Friday
Results for Qualifying Round 1
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - GAINESVILLE - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:
Left Lane: Brandon Booher Runs 5.604/255.58, Now #1
Right Lane: Dave Hirata Runs 5.678/248.43, Now #2
A couple of clean passes to start the session and the season for these two. Brandon Booher's incremental times: 60ft-0.999 sec., 330ft-2.505, 660ft-3.702/206.20 mph, 1,000ft-4.727.
Dave Hirata's incremental times: 60ft-1.011 sec., 330ft-2.580, 660ft-3.771/209.49 mph, 1,000ft-4.791.
Left Lane: Marty Thacker Runs 5.410/263.92, Now #1
Right Lane: Bill Reichert Runs 5.428/258.57, Now #2
These two go to number one and two spots as they both go straight down the groove. Marty Thacker's incremental times: 60ft-0.933 sec., 330ft-2.402, 660ft-3.559/212.83 mph, 1,000ft-4.559.
Bill Reichert's incremental times: 60ft-0.987 sec., 330ft-2.477,
660ft-3.607/221.52 mph, 1,000ft-4.574.
Weather conditions: air temperature 68 degrees, relative humidity 74 percent, barometer 29.37 inches, adjusted altitude 1,956 feet, track temperature 74 degrees.
Left Lane: Don Fiorelli No Time, Now #6
Right Lane: Artie Allen Runs 6.719/206.13, Now #5
Fiorelli's car lost fire before he could get it staged. Allen labored on down the track.
Left Lane: Robin Samsel Runs 5.642/249.95, Now #5
Right Lane: Randy Meyer Runs 5.305/261.37, Now #1
Meyer with a great looking pass to go to the number one spot...Randy Meyer's incremental
times: 60ft-0.961 sec., 330ft-2.430, 660ft-3.533/226.58 mph, 1,000ft-4.472. Samsel gets into the top half of the show.
Left Lane: C. Griffis-Smallwood
Runs 7.564/119.95, Now #9
Right Lane: Bill Evans Runs 5.825/241.93, Now #7
Griffis-Smallwood started mixing up cylinders early and clicked it off. Evans with a clean pass...Bill Evans' incremental times: 60ft-0.996 sec., 330ft-2.619, 660ft-3.861/200.62 mph, 1,000ft-4.911.
Left Lane: Michael Manners Runs 10.733/82.46, Now #11
Right Lane: John Finke Runs 5.425/263.72, Now #3
Manners was up in smoke early in the run and clicked it off. Finke with a real nice pass to go to the number three spot...John Finke's incremental times: 60ft-0.974 sec., 330ft-2.481,
660ft-3.627/219.33 mph, 1,000ft-4.590.
Left Lane: Darren Nicholson Runs 5.498/256.36, Now #6
Right Lane: Monroe Guest Runs 5.467/266.11, Now #5
This was a good drag race with them going to number five and six. Darren Nicholson's incremental times: 60ft-0.926 sec., 330ft-2.408, 660ft-3.600/206.70 mph, 1,000ft-4.625.
Monroe Guest's incremental times: 60ft-0.974 sec., 330ft-2.515, 660ft-3.670/215.82 mph, 1,000ft-4.633.
Left Lane: Dan Mercier No Time, Now #16
Right Lane: Duane Shields Runs 5.349/264.18, Now #2
Mercier has problems and shuts off before staging. Shields with a great pass to go to the number two spot. Duane Shields' incremental times: 60ft-0.947 sec., 330ft-2.445,
660ft-3.573/223.17 mph, 1,000ft-4.520.
