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Friday
Results for Qualifying 1
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - ROCKINGHAM-2 - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Fuel at the
Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series, Seventh annual CARQUEST Auto Parts World Finals
listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following
run:
Right Lane: Steve Hamilton Runs 16.075/68.28, Now #1
9:08 PM It's 48 degrees, 87 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.22
and steady.
Hamilton made just one pass at Budds Creek, with two wheelies
and a centerline crossing. This time he boiled the hides immediately and coasted
through.
Left Lane: Bruce Litton Runs 5.003/303.09, Now #1
Right Lane: Louie Allison Runs 5.404/212.46, Now #2
Allison's team got bad news enroute here - car owner Jack Ostrander's shop
burned down after the team left to come here. Ostrander was still in town, at his
bowling alley, and he could only watch as the race shop went up in a spectacular
fire - stored fuel and oil making the fire too dangerous for firefighters to get
close.
Litton left hard (0.868 60-foot time) and went right down the groove.
Allison was slower off the line (0.925 60-foot time) and 20 mph slower at half
track, his header flames out well before the finish line.
Left Lane: Josh Starcher Runs 5.860/156.46, Now #1
Right Lane: John Sipple Runs 11.022/81.22, Now #2
Both cars coasted across the finish line, Sipple's header flames out before
he went 100 feet and Starcher's at half track. Sipple spun the tires, couldn't see
what happened with Starcher.
Left Lane: Bobby Lagana Jr Runs 10.575/81.14, Now #4
Right Lane: Grant Flowers Runs 17.047/68.32, Now #7
Both cars lost traction, Flowers immediately and Lagana about 100 feet
out.
Left Lane: Donald Reed Runs 6.639/141.27, Now #4
Right Lane: Tim Cullinan Runs 8.533/89.59, Now #5
Tire smoke and pedaling in both lanes.
Left Lane: Paul Romine Runs 8.384/96.92, Now #5
Romine left hard, went about 200 feet, then the header flames went out.
Left Lane: Clay Millican Runs 10.629/78.80, Now #8
Right Lane: Roger Dean No Time, Now #12
Dan's car died on the burnout and was pushed most of the way back before Dean
got out and jumped over the all to clear the track for Millican. Millican
launched, the header flames got very fat, with red fringes, then the tires went up
in smoke and the header flames went out.
Friday
Order for Qualifying 1
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of
qualifying in Top
Fuel at the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series, Seventh annual
CARQUEST Auto Parts
World Finals:
Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed
1. Bruce Litton Lucas Oil Dragster 5.003 303.09
2. Louie Allison Vista Foods Dragster 5.404 212.46
3. Josh Starcher WIX Filters Dragster 5.860 156.46
4. Donald Reed Dragster 6.639 141.27
5. Paul Romine CARQUEST Auto Parts Dragster 8.384 96.92
6. Tim Cullinan J.P. Philips Inc. Dragster 8.533 89.59
7. Bobby Lagana Jr Twilight Zone Dragster 10.575 81.14
8. Clay Millican Werner Dragster 10.629 78.80
--------- Not Qualified ---------
9. John Sipple Wellness Group Dragster 11.022 81.22
10. Steve Hamilton Dragster 16.075 68.28
11. Grant Flowers Amalie Oil Dragster 17.047 68.32
Saturday
Results for Qualifying 2
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - ROCKINGHAM-2 - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Top Fuel at the
Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series, Seventh annual CARQUEST Auto Parts World 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: Jack Ostrander Runs 6.046/196.99, Now #4
No Prior Run
Right Lane: Bruce Litton Runs 5.019/280.25, Now #1
Best prior run: 5.003/303.09, Was #1
3:00 PM It's 70 degrees, 40 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.10
and steady.
Ostrander was up in smoke immediately. Litton was a little
softer in the first half of the run than yesterday, but once again made a smokeless
run.
