ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER

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Top Alcohol Dragster

Saturday

Sunday
Saturday

Results for Qualifying Round 1
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - GAINESVILLE - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 39th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:
      Left Lane: Ron Griffis      Runs 6.422/175.68, Now #2
     Right Lane: Jackie Fricke    Runs 5.769/247.57, Now #1
10:59 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 73 degrees, relative humidity 70 percent, barometer 29.68 inches, adjusted altitude 1,971 feet, track temperature 82 degrees.
Ron Griffis is in the car usually driven by Cherissa Griffis. Fricke (formerly Rogge) just licensed at South Georgia Motorsports Park.
Griffis' A/Fuel car dropped a couple cylinders. Fricke's blown car made a soft, safe pass.
      Left Lane: Diana Harker     Runs 6.537/151.70, Now #3
     Right Lane: Dan Lucas        No Time, Now #4
The longest lines in the pits this weekend so far have been at the Dunkin' Donuts trailer - not the race car, the one selling coffee and donuts.
Harker also tested at SGMP this week, her best in the mid-5.40s.
Lucas' blown car lost fire or was shut off after the burnout.
Harker's A/Fuel car popped and banged a bit, dropping cylinders and then coasting.
      Left Lane: Arthur Gallant   Runs 13.609/59.35, Now #4
     Right Lane: Peter Gallen     Runs 15.274/63.28, Now #5
Here's an announcer's challenge - Gallant and Gallen.
Two A/Fuel cars, both had problems, Gallant's engine very sour and Gallen up in tire smoke. Both coasted through
      Left Lane: Tim Bowgren      Runs 21.098/44.11, Now #7
     Right Lane: Ken Perry        Runs 6.865/209.65, Now #4
Bowgren's car has a bug "Thanks to Hirata Motorsports" alongside the driver.
Oh-for-two again. Bowgren lost traction immediately, Perry was pedaling before going 200 feet.
      Left Lane: Dave Hirata      Runs 5.364/262.33, Now #1
     Right Lane: Marty Thacker    No Time, Now #10
Hirata made a very nice run, right down the groove. Thacker's car started moving to the right immediately and made hard contact with the wall with the right rear tire. He rolled through the finish line at 96 mph, stopping about 500 feet down the shutdown area.
      Left Lane: Bill Reichert    Runs 5.583/244.78, Now #2
     Right Lane: Gene Arrigoni    Runs 5.641/249.39, Now #3
11:24 a.m. Reichert started off pretty well, but dropped at least one cylinder by half track. Arrigoni didn't have any obvious p;problems.
      Left Lane: Bill Evans       No Time, Now #14
     Right Lane: Dave DeAngelis   Runs 5.589/252.66, Now #3
Evans made the burnout, pulled into pre-stage and the engine went silent. DeAngelis made a good-looking run, the numbers were disappointing.
      Left Lane: Artie Allen      Runs 12.195/102.25, Now #10
     Right Lane: Robin Samsel     Runs 5.493/250.04, Now #2
Allen lost traction immediately. Samsel made a clean run, right down the groove.
      Left Lane: Brandon Lewis    Runs 10.618/155.76, Now #11
     Right Lane: Richard Bourke   Runs 5.548/249.21, Now #3
Lewis "boiled the hides." Bourke "went right down Broadway."
      Left Lane: Morgan Lucas     Runs 5.303/268.71, Now #1
     Right Lane: John Finke       Runs 5.340/271.02, Now #2
Last pair and two of the best A/Fuel cars in the country. Steve Boggs tunes Lucas, Grant Stoms tunes Finke.
THey lived up to expectations, side-by-side all the way down the track.
Morgan Lucas' incremental times: 60ft-0.959 sec., 330ft-2.432, 660ft-3.537/226.96mph, 1,000ft-4.479
John Finke's incremental times: 60ft-0.971 sec., 330ft-2.464, 660ft-3.579/225.56mph, 1,000ft-4.521.
       