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Friday
Order for Qualifying Round 1
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals:
Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed
1. Randy Meyer Lend America 5.305 261.37
2. Duane Shields Shortline Express A/FD 5.349 264.18
3. Marty Thacker Rapid Transit B/AD 5.410 263.92
4. John Finke Bobcat Express A/FD 5.425 263.72
5. Bill Reichert Bars Leak/Rislone A/FD 5.428 258.57
6. Monroe Guest Tigerflow A/FD 5.467 266.11
7. Darren Nicholson JC Autoglass/Cantrell Racing B 5.498 256.36
8. Brandon Booher AB Construction B/AD 5.604 255.58
9. Robin Samsel Samsels/Goodson 5.642 249.95
10. Dave Hirata Schepel Auto Group A/FD 5.678 248.43
11. Artie Allen Allen Racing A/FD 6.719 206.13
12. Cherissa Griffis-Sma A/FD 7.564 119.95
13. Michael Manners COSMO Aquygen A/FD 10.733 82.46
--------- Not Qualified ---------
14. Bill Evans Evans Petroleum Services A/FD DQ
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Saturday
Results for Qualifying Round 2
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - GAINESVILLE - Notes from final, round 2 qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals 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: Bill Evans Runs 5.996/233.08, Now #11
No Prior Run
Right Lane: Don Fiorelli Runs 12.223/88.45, Now #15
No Prior Run Fiorelli didn't move when the light turned green...then he labored down the track. Evans was mixing up cylinders, but gets down the track.
Left Lane: Artie Allen Runs 6.428/222.00, Now #13
Best prior run: 6.719/206.13, Was #12
Right Lane: Dan Mercier Runs 6.227/224.77, Now #12
No Prior Run Allen had a hole out right at the hit on the left bank. Mercier was mixing up cylinders all the way down the track.
Left Lane: Dave Hirata Runs 6.017/248.57, Now #10
Best prior run: 5.678/248.43, Was #10
Right Lane: Michael Manners Runs 12.253/69.86, Now #15
Best prior run: 10.733/82.46, Was #15 Manners was up in smoke as soon as he hit the throttle. Hirata pedaled it at around 200 feet.
Left Lane: Monroe Guest Runs 5.447/267.06, Now #6
Best prior run: 5.467/266.11, Was #6
Right Lane: C. Griffis-Smallwood
Runs 5.570/251.63, Now #8
Best prior run: 7.564/119.95, Was #14 Guest with a nice pass and improves, but stays in the number six spot. Griffis-Smallwood makes a big move here with her career quickest pass. Cherissa Griffis-Smallwood's incremental
times: 60ft-1.001 sec., 330ft-2.547, 660ft-3.713/215.34 mph, 1,000ft-4.699.
Left Lane: Bill Reichert Runs 5.202/270.05, Now #1
Best prior run: 5.428/258.57, Was #5
Right Lane: Robin Samsel Runs 5.468/249.03, Now #7
Best prior run: 5.642/249.95, Was #10 Samsel with a good looking pass to move into the top half of the field. Robin Samsel's
incremental times: 60ft-0.962 sec., 330ft-2.459, 660ft-3.597/217.42 mph, 1,000ft-4.589. Reichert
with a great pass, straight down the groove to go to the number one spot. Bill Reichert's incremental times: 60ft-0.931 sec., 330ft-2.355, 660ft-3.443/229.24 mph, 1,000ft-4.381.
Left Lane: John Finke Runs 5.364/268.76, Now #4
Best prior run: 5.425/263.72, Was #4
Right Lane: Brandon Booher Runs 5.449/260.41, Now #7
Best prior run: 5.604/255.58, Was #8 Finke with a nice pass to move up the ladder one spot. John Finke's incremental times:
60ft-0.957 sec., 330ft-2.461, 660ft-3.588/223.06 mph, 1,000ft-4.539. Booher improves and moves up the ladder one spot. Brandon Booher's incremental times: 60ft-0.936 sec., 330ft-2.410,
660ft-3.583/209.95 mph, 1,000ft-4.590.
Left Lane: Duane Shields Runs 5.253/274.66, Now #2
Best prior run: 5.349/264.18, Was #3
Right Lane: Darren Nicholson Runs 5.383/261.88, Now #5
Best prior run: 5.498/256.36, Was #9 Shields with a great pass to move up the ladder one spot...Duane Shields' incremental times:
60ft-0.921 sec., 330ft-2.400, 660ft-3.509/227.00 mph, 1,000ft-4.443. Nicholson with a nice pass to get into the top half of the show. Darren Nicholson's incremental times: 60ft-0.919 sec., 330ft-2.363, 660ft-3.520/211.86 mph, 1,000ft-4.528.
