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May 24, 2005

Bakersfield Lucas Oil TAD results

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER:
Round One
5) Kevin Brown, Clearfield, Utah, 5.599, 233.34 def.
4) Johnny Ahten, Saugus, Calif., 5.648, 242.58;

3) Robert Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, 5.618, 255.02 def.
6) Larry Miersch, Huntington Beach, Calif., 5.769, 223.43;
7) Frank Dischbein, Las Vegas, Nev., 5.872, 245.43 def.
2) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 14.709, 49.05;
1) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.522, 259.36 def.
8) Ben Harper, Arroyo Grande, Calif., 6.296, 243.04;

Semifinals
Perkins, 5.631, 246.91 def. Dischbein, 5.879, 237.96;
Demke, 5.544, 257.36 def. Brown, 6.079, 218.49;

Finals
Demke, 5.601, 255.89 def. Perkins, 5.844, 195.82.

 

Shreveport Lucas Oil results TAD

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER: ROUND 1

5) Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, 5.682, 256.16 def. 4) Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 9.227, 83.89

3) Gene Snow, Fort Worth, Texas, 5.661, 221.71 def. 6) Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 5.752, 234.98

2) Brandon Pierce, Glendora, Calif., 5.643, 256.16 def. 7) Ashley Force, Azusa, Calif., 6.120, 250.00

1) James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 5.549, 258.02 def. 8) Karl Brounkowski,Magnolia, Texas, 8.546, 108.06

SEMIFINALS

Snow, 5.934, 213.37 def. Pierce, broke;

Torrence, 5.690, 246.93 def. Thompson, 5.940, 240.08;

FINAL

Snow, 5.705, 239.78 def. Torrence, 5.718, 244.12

May 16, 2005

 

Atlanta Southern Nationals TAD results

Final Qualifying

1. Marty Thacker Torco Race Fuels B/AD 5.435 264.03
2. Jeff Bohr Bar's Leaks B/AD 5.435 260.31
3. Mike Kosky American Flyer B/AD 5.438 259.36
4. Guy Kelly Kelly Trucking B/AD 5.452 261.57
5. Mark Albert Advance Auto Parts B/AD 5.547 252.85
6. Karen Benkovich Tom Jones/NIC Racing B/AD 5.564 255.39
7. Jared Dreher VP Racing Fuels B/AD 5.604 252.99
8. Artie Allen Allen Racing B/AD 5.696 211.10
9. Arthur Gallant Arthur Gallant Racing A/FD 5.703 247.57
10. Ashley Force Castrol/Hot Wheels A/FD 5.705 254.14
11. Richard Bourke Bourke Bros. A/FD 5.756 247.43
12. Rich McPhillips Audubon Service Center A/FD 5.894 247.47
13. Darryl Hitchman Valvoline A/FD 5.958 241.45
14. Robin Samsel A/FD 6.279 229.00
15. Tim Bowgren Five Star Hyd./Lucas Oil B/AD 6.388 217.81
16. Dan Lucas Lucas Racing B/AD 6.536 171.23
--------- Not Qualified ---------
17. Dick Garlets A/FD 7.085 228.58
18. Jeremy Haskett B/AD 18.099 40.19

Elimination's

Round 1:

Artie Allen, Jacksonville FL, Hadman-BAE, Right lane, (0.113) 6.279 210.08 def. Arthur Gallant, Boxboro MA, Dan Page-BAE, (0.110) NT-Broke After Staging

Karen Benkovich, Fanwood NJ, ProStart-KB, Left lane, (0.114) 5.565 251.44 def. Richard Bourke, Old Tapper NJ, Heads Up-KB, (0.088) 5.614 253.42

Mike Kosky, Cuddy PA, Kosky-BAE, Right lane, (0.082) 5.539 251.30 def. Robin Samsel, Marion IN, Uyehara-BAE, (0.074) 7.458 137.86

Jeff Bohr, Plymouth MI, Spitzer-GBR, Right lane, (0.196) 5.594 256.36 def. Tim Bowgren, Valparaiso IN, Nielsen-KB, (0.102) 5.847 235.06

Dick Garlets, Lowell IN, Spitzer-BAE, Left lane, (0.173) 5.797 239.44 def. Marty Thacker, Robinson IL, Hadman-BAE, (0.075) 5.968 237.42

