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Thursday
Results for Qualifying 1 |
DARLINGTON, S.C. - SUMMIT FastNews - Notes from round 1 qualifying
in Funny Car at the 28th annual Prolong Super Lubricants Winter
Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and
position in order following run:
Left Lane: Dale Brand Runs 5.930/233.84, Now #1
Right Lane: Howard Poepping Runs 6.694/208.39, Now #2
11:30 AM There's a very stiff crosswind this afternoon, blowing
from left to right, so these cars could have some problems when
they put the chutes out. Nice opening pass by Brand, the car
straight and smooth. Poepping's old-style Trans Am (the front end
looks more like an old Corvette) bogged a bit on the launch.
Left Lane: Jim Phillips No Time, Now #4
Right Lane: Sam Leland Runs 6.078/232.75, Now #2
Phillips drove out the other end after the burnout. Leland rolled
into the throttle on the launch, but clocked a respectable ET
anyway.
Left Lane: Jeff Lancaster Runs 7.454/199.91, Now #5
Right Lane: Bruce Mullins Runs 6.324/218.02, Now #3
Lancaster's car went through the clutch, then chattered the tires
and he was in and out of the throttle trying to get it hooked up.
Mullins' pass was clean, but off the pace a bit.
Left Lane: Paul Zgoda Runs 10.399/82.75, Now #6
Right Lane: Tony Bogolo Runs 22.915/32.58, Now #7
Both cars had problems getting off the starting line, Bogolo
turning the tires square and the car bouncing violently, then
trailing lots of smoke, so he may have hurt the engine from the
violent dynamics. Zgoda also had problems hooking up, shaking, but
nothing close to Bogolo's grim ride.
Left Lane: Terry McMillen Runs 9.781/94.39, Now #7
Right Lane: Andy Kelly Runs 6.311/217.11, Now #3
McMillen also encountered severe shake. He tried to salvage the
run, just making a bad situation worse, almost crossing the
centerline in the process. Clean run for Kelly, the car straight
and smooth.
Left Lane: Adam Szeler Runs 26.377/32.55, Now #11
Right Lane: Herb Rodgers Runs 6.113/223.39, Now #3
Szeler drover through the clutch immediately. Nice pass by
Rodgers, clean and smooth.
Left Lane: James Spencer Runs 6.470/220.73, Now #6
Right Lane: Dave Ray Runs 8.456/124.12, Now #9
This time the problems were in the right lane, Ray popping the
pressure relief panel in the hood loose about 330 feet down the
strip. Clean pass for Spencer.
Left Lane: Gary Rettell Runs 6.338/222.25, Now #7
Right Lane: Mick Steele Runs 6.322/232.27, Now #5
Nice side-by-side runs, though they will need to pick up the pace
a bit to be competitive Saturday.
Left Lane: David Rowe No Time, Now #18
Right Lane: Paul Athey No Time, Now #16
Two DQ's here, Rowe's car veering right, taking out the half-track
reflectors and Athey leaving before the tree was activated,
starting the timing system with his rear wheels.
Left Lane: Jimmy Rector No Time, Now #20
Right Lane: Rob Atchison Runs 6.058/227.61, Now #2
Rector made his burnout and started to stage, then one of his
chutes popped out, ending his day a bit early. Nice run by
Atchison, smooth and straight down the groove.
Left Lane: James Lape Runs 6.081/231.12, Now #5
Right Lane: Mark Thomas Runs 5.971/238.34, Now #2
Lape made an amazing run given that he had to get completely out
of the throttle to get out of shake on the launch, the car skating
over near the wall. Nice run by Thomas, no problems we could see.
Left Lane: Scott Weney Runs 5.933/236.84, Now #2
Right Lane: Von Smith Runs 5.994/238.05, Now #4
Smith's car sports "Nitro Fish" sponsorship this year, a
great-looking car. And a nice-looking side-by-side show for the
spectators, Weney getting the win light against the 1999 champion.
Left Lane: Not on File No Time, Now #26
No data on file for this car - the only name on the side of the
car is "Hooper." It was supposed to be a licensing pass,
but the driver left before the tree was activated and will have to
try again.
Right Lane: Not on File Runs 9.921/87.78, Now #19
This is the Carl Ruth "Crown Vic," with a new driver,
also licensing. He launched, the car veered to the right, and he
shut if off.
