 |
 |
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Dragster is here
Less than 4/1000 separated Brian and Jay at the finish line. (Carlson photo) Round one TAFC had a bunch of interesting pairings in round one and is started with Doug Gordon and Dennis Taylor for the thousanth's time this year.
Nov. 12, 2004 TAFC Final qualifying....................The alky floppers finished qualifying Friday evening and the numbers finally were in the range everyone expected after the performance at Vegas the week before. It took until the last two pair of cars went down the track for the first 5.50 number to light up the scoreboards, and it came up twice. Marc White was the first driver to do it, when he went 5.595 and then Jay Payne to no ones surprise hit on all eight and ran 5.557/258. The "Woz" ripped off a 5.633 and Bucky Austin finally made a representative lap for his car when he went 5.656 to sit fourth. In all twelve of the cars in the field ran better than 5.70 and the bump spot, (a 5.743) is just short of the all time record of 5.73. Notables out side the field include John Weaver Vern Moats and Canadian Roger Bateman, who went 5.80 in Kevin Richardson's car.
--------- Did not Qualify ---------
Nov. 11, 2004 TAFC qualifying
Ron August is a solid #2 with a 5.66
Dennis Taylor went a 5.68 and is looking for redemption after his fold last weekend.
Vern Moats is outside after round one ---------
Not Qualified ---------
Nov. 8, 2004 Las Vegas Lucas Oil series TAFC Vegas..............saw a bunch of changes to the field in the last session. The cooler weather increases performance a bunch and the creme rose to the top. Bucky Austin found another 4/100ths in his tune-up and leaped to #1 and a first round date with one of his biggest rivals, Steve Gasparelli. GAsparelli grabbed the final spot in the field with a great 5.769. The field is only separated by half a tenth so it will probably a drivers event to win. The performance level is that close. That may not be the best scenario for Bucky, as he is not one of the best leavers in the class, but you know he will drive the wheels off the car. He can move into fifth in the national standings, but that is it. Doug Gordon has the most to gave at this race, especially since Dennis Taylor did not qualify for the field. Dennis sits in 1st in Division 7, but now can only watch as , Gordon can control his destiny in the Division. A final round finish and he will defend his title from 2003. Taylor was hoping for a good result here and then at Pomona, to overtake Manzo for third in the standings. He will now remain in fourth unless Bob Newberry was to travel West for Pomona (an unlikely scenario). The other pairings are:, Mert Littlefield vs Bret Williamson, Mark Woznichak vs Doug Gordon and Hank Coolidge Vs Tate Branch. Four very tough pairings, 1 2 Bucky Austin, 5.717 252.76 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 9 312 Danny Townsend, 5.782 249.90
TAFC Elimination's.....................The race finally got off Monday afternoon, and there was a few surprises. As expected, due to the rain out on Sunday their were pairing changes, only one, but it was big. Dennis Taylor replaced the "WOZ" and got to race Doug Gordon. This one was big because of Division 7 ramification's. These two were one, two in the standings and Gordon needed to go to the final round to pass Taylor and defend his Division 7 title. The race was actually no contest as Taylor was late and Gordon ran two hundredths quicker than his qualifying time to advance to round two. If he could win there, he would drive a stake into Taylor's title bid. Mert Littlefield ran well and defeated Bret Williamson, Tate Branch ran the first 5.60 of the race and had an easy win over Hank Coolidge and Bucky Austin faltered just enough for Steve Gasparelli to get the upset win. In the semi finals Branch stayed the quickest of elimination's, and won over a tire shaking Gasparelli and Doug Gordon did what many thought were impossible, and got to the final round and earned his second title in a row when he got by Mert Littlefield. In the final, Gordon's good fortune ran out (but I doubt he was to stressed about it), and Tate Branch moved up one spot in the National standings with the quickest run of the weekend, a solid 5.674/250. Gordon rattled the tires and clicked it early. While the TAFC race was not as big with regards to championship aspirations, there was drama and changes both divisionally and nationally. Just what the final Lucas Oil series race should be.
Saturday Nov. 6. 2004 Round two of qualifying is complete and alot of changes in TAFC and TAD. TAFC........... the #1 spot is still held by Hank Coolidge, but Bucky Austin is nipping at his heels. Austin turned in a 5.750, The bump is now at 5.829 and the previous holder of that spot, Roger Bateman is now #13. Ouch!! Micky Ferro go to the track after his struggles yesterday, but is well off with an early shut-off six flat. The bump should drop into the 5.70's based on the qualify of cars outside the top eight. After two rounds 1 63 Hank
Coolidge 5.742 248.84 ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 9 713 Jon Capps,
5.844 245.90 Nov. 5, 2004 TAFC Qualifying (courtesy DRC) A real tough field of Funny cars with a 5.89 bump after just one round. Six pretty good hitters (Austin, Branch, Townsend, Patton, Capps and Littlefield) are not in the field yet, so expect a 5.70 bump in the class. Micky Ferro was set to race in his TAFC here after his win in Gainseville last weekend, but two hours out of Vegas he had a trailer problem and was waiting help by way of another trailer. They found a flat deck and were on their way, when they were turned back and not allowed to cross the Hoover (I think that is the dam in in question) Dam. They will be at the track on Saturday. 1 63 Hank Coolidge 5.742 248.84
248.84 (great lap) ------------ Not Qualified ------------ 9 10 Tate Branch 5.915 247.70
247.70 Oct. TAFC Archives are here Sept. TAFC Archives are
here May Archives are here. April Archives are here.
For the Best TAFC drivers of all time go here. For the Top TAD drivers of all time go here For the Top Tuners and Innovators go here For the quickest runs in history by TAD and TAFC go here
|
2004 Lucas Oil Top Alcohol TV package 2004 Alky Zone archives 2003 Alky Zone Archives 2004
|