Guy Kelly, Wadley AL, Hadman-BAE, Right lane, (0.079) 5.414 260.31 def. Darryl Hitchman, Hanford CA, Swindahl-BAE, (0.023) 5.616 250.78

Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville PA, Precision-BAE, Left lane, (0.026) 5.632 254.71 def. Mark Albert, Baldwin PA, Albert-KB, (0.081) 5.577 252.14

Ashley Force, Yorba Linda CA, McKinney-BAE, Left lane, (0.052) 5.541 258.91 def. Jared Dreher, Clinton IN, Burgan-BAE, (0.016) 7.226 126.57

Round 2:

D Garlets, Left lane, (0.111) 5.699 239.87 def. A Allen, (0.301) DQ-Centerline

K Benkovich, Left lane, (0.039) 5.597 247.29 def. M Kosky, (-0.001 foul) 5.638 255.10

R McPhillips, Left lane, (0.023) 5.740 247.11 def. G Kelly, (0.328) 5.475 257.48

A Force, Left lane, (0.050) 5.479 254.42 def. J Bohr, (0.222) 6.999 134.47

Semis

R McPhillips, Right lane, (0.053) 5.708 250.64 def. D Garlets, (0.124) 5.951 228.89

K Benkovich, Right lane, (0.142) 5.692 239.02 def. A Force, (0.005) 5.846 255.10

Final round

R McPhillips, Right lane, (0.084) 5.808 186.23 def. K Benkovich, NT-Broke, could not get the car into reverse.

Low ET: Guy Kelly 5.414 seconds
Top Speed: Marty Thacker 264.03 MPH

Div. 5 Great Bend TAD Lucas Oil series results

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Final qualifying
1 3 A/FD Randy Meyer, Spring Hill KS, Meyer-BAE 5.465 253.47 253.47
2 5 B/AD David Wells, Lemars IA, Santos-PVR 5.522 257.87 257.87
3 53 B/AD Richard Putz, Earlville IA, Hadman-BAE 5.551 257.04 257.04
4 42 A/FD Gene Snow, Fort Worth TX, Gaddy-TFX 5.560 240.55 240.55
5 55 B/AD Edwin Schmeeckle, Gothenburg NE, Hadman- 5.662 246.44 246.44
6 585 B/AD Jeff Hamelink, Shakopee MN, Hadman-BAE 5.737 247.11 247.11
7 54 B/AD Larry Traugott, Woodward OK, Esparza-TFX 5.879 197.45 197.45
8 566 A/FD Troy Kaiser, Littleton CO, McKinney-BAE 6.085 236.22 236.22

------------ Not Qualified ------------

9 3790 B/AD Bruce Westfall, Pataskala OH, Spitzer-BAE 6.194 233.32 233.32

Round 1
4) Gene Snow, Fort Worth, Texas, 5.551, 247.57 def.
5) Edwin Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 5.651, 246.21
3) Richard Putz, Earlville, Iowa, 5.570, 255.39 def.
6) Jeff Hamelink, Shakopee, Minn., 5.922, 242.63
2) David Wells, Lemars, Iowa, 5.556, 255.68 def.
7) Larry Traugott, Woodward, Okla., foul
1) Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 5.375, 257.14 def.
8) Troy Kaiser, Littleton, Colo., 6.184, 234.94
Semifinals
Wells, 5.590, 254.38 def. Putz, 5.617, 251.49
Meyer, 5.391, 259.11 def. Snow, 6.346, 151.71
Final
Meyer, 5.502, 248.48 def. Wells, 5.550, 254.04

 

May 2, 2005

Div 4 Lucas Oil TAD results Houston Raceway Park.

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 5.298 seconds, 260.41 mph
2) Aaron Olivarez, Sandy, Utah, 5.301, 266.42
3) Gene Snow, Ft. Worth, Texas, 5.350, 258.76
4) Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 5.427, 259.71
5) Ashley Force, Anaheim Hills, Calif., 5.433, 259.76
6) Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.494, 255.92
7) James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 5.506, 267.75
8) Carl Magee, Victoria, Texas, 5.555, 248.98

Not Qualified
9) Karl Brounkowski, Magnolia, Texas, 5.764, 251.63
10) Chris Holley, Freeport, Texas, 5.975, 227.46
11) Allan Middendorf, Millstadt, Ill., 6.013, 233.12
12) Brandon Pierce, Glendora, Calif., 6.265, 232.59
13) Vitali Kazakevich, Houston, 7.087, 197.36

