Top Alcohol Dragster

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Friday Results for Qualifying Round 1

CLERMONT, Ind. - INDY - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run: Left Lane: Tony Quinn No Time, Now #2 Right Lane: Brandon Pierce Runs 6.230/170.15, Now #1 1:22 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 77 degrees, relative humidity 46 percent, barometer 28.95 inches, adjusted altitude 2,905 feet, track temperature 112 degrees. Quinn's car shook and there was a flash of flame from his engine. The automatic shutoff system deployed the chutes and shut the engine off. Pierce also shook and he pedaled at least once to get through it, but he abandoned the run past half track. Quinn's car stopped before the 1,000-foot marker and was towed off the track. The scrubber made a quick cleanup where he stopped over next to the wall, but it looks like the rest of his lane is okay. "Wait, there's an invisible monkey..." After the scrubber left the scene, the big tractor made several passes with the broom and tire drag, again just in the area where Quinn's car sat for awahile. Left Lane: Dave Heitzman Runs 5.573/254.66, Now #1 Right Lane: Jerry Powell Runs 5.673/247.75, Now #2 Two clean runs with no visible problems in either lane. Left Lane: Brandon Greco Runs 5.658/251.20, Now #3 Right Lane: Brian Mans Runs 5.570/256.75, Now #1 Two more clean runs, it's getting crowded in the mid-fifties to mid-sixties. Left Lane: Buddy Domingue Runs 5.505/248.93, Now #2 Right Lane: Robin Samsel Runs 5.487/257.68, Now #1 These two pick the pace up a bit with good opening runs, Samsel quickest of the round so far and first in the forties. Left Lane: Dave Hirata Runs 5.537/260.61, Now #4 Right Lane: Mark Taliaferro Runs 5.514/259.41, Now #3 Hirata got to the stripe first, but that was because he ahd a good light and Taliaferro left when he was ready. Both made clean, straight runs and should be able to tune from there. Left Lane: Jared Dreher Runs 5.666/248.39, Now #9 Right Lane: Chase Copeland Runs 5.437/267.00, Now #1 Two more clean runs and Copeland moves to the head of the class. Left Lane: Brandon Booher Runs 6.622/140.88, Now #13 Right Lane: Mike Kosky Runs 5.995/177.65, Now #11 Both drivers shut off after about 1,000 feet. Booher had visible early shake. Couldn't see what was wrong with Kosky's run, but he was also off-pace at half track. Left Lane: Ken Perry Runs 5.395/262.28, Now #1 Right Lane: Randy Meyer Runs 5.402/260.51, Now #2 That's more like it, two solid opening runs and our first "thirty" of the round. Left Lane: Michael Manners Runs 5.369/269.51, Now #1 Right Lane: Marty Thacker Runs 5.396/264.60, Now #3 Side-by-side thirties here and a new #1 qualifier. Left Lane: Darren Nicholson Runs 5.451/260.46, Now #7 Right Lane: Duane Shields Runs 5.379/262.54, Now #2 Nicholson was quicker than Shields over the first 330 feet of the track, but his car started wagging its tail a bit and that scrubbed off some ET. Left Lane: Jim Whiteley Runs 5.366/263.82, Now #1 Right Lane: Shawn Cowie Runs 5.419/236.30, Now #7 Couldn't see anything wrong with either of these runs and Cowie was right with Whitely through 1,000 feet, but his car fall off the pace a bit in the final timing increment and he was almost 30 mph slower in the speed trap. Left Lane: Chris Demke Runs 7.531/115.44, Now #23 Right Lane: Bill Reichert Runs 5.399/261.47, Now #6 Last pair. Reichert cemented another #1 in Division 3 at last weekend's race at Bowling Green, and Demke and Reichert are the two top contenders for the national title this year. Demke shook, pedaled, and slowed. Reichert made a nice run, but it was only sixth quickest after one round. After one qualifying round, it's Jim Whiteley atop the list at 5.366 and Dave Heitzman is on the bump spot at 5.573.

Friday Order for Qualifying Round 1

CLERMONT, Ind. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Jim Whiteley J&A Service/Rator B/AD 5.366 263.82 2. Michael Manners COSMO Aquygen A/FD 5.369 269.51 3. Duane Shields Shortline Express A/FD 5.379 262.54 4. Ken Perry Pump Systems Interfacing B/AD 5.395 262.28 5. Marty Thacker Rapid Transit B/AD 5.396 264.60 6. Bill Reichert Bars Leak/Rislone 5.399 261.47 7. Randy Meyer Randy Meyer Racing A/FD 5.402 260.51 8. Shawn Cowie Mundies Towing B/AD 5.419 236.30 9. Chase Copeland Snowman Racing A/FD 5.437 267.00 10. Darren Nicholson JC Autoglass/Cantrell Racing 5.451 260.46 11. Robin Samsel A/FD 5.487 257.68 12. Dave Hirata Friction Unlimited A/FD 5.537 260.61 13. Brian Mans Bolt Tech B/AD 5.570 256.75 14. Dave Heitzman A/FD 5.573 254.66 15. Brandon Greco B/AD 5.658 251.20 16. Jared Dreher A/FD 5.666 248.39 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Jerry Powell Medicine Man B/AD 5.673 247.75 18. Brandon Pierce Sooner One A/FD 6.230 170.15 19. Chris Demke Peen-Rite-Abrasive Finishing B 7.531 115.44 20. Tony Quinn B/AD NT 21. Buddy Domingue Vins Racing A/FD DQ 22. Mark Taliaferro MarkcoMachineWorks DQ 23. Brandon Booher B/AD DQ 24. Mike Kosky American Flyer DQ

