Results: Round 1 Eliminations for Top Fuel (1 Viewer)

Top Fuel
Results for Elimination Round 1
POMONA, Calif. - FastNews Network - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Fuel at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 53rd annual O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries:

W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed

(W) Shawn Langdon (Al-Anabi Racing Dragster) 0.043 3.803 294.37
(L) Clay Millican (Parts Plus Dragster) 0.048 3.811 321.42​

Weather conditions: air temperature 66 degrees, relative humidity 37 percent, barometer 28.85 inches, adjusted altitude 2,127 feet, track temperature 94 degrees.
Langdon is 4 - 3 against Millican in prior events. Langdon with a slight starting line advantage and then never trailed for the win. Langdon was dropping some cylinders on the top end but held on for the win by 0.0136 seconds (approximately 6 feet). Millican with his second quickest pass of the weekend in the losing effort.

(W) Antron Brown (Matco Tools Dragster) 0.055 3.855 293.60
(L) Larry Dixon (Rapisarda Racing Dragster) 0.060 3.881 310.34​

Larry Dixon has won this race four times..This is Larry's 17th start at the Winternationals and only the third time he has started from the bottom half of the field. The last time he was in the bottom half was 1997.
Dixon is 16 - 4 against Brown in prior events. Brown with a slight starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Brown started mixing up cylinders on the top end and then the engine let go right at the finish line, but he held on for the win. Antron Brown's MOV: 0.0315 seconds (approximately 14 feet). Dixon with a nice pass, until on the top end when it dropped some cylinders.

(W) Brandon Bernstein (ProtectTheHarvest/MAVTV 0.035 3.785 324.44
(L) Brittany Force (Castrol Edge Dragster) 0.096 3.822 323.43​

Force is the first of three rookie drivers to have qualified for the Top Fuel field, with Pruett and Frigo the other two. Bernstein is out of the gate first and Bernstein runs the quickest pass of the day, so far. Brandon Bernstein's incremental times: 60ft-0.843 sec., 330ft-2.144, 660ft-3.040/283.55 mph. Force with her quickest pass of the weekend and her first pass over 300 mph in a losing effort. Bernstein will have lane choice over Langdon in the next round.

(W) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.069 3.756 326.40
(L) Sidnei Frigo (Artivinco Racing Dragster) 0.093 3.849 317.57​

This is Tony Schumacher's 72nd #1 spot and his third at the Winternationals. He has only won once in his last sixteen times as the top qualifier.
The last number one qualifier in TF to win this race was Mike Dunn in 1999.
Sidnei Frigo is the first driver from South America to qualify for a pro field at an NHRA race. He is he 84th different driver that has faced Tony Schumacher.
Schumacher with the starting line advantage and then runs low E.T. of the round and just off his No.1 qualifying pace for the win. Tony Schumacher's incremental times: 60ft-0.837 sec., 330ft-2.131, 660ft-3.017/287.90 mph. Frigo with his quickest and fastest pass of the weekend in a losing effort.

(W) Doug Kalitta (Mac Tools Dragster) 0.041 3.799 326.71
(L) Leah Pruett (Dote Racing Dragster) 0.046 3.850 309.56​

Doug Kalitta won here in 2009..Leah Pruett is the 78th driver to face Doug Kalitta in eliminations and the sixth different woman. Kalitta with a slight starting line advantage and never trailed for the win as he runs the third quickest pass of the round. Doug Kalitta's incremental times: 60ft-0.857 sec., 330ft-2.161, 660ft-3.055/283.79 mph. Pruett with a nice pass, just a few ticks off her qualifying pace.

(W) David Grubnic (Optima Batteries Dragster) 0.069 3.741 325.69
(L) Morgan Lucas (GEICO/Lucas Oil Dragster) 0.057 3.764 328.14​

Morgan Lucas won this race in 2011. Lucas is 11 - 10 against Grubnic in prior events. Lucas with the slight starting line advantage, but Grubnic has the difference made up by the time they go by the Christmas tree. Grubnic with the quickest pass of the event for the win by 0.0113 seconds (approximately 5 feet). David Grubnic's incremental times: 60ft-0.837 sec., 330ft-2.126, 660ft-3.001/288.33 mph. Lucas with his quickest pass of the weekend and third quickest of the round in the losing effort. Morgan Lucas' incremental times: 60ft-0.851 sec., 330ft-2.146, 660ft-3.026/287.66 mph. Grubnic will have lane choice over Brown in the next round.

(W) Khalid alBalooshi (Al-Anabi Racing Dragster 0.079 3.769 326.40
(L) Bob Vandergriff (C&J Energy Services Dragst 0.049 3.810 324.36​

alBalooshi is 2 - 1 against Vandergriff in prior events. Vandergriff with the starting line advantage and the lead until right around half track when alBalooshi drove around him for the win. Khalid alBalooshi's MOV: 0.0119 seconds (approximately 6 feet). alBalooshi with his quickest and fastest pass of the weekend for the win. Khalid alBalooshi's incremental times: 60ft-0.851 sec., 330ft-2.147, 660ft-3.029/287.23 mph. Vandergriff with his quickest pass of the weekend in the losing effort. Bob Vandergriff's incremental times: 60ft-0.858 sec., 330ft-2.169, 660ft-3.062/283.37 mph. alBalooshi will have lane choice over Kalitta in the next round.

(W) Steve Torrence (Capco Contractors Dragster) 0.034 3.787 322.81
(L) Spencer Massey (Schumacher Electric Dragste 0.060 3.763 326.63​

Spencer Massey is the defending champ. Massey is 5 - 2 against Torrence in prior events. Torrence with the starting line advantage and the power to hold on for the hole shot win. Steve Torrence's MOV: 0.0021 seconds (approximately 12 inches). torrence with his quickest and fastest pass of the weekend for the win. Steve Torrence's incremental times: 60ft-0.845 sec., 330ft-2.143, 660ft-3.036/283.79 mph. Massey with his quickest and fastest pass in a losing effort. Spencer Massey's incremental times: 60ft-0.839 sec., 330ft-2.130, 660ft-3.022/285.53 mph. torrence will give up lane choice to Schumacher in the next round.

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