Elimination's Round one
5) Ashley Force, Anaheim Hills, Calif., 5.402, 266.16 def.
4) Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 5.730, 229.98

1) Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 5.434, 250.46 def.
9) Karl Brounkowski, Magnolia, Texas, 5.598, 250.32

2) Aaron Olivarez, Sandy, Utah, 5.386, 263.46 def.
7) James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 6.006, 216.17

6) Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.567, 256.41 def.
3) Gene Snow, Ft. Worth, Texas, 5.565, 227.92

Semifinals
Meyer, 5.353, 263.56 def. Force, 5.438, 262.33
Olivarez, 5.394, 261.72 def. Callaway, foul

Final
Meyer, 5.332, 264.34 def. Olivarez, 5.409, 261.07

 

Las Vegas TAD coverage is here

April 15, 2005 O'Reilly Spring Nationals

Houston Raceway TAD qualifying and elimination's

You just knew that Steve Bogg's and Dana Hopewell would get the Duane Shields A/Fuel Dragster sorted out. After struggling at their first three events, and even here in qualifying, they found the right screws to turn in time for first round of elimination's and the 'Short Line Express' car was a virtual bracket car, stuck the the 5.30's for four rounds on the ladder. Gene Snow and Art Gallant lead qualifying and have had their cars humping for most of the season, but they may be on the ragged edge, much like Bill Reichert, who ran a teen and a couple 20's before red lighting at Gainesville. Duane has been mired in the 5.50's for most of the year and the A/Fuel cars including Shields looked about as bad as you can look a week earlier in Tucson. Getting to a track with conditions sea level like are like a tonic for the injected contingent, and it showed in the entry list. 14 A/Fuel cars circled the wagons so to speak, as only two blown cars were on the property. Don't tell that to the blown guys, as they both were in the upper echelon. After qualifying, only one of them would remain (but at least one would), as they wound up #8 and 9 on the ladder, and would face off against each other in round one.

In the first round, Duane Shields found over a tenth from his 2005 best, but it was still a relatively close race against Richard Bourke. Richard left first, but Duane's 5.38 was too much for his 5.45, Ashley Force fell off by a tenth, but Carl Magee needed two tenths from his best in qualifying and could only find a tenth. Karl Brounskowski got a holeshot win over James Thompson and Art Gallant ran another solid 5.30 in his defeat of Darryl Hitchman. On the other side of the ladder, Randy Meyer fell off almost two tenths but still had enough for Canadian Scott Murray, and Gene Snow ripped off low et of the round, a 5.31 compared cylinder dropping 7.34 by Vitali Kazakevich. In the final two match-ups, rookie Aaron Oliverez defeated a tire smoking Brandon Pierce and in the all blown pairing, Jeff Wilson had a psychic .009 light and ran a 5.49 to Lee Callaway's game 5.52.

(W) Duane Shields (Shortline Express A/FD) 0.086 5.381 266.58
(L) Richard Bourke (Bourke Bros. A/FD) 0.071 5.458 255.87
(W) Randy Meyer (Meyer Racing A/FD) 0.084 5.547 236.42
(L) Scott Murray (A/FD) 0.128 5.662 244.74
(W) Gene Snow (Snowman Racing A/FD) 0.111 5.315 261.67
(L) Vitali Kazakevich (A/FD) 0.070 7.341 168.72
(W) Arthur Gallant (Arthur Gallant Racing A/FD) 0.121 5.369 265.48
(L) Darryl Hitchman (Valvoline A/FD) 0.076 5.680 242.32
(W) Aaron Olivarez (Armored Coatings A/FD) 0.046 5.413 No Speed
(L) Brandon Pierce (A/FD) 0.101 9.936 89.23
(W) Karl Brounkowski (Lethal Injection A/FD) 0.038 5.512 253.42
(L) James Thompson (Pepper Express A/FD) 0.086 5.496 265.22
(W) Ashley Force (Castrol/Hot Wheels A/FD) 0.074 5.470 263.92
(L) Carl Magee (A/FD) 0.162 5.562 245.45
(W) Jeff Wilson (Torco Fuels BAD) 0.009 5.491 257.43
(L) Lee Callaway (BAD) 0.081 5.524 257.19

Round two would not get any easier for Wilson, as he got #1 qualifier Gene Snow, but as his luck would go, Gene picked the wrong time (right for Wilson) to rattle the tires, giving Wilson an easy 5.50 victory. His opponent for the semis would be Randy Meyer who found some of his performance back with a great .018 light and holeshot win over Aaron Oliverez (5.42 - 5.41). Shields' bracket raced his A/Fueler to a 5.38 and a tenth of a second win over Art Gallant. Ashley Force would be Shields' opponent with her tenth and a half (5.45 - 5.60) victory over Karl Brounkowski).