Left Lane: Roger Dean Runs 11.807/77.34, Now #11
No Prior Run
Right Lane: Josh Starcher Runs 9.141/91.41, Now #3
Best prior run: 5.860/156.46, Was #3
Both cars were up in smoke immediately. Dean pedaled once, to no avail.
Left Lane: Tim Cullinan Runs 5.069/266.85, Now #3
Best prior run: 8.533/89.59, Was #7
Right Lane: Bobby Lagana Jr Runs 5.046/284.56, Now #2
Best prior run: 10.575/81.14, Was #8
Good drag race, both cars smoking the tires on the top end. Lagana was just
hazing them, but Cullinan left twin black stripes from half track through the
finish line. Best of all, no oil, so the connecting rods survived the tire
spin.
Left Lane: John Sipple Runs 5.544/219.15, Now #6
Best prior run: 11.022/81.22, Was #10
Right Lane: Clay Millican Runs 4.860/288.52, Now #1
Best prior run: 10.629/78.80, Was #9
Sipple's crew always wears construction "hard hats" to the line and today
they are wearing the patriotic version, emblazoned with stars and stripes. Two
clean runs, Millican hazing the tires from half track on and Sipple recovering from
early tire spin to make an almost-full pass, the car nosing over on the top
end.
Right Lane: Donald Reed Runs 5.119/213.06, Now #5
Best prior run: 6.639/141.27, Was #9
Reed did a nice job of driving here. His car spun the tires in the middle of
the run and headed for the centerline. Reed managed to tame the tire spin and got
it back to the groove, shutting off early.
Left Lane: Grant Flowers Runs 10.602/77.28, Now #11
Best prior run: 17.047/68.32, Was #13
Right Lane: Paul Romine Runs 4.937/273.72, Now #2
Best prior run: 8.384/96.92, Was #10
There are 13 Top Fuel cars here, by the way...Flowers smoked the tires
immediately. Romine made a nice run, a little soft off the line, but right down
the groove with no visible tire smoke. That put Sipple on the bump spot going into
tonight's final qualifying session, the bump a relatively soft 5.544
Saturday
Order for Qualifying 2
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 2 rounds of
qualifying in Top Fuel
at the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series, Seventh annual CARQUEST
Auto Parts World
Finals:
Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed
1. Clay Millican Werner Dragster 4.860 288.52
2. Paul Romine CARQUEST Auto Parts Dragster 4.937 273.72
3. Bruce Litton Lucas Oil Dragster 5.003 303.09
4. Bobby Lagana Jr Twilight Zone Dragster 5.046 284.56
5. Tim Cullinan Spiess-Hecker Dragster 5.069 266.85
6. Donald Reed Dragster 5.119 213.06
7. Louie Allison Vista Foods Dragster 5.404 212.46
8. John Sipple Wellness Group Dragster 5.544 219.15
--------- Not Qualified ---------
9. Josh Starcher WIX Filters Dragster 5.860 156.46
10. Jack Ostrander Dragster 6.046 196.99
11. Roger Dean Rupert Oil Dragster 11.807 77.34
12. Steve Hamilton Dragster 16.075 68.28
13. Grant Flowers Amalie Oil Dragster 17.047 68.32
Saturday
Qualifying Rnd 3 Results
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - ROCKINGHAM-2 - Notes from final, round 3 qualifying in Top Fuel
at the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series, Seventh annual CARQUEST Auto Parts World
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: Bruce Litton Runs 4.850/285.29, Now #1
Best prior run: 5.003/303.09, Was #3
Right Lane: Jack Ostrander Runs 5.303/240.47, Now #7
Best prior run: 6.046/196.99, Was #10
7:17 PM Top Fuel was moved up in the program to give them a warmer track to
work with. It's 61 degrees, 77 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.07 and
steady.
Based on this first pair, the schedule change worked just fine, with
two full passes and a shuffle in the field. Litton moved to the top of the field
on a good run and Ostrander bumped Doc Sipple with a conservative run. But there's
a bit of oil way down on the shutdown area, so there will be a bit of a break
before the next pair runs.