Friday Results for Qualifying Round 2

CLERMONT, Ind. - INDY - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil 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: Mike Kosky Runs 5.379/239.02, Now #4 No Prior Run 8:32 p.m. This session was postponed from the middle of the afternoon because of a late start this morning and a few on-track delays for oildowns and such. Given the current conditions, most of the teams are probably happy with the later session: Weather conditions: air temperature 73 degrees, relative humidity 40 percent, barometer 28.95 inches, adjusted altitude 2,540 feet, track temperature 84 degrees. Kosky should be happy, he went from "No Time" (bypassed the scales) to fourth in the field on a run that started out to be better than it finished, Kosky only 25 mph faster at the stripe than he was at half track. Left Lane: Brian Mans Runs 5.594/243.19, Now #15 Best prior run: 5.570/256.75, Was #14 Right Lane: Buddy Domingue Runs 5.394/250.27, Now #5 No Prior Run Domingue also lost his first run, but in his case, it was a pretty good run that he lost "in tech) (scales or fuel check). Mans failed to improve, but Domingues made another good run - now all he has to do is pass tech. Left Lane: Mark Taliaferro Runs 5.674/260.76, Now #21 No Prior Run Right Lane: Brandon Booher Runs 5.561/256.06, Now #15 No Prior Run Taliaferro and Booher also lost pretty good first runs "in tech." These were not as good - especially with the flash of flame from Taliaferro's engine in the lights. Left Lane: Brandon Pierce No Time, Now #23 Best prior run: 6.230/170.15, Was #22 Right Lane: Chris Demke Runs 5.277/271.41, Now #1 Best prior run: 7.531/115.44, Was #23 Pierce's car died at the end of the burnout and was sitting over next to the left wall while Demke made his run. Demke then made a very nice solo pass, the header flames easily visible in the darkness. Chris Demke's incremental times: 60ft-0.915 sec., 330ft-2.348, 660ft-3.477/218.34 mph, 1,000ft-4.450. That's a career best speed for Demke. Left Lane: Jerry Powell Runs 5.583/250.64, Now #20 Best prior run: 5.673/247.75, Was #21 Right Lane: Jared Dreher Runs 5.531/246.57, Now #15 Best prior run: 5.666/248.39, Was #20 Dreher bumped into this very quick field, Dave Hirata is now on the bump spot at 5.537. Left Lane: Robin Samsel Runs 5.558/251.44, Now #14 Best prior run: 5.487/257.68, Was #14 Right Lane: Brandon Greco Runs 6.421/117.23, Now #21 Best prior run: 5.658/251.20, Was #21 Greco got off to a good start, but the car fell off the pace before half track. Samsel's run was just the opposite, off-pace at the start, then a hard run on the top end. No help for either team. Left Lane: Chase Copeland Runs 5.300/275.17, Now #2 Best prior run: 5.437/267.00, Was #12 Right Lane: Dave Heitzman Runs 5.373/261.22, Now #5 Best prior run: 5.573/254.66, Was #19 Two nice runs, Copeland all the way up to the second spot and Heitzman all the way up to fifth. Now Jared Dreher is on the bump spot at 5.531. Chase Copeland's incremental times: 60ft-0.937 sec., 330ft-2.407, 660ft-3.533/222.03 mph, 1,000ft-4.484. Dave Heitzman's incremental times: 60ft-0.926 sec., 330ft-2.419, 660ft-3.559/219.72 mph, 1,000ft-4.526. Left Lane: Shawn Cowie Runs 5.326/268.87, Now #3 Best prior run: 5.419/236.30, Was #13 Right Lane: Dave Hirata Runs 5.506/257.28, Now #16 Best prior run: 5.537/260.61, Was #17 Hirata was just bumped from the field and the rest of the cars in the lanes are already qualified, so Hirata is the last car in line with a shot at bumping into the field. Nice run by Cowie to move way up the ladder. Hirata got the job done, but lost a lot of tikme early in the run and just barely got back in, replacing Dreheron the bump spot. Shawn Cowie's incremental times: 60ft-0.937 sec., 330ft-2.364, 660ft-3.509/215.24 mph, 1,000ft-4.491. Left Lane: Randy Meyer Runs 5.305/261.27, Now #3 Best prior run: 5.305/261.27, Was #3 Right Lane: Darren Nicholson Runs 6.198/155.52, Now #14 Best prior run: 5.451/260.46, Was #14 Good run by Meyer and what started out to be an even better run for Nicholson, but his only lasted for about 300 feet and then his car slowed. Apparently he lost some parts and pieces, possibly a blower belt, because the sweeper made a couple laps between half track and the finish line after his run. Randy Meyer's incremental times: 60ft-0.924 sec., 330ft-2.398, 660ft-3.510/224.51 mph, 1,000ft-4.464. Darren Nicholson's incremental times: 60ft-0.910 sec., 330ft-2.350, 660ft-3.545/190.11 mph, 1,000ft-4.844. Left Lane: Bill Reichert Runs 5.297/267.27, Now #2 Best prior run: 5.399/261.47, Was #13 Right Lane: Ken Perry Runs 5.339/259.31, Now #6 Best prior run: 5.395/262.28, Was #11 So much for being thirteenth...Reichert didn't go to #1, but he was only a couple hundredths off. Meanwhile, Perry also made a nice run and the tough field just got a lot tougher in the top half - now it will take a 5.369 or better to crack into the top eight. Left Lane: Marty Thacker Runs 5.342/268.28, Now #7 Best prior run: 5.396/264.60, Was #13 Right Lane: Michael Manners Runs 5.411/271.19, Now #9 Best prior run: 5.369/269.51, Was #8 Thacker got into the top half on a nice run, but Manners failed to improve and fell into the bottom half. Now the top-half starts at 5.366. Left Lane: Duane Shields Runs 5.310/265.69, Now #6 Best prior run: 5.379/262.54, Was #11 Right Lane: Jim Whiteley Runs 5.309/266.37, Now #5 Best prior run: 5.366/263.82, Was #8 9:30 p.m. Last pair to end a slightly longer day than originally scheduled. Good runs in both lanes, nice moves up the ladder for both, and now the top half starts at 5.339. With two rounds of qualifying left, Chris Demke leads the field at 5.277 and Dave Hirata is on the bump spot at 5.506.

