of the field, but Buff has struggled on every run this weekend. It's all over for both drives before 200 feet, as shake and spin strike both cars. They lift together and won't improve. Left Lane: Mike Strasburg No Time, Now #22 No Prior Run Right Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 3.822/318.24, Now #3 Best prior run: 3.832/316.52, Was #3 You don't usually see Schumacher this early in the session, but he shows why the Army team can never be questioned. Terrific pass in the difficult right lane to improve on his prior best. If we look at the points right now, he moves back in front of Dixon for a while. Strasburg's car dies right off the line. Tony Schumacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.846 sec., 330ft-2.152, 660ft-3.061/278.86 mph. Left Lane: David Grubnic Runs 5.959/104.09, Now #12 No Prior Run Right Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 3.859/315.49, Now #6 No Prior Run Steven Chrisman is on the bump spot at 4.753. Both cars were already in the field coming into this round. Another big Team Schumacher tune up in the right lane and the Fram dragster is well into the top half of the field for now. Grubnic joins the broken run club in the left lane with tire smoke right off the line. Cory McClenathan's incremental times: 60ft-0.850 sec., 330ft-2.172, 660ft-3.092/276.07 mph. Right Lane: Scott Palmer Runs 3.954/290.38, Now #13 No Prior Run Palmer makes a nice clean single pass in the resurgent right lane and runs well into the new #13 spot. A career best ET for his efforts. Scott Palmer's incremental times: 60ft-0.859 sec., 330ft-2.177, 660ft-3.131/260.66 mph. Left Lane: Antron Brown Runs 4.824/149.18, Now #7 Best prior run: 3.853/313.88, Was #7 Right Lane: Urs Erbacher Runs 5.692/106.71, Now #20 No Prior Run Stig Neergaard is on the bump spot at 4.087. We'll see how good the left lane really is, as Brown comes to the line. Not too good apparently, as both cars are up in smoke by the 330 lights. Erbacher may have banged the burst panel, as the both chutes are out immediately. The car stops on the track half way to the turnout and the top end crew has to come out and drag it away. One last try later today. Left Lane: Spencer Massey Runs 3.855/312.93, Now #2 Best prior run: 3.809/317.94, Was #2 Right Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 3.930/286.74, Now #11 Best prior run: 3.909/303.84, Was #11 Finally we get a nice side by side pair of passes and it's a good one, with both cars getting to the finish line under power. Neither car improves, but good numbers for the conditions. Cool! Spencer Massey's incremental times: 60ft-0.843 sec., 330ft-2.162, 660ft-3.080/274.61 mph. Morgan Lucas' incremental times: 60ft-0.853 sec., 330ft-2.170, 660ft-3.099/265.06 mph. Left Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 3.802/321.58, Now #1 Best prior run: 3.801/318.99, Was #1 Right Lane: B. Bernstein Runs 7.237/87.99, Now #4 Best prior run: 3.832/312.28, Was #4 Last pair of the session. Dixon takes no prisoners and runs the fastest speed in one thousand foot history and a new national record. Three more Bonus points to boot! Bernstein has good numbers to the sixty foot mark and smokes the tires right after that. Larry Dixon's incremental times: 60ft-0.838 sec., 330ft-2.142, 660ft-3.049/280.89 mph. 2:05 p.m. Stig Neergaard is on the bump spot at 4.087.