Left Lane: Randy Meyer Runs 5.579/259.71, Now #3
Best prior run: 5.305/261.37, Was #3
Right Lane: Marty Thacker Runs 5.615/204.85, Now #6
Best prior run: 5.410/263.92, Was #6 No help here for either driver...
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Saturday
Order for Qualifying Round 2
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals:
Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed
1. Bill Reichert Bars Leak/Rislone A/FD 5.202 270.05
2. Duane Shields Shortline Express A/FD 5.253 274.66
3. Randy Meyer Lend America 5.305 261.37
4. John Finke Bobcat Express A/FD 5.364 268.76
5. Darren Nicholson JC Autoglass/Cantrell Racing B 5.383 261.88
6. Marty Thacker Rapid Transit B/AD 5.410 263.92
7. Monroe Guest Tigerflow A/FD 5.447 267.06
8. Brandon Booher AB Construction B/AD 5.449 260.41
9. Robin Samsel Samsels/Goodson 5.468 249.95
10. Cherissa Griffis-Sma A/FD 5.570 251.63
11. Dave Hirata Schepel Auto Group A/FD 5.678 248.57
12. Bill Evans Evans Petroleum Services A/FD 5.996 233.08
13. Dan Mercier ADF Diesel A/FD 6.227 224.77
14. Artie Allen Allen Racing A/FD 6.428 222.00
15. Michael Manners COSMO Aquygen A/FD 10.733 82.46
16. Don Fiorelli B/AD 12.223 88.45
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Saturday
Results for Elimination Round 1
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals:
W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed
(W) Duane Shields (Shortline Express A/FD) 0.063 5.341 266.16
(L) Michael Manners (COSMO Aquygen A/FD) 0.070 11.813 74.87
Duane Shields is a long way from his Las Vegas home, but he is also the defending champion after winning here last year.
Manners was never a factor after he lost traction early.
(W) Marty Thacker (Rapid Transit B/AD) 0.073 5.367 248.02
(L) Dave Hirata (Schepel Auto Group A/FD) 0.019 5.721 255.10
Thacker improved a bunch over his qualifying efforts and won by a bunch.
(W) Dan Mercier (ADF Diesel A/FD) 0.211 5.635 253.14
(L) John Finke (Bobcat Express A/FD) -9.999(R) DQ-Tech
Finke is not in the lane because he was DQ'd in the staging area for "cold fuel", so Mercier will have a single into the next round.
(W) Bill Reichert (Bars Leak/Rislone A/FD) 0.084 7.316 262.23
(L) Don Fiorelli (B/AD) 0.567 6.858 174.21
The media center ERUPTED watching this drag race! First Reichert hopped up the front end a long way, pedaled, hopped, smoked the tires, and stabbed the gas again all the while watching Fiorelli vault away in the right lane. There was not going to be enough room for Reichert to catch Fiorelli, then suddenly Fiorelli sneezed the blower, and with the blower bouncing around against the restraint straps Don could only watch Reichert blast past to win by less than half a dragster length.It was ugly, it was expensive, and lady luck was out there, but it was definitely the best drag race of the event! One must wonder when the last time Bill Reichert won a round with a 7.31 ET...
(W) Randy Meyer (Lend America TA/D) 0.099 5.516 260.21
(L) Artie Allen (Allen Racing A/FD) -9.999(R) NT-No Show
Allen did not make the call, Meyer will race Marty Thacker in round two and Thacker will have lane choice.
(W) Monroe Guest (Tigerflow A/FD) 0.048 5.335 277.43
(L) Cherissa Griffis-Smallwood (A/FD) -9.999(R) DQ-Tech
Griffis-Small is the 2nd driver of this round DQ'd for cold fuel. The rule is the fuel has to be fifty (50) degrees in the staging lanes.Guest dropped a cylinder, but improved a bunch, in fact so far that is low ET of the round. He will have lane choice against Duane Shields tomorrow.
(W) Darren Nicholson (JC Autoglass/Cantrell Rac 0.077 5.379 261.83
(L) Bill Evans (Evans Petroleum Services A/FD) 0.150 5.554 250.74
Evans trailed by a large margin at the stripe. Nicholson's dragster was silky smooth the whole way.