Friday Order for Qualifying Round 2

CLERMONT, Ind. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Chris Demke Peen-Rite-Abrasive Finishing B 5.277 271.41 2. Bill Reichert Bars Leak/Rislone A/FD 5.297 267.27 3. Chase Copeland Snowman Racing A/FD 5.300 275.17 4. Randy Meyer Randy Meyer Racing A/FD 5.305 261.27 5. Jim Whiteley J&A Service/Rator B/AD 5.309 266.37 6. Duane Shields Shortline Express A/FD 5.310 265.69 7. Shawn Cowie Mundies Towing B/AD 5.326 268.87 8. Ken Perry Pump Systems Interfacing B/AD 5.339 262.28 9. Marty Thacker Rapid Transit B/AD 5.342 268.28 10. Michael Manners COSMO Aquygen A/FD 5.369 271.19 11. Dave Heitzman A/FD 5.373 261.22 12. Mike Kosky American Flyer 5.379 239.02 13. Darren Nicholson JC Autoglass/Cantrell Racing B 5.451 260.46 14. Robin Samsel A/FD 5.487 257.68 15. Dave Hirata Friction Unlimited A/FD 5.506 260.61 16. Jared Dreher A/FD 5.531 248.39 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Brandon Booher B/AD 5.561 256.06 18. Brian Mans Bolt Tech B/AD 5.570 256.75 19. Jerry Powell Medicine Man B/AD 5.583 250.64 20. Brandon Greco B/AD 5.658 251.20 21. Mark Taliaferro MarkcoMachineWorks 5.674 260.76 22. Brandon Pierce Sooner One A/FD 6.230 170.15 23. Tony Quinn B/AD NT 24. Buddy Domingue Vins Racing A/FD DQ