Saturday Order for Qualifying Round 3

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 45th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Larry Dixon Al-Anabi Racing Dragster 3.801 321.58^ 2. Spencer Massey US Smokeless Dragster 3.809 317.94 3. Tony Schumacher U.S. Army Dragster 3.822 318.24 4. Brandon Bernstein Budweiser/Lucas Oil Dragster 3.832 312.28 5. Doug Kalitta Technicoat Dragster 3.836 316.82 6. Cory McClenathan Fram Tough Guard Dragster 3.838 316.38 7. Antron Brown Matco Tools Dragster 3.853 313.88 8. Bob Vandergriff C&J Energy Services Dragster 3.881 308.99 9. Steve Torrence Tuttle Motorsports Dragster 3.891 306.53 10. Chris Karamesines Strange/Chizler Dragster 3.897 308.57 11. Morgan Lucas Geico Powersport/ Lucas Oil Dr 3.909 303.84 12. David Grubnic Hawaiian Industrial Dragster 3.914 317.42 13. Scott Palmer Tigerflow Dragster 3.954 290.38 14. Del Cox Jr LA King's/RG Industries DRA Dr 3.984 300.60 15. Tim Cullinan JP Phillips Dragster 4.040 290.76 16. Stig Neergaard Persaker Speeds Dragster 4.087 284.09 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Steven Chrisman Chrisman Driveline Dragster 4.753 171.49 18. Ron August Lescure Company Dragster 4.980 291.01 19. Shawn Langdon Lucas Oil/Speedco Dragster 5.231 163.12 20. Urs Erbacher Midland Oil Dragster 5.692 290.26 21. Troy Buff Bill Miller Racing/Okuma Drags 5.892 289.63 22. Lex Joon MPM Oil Dragster 6.587 205.01 23. Thomas Nataas Dragster 10.381 72.33 24. Mike Strasburg B & J Transmissions Dragster NT ^ = National Speed Record