Left Lane: Josh Starcher Runs 7.626/102.79, Now #10
Best prior run: 5.860/156.46, Was #10
Right Lane: Tim Cullinan Runs 10.653/75.51, Now #5
Best prior run: 5.069/266.85, Was #5
These two fired their engines just as the oil call came from the top end of
the track. They shut down quickly and will not have to reservice the cars.
Starcher launched, no tire smoke, then the header flames went out, the blower belt
laying on the track. Cullinan launched, lost traction, pedaled once, smoked the
tires again, and gave it up. Starcher is out, Cullinan is in.
Left Lane: Donald Reed Runs 5.160/205.51, Now #6
Best prior run: 5.119/213.06, Was #6
Right Lane: John Sipple Runs 7.403/117.42, Now #9
Best prior run: 5.544/219.15, Was #9
Reed started off well, but the car drifted left and he had to lift to stay
off the wall. Sipple's header flames looked weak and he pedaled it once about 200
feet out, then the header flames went out.
Left Lane: Paul Romine Runs 4.790/287.53, Now #1
Best prior run: 4.937/273.72, Was #3
Right Lane: Roger Dean Runs 6.814/180.07, Now #11
Best prior run: 11.807/77.34, Was #11
Nice run by Romine, clean and straight. Dean's car launched lazily, a 1.252
60-foot time, and started showing sparks from the clutch almost immediately. The
farther he went, the heavier the shower of sparks. He finally shut it down, but by
then it looked like the clutch area was a glowing mass of metal.
Left Lane: Clay Millican Runs 4.762/294.31, Now #3
Best prior run: 4.860/288.52, Was #3
Right Lane: Louie Allison No Time, Now #8
Best prior run: 5.404/212.46, Was #8
When Allison was sure he could not be bumped, he pulled his car out of line.
Millican made a very nice solo pass, right down the groove, to retake the #1
spot.
Right Lane: Steve Hamilton Runs 6.291/155.04, Now #11
Best prior run: 0.000/212.46, Was #4
Hamilton, in the second Roger Dean car, smoked the tires in his first
attempt. He made a soft launch and a half-track pass, then the header flames went
out - perhaps pre-planned.
Saturday
Final Qualifying Order
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order
after 3 rounds of qualifying in
Top Fuel at the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series, Seventh annual
CARQUEST Auto Parts
World Finals:
Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed
1. Clay Millican Werner Dragster 4.762 294.31
2. Paul Romine CARQUEST Auto Parts Dragster 4.790 287.53
3. Bruce Litton Lucas Oil Dragster 4.850 303.09
4. Bobby Lagana Jr Twilight Zone Dragster 5.046 284.56
5. Tim Cullinan Spiess-Hecker Dragster 5.069 266.85
6. Donald Reed Dragster 5.119 213.06
7. Jack Ostrander Dragster 5.303 240.47
8. Louie Allison Vista Foods Dragster 5.404 212.46
--------- Not Qualified ---------
9. John Sipple Wellness Group Dragster 5.544 219.15
10. Josh Starcher WIX Filters Dragster 5.860 156.46
11. Steve Hamilton Dragster 6.291 155.04
12. Roger Dean Rupert Oil Dragster 6.814 180.07
13. Grant Flowers Amalie Oil Dragster 17.047 68.32
Sunday
Results for Elimination Round 1
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top
Fuel at the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series, Seventh annual CARQUEST Auto Parts
World Finals:
W/L Driver RT ET Speed
(W) Tim Cullinan (Spiess-Hecker Dragster) 0.521 5.081 264.65
(L) Bobby Lagana Jr (Twilight Zone Dragster) 0.520 (Broke)
1:17 PM It's 72 degrees, 73 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.03
and steady, under a light overcast.