(W) Brandon Booher (AB Construction B/AD) 0.047 5.453 258.32
(L) Robin Samsel (Samsels/Goodson TA/D) 0.107 5.439 253.52
Brandon Booher's MOV: 0.0465 seconds (approximately 17 feet). Booher will race Reichert in round two. 6:40 p.m.
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Sunday
Results for Elimination Round 2
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals:
W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed
(W) Duane Shields (Shortline Express A/FD) 0.064 5.301 273.11
(L) Monroe Guest (Tigerflow A/FD) 0.024 5.411 266.69
This is the first time Shields and Guest have faced each other in eliminations. Shields had to pedal it once, but never trailed. Duane Shields' MOV: 0.0703 seconds (approximately 27 feet).
(W) Marty Thacker (Rapid Transit B/AD) 0.050 5.300 271.30
(L) Randy Meyer (Lend America TA/D) 0.075 5.422 262.39
Meyer is 1 - 0 against Thacker in prior events, and won here in 2007. Thacker has never won this race, but was the runner up here in 2004. Meyer lost a cylinder on the left side before the 330-foot mark. The speed for Thacker is a new career best. Marty Thacker's MOV: 0.1475 seconds (approximately 57 feet).By one thousandth of a second Thacker will have lane choice against Duane Shields in the semi finals.
(W) Darren Nicholson (JC Autoglass/Cantrell Rac 0.041 5.349 263.62
(L) Dan Mercier (ADF Diesel A/FD) 0.127 5.567 253.18
This is the first time Mercier and Nicholson have faced each other in eliminations. Nicholson is running the only Yancer chassis in the top TAD category, and was on a string the whole 1320 feet.
(W) Bill Reichert (Bars Leak/Rislone A/FD) 0.081 5.327 268.28
(L) Brandon Booher (AB Construction B/AD) 0.053 5.648 206.29
Bill Reichert qualified number one for the 28th time this weekend to move to the top of the all time list. He moved past the late Blaine Johnson for the top spot. It's the 6th time he's qualified #1 here at Gainesville.Reichert trailed Booher till just before the halfway mark, at the top end Booher's motor let out of big puff of smoke and went silent. Reichert will race Darren Nicholson in the semi finals, and Bill will have lane choice. 1:05 p.m.
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Sunday
Results for Elimination Round 3
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals:
W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed
(W) Darren Nicholson (JC Autoglass/Cantrell Rac 0.072 5.393 262.90
(L) Bill Reichert (Bars Leak/Rislone A/FD) 0.150 5.365 267.11
In the last seven years there have been seven different winners here, and Bill Reichert is NOT among them. In face he's never won this race. Reichert is 3 - 0 against Nicholson in prior events. Huge win for Nicholson, Reichert has the #1 on his dragster, but he's going home after a huge holeshot by Nicholson. Darren Nicholson's MOV: 0.0506 seconds (approximately 20 feet).
(W) Duane Shields (Shortline Express A/FD) 0.044 5.373 271.19
(L) Marty Thacker (Rapid Transit B/AD) -0.012(R) 5.606 198.09
Thacker took a shot at the tree and missed, Duane will have lane choice in the final, and a chance to be the first repeat winner in more then seven years here at Gainesville. 2:51 p.m.
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Sunday
Results for Final Round
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals:
W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed
(W) Duane Shields (Shortline Express A/FD) 0.066 5.362 267.27
(L) Darren Nicholson (JC Autoglass/Cantrell Rac 0.014 8.334 114.93
4:28 p.m. This is the 30th time Top Alcohol Dragster have run here at the Gatornationals race, and 28 times the winner has come from the top half of the field. One winner was a DNQ who entered for someone who broke, so in 30 years NO ONE has ever won this category from the bottom half of the field. #5 meets #2, and for the 2nd year in a row the tow back to Las Vegas will be sweet for the Short Line Express Markets team of Duane Shields. It took just over 60 feet to make up the starting line advantage, Nicholson lost power, and Duane is on his way to the winners circle. Congrats to Duane, the whole team, and crew chief Dana Hopewell. 4:31 p.m.
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