Saturday Results for Qualifying Round 4

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from final, round 4 qualifying in Top Fuel 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: Thomas Nataas No Time, Now #24 Best prior run: 10.381/70.79, Was #23 Right Lane: Mike Strasburg Runs 3.995/300.66, Now #15 No Prior Run 4:53 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 69 degrees, relative humidity 45 percent, barometer 28.87 inches, adjusted altitude 2,410 feet, track temperature 76 degrees. Stig Neergaard is on the bump spot at 4.087. Last qualifying session of 2009! Strasburg pulls a rabbit out of his tuners hat and makes a terrific pass in the evening gloom to go from #24 to #15. Well done! Nataas' weekend ends on a sour note with the blower banging right off the line. Both chutes deploy and the car stops on the track. Left Lane: Lex Joon Runs 7.378/76.81, Now #23 Best prior run: 6.587/90.67, Was #23 Right Lane: Troy Buff Runs 3.995/274.50, Now #16 Best prior run: 5.892/109.03, Was #22 4:56 p.m. We have a delay to honor Robert Hight's 2009 Funny Car Championship. Tim Cullinan is on the bump spot at 4.040. 5:06 p.m. It's worth the wait for Buff, as they finally get an almost full pull to bump into the field for now. There are still six dragsters that could bump him. Tough to wait it out... Joon is spectacular, with huge flames from the engine, wrapping around into the drivers compartment, just before the 330 lights and on down the track. He left first and had better sixty foot numbers until it went BOOM! Big Time! ...another time out for dusting and cleaning. Troy Buff's incremental times: 60ft-0.864 sec., 330ft-2.199, 660ft-3.153/261.52 mph. Left Lane: Urs Erbacher Runs 3.928/294.88, Now #13 Best prior run: 5.692/106.71, Was #22 Right Lane: Shawn Langdon Runs 4.016/293.54, Now #18 Best prior run: 5.231/163.12, Was #21 5:31 p.m. ...and we are finally back to qualifying. Both of these two cars have the potential to move into the field on a full pass. Erbacher gets his full pull and moves well up the ladder into the current#13 spot to bump Buff out. More carnage, this time in the right lane, as Langdon misses the bump as the engine lights up on the top end, slowing the car. His incremental weren't good enough from the hit, so it just ended up as a very expensive pass into the #18 position. Urs Erbacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.862 sec., 330ft-2.191, 660ft-3.122/268.38 mph. The trucks are rolling again to clean up the track past the 1000ft lights. Left Lane: Steven Chrisman Runs 8.428/76.36, Now #21 Best prior run: 4.753/171.49, Was #21 Right Lane: Ron August Runs 4.917/154.79, Now #22 Best prior run: 4.980/148.15, Was #22 5:43 p.m. Once again, the call goes out for the teams to start their engines. Mike Strasburg is on the bump spot at 3.995. Not so good. Christman gets a good start and then strikes the tires. August was pumping early and then had the front end go way up at about the 75 foot mark. Looks like the wheelie bar unloaded the slicks and banged the front end back down. No oil though!! Left Lane: Del Cox Jr Runs 8.704/67.44, Now #15 Best prior run: 3.984/300.60, Was #15 Right Lane: Stig Neergaard Runs 6.252/118.25, Now #20 Best prior run: 4.087/284.09, Was #20 Nope! Two more broken runs. Cox strikes the tires first and lifts. Neergaard tries to catch it back up after he smokes the tires and is in and out of the throttle going down the track. He finally gives it up as a lost cause near the 660 lights. Guess what? More oil on the track... Left Lane: Morgan Lucas Runs 3.844/310.48, Now #7 Best prior run: 3.909/303.84, Was #11 Right Lane: Tim Cullinan Runs 4.552/218.76, Now #19 Best prior run: 4.040/290.76, Was #19 6:15 p.m. Let's try this again... Palmer is already the #14 qualifier and can't be bumped. He determines that the cost/benefit for making another pass just isn't worth it and pulls off the starting and goes back to the pits. Lucas pulls into his spot. Cullinan is the last car left that can bump into the field, but its not going to happen The fueler is lazy off the line and then clicks off early. Lucas needed a good runs and got one with a straight and true pass right down the groove and into the top half of the field in the current #7 spot Morgan Lucas' incremental times: 60ft-0.856 sec., 330ft-2.160, 660ft-3.068/277.03 mph. ...and No Oil! Left Lane: Bob Vandergriff No Time, Now #10 Best prior run: 3.881/308.99, Was #9 Right Lane: David Grubnic Runs 3.852/307.44, Now #8 Best prior run: 3.914/317.42, Was #12 The field is set and the rest of the cars will be looking to move up the ladder for tomorrow's pairings. Vandergriff's day is done. At first the car wouldn't back up and then the parachutes come out. The team gathers them up pushes the silent car back behind the line. A thing of beauty. Grubnic has a terrific looking pass from start to finish and into the current top half of the field. David Grubnic's incremental times: 60ft-0.847 sec., 330ft-2.172, 660ft-3.076/278.52 mph. ...and No Oil! Left Lane: Cory McClenathan Runs 9.257/77.01, Now #6 Best prior run: 3.838/316.38, Was #6 Right Lane: Steve Torrence Runs 3.965/303.09, Now #11 Best prior run: 3.891/306.53, Was #11 The track is now down to a chilly 68 degrees. Right on the edge of too cool! Cory Mac tries to turn the earth and ends up with major tire smoke instead. Torrance has a nice 0.846 sixty foot time, but keep the pace down track. There was a flash from the engine near the lights and he doesn't improve. Steve Torrence's incremental times: 60ft-0.846 sec., 330ft-2.226, 660ft-3.172/269.56 mph. ...and !!! Left Lane: Doug Kalitta Runs 6.987/93.34, Now #6 Best prior run: 3.836/316.82, Was #5 Right Lane: Antron Brown Runs 3.813/316.15, Now #3 Best prior run: 3.853/313.88, Was #9 The left lane is not up to the task and Kalitta smokes the slicks at the green. Brown finds his missing tune up and makes a terrific looking pass right up to the new #3 spot on the ladder. Antron Brown's incremental times: 60ft-0.842 sec., 330ft-2.150, 660ft-3.049/279.67 mph. Left Lane: B. Bernstein Runs 3.996/245.67, Now #5 Best prior run: 3.832/312.28, Was #5 Right Lane: Spencer Massey Runs 3.819/313.51, Now #2 Best prior run: 3.809/317.94, Was #2 Last qualifying pass ever for Team Budweiser! Two good leaves and Bernstein engine goes sour at the 660 foot reflectors to slow. Massey has good numbers down low, but can't make a strong top end charge to improve. nice looking pass though. Spencer Massey's incremental times: 60ft-0.838 sec., 330ft-2.137, 660ft-3.048/277.66 mph. Left Lane: Tony Schumacher Runs 3.772/320.58, Now #1 Best prior run: 3.822/318.24, Was #4 Right Lane: Larry Dixon Runs 8.291/75.80, Now #2 Best prior run: 3.801/318.99, Was #1 Last qualifying runs of 2009 and the two Championship contenders are in the staging lights. They both have great low numbers and Dixon's tires are up in smoke. Schumacher throws down the gauntlet and sends a message to all of the other fifteen qualifiers. He runs right down broadway to card the second quickest 1000 foot pass ever. Larry Dixon's incremental times: 60ft-0.845 sec., 330ft-2.654, 660ft-5.251/079.54 mph. That should give he a two point lead going into tomorrow's eliminations. 6:38 p.m. Mike Strasburg is on the bump spot at 3.995.