Saturday Results for Qualifying Round 3

CLERMONT, Ind. - INDY - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil 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: Tony Quinn Runs 5.745/213.74, Now #23 No Prior Run Right Lane: Brandon Pierce Runs 5.473/254.04, Now #14 Best prior run: 6.230/170.15, Was #22 12:44 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 73 degrees, relative humidity 39 percent, barometer 28.08 inches, adjusted altitude 2,391 feet, track temperature 101 degrees. Jared Dreher is on the bump spot at 5.531. Quinn is still looking for a qualifying time. The car leaves well enough and then has a BIG BANG from the blower near the top end lights and slows. Pierce appeared to have his own problems after the finish line. The rear end may have locked up, as the car appeared to abruptly slide sideways and stop on the track. His pass was good enough to get him in the field for now. Tony Quinn's incremental times: 60ft-0.982 sec., 330ft-2.497, 660ft-3.710/203.71 mph, 1,000ft-4.754. Brandon Pierce's incremental times: 60ft-0.962 sec., 330ft-2.484, 660ft-3.629/218.90 mph, 1,000ft-4.609. Left Lane: Darren Nicholson Runs 5.352/262.08, Now #10 Best prior run: 5.451/260.46, Was #13 Just a little delay to clean up at the top end. A better pass for Nicholson and he moves up three spots on the ladder. Left Lane: Brandon Greco Runs 5.600/252.99, Now #22 Best prior run: 5.658/251.20, Was #21 Right Lane: Mark Taliaferro Runs 5.578/254.66, Now #20 Best prior run: 5.674/260.76, Was #22 Dave Hirata is on the bump spot at 5.506. Both cars make clean passes to improve on their ET's. Taliaferro goes to #20 and pushes Greco back a spot. Left Lane: Jared Dreher Runs 5.759/234.41, Now #17 Best prior run: 5.531/246.57, Was #17 Right Lane: Robin Samsel Runs 17.333/42.02, Now #15 Best prior run: 5.487/257.68, Was #15 No joy here for these two. Samsel boils the hides at the hit and Dreher starts to drop cylinders and slows Left Lane: Dave Hirata Runs 14.138/79.74, Now #16 Best prior run: 5.506/257.28, Was #16 Right Lane: Mike Kosky Runs 6.673/136.86, Now #13 Best prior run: 5.379/239.02, Was #13 Hirata is looking to get his fueler off the bump spot. Neither car has made a representative pass. Hirata leave first and strikes the tires immediately. Kosky starts with a 0.951 sixty foot time and then loses the blower belt before mid-track. Left Lane: Michael Manners Runs 17.654/63.96, Now #11 Best prior run: 5.369/269.51, Was #11 Right Lane: Marty Thacker Runs 5.369/264.86, Now #9 Best prior run: 5.342/268.28, Was #9 Manners' slicks are up in smoke ta the hit and he coasts on down. Thacker runs another mid-thirty pass, but doesn't improve. He'll stay stay #9 Left Lane: Buddy Domingue Runs 5.549/246.48, Now #18 No Prior Run Right Lane: Shawn Cowie Runs 5.339/266.58, Now #7 Best prior run: 5.326/268.87, Was #7 I'm not sure why, but both of Domingue's first two runs were DQ'd. He gets the car down the track again, but is dropping cylinders right after the 330 lights. Cowie has a clean and straight pass to basically match his last pass. He'll stay #7 for now. Shawn Cowie's incremental times: 60ft-0.943 sec., 330ft-2.370, 660ft-3.511/215.65 mph, 1,000ft-4.498. Left Lane: Dave Heitzman Runs 6.492/222.73, Now #12 Best prior run: 5.373/261.22, Was #12 Right Lane: Duane Shields Runs 5.323/270.32, Now #6 Best prior run: 5.310/265.69, Was #6 Both cars are well into the field, with Heitzman looking to join Shields in the top half of the field. Not this time, as the car is lazy off the line and drops cylinders all the way down the track. Shields makes a strong pass and runs close to his prior best. Duane Shields' incremental times: 60ft-0.943 sec., 330ft-2.431, 660ft-3.552/223.62 mph, 1,000ft-4.501. Left Lane: Ken Perry Runs 5.334/264.18, Now #8 Best prior run: 5.339/259.31, Was #8 Right Lane: Randy Meyer Runs 5.305/261.98, Now #4 Best prior run: 5.305/261.27, Was #4 Two really good runs and they will both stay in their current positions. Perry improving a little and almost matches his prior times Meyer's play bracket racer and matches his prior best exactly. Ken Perry's incremental times: 60ft-0.913 sec., 330ft-2.356, 660ft-3.500/215.86 mph, 1,000ft-4.487. Randy Meyer's incremental times: 60ft-0.935 sec., 330ft-2.406, 660ft-3.512/225.18 mph, 1,000ft-4.465. Left Lane: Jim Whiteley Runs 5.382/263.56, Now #5 Best prior run: 5.309/266.37, Was #5 Right Lane: Chase Copeland Runs 18.094/52.92, Now #3 Best prior run: 5.300/275.17, Was #3 Copeland basically does another burnout at the green and slows. Whiteley's pass was picture perfect, but he slows a little from last night to stay #5. Jim Whiteley's incremental times: 60ft-0.933 sec., 330ft-2.379, 660ft-3.529/214.21 mph, 1,000ft-4.528. Left Lane: Chris Demke Runs 9.611/81.43, Now #1 Best prior run: 5.277/271.41, Was #1 Right Lane: Bill Reichert Runs 5.314/265.38, Now #2 Best prior run: 5.297/267.27, Was #2 West Coast vs. East Coast Hitters come to the line in the top two spots. Demke's car has a nice 0.919 sixty foot time and then shakes the tires hard. He knows it done and lifts. Reichert keeps the pipes dry and thunders on down the track with a low thirty pass. Bill Reichert's incremental times: 60ft-0.937 sec., 330ft-2.398, 660ft-3.517/223.06 mph, 1,000ft-4.477. Left Lane: Brandon Booher Runs 5.938/172.45, Now #19 Best prior run: 5.561/256.06, Was #19 Right Lane: Jerry Powell Runs 5.633/249.12, Now #22 Best prior run: 5.583/250.64, Was #22 Booher's car doesn't want to start and the crew is all over it. They finally gets it to start and he gets it back to the line after a short burnout. Powell patiently waits for him. The car is a little lazy off the line and has to work to keep the car in the center of his lane. Booher has a better sixty foot time and then has smoke off the engine near the thousand foot lights. 1:32 p.m.