(W) Jeff Wilson (Torco/Starcon B/AD) 0.070 5.501 260.06 (L) Gene Snow (Snowman Racing A/FD) 0.061 10.610 72.75

(W) Randy Meyer (Meyer Racing A/FD) 0.018 5.423 245.36 (L) Aaron Olivarez (Armored Coatings A/FD) 0.052 5.412 255.05

(W) Duane Shields (Shortline Express A/FD) 0.090 5.385 266.74 (L) Arthur Gallant (Arthur Gallant Racing A/FD) 0.109 5.477 261.32

(W) Ashley Force (Castrol/Hot Wheels A/FD) 0.041 5.457 264.75 (L) Karl Brounkowski (Lethal Injection A/FD) 0.062 5.607 251.81

Meyer had lane choice over Wilson, but could not put his car into the final, as Wilson again had a great light and his best number of the weekend, a 5.451 to Meyer's quicker, but .024 later leaving 5.441. Shields' ran his best lap of the season (5.364), and won an easy one over a slowing (5.60) by Force.

W) Jeff Wilson (Torco/Starcon B/AD) 0.014 5.451 254.62 (L) Randy Meyer (Meyer Racing A/FD) 0.038 5.441 242.58

(W) Duane Shields (Shortline Express A/FD) 0.107 5.364 262.85 (L) Ashley Force (Castrol/Hot Wheels A/FD) 0.106 5.609 261.98

Blown vs injected is just what the parity doctors ordered, but the 1/10th Shields had all day was going to be tough to over come even with the great light's Wilson had been turning in. Wilson was game again and had .05 at the tree, but needed a 5.42 or better to win and he could only run a 5.500. Duane made his fourth lap within 2/100ths of a second on each other, this time a 05.372, to get car length win at the finish line. With the performance by this team this weekend, it could spell big time trouble for alot of competitors on not only the west coast, but all over the country, as I expect he will travel the continent, to race at tracks that have the potential for good air conditions.

(W) Duane Shields (Shortline Express A/FD) 0.083 5.372 265.64 (L) Jeff Wilson (Torco/Starcon B/AD) 0.032 5.500 252.99

Winner........Duane Shields

Final qualifying............................A 10:30 session of qualifying Saturday saw a couple teams make big moves from their Friday best. Gene Snow, will probably look back on the past three or four years and wonder why he did not run 98% earlier as he certainly has the new percentage figured out. His 5.27 in the morning today is the class' fourth best number, and third best team so far in 2005. He also has shown quite a bit of consistency this season, running a couple 5.33's a 5.31 and this latest 5.27 in five of his last six runs. Only a slooow 5.40 in the second session yesterday was way off pace. (ya I''m joking)

Seven drivers picked up a half tenth or more including Ashley Force (5.37) Randy Meyer (5.38) James Thompson (5.41) Richard Bourke (5.43) Jeff Wilson (5.47) and Lee Callaway (5.47). The last two car posted are the lone blown cars in the field and will race each other in round one as the #'s 8 and 9 qualifiers. A 16th car made a lap making it a full field for Saturday's first round.