Saturday

Order for Qualifying Round 1
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 39th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals:
 Psn  Driver               Vehicle                            ET   Speed
   1. Morgan Lucas         Lucas Oil Special A/FD          5.303  268.71
   2. John Finke           Bobcat Express A/FD             5.340  271.02
   3. Dave Hirata          Torco A/FD                      5.364  262.33
   4. Robin Samsel         A/FD                            5.493  250.04
   5. Richard Bourke       Bourke Bros. A/FD               5.548  249.21
   6. Bill Reichert        Rislone A/FD                    5.583  244.78
   7. Dave DeAngelis       JC Auto Glass B/AD              5.589  252.66
   8. Gene Arrigoni        A/FD                            5.641  249.39
   9. Jackie Fricke        B/AD                            5.769  247.57
  10. Ron Griffis          Innovative Chassis A/FD         6.422  175.68
  11. Diana Harker         Dunkin' Donuts A/FD             6.537  151.70
  12. Ken Perry            Pump Systems Interfacing B/AD   6.865  209.65
  13. Brandon Lewis        A-1 Auto Body A/FD             10.618  155.76
  14. Artie Allen          Allen Racing A/FD              12.195  102.25
  15. Arthur Gallant       Arthur Gallant Racing A/FD     13.609   59.35
  16. Peter Gallen         McPhillips Racing A/FD         15.274   63.28
          --------- Not Qualified ---------
  17. Tim Bowgren          VP Racing A/FD                 21.098   44.11
  18. Marty Thacker        Torco Race Fuels B/AD            DQ
Saturday

Results for Qualifying Round 2
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - GAINESVILLE - Notes from final, round 2 qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 39th annual ACDelco 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: Dan Lucas        No Time, Now #19
                                  No Prior Run
     Right Lane: Bill Evans       Runs 5.755/244.92, Now #9
                                  No Prior Run
7:04 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 78 degrees, relative humidity 71 percent, barometer 29.58 inches, adjusted altitude 2,524 feet, track temperature 94 degrees.
Last shot, Peter Gallen is on the bump spot at 15.274.
Both drivers in this first pair broke before they could make a run in the first session.
Lucas hit the throttle and the car didn't respond well, coasting to a stop between half track and 1,000 feet. Evans made a clean pass, but nothing spectacular and his time may not hold up.
     Right Lane: Tim Bowgren      Runs 7.593/247.29, Now #14
                                  Best prior run: 21.098/44.11, Was #18 
Bowgren lost traction immediately., he pedaled, then chugged his way to the other end to bump into the field - for now, anyway.
      Left Lane: Peter Gallen     Runs 5.547/246.89, Now #6
                                  Best prior run: 15.274/63.28, Was #18
     Right Lane: Arthur Gallant   Runs 5.499/261.67, Now #5
                                  Best prior run: 13.609/59.35, Was #17 
Both teams have been drag racing for a long time and both made the necessary adjustments after bad first runs. Both went right down the groove and into the top half of the field. Now Tim Bowgren is on the bump spot at 7.593.
      Left Lane: Ken Perry        Runs 5.392/265.38, Now #4
                                  Best prior run: 6.865/209.65, Was #15
     Right Lane: Artie Allen      Runs 5.499/252.38, Now #7
                                  Best prior run: 12.195/102.25, Was #18 
Two more experienced teams make the right adjustments and the field shuffles again. Now Diana Harker is on the bump spot at 6.537.
      Left Lane: Jackie Fricke    Runs 6.209/236.13, Now #15
                                  Best prior run: 5.769/247.57, Was #14
     Right Lane: Brandon Lewis    Runs 5.475/261.88, Now #5
                                  Best prior run: 10.618/155.76, Was #18 
Fricke lost a lot of time with tire shake in the first 200 feet. Lewis was clean and straight to bump Harker. Now Ron Griffis is on the bump spot at 6.422.
      Left Lane: Gene Arrigoni    Runs 6.003/240.55, Now #13
                                  Best prior run: 5.641/249.39, Was #13
     Right Lane: Diana Harker     Runs 6.093/221.05, Now #16
                                  Best prior run: 6.537/151.70, Was #17 
Both cars shook early and Harker just squeaked back into the field on the bump spot.
      Left Lane: Dave DeAngelis   Runs 5.527/255.48, Now #9
                                  Best prior run: 5.589/252.66, Was #12
     Right Lane: Ron Griffis      Runs 6.121/239.65, Now #17
                                  Best prior run: 6.422/175.68, Was #17 
Griffis' car was making intermittent header flames and he came up short.DeAngelis stepped up nicely, but not into the top half.
      Left Lane: Richard Bourke   Runs 5.571/261.52, Now #12
                                  Best prior run: 5.548/249.21, Was #11
     Right Lane: Bill Reichert    Runs 5.334/262.64, Now #2
                                  Best prior run: 5.583/244.78, Was #12 
Bumping should be finished. Now they are racing for pairings.
Bourke is consistent, but that didn't help him any. Reichert made a very nice run to slide into the second spot. Bill Reichert's incremental times: 60ft-0.937 sec., 330ft-2.396, 660ft-3.526/221.13mph, 1,000ft-4.491
      Left Lane: Robin Samsel     Runs 5.414/256.70, Now #6
                                  Best prior run: 5.493/250.04, Was #7
     Right Lane: Dave Hirata      Runs 5.687/246.89, Now #4
                                  Best prior run: 5.364/262.33, Was #4 
Hirata was the first driver into the thirties in the first session.
Hirata's car was firing erratically and he lost a few tenths from his earlier effort. Samsel easily outran Hirata to move up a spot in the order.
      Left Lane: John Finke       Runs 5.497/261.98, Now #3
                                  Best prior run: 5.340/271.02, Was #3
     Right Lane: Morgan Lucas     Runs 5.306/263.72, Now #1
                                  Best prior run: 5.303/268.71, Was #1 
Last pair. They easily took the top two spots in the first session.
Lucas almost duplicated his first run, making him a real threat tomorrow. Finke's performance fell off more than a tenth from earlier today.
The field is set, Lucas is #1 and Diana Harker is on the bump spot at 6.093.
       