Right Lane: Terry Munroe Runs 7.115/153.37, Now #16
Yes, this IS the Terry Munroe who ran the big-block altered in
Super Eliminator last year, so he knows how to drive. However, he
needs to earn his AFC license, so he's doing that now. The car
shook and he pedaled, then continued to half track.
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Thursday
Order for Qualifying 1 |
DARLINGTON, S.C. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of
qualifying in Funny Car at the 28th annual Prolong Super
Lubricants Winter Nationals:
Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed
1 Dale Brand Trans Am-BAE 5.930 233.84
2 Scott Weney Firebird-Palm 5.933 236.84
3 Mark Thomas Avenger-KB 5.971 238.34
4 Von Smith Firebird-BAE 5.994 238.05
5 Rob Atchison Firebird-Chev 6.058 227.61
6 Sam Leland Avenger-BAE 6.078 232.75
7 James Lape Camaro-BNR 6.081 231.12
8 Mike Preslar Probe-JP-1 6.105 224.28
9 Herb Rodgers Mustang-KB 6.113 223.39
10 Andy Kelly Avenger-KB 6.311 217.11
11 Frederick Tigges Camaro-KB 6.322 232.27
12 Bruce Mullins Firebird-BAE 6.324 218.02
13 Gary Rettell Avenger-Dodge 6.338 222.25
14 James Spencer Daytona-KB 6.470 220.73
15 Howard Poepping Trans Am-Aria 6.694 208.39
16 Jeff Lancaster Firebird-TFX 7.454 199.91
--------- Not Qualified ---------
17 Terry McMillen Avenger-KB 9.781 94.39
18 Not on File 9.921 87.78
19 Terry Munroe Achieva-Hemi DQ
20 Dave Ray Cutlass-KB DQ
21 Paul Zgoda Achieva-BNR DQ
22 Tony Bogolo Avenger-KB DQ
23 Adam Szeler Achieva-KB DQ
24 Paul Athey Corvette-JP1 DQ
25 David Rowe Cutlass-BAE DQ
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Friday
Results for Qualifying 2 |
DARLINGTON, S.C. - SUMMIT FastNews - Notes from round 2 qualifying
in Funny Car at the 28th annual Prolong Super Lubricants Winter
Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this
round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed
time/speed, and position in order prior to run:
Left Lane: Tony Bogolo No Time, Now #22
No Prior Run
Right Lane: Dale Brand Runs 12.194/37.86, Now #1
Best prior run: 5.930/233.84, Was #1
12:06 AM Defending event champion Brand edged out Scott Weney,
Mark Thomas, and Von Smith for the first-round pole position
yesterday, so you know he's got his game face on today, trying to
hang on to that top spot. But both cars had problems, Bogolo
veering right and taking out the 330-foot markers and Brand
appearing to blow the engine at about that same point, a flash of
flame under the car.
Left Lane: Bruce Mullins No Time, Now #12
Best prior run: 6.324/218.02, Was #12
Right Lane: Terry McMillen Runs 6.996/213.60, Now #16
Best prior run: 9.781/94.39, Was #17
Mullins banged the blower on the burnout. McMillen chattered the
tires, pedaled, and continued.
Left Lane: Von Smith Runs 5.935/236.88, Now #3
Best prior run: 5.994/238.05, Was #4
Right Lane: Gary Rettell Runs 8.399/103.75, Now #13
Best prior run: 6.338/222.25, Was #13
Smith runs his second five-second elapsed time of the weekend,
moving up the ladder just one rung as a result. Rettell's run
looked okay to about 330 feet, then he shut it down - couldn't see
why from here.
Left Lane: Terry Munroe Runs 6.464/178.21, Now #14
No Prior Run
Right Lane: James Lape Runs 17.551/43.91, Now #7
Best prior run: 6.081/231.12, Was #7
Munroe's Firdbird is shiny black, with flames of course. His car
left hard and was running 185 mph at half track, but it was
drifting right and he had to pedal it to get the front wheels down
and steer away from the centerline. Lape launched, shook, and
coasted through.