Saturday Order for Qualifying Round 4

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 4 rounds of qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 45th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Tony Schumacher U.S. Army Dragster 3.772@ 320.58& 2. Larry Dixon Al-Anabi Racing Dragster 3.801 321.58 3. Spencer Massey US Smokeless Dragster 3.809 317.94 4. Antron Brown Matco Tools Dragster 3.813 316.15 5. Brandon Bernstein Budweiser/Lucas Oil Dragster 3.832 312.28 6. Doug Kalitta Technicoat Dragster 3.836 316.82 7. Cory McClenathan Fram Tough Guard Dragster 3.838 316.38 8. Morgan Lucas Geico Powersport/ Lucas Oil Dr 3.844 310.48 9. David Grubnic Hawaiian Industrial Dragster 3.852 317.42 10. Bob Vandergriff C&J Energy Services Dragster 3.881 308.99 11. Steve Torrence Tuttle Motorsports Dragster 3.891 306.53 12. Chris Karamesines Strange/Chizler Dragster 3.897 308.57 13. Urs Erbacher Midland Oil Dragster 3.928 294.88 14. Scott Palmer Tigerflow Dragster 3.954 290.38 15. Del Cox Jr LA King's/RG Industries DRA Dr 3.984 300.60 16. Mike Strasburg B & J Transmissions Dragster 3.995 303.23 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Troy Buff Bill Miller Racing/Okuma Drags 3.995 289.63 18. Shawn Langdon Lucas Oil/Speedco Dragster 4.016 293.54 19. Tim Cullinan JP Phillips Dragster 4.040 290.76 20. Stig Neergaard Persaker Speeds Dragster 4.087 284.09 21. Steven Chrisman Chrisman Driveline Dragster 4.753 171.49 22. Ron August Lescure Company Dragster 4.917 291.01 23. Lex Joon MPM Oil Dragster 6.587 205.01 24. Thomas Nataas Dragster 10.381 72.33 @ = Track ET Record