Saturday Order for Qualifying Round 3

CLERMONT, Ind. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Chris Demke Peen-Rite-Abrasive Finishing B 5.277 271.41 2. Bill Reichert Bars Leak/Rislone A/FD 5.297 267.27 3. Chase Copeland Snowman Racing A/FD 5.300 275.17 4. Randy Meyer Randy Meyer Racing A/FD 5.305 261.98 5. Jim Whiteley J&A Service/Rator B/AD 5.309 266.37 6. Duane Shields Shortline Express A/FD 5.310 270.32 7. Shawn Cowie Mundies Towing B/AD 5.326 268.87 8. Ken Perry Pump Systems Interfacing B/AD 5.334 264.18 9. Marty Thacker Rapid Transit B/AD 5.342 268.28 10. Darren Nicholson JC Autoglass/Cantrell Racing B 5.352 262.08 11. Michael Manners COSMO Aquygen A/FD 5.369 271.19 12. Dave Heitzman A/FD 5.373 261.22 13. Mike Kosky American Flyer 5.379 239.02 14. Robin Samsel A/FD 5.487 257.68 15. Dave Hirata Friction Unlimited A/FD 5.506 260.61 16. Jared Dreher A/FD 5.531 248.39 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Buddy Domingue Vins Racing A/FD 5.549 246.48 18. Brandon Booher B/AD 5.561 256.06 19. Brian Mans Bolt Tech B/AD 5.570 256.75 20. Mark Taliaferro MarkcoMachineWorks 5.578 260.76 21. Jerry Powell Medicine Man B/AD 5.583 250.64 22. Brandon Greco B/AD 5.600 252.99 23. Tony Quinn B/AD 5.745 213.74 24. Brandon Pierce Sooner One A/FD 6.230 170.15