Left Lane: Howard Poepping Runs 6.861/196.90, Now #17
Best prior run: 6.694/208.39, Was #16
Right Lane: Jim Phillips Runs 6.353/217.21, Now #14
No Prior Run
Poepping's car would be right at home at a nostalgia race, the '81
Trans Am body markedly different from the swoopy Firebird body
style in the right lane. Phillips fires a good shot here to get
into the field.
Left Lane: Mark Thomas Runs 5.964/238.89, Now #4
Best prior run: 5.971/238.34, Was #4
Right Lane: Bill Naves Runs 6.468/217.21, Now #16
No Prior Run
Thomas is very consistent this weekend, two quick runs within
0.007 seconds of each other. Naves runs just well enough to earn a
perch on the bubble.
Left Lane: Rob Atchison No Time, Now #6
Best prior run: 6.058/227.61, Was #5
Right Lane: Jimmy Rector Runs 5.905/238.26, Now #1
No Prior Run
These two left together, but while Atchison was shaking and
clobbering the 330-foot markers, Rector was streaking right down
the groove, going from way outside the field to the pole position
on a nice run.
Left Lane: Frederick Tigges Runs 6.053/234.09, Now #6
Best prior run: 6.322/232.27, Was #12
Right Lane: Paul Zgoda Runs 6.733/220.87, Now #20
No Prior Run
Tigges shows us that there's nothing wrong with the left lane,
running right down the middle of the groove and jumping to the top
half of the ladder. Zgoda's run was not partiicularly troubled,
but he was way behind at the finish line.
Left Lane: Bobby Baucom Runs 13.635/75.33, Now #24
No Prior Run
Right Lane: James Spencer Runs 6.038/229.16, Now #6
Best prior run: 6.470/220.73, Was #18
Baucom shook very hard, the rear tires chattering and the car
going nowhere. Spencer made a nice run, nice enough to get into
the field in the top half. The bump spot is now Jim Phillips'
6.353.
Left Lane: Andy Kelly Runs 6.194/227.69, Now #13
Best prior run: 6.311/217.11, Was #13
Right Lane: Scott Weney Runs 5.948/236.51, Now #3
Best prior run: 5.933/236.84, Was #3
Weney also shows quick consistency, running just 0.015 seconds
slower in the opposite lane from yesterday. Kelly stepped up a
bunch, over a tenth of a second, and remained right where he
started on the ladder.
Left Lane: Dave Ray Runs 6.229/223.32, Now #15
No Prior Run
Right Lane: Chris Hunt Runs 6.124/227.61, Now #13
No Prior Run
Two good runs produce two bump-ins, putting Phillips and Gary
Rettell out of the field and Bruce Mullins on the bubble at 6.324.
Left Lane: Sam Leland Runs 9.504/92.21, Now #9
Best prior run: 6.078/232.75, Was #9
Right Lane: Adam Szeler No Time, Now #28
No Prior Run
Szeler rolled the beams, then made a good-looking pass - but no
time because he left before the tree was activated. Leland
launched, shook, and ... well, you know the drill.
Left Lane: Herb Rodgers Runs 9.188/95.65, Now #12
Best prior run: 6.113/223.39, Was #12
Right Lane: Jeff Lancaster No Time, Now #24
Best prior run: 7.454/199.91, Was #24
The Canadians are Coming...a pair of our northern neighbors
side-by-side for this session. Lancaster's car staged beyond the
starting line, the headers tripping the beams, so his run didn't
count. Rodgers had the front wheels in the air and the rear tires
shaking, a bad combination.
Left Lane: Paul Athey Runs 6.171/227.88, Now #14
No Prior Run
Right Lane: Monty Todd Runs 7.958/113.48, Now #26
No Prior Run
Athey's "Mohegan Sun Casino" car is a beauty, but so is
Todd's entry, a blue and white abstract design to match his
Southern Pools sponsorship. Athey went from A to B to get into the
field, bumping Mullins and putting Dave Ray on the bubble at
6.229. Todd's problems continued this session, the car shaking and
forcing him to call it off.
Right Lane: David Rowe Runs 6.017/237.38, Now #6
No Prior Run
Nice pass, bumping Ray and putting Andy Kelly on the bubble at
6.194.
Right Lane: Phillip Hooper No Time, Now #32
No Prior Run
Hooper is still licensing and leaves before the tree is activated
- no time and the run probably doesn't count toward his license.