1 42 A/FD Gene Snow, Fort Worth TX, Bowen-TFX 5.278 267.75 267.75 2 6 A/FD Arthur Gallant, Boxboro MA, Dan Page-BAE 5.320 264.08 264.08 3 4 A/FD Ashley Force, Yorba Linda CA, McKinney-B 5.377 267.48 267.48 4 717M A/FD Aaron Olivarez, Sandy UT, Sarmento-BAE 5.384 0.00 260.97 5 3 A/FD Randy Meyer, Spring Hill KS, Meyer-BAE 5.386 250.60 250.60 6 416 A/FD James Thompson, Vernon TX, Monden-BAE 5.417 271.41 271.41 7 1482 A/FD Richard Bourke, Old Tapper NJ, Heads Up- 5.439 259.31 259.31 8 32 B/AD Jeff Wilson, Winfield MO, Spitzer-BAE 5.471 251.25 253.85 9 45 B/AD Lee Callaway, Channelview TX, Dragster-B 5.475 257.97 257.97 10 74 A/FD Duane Shields, Boulder City NV, McKinney 5.512 265.12 265.12 11 417 A/FD Karl Brounkowski, Magnolia TX, Dragster- 5.527 255.19 256.11 12 59 A/FD Scott Murray, Winnipeg MB, Dragster-KB 5.573 254.04 254.04 13 4111 A/FD Brandon Pierce, Oklahoma City OK, Uyehar 5.612 253.42 253.42 14 405 A/FD Carl Magee, Victoria TX, McKinney-BAE 5.645 245.18 245.18 15 7000 A/FD Darryl Hitchman, Hanford CA, Swindahl-BAE 5.855 245.40 245.40 16 436 A/FD Vitali Kazakevich, Houston TX, Dragster- 10.196 85.91 85.91

 

April 8, 2005

Houston O'Reilly Nationals

The difference this in parity season may well end up be wash by the end of the year, but the disparity in good vs bad conditions is possibly the most diverse it has been in the last 1/2 decade or more. In good air the difference in performance is at least .15 in favor of the A/Fuel cars. At the higher tracks and bad air the BAD's have a .2 advantage. Will it even out by the end of the yea?. We have to wait and see. So far this weekend, a couple veterans are leading, as Gene Snow and Art Gallant are over a half tenth ahead of the field. A surprisingly short field at a race that used to be a showcase for the Top Alcohol classes. Back 1/2 a decade ago, as many as 28-30 cars would compete. Obviously the loss of one of the class leaders dampened the spirits, but you can rest assure that Shelly would not want anyone to stay away from the sport she died competing in. The leading blown car is Jeff Wilson but he has yet to make a run that he and the team are capable of Much like the divisional here (which was won by Shelly), the BAD's badly outnumbered. One more session tomorrow and then first round late in the afternoon.

Friday TAD qualifying

1. Gene Snow Snowman Racing A/FD 5.316 259.76 2. Arthur Gallant Arthur Gallant Racing A/FD 5.320 264.08 3. Aaron Olivarez Armored Coatings A/FD 5.384 260.97 4. James Thompson Pepper Express A/FD 5.445 270.97 5. Ashley Force Castrol/Hot Wheels A/FD 5.450 263.20 6. Richard Bourke Bourke Bros. A/FD 5.479 257.14 7. Duane Shields Shortline Express A/FD 5.539 252.28 8. Jeff Wilson Torco/Starcon B/AD 5.560 253.85 9. Karl Brounkowski Lethal Injection A/FD 5.568 256.11 10. Lee Callaway B/AD 5.572 256.99 11. Scott Murray A/FD 5.601 247.47 12. Brandon Pierce A/FD 5.612 253.42 13. Carl Magee A/FD 5.765 239.61 14. Darryl Hitchman Valvoline A/FD 5.855 245.40 15. Randy Meyer Meyer Racing A/FD 6.007 240.42

 

 

April 6, 2005 Tuscon Divisional event

Sorry for no recap or story from Tuscon but due to the weekend tragedy, I left the results to DRC and NHRA

5) Ed Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 5.724, 249.49 def.
4) Mike Austin, Medford, Ore., foul

3) Robert Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, 5.641, 254.95 def.
6) Duane Shields, Las Vegas, 5.933, 224.55

2) Steve Federlin, Oregon City, Ore., 5.572, 254.95 def.
7) Cliff Whitley, Chandler, Ariz., 5.793, 241.20

1) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.489, 257.73 def.
8) Mark Niver, Phoenix, 6.303, 201.94

Semifinals
Federlin, 5.525, 256.26 def. Perkins, 6.457, 160.46
Demke, 5.541, 258.27 def. Schmeeckle, 5.649, 251.11