Sunday Results for Qualifying Round 4

CLERMONT, Ind. - INDY - Notes from final, round 4 qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil 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: Brandon Pierce Runs 5.378/268.12, Now #13 Best prior run: 6.230/170.15, Was #24 Right Lane: Brandon Greco Runs 6.149/134.44, Now #23 Best prior run: 5.600/252.99, Was #22 10:25 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 66 degrees, relative humidity 48 percent, barometer 29.15 inches, adjusted altitude 1,830 feet, track temperature 79 degrees. The battle of the Brandons went to Pierce, making a nice pass on his final qualifying run to bump into the field, putting Jared Dreher on the outside. Greco was actually quicker than Pierce through 330 feet, then his car started to fall off the pace and there was a POP from the engine, deploying the chutes automatically. Now Dave Hirata is on the bump spot at 5.506. Left Lane: Jerry Powell Runs 5.579/251.53, Now #22 Best prior run: 5.583/250.64, Was #22 Right Lane: Brandon Booher Runs 16.574/43.90, Now #19 Best prior run: 5.561/256.06, Was #19 Small improvement for Powell, not enough to get him in, while Booher rattled the tires and slowed. That's a career-best run for Powell, bot ET and speed, but it's not enough against this tough field. Left Lane: Mark Taliaferro Runs 5.565/261.67, Now #20 Best prior run: 5.578/254.66, Was #21 Right Lane: Buddy Domingue Runs 5.372/245.94, Now #12 Best prior run: 5.549/246.48, Was #18 We are only a couple cars away from a record low bump time for 16 cars and these two certainly had the potential to change that. Domingue came through, bumping Hirata, but Taliaferro lost a lot of time in the first 330 feet and came up short. Now Robin Samsel is on the bump spot at 5.487. The record low bump was a 5.376, at the Pomona finals last year and we are three cars away from that. Left Lane: Brian Mans No Time, Now #21 Best prior run: 5.570/256.75, Was #19 Right Lane: Jared Dreher Runs 5.574/248.20, Now #18 Best prior run: 5.531/246.57, Was #16 Mans was pushed back after the burnout and Dreher failed to improve, so we won't have a record bump - but it's close and still a very quick field. Left Lane: Robin Samsel Runs 5.429/261.12, Now #16 Best prior run: 5.487/257.68, Was #16 Right Lane: Dave Hirata Runs 15.859/72.65, Now #17 Best prior run: 5.506/257.28, Was #17 Nice run by Samsel to stay sixteenth. Hirata lost traction almost immediately and won't make the field. Left Lane: Mike Kosky Runs 5.340/265.27, Now #9 Best prior run: 5.379/239.02, Was #15 Right Lane: Dave Heitzman Runs 5.381/267.22, Now #14 Best prior run: 5.373/261.22, Was #13 The remaining cars are already in the field, but we could see some more shuffling before the round is finished. Weather conditions: air temperature 71 degrees, relative humidity 40 percent, barometer 29.16 inches, adjusted altitude 2,155 feet, track temperature 83 degrees. Nice runs in both lanes, but Heitzman failed to improve and Kosky leapfrogged over him on the ladder. The top two cars are in the twenties, the next 13 are in the five-thirties, a tightly-bunched, very quick field. Left Lane: Marty Thacker Runs 5.420/264.60, Now #10 Best prior run: 5.342/268.28, Was #10 Right Lane: Michael Manners Runs 15.408/64.07, Now #12 Best prior run: 5.369/269.51, Was #12 Manners went about five feet, then spun the tires hard, the car almost coming to a stop. Thacker failed to improve, but had no obvious problems. Left Lane: Shawn Cowie Runs 5.302/262.59, Now #4 Best prior run: 5.326/268.87, Was #7 Right Lane: Darren Nicholson Runs 8.756/135.17, Now #11 Best prior run: 5.352/262.08, Was #11 Cowie's run was spectacular...he carried the front wheels almost to half track, then set them down smoothly. The numbers would have been a little better if he hadn't then "blown it up" past the 1,000-foot marker. Nothing on the track, but there was a big trail of white smoke. Meanwhile, Nicholson shook very hard and shut off. Left Lane: Duane Shields Runs 5.327/270.54, Now #7 Best prior run: 5.310/265.69, Was #7 Right Lane: Ken Perry No Time, Now #8 Best prior run: 5.334/264.18, Was #8 Both cars were "trucking on down there, then Perry "blowed her up" at about 1,000 feet and he took out the finish line marker. Shields was already past the stripe when it happened, but failed to improve. From the number of Safety Safari trucks headed for the shutdown area, it appears we'll be down for awhile to clean up oil and engine parts. Left Lane: Randy Meyer No Time, Now #5 Best prior run: 5.305/261.98, Was #5 Right Lane: Jim Whiteley No Time, Now #6 Best prior run: 5.309/266.37, Was #6 11:29 a.m. Well, that oildown means that the final two pairs of cars will have to wait until after the first Professional qualifying session to make their final qualifying pass...because live TV is covering the Pro Stock Motorcycle session and is slated to start at 11:30 a.m. It's 11:29 a.m. and the oildown cleanup was just completed. We'll post updated notes when the final two cars get to make their runs. Left Lane: Randy Meyer Runs 5.433/260.61, Now #5 Best prior run: 5.305/261.98, Was #4 Right Lane: Jim Whiteley Runs 5.853/178.64, Now #6 Best prior run: 5.309/266.37, Was #5 2:16 p.m. The Professional session is over and it's time for the last four TAD cars to make their final qualifying pass. Conditions are not quite as good as they were earlier, but live TV coverage comes at a price. Weather conditions: air temperature 78 degrees, relative humidity 31 percent, barometer 29.11 inches, adjusted altitude 2,672 feet, track temperature 112 degrees. Whitely was quicker than Meyer to half track, then slowed. Meyer made a full pass, lost time with early tire shake. Left Lane: Bill Reichert Runs 5.315/265.22, Now #2 Best prior run: 5.297/267.27, Was #2 Right Lane: Chris Demke Runs 5.256/271.52, Now #1 Best prior run: 5.277/271.41, Was #1 Last pair and two very nice runs, especially Demke's. He was quick at every timing increment. Chris Demke's incremental times: 60ft-0.912 sec., 330ft-2.332, 660ft-3.457/219.40 mph, 1,000ft-4.429.

Sunday Order for Qualifying Round 4

CLERMONT, Ind. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 4 rounds of qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Chris Demke Peen-Rite-Abrasive Finishing B 5.256 271.52 2. Bill Reichert Bars Leak/Rislone A/FD 5.297 267.27 3. Chase Copeland Snowman Racing A/FD 5.300 275.17 4. Shawn Cowie Mundies Towing B/AD 5.302 268.87 5. Randy Meyer Randy Meyer Racing A/FD 5.305 261.98 6. Jim Whiteley J&A Service/Rator B/AD 5.309 266.37 7. Duane Shields Shortline Express A/FD 5.310 270.54 8. Ken Perry Pump Systems Interfacing B/AD 5.334 264.18 9. Mike Kosky American Flyer 5.340 265.27 10. Marty Thacker Rapid Transit B/AD 5.342 268.28 11. Darren Nicholson JC Autoglass/Cantrell Racing B 5.352 262.08 12. Michael Manners COSMO Aquygen A/FD 5.369 271.19 13. Buddy Domingue Vins Racing A/FD 5.372 246.48 14. Dave Heitzman A/FD 5.373 267.22 15. Brandon Pierce Sooner One A/FD 5.378 268.12 16. Robin Samsel A/FD 5.429 261.12 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Dave Hirata Friction Unlimited A/FD 5.506 260.61 18. Jared Dreher A/FD 5.531 248.39 19. Brandon Booher B/AD 5.561 256.06 20. Mark Taliaferro MarkcoMachineWorks 5.565 261.67 21. Brian Mans Bolt Tech B/AD 5.570 256.75 22. Jerry Powell Medicine Man B/AD 5.579 251.53 23. Brandon Greco B/AD 5.600 252.99 24. Tony Quinn B/AD 5.745 213.74