Saturday

Order for Qualifying Round 2
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 39th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals:
 Psn  Driver               Vehicle                            ET   Speed
   1. Morgan Lucas         Lucas Oil Special A/FD          5.303  268.71
   2. Bill Reichert        Rislone A/FD                    5.334  262.64
   3. John Finke           Bobcat Express A/FD             5.340  271.02
   4. Dave Hirata          Torco A/FD                      5.364  262.33
   5. Ken Perry            Pump Systems Interfacing B/AD   5.392  265.38
   6. Robin Samsel         A/FD                            5.414  256.70
   7. Brandon Lewis        A-1 Auto Body A/FD              5.475  261.88
   8. Arthur Gallant       Arthur Gallant Racing A/FD      5.499  261.67
   9. Artie Allen          Allen Racing A/FD               5.499  252.38
  10. Dave DeAngelis       JC Auto Glass B/AD              5.527  255.48
  11. Peter Gallen         McPhillips Racing A/FD          5.547  246.89
  12. Richard Bourke       Bourke Bros. A/FD               5.548  261.52
  13. Gene Arrigoni        A/FD                            5.641  249.39
  14. Bill Evans           B/AD                            5.755  244.92
  15. Jackie Fricke        B/AD                            5.769  247.57
  16. Diana Harker         Dunkin' Donuts A/FD             6.093  221.05
          --------- Not Qualified ---------
  17. Ron Griffis          Innovative Chassis A/FD         6.121  239.65
  18. Tim Bowgren          VP Racing A/FD                  7.593  247.29
  19. Dan Lucas            B/AD                             NT
  20. Marty Thacker        Torco Race Fuels B/AD            DQ
Sunday

Results for Elimination Round 1
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 39th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals:
 W/L  Driver                                     R-Time    E-Time  Speed