Final
Demke, 5.495, 257.24 def. Federlin, 5.591, 257.38

Final qualifying

1 7 B/AD Chris Demke, Sunland CA, Uyehara-BAE 5.529 254.33
2 10 B/AD Steve Federlin, Oregon City OR, Robeck-B 5.544 255.34
3 751 B/AD Robert Perkins, Bluffdale UT, Hadman-BAE 5.589 253.47
4 672 B/AD Mike Austin, Medford OR, Uyehara-Fontana 5.680 251.16
5 55 B/AD Ed Schmeeckle, Gothenburg NE, Hadman-Fon 5.684 250.23
6 74 A/FD Duane Shields, Las Vegas NV, McKinney-BAE 5.761 239.06
7 7601 TA/D Cliff Whitley, Chandler AZ, Victory-BAE 5.850 245.85 2
8 777 A/FD Mark Niver, Phoenix AZ, Frameworks-Rodeck 5.911 211.96

------------ Not Qualified ------------

9 470 A/FD Ben Harper, Arroyo Grande CA, Dragster-B 5.927 232.59
10 734 A/FD Johnny Ahten, Sagus CA, Uyhara-KB 5.929 225.60

 

March 20, 2005 (Gainesville Gallery is here)

TAD elimination's

 

With the top five cars in A/Fuel well out in front of the BAD's in qualifying, attributed mostly by the cool weather at Gainesville (according to the A/Fuel contingent anyway), first round of elim's running at 10:00 AM Sunday would likely see even more performance disparity in the class. One has to wonder what all the fuss was about when the rules were announced and almost all A/Fuel drivers and tuners said that there was no way these cars can run at anything less than a full can. 5.181 by Bill Reichert and a 5.20 by Mike Gunderson (both career bests seem to refute that statement) with no chance for one arguing the point. Gallant has run a career best this year as well. Teams that have just started their A/Fuel careers are already ahead of the best BAD numbers of the year (Daniel Mercier and Aaron Olivarez).

In round one Bill Reichert threw one away when he went red on a killer 5.21 pass. Jeff Veale takes the win light with a 5.52. Mike Gunderson the other driver to post a career best, ripped off a 5.28 to defeat Artie Allen the Div 2 TAD winner at Bradenton. Aaron Olivarez ran his best lap of the season, a 5.34 to defeat a quicker but later leaving Daniel Mercier (5.31). Hitchman upset a tire smoking Art Gallant and Ashley Force stayed on the winning track with a easy one over Dave Hirata. Beside Veale, Guy Kelly defeated Mark Albert and Ken Perry took a car length win over Rich McPhillips, making three blown cars taking on the five A/Fuelers for round two. The hope was for the BAD to maybe race each other giving one the opportunity to make the semi finals, but they were not laddered that way. Air condition's were similar to round one with 1000 ft of corrected air, but a track temperature 30 degrees warmer (over 100 for round two). Randy Meyer slowed by over a tenth from round one to a 5.44 but have over a tenth at the stripe over Darryl Hitchman. Mike Gunderson, ran within 1/100th of his first round time, a solid 5.29 over a game but overmatched Guiy Kelly's 5.387. Ashley Force also ran close to her first round number (5.37) and ended up a 1/3 of a car length ahead of another strong blown car, Ken Perry (5.39). Jeff Veale had a great jump (.008) on the starting line, but got loose at off the starting line and Olivarez ran 5.43 for the easy win. The rookie faced veteran Meyer in the semi finals, and Ashley took on another veteran Michael Gunderson in the other semi final.

Semi final winners came from the 'Brat Pack' as a rookie and a sophomore took out the wily veterans. Aaron Olivarez in the newly painted Armored Coatings/Lucas Oil ride had a couple in the bank over Meyer, but it was not needed as Olivarez goes 5.52 to 5.55 or Meyer taking a 3/4 car length win. Ashley Force in the Castrol/Mattel white rocket also took a couple off the starting line, and she took did not need it, as her 5.40 got her to the stripe 3/34's of a car length ahead of Gunderson's very game 5.42.

In the final the two cars that had tested the most in pre season and have as many laps already on their cars as many team have for an entire season faced off. Most would pick Miss Force in the matchup simply because she has more experience in final rounds (in the 10 - 0 range), has more round wins, (in the 50 - 3 range). But someone did not tell that to the upstart rookie, as Aaron took 8 thou off the starting line and held on for a 1 thou victory at the stripe, 5.408 - 5.401. a great ending to a very exciting weekend for the TAD class. I am surre many will leave wondering when the next percentage change will happen, if it will.