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 1

CLERMONT, Ind. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Marty Thacker (Rapid Transit B/AD) 0.029 5.377 265.48 (L) Duane Shields (Shortline Express A/FD) 0.042 5.377 265.22 7:41 p.m. Shields is competing in his 9th Indy race. This is the seventh time he's qualified in the top half of the field. Hey, it's Indy, and nowhere else do you get to see races like this. How about identical times to the thousandth? Thacker's excellent light saved the day for him. Shields was strong down low but Thacker owned the back half. Duane Shields' incremental times: 60ft-0.943 sec., 330ft-2.441, 660ft-3.579/220.15 mph, 1,000ft-4.541. Marty Thacker's incremental times: 60ft-0.942 sec., 330ft-2.388, 660ft-3.540/214.01 mph, 1,000ft-4.533. Marty Thacker's MOV: 0.0131 seconds (approximately 5 feet). (W) Shawn Cowie (Mundies Towing B/AD) 0.092 5.334 265.17 (L) Buddy Domingue (Vins Racing A/FD) 0.038 5.457 246.89 Buddy Domingue was low qualifier here in 1982. Other than the starting line, this one was Cowie all the way. (W) Mike Kosky (American Flyer B/AD) 0.028 5.410 255.24 (L) Ken Perry (Pump Systems Interfacing B/AD) -0.095(R) 5.341 264.08 Kosky first raced here in 1981 and this is his 23rd Indy. He's been in two national events this year and won both of them. These two were separated by just .006 in qualifying so this should prove to be a nailbiter. Perry is way red and Kosky will return. And, if you notice, they were .006 apart this times also. (W) Darren Nicholson (JC Autoglass/Cantrell Rac 0.067 5.320 263.15 (L) Jim Whiteley (J&A Service/Rator B/AD) 0.053 5.567 251.39 Nicholson won here in 1998 and was runner up in 1999. Whitely comes into this race in the fourth position in points. Nicholson runs quicker than his qualified time and Whitely slows down, probably due to some shake. (W) Randy Meyer (Randy Meyer Racing A/FD) 0.053 5.355 261.02 (L) Michael Manners (COSMO Aquygen A/FD) 0.045 19.423 50.15 Manners goes up in smoke right off the line. Meyer will return to face Cowie and will have lane choice. (W) Chase Copeland (Snowman Racing A/FD) 0.044 5.269 276.63 (L) Dave Heitzman (A/FD) 0.040 5.543 254.62 Heitzman's son Devin is his crew chief and the car is owned by Dennis Drath. Copeland's car spit out the right bank on a few pulses, but the car still just laid back its ears and ran a great number. That's a career best speed for Copeland and his quickest pass of the weekend. He'll have lane choice over Nicholson in round 2. (W) Bill Reichert (Bars Leak/Rislone A/FD) 0.028 5.302 265.43 (L) Brandon Pierce (Sooner One A/FD) 0.052 5.617 255.19 This is Reichert's 19th Indy. His #2 spot here this year is best start ever at this track. He won here in 2006 and 2008. Reichert dominated from one end to the other. That's the second quickest pass of the session and will give him lane choice over Thacker by .07. (W) Chris Demke (Peen-Rite-Abrasive Finishing B 0.104 5.308 268.76 (L) Robin Samsel (A/FD) 0.110 5.451 258.67 This is Demke's fifth #1 start, and all of them have been this year. He dominates this pair and will face Kosky next time up and holds lane choice by over a tenth of a second. That's it for round one.