 (W) Artie Allen (Allen Racing A/FD)             0.057      5.351 256.70
 (L) Arthur Gallant (Arthur Gallant Racing A/FD) 0.151      5.548 258.22
9:29 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 73 degrees, relative humidity 75 percent, barometer 29.77 inches, adjusted altitude 1,953 feet, track temperature 81 degrees.
These two ran identical ETs in qualifying, Gallant had lane choice by virtue of speed. Gallant has done well here, with wins in '02 and '04.
But not this year. Gallant dropped a cylinder when he had to pedal to get out of early tire shake and the race was over because Allen made his best run of the weekend for an easy win.
 (W) Ken Perry (Pump Systems Interfacing B/AD)   0.044      5.412 263.92
 (L) Richard Bourke (Bourke Bros. A/FD)          0.068      5.610 246.53
Bourke's car was dropping cylinders early and the race was never close.
 (W) Brandon Lewis (A-1 Auto Body A/FD)          0.069      5.499 259.51
 (L) Dave DeAngelis (JC Auto Glass B/AD)         0.201      5.506 255.77
DeAngelis was uncharacteristically late and Lewis cruised to victory.
 (W) Robin Samsel (A/FD)                         0.081      5.738 242.71
 (L) Peter Gallen (McPhillips Racing A/FD)       0.058     15.874  56.12
Gallen and Rich McPhillips have a long history together, but in Top Alcohol Funny Car. Gallen licensed in Top Alcohol Dragster at the first Division 2 event this year, in Bradenton.
Gallen's team missed the clutch setup, losing traction immediately and coasting through with the engine silent. Samsel was there for the taking, but you can't play catch up if the engine isn't running.
 (W) Gene Arrigoni (A/FD)                        0.319      5.619 245.45
 (L) Dave Hirata (Torco A/FD)                    0.085      6.120 230.65
There was a short delay while Gallen was towed off the track.
Arigoni's car lefta thin trail of liquid on the burnout, but it was apparently not enough to shut him off and may have been fuel. Arigoini was a huge underdog and was very late at the green, but Hirata's car dropped cylinders in bunches and Arigoni took the lead by half track, then motored away and actually improved over his qualifying run. He faces Perry next round, Perry has lane choice.
 (W) John Finke (Bobcat Express A/FD)            0.079      5.410 266.42
 (L) Bill Evans (B/AD)                           0.077      6.349 201.82
Finke has run well this year, defeating Spencer Massey in the final round in the Division 2 race here three weeks ago. This run nwas a little off-pace for him, but still enough to hold off a struggling Evans. Finke races Samsel next round and will have lane choice.
 (W) Bill Reichert (Rislone A/FD)                0.083      5.228 274.72
 (L) Jackie Fricke (B/AD)                        0.093      5.675 215.24
Reichert turned up the wick on this one, winning with low ET of the event (but it's still more than a tenth slower than his career-best). Newly-licensed Fricke is a first-round runner-up in her first-ever race in Top Alcohol Drtagster. Reichert races Lewis next round and will have lane choice.
 (W) Morgan Lucas (Lucas Oil Special A/FD)       0.062      5.322 264.23
 (L) Diana Harker (Dunkin' Donuts A/FD)          0.045      6.343 165.84
Last pair. Harker had the better light, but Lucas steadily pulled away to win handily. He races Allen next round and will have lane choice.
       
Sunday

Results for Elimination Round 2
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 39th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals:
 W/L  Driver                                     R-Time    E-Time  Speed