Left Lane: Not on File Runs 7.291/124.53, Now #26
Best prior run: 9.921/87.78, Was #28
Still don't know who is in the Crown Vic - he made a good run to
half track, so should be ready for a full pass next session,
during the "Night of Fire."
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Friday
Order for Qualifying 2 |
DARLINGTON, S.C. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 2 rounds of
qualifying in Funny Car at the 28th annual Prolong Super
Lubricants Winter Nationals:
Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed
1 Jimmy Rector Avenger-KB 5.905 238.26
2 Dale Brand Trans Am-BAE 5.930 233.84
3 Scott Weney Firebird-Palm 5.933 236.84
4 Von Smith Firebird-BAE 5.935 238.05
5 Mark Thomas Avenger-KB 5.964 238.89
6 David Rowe Cutlass-BAE 6.017 237.38
7 James Spencer Daytona-KB 6.038 229.16
8 Frederick Tigges Camaro-KB 6.053 234.09
9 Rob Atchison Firebird-Chev 6.058 227.61
10 Sam Leland Avenger-BAE 6.078 232.75
11 James Lape Camaro-BNR 6.081 231.12
12 Mike Preslar Probe-JP-1 6.105 224.28
13 Herb Rodgers Mustang-KB 6.113 223.39
14 Chris Hunt Corvette-Hemi 6.124 227.61
15 Paul Athey Corvette-JP1 6.171 227.88
16 Andy Kelly Avenger-KB 6.194 227.69
--------- Not Qualified ---------
17 Dave Ray Cutlass-KB 6.229 223.32
18 Bruce Mullins Firebird-BAE 6.324 218.02
19 Gary Rettell Avenger-Dodge 6.338 222.25
20 Jim Phillips Firebird-KB 6.353 217.21
21 Terry Munroe Achieva-Hemi 6.464 178.21
22 Bill Naves Camaro-KB 6.468 217.21
23 Howard Poepping Trans Am-Aria 6.694 208.39
24 Terry McMillen Avenger-KB 6.996 213.60
25 Not on File 7.291 124.53
26 Jeff Lancaster Firebird-TFX 7.454 199.91
27 Paul Zgoda Achieva-BNR DQ
28 Monty Todd Avenger-KB DQ
29 Bobby Baucom Firebird-BAE DQ
30 Tony Bogolo Avenger-KB DQ
31 Adam Szeler Achieva-KB DQ
32 Phillip Hooper '98 Camaro DQ
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Saturday
Results for Elimination 1 |
DARLINGTON, S.C. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1
eliminations in Funny Car at the 28th annual Prolong Super
Lubricants Winter Nationals:
W/L Driver RT ET Speed
(W) Dave Ray (Cutlass-KB) 0.504 6.216 225.30
(L) Paul Athey (Corvette-JP1) 0.623 8.357 116.04
1:08 PM It's still bright and sunny here, but the weather map
looks pretty grim as the cold front approaches, so everyone is
doing their best to get this over with. Athey's car went into
violent tire shake and started to dance back and forth on the rear
tires. He tried to drive through it, but finally gave it up. Nice
pass by Ray, his best of the weekend.
(W) Mark Thomas (Avenger-KB) 0.568 5.931 240.21
(L) Mike Preslar (Probe-JP-1) 0.582 16.935 57.45
Preslar also experienced violent shake, in the opposite lane, so
it's not a problem with the lanes. Probably didn't matter, Thomas
nailed this one, barely under the speed record with a straight and
clean run.
(W) Von Smith (Firebird-BAE) 0.529 6.067 235.31
(L) Herb Rodgers (Mustang-KB) 0.598 6.053 210.90
Rodgers made a huge burnout, past half track before he stopped.
Smith got the holeshot and needed it, his car skating to the left
and Smith having to pedal it to stay out of the wall. The margin
of victory = 0.055 seconds (approximately 17 feet).
(W) Jimmy Rector (Avenger-KB) 0.420 5.881 240.64
(L) Andy Kelly (Avenger-KB) 0.411 6.260 224.96
Kelly got a psychic light and Rector left right with him, then
drove away while Kelly battled a loose race car, out of the groove
to the right and struggling. Super ET and huge speed for Rector,
possibly the fastest ever and well over the current speed record.