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 1

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel 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) Morgan Lucas (Geico Powersport/ Lucas Oil D 0.043 3.880 309.06 (L) David Grubnic (Hawaiian Industrial Dragster 0.073 9.163 79.91 11:01 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 68 degrees, relative humidity 37 percent, barometer 29.04 inches, adjusted altitude 2,050 feet, track temperature 86 degrees. A beautiful day at Pomona with a clear blue sky and moderate temperatures.Grubnic has an eight to six win advantage over Lucas, with only one first round loss. Grubnic's day ends immediately at the gree with instant tire smoke. Great looking pass for Lucas to set the pace for eliminations. Morgan Lucas' incremental times: 60ft-0.858 sec., 330ft-2.179, 660ft-3.101/274.27 mph. (W) Cory McClenathan (Fram Tough Guard Dragster 0.085 4.437 178.00 (L) Bob Vandergriff (C&J Energy Services Dragst 0.044 9.329 80.90 McClenathan has faced Vandergriff twenty-two times before and has a 15-7 win advantage. Vandergriff has the first round advantage with a 7-6 record. After watching the first pair, Cory Mac decides that the left lane is where he needs to be and switches lanes with Vandergriff. This is a must win to keep his position in the championship. Ouch! Vandergriff gets a nice lead at the green light and then has to watch McClenathan flash on by. It's a double hit for Vandergriff, as the Fram fueler erupts in a flash of flame at the 660 lights and slows. Cory McClenathan's incremental times: 60ft-0.856 sec., 330ft-2.176, 660ft-3.212/208.36 mph. 11:08 a.m. The Safety Safari is out in the left lane doing some heavy duty dusting and cleaning on the top end. (W) Brandon Bernstein (Budweiser/Lucas Oil Drag 0.074 3.873 314.61 (L) Chris Karamesines (Strange/Chizler Dragster 0.083 3.955 308.28 11:17 a.m. Time to go racing... Bernstein and Karamesines have never faced each other before. This is the final day of racing for Team Bernstein after a 30 year relationship with their sponsor. Terrific race! 81 years old vs. 36 years old and The Greek leave right with Brandon. The Bud dragster gets the initial advantage off the starting line and just pulls slowly ahead for a big win. Brandon Bernstein's incremental margins: 60ft(0.010), 330 ft(0.047), 660ft(0.077). MOV: 0.0915 seconds (approximately 41 feet). Brandon Bernstein's incremental times: 60ft-0.864 sec., 330ft-2.188, 660ft-3.103/276.35 mph. Chris Karamesines' incremental times: 60ft-0.865 sec., 330ft-2.226, 660ft-3.171/271.08 mph. (W) Antron Brown (Matco Tools Dragster) 0.046 3.824 317.19 (L) Urs Erbacher (Midland Oil Dragster) 0.050 8.865 84.62 Brown has only faced Erbacher once and was the victor. He does so again, as Erbacher's slicks are spinning and smoking at the green. Brown makes a strong clean pass, close to his qualifying best and will have lane choice over Bernstein in round two. Antron Brown's incremental times: 60ft-0.848 sec., 330ft-2.156, 660ft-3.062/278.86 mph. (W) Spencer Massey (US Smokeless Dragster) -0.109 3.870 312.13 (L) Scott Palmer (Tigerflow Dragster) -0.340(R) 5.333 138.54 Massey and Palmer have met twice in round one before, with each scoring a win. The right lane bites again with first a red light and then tire smoke for Palmer about two hundred feet out. No problems for Rookie of the Year runner, Massey, as the Prudomme dragster makes another strong pass. That's twelve in a row! Spencer Massey's incremental times: 60ft-0.853 sec., 330ft-2.169, 660ft-3.095/271.84 mph. (W) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.121 3.838 314.17 (L) Mike Strasburg (B & J Transmissions Dragste 0.092 5.085 140.31 Schumacher starts round one with a one point advantage over Dixon and just has to just stay ahead in round wins today to win the Championship. They can't meet until the final. Schumacher has scored a three to one win record over Strasburg in the past. All in round one. The right lane is ruining the chances of all of the teams. Strasburg gets to near the 330 lights before losing traction. The Army car makes a flawless first round pass to ensure his points lead. He have lane choice over Lucas later. Tony Schumacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.846 sec., 330ft-2.148, 660ft-3.066/275.96 mph. (W) Larry Dixon (Al-Anabi Racing Dragster) 0.052 3.822 316.23 (L) Del Cox Jr (LA King's/RG Industries DRA Dra 0.090 5.380 124.84 Dixon's needs to win one more round than Schumacher to nail the 2009 TF Championship, unless the Army team can set a new national ET record. Dixon and Cox have never raced each other. Dixon does what he had to do and makes a terrific pass, quicker than Schumacher, right on down the track. Cox's car was strong to the 330 lights and then joined the "Up in Smoke" club. Dixon will have lane choice over McClannathan in round 2. Larry Dixon's incremental times: 60ft-0.848 sec., 330ft-2.155, 660ft-3.058/279.21 mph. (W) Doug Kalitta (Technicoat Dragster) 0.052 3.846 316.52 (L) Steve Torrence (Tuttle Motorsports Dragster 0.034 4.047 307.30 Kalitta and Torrance have never raced each other and we get our second actual race of the round. Torrance was right there at the green and gets off the line first. Kalitta has the power and tune up though, and is back on by before the sixty foot lights. The Technicoat dragster continues to pull ahead all the way down the track and takes a huge lead to the finish line. Doug Kalitta's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.039), 330 ft(0.114), 660ft(0.159). MOV: 0.1830 seconds (approximately 82 feet). Doug Kalitta's incremental times: 60ft-0.852 sec., 330ft-2.168, 660ft-3.080/276.92 mph. Steve Torrence's incremental times: 60ft-0.909 sec., 330ft-2.300, 660ft-3.257/267.11 mph. 11:35 a.m. Kalitta will have lane choice over Massey later today.