Lagana and Cullinan have not raced
each other this season. Lagana split his manifold in qualifying and Millican's
crew chief Mike Kloeber loaned Lagana one of their spares. Lagana was concerned
about the increased fuel flow with the new manifold, thinking he'd smoke the tires.
Instead, he had a blower explosion as soon as he hit the throttle. Meanwhile,
rookie driver Cullinan made a good run, close to what he ran on his best qualifying
run.
(W) Bruce Litton (Lucas Oil Dragster) 0.531 4.985 286.25
(L) Donald Reed (Dragster) 0.534 10.417 79.38
Litton and Reed have only raced each other once before during this season.
Litton won that one, in the first round of the season-opener here at Rockingham.
They left with almost identical reaction and 60-foot times, then Reed went up in
tire smoke while Litton made a full pass, hazing the tires on the top end.
(W) Jack Ostrander (Dragster) 0.556 5.394 236.75
(L) Paul Romine (CARQUEST Auto Parts Dragster) 0.488 7.546 101.69
Romine and Ostrander have only faced each other once this season, Ostrander
winning that one, in the final round at Budds Creek. Romine is going to think he's
jinxed, leaving with a big holeshot and pulling away to about 300 feet, then
Romine's tires started smoking and Ostrander drove by for the win. It looked like
some pieces came off Ostrander's car on the top end, but the engine appeared to be
solid all the way. Ostrander will face Litton next round, Litton with lane
choice.
(W) Clay Millican (Werner Dragster) 0.506 4.887 274.83
(L) Louie Allison (Vista Foods Dragster) 0.479 5.329 256.89
This was the fifth time Millican and Allison have raced each other this year,
Millican 4-0 in previous races. However, it was Allison's team owner, Jack
Ostrander, who stopped Millican's win streak, in the first round at Budds Creek.
Can lightning strike twice? Nope, it's 6-0 Millican, the Werner Enterprises
dragster back to its dominant form once again. Allison gave it a game shot,
leaving first and running quicker than his qualifying time, but the blue dragster
was not vulnerable on this run. Millican will have lane choice against Cullinan
next round.
Sunday
Results for Eliminations Round
2
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top
Fuel at the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series, Seventh annual CARQUEST Auto Parts
World Finals:
W/L Driver RT ET Speed
(W) Bruce Litton (Lucas Oil Dragster) 0.500 5.057 288.21
(L) Jack Ostrander (Dragster) 0.202(R) 9.372 92.33
3:52 PM Litton raced Ostrander twice before during this season, winning both
times. Ostrander left way early, giving Litton another trip to the final round,
his ninth of the year.
(W) Clay Millican (Werner Dragster) 0.515 4.854 291.76
(L) Tim Cullinan (Spiess-Hecker Dragster) 0.528 5.979 154.44
The rookie versus the champ - sounds like a bad movie script! But Mike Smith
tunes Cullinan's car so anything was possible. Possible, not probable. Millican
hazed the tires from half track on, but Cullinan spun them hard, then dropped
cylinders. For the ninth time this year, it will be Millican versus Litton in the
final round, Millican with lane choice.
Sunday
Results for Final Round
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 3 eliminations
in Top Fuel at the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series, Seventh annual CARQUEST Auto
Parts World Finals:
W/L Driver RT ET Speed
(W) Clay Millican (Werner Dragster) 0.438 4.831 301.07
(L) Bruce Litton (Lucas Oil Dragster) 0.504 4.965 291.82
6:06 PM Millican and Litton have met in eight prior races this year, all of
them in final rounds, and millican winning all eight of them. They will finish 1-2
in the points, regardless of how this one comes out. Millican and his team
obviously didn't take Litton lightly, Millican sawing the tree down and running his
third "eighty" of eliminations for his eleventh win of the year. Litton ran pretty
close to what he ran all day, but that wasn't enough against the Werner Enterprises
juggernaut.
Though this is the last Pro final round, we are only half way
through the second round of Sportsman eliminations, so it will be another late
night for the reporting crew.
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