Monday Results for Elimination Round 2

CLERMONT, Ind. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Shawn Cowie (Mundies Towing B/AD) 0.033 5.313 267.06 (L) Randy Meyer (Randy Meyer Racing A/FD) 0.027 5.451 260.51 12:34 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 81 degrees, relative humidity 33 percent, barometer 29.10 inches, adjusted altitude 2,870 feet, track temperature 104 degrees. Cowie won in the only time they met in R2. Two great leaves and Meyer's initial advantage is quickly gone and he match Cowie's pace down the track. Shawn Cowie's incremental margins: 60ft(0.028), 330 ft(0.127), 660ft(0.131), 1,000ft(0.122). MOV: 0.1326 seconds (approximately 51 feet). Randy Meyer's incremental times: 60ft-0.969 sec., 330ft-2.493, 660ft-3.633/220.01 mph, 1,000ft-4.603. Shawn Cowie's incremental times: 60ft-0.935 sec., 330ft-2.360, 660ft-3.496/217.04 mph, 1,000ft-4.475. (W) Darren Nicholson (JC Autoglass/Cantrell Rac 0.077 5.374 262.90 (L) Chase Copeland (Snowman Racing A/FD) 0.058 5.703 262.03 Copeland and Nicholson have never met in round two. Copeland is dropping cylinders and gets upset by Nicholson's blown car. Darren Nicholson's incremental margins: 60ft(0.057), 330 ft(0.250), 660ft(0.318), 1,000ft(0.317). MOV: 0.3105 seconds (more than 100 feet). Darren Nicholson's incremental times: 60ft-0.945 sec., 330ft-2.377, 660ft-3.523/215.00 mph, 1,000ft-4.520. Chase Copeland's incremental times: 60ft-1.021 sec., 330ft-2.646, 660ft-3.860/208.81 mph, 1,000ft-4.856. (W) Marty Thacker (Rapid Transit B/AD) 0.047 5.336 267.22 (L) Bill Reichert (Bars Leak/Rislone A/FD) 0.072 5.353 263.10 Reichert has a 8/6 advantage over Thacker in prior encounters, with 4/2 in round two. Thacker gets a big advantage off the line and just drives away from Reichert early on. The fueler makes a move on the top end, but it's not enough. Thacker gets lane choice over Nicholson next round. Marty Thacker's incremental times: 60ft-0.937 sec., 330ft-2.373, 660ft-3.513/216.65 mph, 1,000ft-4.497. Bill Reichert's incremental times: 60ft-0.950 sec., 330ft-2.421, 660ft-3.545/221.38 mph, 1,000ft-4.510. (W) Chris Demke (Peen-Rite-Abrasive Finishing B 0.028 5.324 268.06 (L) Mike Kosky (American Flyer B/AD) 0.026 5.370 264.08 Demke and Kosky have never met in round two. Almost identical RT's and Demke powers away and stays in front without drama to the finish line. He gives up lane choice to Cowie in round three. Chris Demke's incremental margins: 60ft(0.019), 330 ft(0.007), 660ft(0.021), 1,000ft(0.031). MOV: 0.0441 seconds (approximately 17 feet). Mike Kosky's incremental times: 60ft-0.940 sec., 330ft-2.376, 660ft-3.528/213.00 mph, 1,000ft-4.521. Chris Demke's incremental times: 60ft-0.919 sec., 330ft-2.367, 660ft-3.505/216.06 mph, 1,000ft-4.488. 12:46 p.m.

Monday Results for Elimination Round 3

CLERMONT, Ind. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Marty Thacker (Rapid Transit B/AD) 0.011 5.384 265.43 (L) Darren Nicholson (JC Autoglass/Cantrell Rac 0.035 5.397 264.29 2:40 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 85 degrees, relative humidity 31 percent, barometer 29.08 inches, adjusted altitude 3,157 feet, track temperature 121 degrees. Thacker is 1 - 0 against Nicholson in prior events and they have never raced each other in round three. Thacker blows down the tree with a monster 0.011 RT and leads Nicholson down the track for a fifteen foot finish. Only 0.013 difference in ET (W) Shawn Cowie (Mundies Towing B/AD) 0.015 5.295 270.32 (L) Chris Demke (Peen-Rite-Abrasive Finishing B 0.019 12.717 40.10 Demke is 2 - 1 against Cowie in round three at prior events. Something bad happened to Demke's car near the 330 lights as the chutes deploy. I didn't hear a bang, so it might have been an equipment failure. This was starting out well as the two dragsters were only 0.004 different in RT at the green. Cowie doesn't look back and thunders on down without any drama for the easy win. Shawn Cowie's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.017), 330 ft(0.234), 660ft(1.307), 1,000ft(3.604). MOV: 7.4264 seconds (more than 100 feet). Chris Demke's incremental times: 60ft-0.916 sec., 330ft-2.585, 660ft-4.793/089.57 mph, 1,000ft-8.066. Shawn Cowie's incremental times: 60ft-0.937 sec., 330ft-2.355, 660ft-3.490/217.14 mph, 1,000ft-4.466. 2:47 p.m. Cowie will have lane choice in the final round.

Monday Results for Final Round

CLERMONT, Ind. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Marty Thacker (Rapid Transit B/AD) 0.003 5.415 266.85 (L) Shawn Cowie (Mundies Towing B/AD) 0.025 5.488 226.89 4:23 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 88 degrees, relative humidity 30 percent, barometer 29.05 inches, adjusted altitude 3,413 feet, track temperature 121 degrees. Cowie and Thacker have each won 1 times against the other in prior events and Thacker is 1 - 0 against Cowie in prior final rounds. Thacker gets a big advantage off the line with a 0.003 RT and then gives it up just before the 330 lights, as Cowie goes rolling on by. Cowie starts to pull steadily ahead until after the 1000 foot mark, where the engine goes away and Thacker gets back by. they had identical speeds at mid-track. Marty Thacker is the 2010 Top Alcohol Dragster Champion. Marty Thacker's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.041), 330 ft(-0.016), 660ft(-0.027), 1,000ft(-0.010). MOV: 0.0959 seconds (approximately 32 feet). Shawn Cowie's incremental times: 60ft-0.951 sec., 330ft-2.376, 660ft-3.527/212.39 mph, 1,000ft-4.541. Marty Thacker's incremental times: 60ft-0.932 sec., 330ft-2.414, 660ft-3.576/212.39 mph, 1,000ft-4.573.

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