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 2

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Fuel 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) Spencer Massey (US Smokeless Dragster) 0.051 3.841 316.01 (L) Doug Kalitta (Technicoat Dragster) 0.080 3.896 311.63 1:20 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 74 degrees, relative humidity 31 percent, barometer 29.00 inches, adjusted altitude 2,447 feet, track temperature 89 degrees. These two have never met in eliminations. Great race with nothing wrong with the right lane this round. Massey is away first an pulls steadily away all the way to the finish line. Spencer Massey's incremental margins: 60ft(0.054), 330 ft(0.069), 660ft(0.073). MOV: 0.0843 seconds (approximately 39 feet). Doug Kalitta's incremental times: 60ft-0.869 sec., 330ft-2.198, 660ft-3.117/272.78 mph. Spencer Massey's incremental times: 60ft-0.844 sec., 330ft-2.158, 660ft-3.073/276.97 mph. (W) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.054 3.836 318.54 (L) Morgan Lucas (Geico Powersport/ Lucas Oil D 0.049 4.312 257.68 Schumacher has a twenty to five win record over Lucas and is nine and two in round two encounters. Lucas gives a nobel try with a small lead off the starting line. He is still in front after sixty feet, but has the tires go up into smoke before the 660 lights. Schumacher eliminates any chance that McClennathan had for the championship. Tony Schumacher's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.007), 330 ft(0.047), 660ft(0.289). MOV: 0.4719 seconds (more than 100 feet). Tony Schumacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.850 sec., 330ft-2.157, 660ft-3.074/276.69 mph. Morgan Lucas' incremental times: 60ft-0.848 sec., 330ft-2.209, 660ft-3.368/219.90 mph. (W) Antron Brown (Matco Tools Dragster) 0.062 3.856 314.90 (L) Brandon Bernstein (Budweiser/Lucas Oil Drag 0.059 3.903 309.77 This will be a rubber match with both cars having six wins against each other. Bernstein has won all round four match ups. As Frey says: " Its another good ol' drag race". Almost the same RT and Brown open a lead early and holds steady from the 660 light to the finish line. He will give up lane choice to Schumacher in round three. That's the end of the Budweiser Team. On to 2010 and a new era! Antron Brown's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.023), 330 ft(0.038), 660ft(0.036). MOV: 0.0446 seconds (approximately 20 feet). Antron Brown's incremental times: 60ft-0.852 sec., 330ft-2.159, 660ft-3.084/274.61 mph. Brandon Bernstein's incremental times: 60ft-0.878 sec., 330ft-2.200, 660ft-3.123/273.50 mph. (W) Larry Dixon (Al-Anabi Racing Dragster) 0.048 3.842 315.42 (L) Cory McClenathan (Fram Tough Guard Dragster 0.062 3.829 320.51 These two have met fifty-eight times before with Dixon having a 37-21 win advantage. Sixteen to nine in round two. McClennathan may not be the 2009 Championship, but he sure did every thing he could to spoil Dixon's. He runs the table on incrementals, except for the vital RT, where Dixon gets the super close hole shot win. What a race! Massey will have lane choice in the next round by 0.001. Larry Dixon's incremental margins: 60ft(0.021), 330 ft(0.017), 660ft(0.011). MOV: 0.0014 seconds (approximately 8 inches). Larry Dixon's incremental times: 60ft-0.850 sec., 330ft-2.160, 660ft-3.074/276.07 mph. Cory McClenathan's incremental times: 60ft-0.857 sec., 330ft-2.163, 660ft-3.071/279.44 mph. 1:31 p.m.