As I have said all along, if they are going to penalize the A/Fuelers in the good air, they better do the same to the BAD's in high elevation's and bad air.

Photos to come on Monday.

Final elimination's round by round

Round one

(W) Jeff Veale (Jeff Veale Racing B/AD) 0.038 5.528 258.47
(L) Bill Reichert (Bar's Leaks A/FD) -0.107(R) 5.214 271.57

(W) Ken Perry (Pump System Interfacing B/AD) 0.060 5.524 258.47
(L) Rich McPhillips (Audubon Service Center A/FD0.046 5.613 254.88

(W) Guy Kelly (Kelly Trucking B/AD) 0.064 5.396 263.15
(L) Mark Albert (Advance Auto Parts B/AD) -0.003(R) 5.508 248.13

(W) Aaron Olivarez (Armored Coatings A/FD) 0.039 5.347 262.77
(L) Dan Mercier (ADF Diesel A/FD) 0.080 5.318 269.94

(W) Randy Meyer (Meyer Racing A/FD) 0.062 5.297 261.09
(L) Gene Snow (Snowman Racing A/FD) 0.173 5.368 240.96

(W) Darryl Hitchman (Valvoline A/FD) 0.043 5.459 264.16
(L) Arthur Gallant (Arthur Gallant Racing A/FD) 0.199 11.489 65.86

(W) Michael Gunderson (Under the Gun A/FD) 0.069 5.283 271.49
(L) Artie Allen (Allen Racing B/AD) 0.106 5.675 210.82

(W) Ashley Force (Castrol/Hot Wheels A/FD) 0.084 5.375 268.17
(L) Dave Hirata (VP/RaceGirl/Champion/FRAM A/FD)0.088 5.740 257.28

 

Round two

(W) Aaron Olivarez (Armored Coatings A/FD) 0.085 5.436 260.41 (L) Jeff Veale (Jeff Veale Racing B/AD) 0.008 12.960 84.22

(W) Randy Meyer (Meyer Racing A/FD) 0.085 5.448 251.46 (L) Darryl Hitchman (Valvoline A/FD) 0.042 5.593 247.11

(W) Michael Gunderson (Under the Gun A/FD) 0.057 5.295 272.80 (L) Guy Kelly (Kelly Trucking B/AD) 0.075 5.387 262.31

(W) Ashley Force (Castrol/Hot Wheels A/FD) 0.067 5.378 258.91 (L) Ken Perry (Pump System Interfacing B/AD) 0.067 5.399 261.32

Semi finals

Aaron Olivarez .059 5.528/249.85 def Randy Meyer .083 5.551/255.17

Ashley Force .059 5.406 261.70def. Michael Gunderson .075 5.421 264.78

Final Round

Aaron Olivarez, Right lane, .032 5.408 260.41 def. Ashley Force, .040 5.401 267.37

 

 

 

 

March 19, 2005

TAD Final qualifying

1. Bill Reichert Bar's Leaks A/FD 5.181 276.07 2. Michael Gunderson Under the Gun A/FD 5.208 276.49 3. Ashley Force Castrol/Hot Wheels A/FD 5.295 270.67 4. Arthur Gallant Arthur Gallant Racing A/FD 5.304 270.92 5. Gene Snow Snowman Racing A/FD 5.330 266.82 6. Ken Perry Pump System Interfacing B/AD 5.350 263.85 7. Guy Kelly Kelly Trucking B/AD 5.370 264.47 8. Aaron Olivarez Armored Coatings A/FD 5.372 262.92 9. Dan Mercier ADF Diesel A/FD 5.405 266.19 10. Mark Albert Advance Auto Parts B/AD 5.408 259.29 11. Rich McPhillips Audubon Service Center A/FD 5.424 262.16 12. Randy Meyer Meyer Racing A/FD 5.458 257.28 13. Darryl Hitchman Valvoline A/FD 5.469 262.31 14. Dave Hirata VP/RaceGirl/Champion/FRAM A/FD 5.475 253.37 15. Artie Allen Allen Racing B/AD 5.496 258.54 16. Jeff Veale Jeff Veale Racing B/AD 5.575 232.97 Not qualified 17. Jeff Wilson Torco/Starcon B/AD 5.650 252.10 18. Wayne Morris Cox Auto B/AD 5.673 255.46 19. Tim Bowgren Five Star Hyd./Lucas Oil B/AD 5.763 239.04 20. Karen Benkovich Tom Jones/NIC Racing B/AD 6.142 172.87 21. Robin Samsel A/FD 6.145 240.64 22. Ron Griffis Innovative Chassis A/FD 6.535 227.27 23. John Finke Bobcat Express B/AD 6.775 144.99 24. Jason Cannon Cap's Coach & Trailer A/FD 9.760 84.42 25. Bob Leverich Leverich Tile A/FD 10.958 84.61