 (W) Brandon Lewis (A-1 Auto Body A/FD)          0.015      5.358 265.27
 (L) Bill Reichert (Rislone A/FD)                0.101      5.635 246.84
12:59 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 79 degrees, relative humidity 42 percent, barometer 29.85 inches, adjusted altitude 2,002 feet, track temperature 104 degrees.
Reichert looked like he was back to his usual form in the first round, running low ET and top speed of the meet, but he was late here and his car was - to put it nicely - a slug. Meanwhile, Lewis posted a great light and knocked a tenth off his previous best ET of the weekend.
 (W) Morgan Lucas (Lucas Oil Special A/FD)       0.064      5.277 268.01
 (L) Artie Allen (Allen Racing A/FD)             0.092      5.500 256.84
Lucas' three runs so far this weekend were 5.303, 5.306 and 5.322. Allen's career-best is a 5.351. Lucas' crew chief Steve Boggs turned the screws a little tighter this round, dipping into the twenties, and Lucas left the starting line first, so Allen was not even in the picture at the other end.
 (W) John Finke (Bobcat Express A/FD)            0.080      5.437 266.37
 (L) Robin Samsel (A/FD)                         0.093      5.579 258.67
One of Samsel's crew had to rock the car in order for him to put it in gear for the burnout, but the reverser worked just fine without external help.
Samsel left second and spun the tires a bit on the launch, allowing Finke to get a big early lead and Finke just kept pulling away the rest of the way down the track. Finke races Lewis in the semifinals, Lewis has lane choice.
 (W) Ken Perry (Pump Systems Interfacing B/AD)   0.051      5.423 238.47
 (L) Gene Arrigoni (A/FD)                        0.077      5.939 238.43
In this matchup, the blown car (Perry) is the quicker of the two and Arrigoni needed either a big holeshot or a career-best run to have a chance. It didn't happen, Perry was on his game and made an error-free run for the win. He races Lucas in the semifinals and LUcas has lane choice by a tenth-and-a-half.
       
Sunday

Results for Elimination Round 3
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 39th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals:
 W/L  Driver                                     R-Time    E-Time  Speed

 (W) John Finke (Bobcat Express A/FD)            0.092      5.416 266.42
 (L) Brandon Lewis (A-1 Auto Body A/FD)          0.076      5.435 265.06
3:09 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 81 degrees, relative humidity 32 percent, barometer 29.84 inches, adjusted altitude 2,049 feet, track temperature 116 degrees.
These two are pretty evenly matched and the race could be determined on the starting line. Lewis had lane choice, Lewis had a slight edge at the starting line, Finke was slightly quicker on the race track and ran Lewis down past the 1,000-foot marker. John Finke's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.016), 330 ft(-0.014), 660ft(-0.007), 1,000ft(-0.003). MOV: 0.0031 seconds (approximately 14 inches).
 (W) Ken Perry (Pump Systems Interfacing B/AD)   0.042      5.363 231.44
 (L) Morgan Lucas (Lucas Oil Special A/FD)       0.055      5.551 257.58
This is a classic TAD matchup, between a very good blown car and maybe the best A/Fuel car. Perry's career-best is quicker than Lucas' season-best, but this is not career-best weather for blown cars.
On the other hand, if Lucas drops a couple cylinders immediately, Perry has a chance. Okay, I wrote that part after the race was over. Perry had a good light and a flawless run. Lucas had a good light, but dropped a couple cylinders immediately and could not keep up with Perry. The underdog not only advances to the final round, Perry will have lane choice against Finke. In all fairness, lane choice hasn't been a big factor today and we have had winners in both lanes.
       
Sunday

Results for Final Round
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 39th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals:
 W/L  Driver                                     R-Time    E-Time  Speed

 (W) John Finke (Bobcat Express A/FD)            0.090      5.489 254.71
 (L) Ken Perry (Pump Systems Interfacing B/AD)   0.078      5.694 185.05
5:09 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 82 degrees, relative humidity 26 percent, barometer 29.84 inches, adjusted altitude 2,032 feet, track temperature 117 degrees.
Three blown cars were in the field this nmorning, Perry made it all the way to the finals with just his wife Barbara and son Adam as a crew. Both drivers have been to two prior national event finals, with one win for each of them.
Perry was away first and going away to 1,000 feet, but there was a flash of flame and a puff of smoke from Perry's engine at that point and Finke went by for the win. John Finke's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.040), 330 ft(-0.142), 660ft(-0.069), 1,000ft(-0.072). MOV: 0.1934 seconds (approximately 52 feet).
       