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 3

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Fuel 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) Spencer Massey (US Smokeless Dragster) 0.037 3.810 316.67 (L) Larry Dixon (Al-Anabi Racing Dragster) 0.046 5.025 143.38 3:08 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. These two are three and three in prior races. Dixon has a 2-1 advantage in round three. Well, it's all over for the 2009 Top Fuel Championship, as Dixon's fueler strikes the tires before the three-thirty lights and he slows. Massey got the head start at the green and never looked back for the easy win. Spencer Massey's incremental margins: 60ft(0.009), 330 ft(0.075), 660ft(0.485). MOV: 1.2243 seconds (more than 100 feet). Larry Dixon's incremental times: 60ft-0.844 sec., 330ft-2.210, 660ft-3.522/171.77 mph. Spencer Massey's incremental times: 60ft-0.844 sec., 330ft-2.144, 660ft-3.046/278.63 mph. (W) Antron Brown (Matco Tools Dragster) 0.053 3.822 316.67 (L) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.080 3.830 315.49 Say Hello to the new 2009 Top Fuel Champion by two points. Schumacher has an eight and six win record over Brown, but Brown has won both round tree races. The two Team Schumacher cars come to the line. Brown gets a RT advantage at the green and holds position with Schumacher right to the finish line. Schumacher's car may have been dropping cylinder right before the one thousand foot light. Antron Brown's incremental margins: 60ft(0.023), 330 ft(0.035), 660ft(0.032). MOV: 0.0354 seconds (approximately 16 feet). Tony Schumacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.849 sec., 330ft-2.158, 660ft-3.063/278.40 mph. Antron Brown's incremental times: 60ft-0.853 sec., 330ft-2.150, 660ft-3.058/277.32 mph. Massey has lane choice in the finals.

Sunday Results for Final Round

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Top Fuel 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) Antron Brown (Matco Tools Dragster) 0.032 3.801 316.90 (L) Spencer Massey (US Smokeless Dragster) -0.008(R) 7.994 85.45 4:55 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 74 degrees, relative humidity 25 percent, barometer 28.99 inches, adjusted altitude 2,457 feet, track temperature 83 degrees. We come down to the final professional round of 2009, with all of the Championships decided. Brown has a 7-7 career record and is 5-4 this year. Massey is in his Rookie Year and has a 2-2 win/loss record this year. He's looking to capture the 2009 Rookie of The Year honors in this round. Massey is 3 - 2 against Brown in prior events and Massey is 1 - 0 against Brown in prior final rounds. After a wild Funny Car final, it's all over for Massey when he fouls out by -0.008 to give the win to a charging Brown. Brown cards a terrific reaction time of 0.032 and would have been very difficult to beat with his best times of the weekend. After a difficult and challenging year of sponsorship woes, he is the 2009 World Finals Top Fuel Champion. A big thanks to Team Schumacher for the end of year support. Antron Brown's incremental times: 60ft-0.847 sec., 330ft-2.136, 660ft-3.037/278.63 mph.

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