(W) Scott Weney (Firebird-Palme) 0.483 5.944 237.25
(L) Chris Hunt (Corvette-Hemi) 0.469 6.252 186.36
Good drag race, Hunt with a slight advantage off the starting line
and Weney going by on the top end to win by a margin of victory =
0.294 seconds (approximately 80 feet).
(W) James Lape (Camaro-BNR) 0.546 6.012 232.27
(L) David Rowe (Cutlass-BAE) 0.285(R) 6.953 156.39
Rowe had all kinds of problems, leaving early, chattering the rear
tires hard, pedaling, then almost taking out the timing markers at
half track. Clean pass by Lape, right down the groove.
(W) Sam Leland (Avenger-BAE) 0.606 5.973 234.04
(W) James Spencer (Daytona-KB) 0.000 (Broke)
Spencer blipped the throttle as he was staging, redlighted, then
tagged one of the half-track timing blocks. Leland did everything
right, a clean, smooth run.
(W) Rob Atchison (Firebird-Chevy) 0.530 5.963 231.32
(L) Frederick Tigges (Camaro-KB) 0.542 6.005 237.59
Final pair. Atchison uses his best run of the weekend to move to
round two by a margin of victory = 0.054 seconds (approximately 19
feet) in a good drag race. Tigges was right with him all the way
down the track, but never made up his starting-line deficit.
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Saturday
Results for Elimination 2 |
DARLINGTON, S.C. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2
eliminations in Funny Car at the 28th annual Prolong Super
Lubricants Winter Nationals:
W/L Driver RT ET Speed
(W) Jimmy Rector (Avenger-KB) 0.452 5.900 240.00
(L) Rob Atchison (Firebird-Chevy) 0.521 6.025 229.86
Atchison has trouble getting his car started, Rector has already
completed his burnout before Atchison gets it started. Atchison
does short burnout, Rector waits patiently, and then drills him on
the tree and motors on through for the win.
(W) Mark Thomas (Avenger-KB) 0.411 6.097 239.10
(L) Von Smith (Firebird-BAE) 0.471 15.009 53.81
Thomas is out of the gate first, and then Smith launches into
violent tire shake and heads toward the wall. He clicks it off to
end his win streak at IHRA national events at seventeen. His first
lost since Epping last year.
(W) Scott Weney (Firebird-Palme) 0.502 6.018 233.68
(L) James Lape (Camaro-BNR) 0.478 6.732 156.28
Lape leaves first, but goes into tire shake. He attempts to drive
through it and gets out of the groove. He darts toward the wall
and attempts to reel it in, but can not keep it off the wall.
Weney gets the automatic win light at that time.
(W) Sam Leland (Avenger-BAE) 0.703 6.227 229.86
(L) Dave Ray (Cutlass-KB) 0.472 6.838 211.49
LeLand gives Ray the big headstart and then drives through tire
shake to chase him down.
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Saturday
Results for Elimination 3 |
DARLINGTON, S.C. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3
eliminations in Funny Car at the 28th annual Prolong Super
Lubricants Winter Nationals:
W/L Driver RT ET Speed
(W) Jimmy Rector (Avenger-KB) 0.429 5.946 239.19
(L) Mark Thomas (Avenger-KB) 0.503 5.985 240.77
Number two and three in the World last year meet here in the
semis. Rector leaves Thomas on the tree and never looks back.
Rector continues to fly in the five-second zone.
(W) Scott Weney (Firebird-Palme) 0.495 5.903 538.51
(L) Sam Leland (Avenger-BAE) 0.495 6.332 225.97
They leave together, but LeLand has a lot of tire shake and Weney
just motors on through for the win. He wins lane choice in the
finals.
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Saturday
Results for Final Round |
DARLINGTON, S.C. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4
eliminations in Funny Car at the 28th annual Prolong Super
Lubricants Winter Nationals:
W/L Driver RT ET Speed
(W) Jimmy Rector (Avenger-KB) 0.447 5.874 238.08
(L) Scott Weney (Firebird-Palme) 0.460 5.908 238.26
Weney does what he has to on the tree, but Rector chases him down,
and takes the win light by 16 feet.
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