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Ennis, TX (Sept. 25, 2006) - Top Fuel pilot Bob Vandergriff Jr. brought his UPS Top Fueler to the starting line Sunday morning for his appointed meeting with "Hot Rod" Fuller in the first round of elimination's at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex.
The Alpharetta, Ga.-based Vandergriff, who had qualified in the No. 13 position, was placed in the right lane by Fuller. As the six pairs before them, the left lane proved fatal to those who raced from the bottom half of the elimination ladder. Vandergriff launched first with almost two-hundredths in the bank, and front wheels high in the air, only to go immediately up in smoke. Eventual finalist Fuller blasted right past Vandergriff, marching to a 4.528 second defeat of the now-idling UPS dragster and the 10.153 second time recorded.
"We simply overpowered the track," shared a disappointed Vandergriff. "We were down a tenth going into the meeting with "Hot Rod." We needed to try and pick things up but we were off. We will go back to Reading and see what we can do about getting a better handle on our consistency."
Vandergriff and team are headed back to the rain-delayed Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple grove Raceway.
Vandergriff sits in the 14th position in the 2006 NHRA POWERade points chase in this his inaugural year under the UPS banner.
Vandergriff Races To First-round Loss
Ennis, TX (Sept. 25, 2006) - Top Fuel pilot Bob Vandergriff Jr. brought his UPS Top Fueler to the starting line Sunday morning for his appointed meeting with "Hot Rod" Fuller in the first round of elimination's at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex.
The Alpharetta, Ga.-based Vandergriff, who had qualified in the No. 13 position, was placed in the right lane by Fuller. As the six pairs before them, the left lane proved fatal to those who raced from the bottom half of the elimination ladder. Vandergriff launched first with almost two-hundredths in the bank, and front wheels high in the air, only to go immediately up in smoke. Eventual finalist Fuller blasted right past Vandergriff, marching to a 4.528 second defeat of the now-idling UPS dragster and the 10.153 second time recorded.
"We simply overpowered the track," shared a disappointed Vandergriff. "We were down a tenth going into the meeting with "Hot Rod." We needed to try and pick things up but we were off. We will go back to Reading and see what we can do about getting a better handle on our consistency."
Vandergriff and team are headed back to the rain-delayed Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple grove Raceway.
Vandergriff sits in the 14th position in the 2006 NHRA POWERade points chase in this his inaugural year under the UPS banner.