Friday qualifying TAD

1. Bill Reichert Bar's Leaks A/FD 5.181 276.07
2. Michael Gunderson Under the Gun A/FD 5.208 276.49
3. Arthur Gallant Arthur Gallant Racing A/FD 5.304 270.92
4. Gene Snow Snowman Racing A/FD 5.338 266.82
5. Ken Perry Pump System Interfacing B/AD 5.350 263.85
6. Guy Kelly Kelly Trucking B/AD 5.370 264.47
7. Ashley Force Castrol/Hot Wheels A/FD 5.396 267.37
8. Mark Albert Advance Auto Parts B/AD 5.408 259.29
9. Aaron Olivarez Armored Coatings A/FD 5.440 262.92
10. Randy Meyer Meyer Racing A/FD 5.458 257.06
11. Daniel Mercier ADF Diesel A/FD 5.463 265.56
12. Darryl Hitchman Valvoline A/FD 5.469 262.31
13. Rich McPhillips Audubon Service Center A/FD 5.525 262.16
14. Jeff Wilson Torco/Starcon B/AD 5.650 252.10
15. Wayne Morris Cox Auto 5.704 255.46
16. Tim Bowgren Five Star Hyd./Lucas Oil B/AD 5.763 239.04
--------- Not Qualified ---------
17. Karen Benkovich Tom Jones/NIC Racing B/AD 6.142 172.87
18. Ron Griffis Innovative Chassis A/FD 6.535 227.27
19. Jason Cannon Cap's Coach & Trailer A/FD 9.760 84.42
20. John Finke Bobcat Express B/AD 9.798 78.44
21. Jeff Veale Jeff Veale Racing B/AD 10.306 77.96
22. Dave Hirata VP/RaceGirl/Champion/FRAM A/FD 10.564 78.05
23. Artie Allen Allen Racing B/AD 15.296 98.80

 

March 13, 2005 Final TAD qualifying from Houston.

Like Pfister said at HH, Div 4 has become the A/Fuel capital in the NHRA. Two more TAD's made a lap on Saturday to attempt to qualifying for the first event in the South West Division, and both were A/Fuelers. That makes 12 of the injected bad boys (and girls) here this weekend, and one lone BAD. The BAD (Jeff Wilson) made the field solidly in the #4 spot with a 5.45, but the top of the field is held down by a couple ladies, one a sophmore and one a wiley veteran. Ashley Force leads, and held the #1 spot since first first lap on Friday, when she went a 5.368. Her other two laps were 5.44 and 5.37 Shelly Howard improved on her final run on Saturday into the #2 spot with a 5.392 to sit #2. Aaron Olivarez the rookie in Morgan Lucas' ride is #3 after a 5.440 best that he ran in the first session on Friday. Wilson nailed down the final spot in the top half and probably feels like Custer at the Alamo, as the A/Fuelers have circled his wagon, him being the only BAD in the field.

#'s courtesy DRC and NHRA.com

First round TAD pairings
1) Ashley Force, Anaheim Hills, Calif., 5.368 seconds, 264.08 mph vs.
8) Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 5.581, 247.02

2) Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.392, 265.90 vs.
7) Karl Brounkowski, Magnolia, Texas, 5.579, 248.52

3) Aaron Olivarez, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 5.440, 266.53 vs.
6) Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 5.508, 246.66

4) Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.450, 261.22 vs.
5) James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 5.463, 257.63

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER Final qualifying
1) Ashley Force, Anaheim Hills, Calif., 5.368 seconds, 264.08 mph
2) Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.392, 265.90
3) Aaron Olivarez, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 5.440, 266.53
4) Jeff Wilson, Winfield, Mo., 5.450, 261.22
5) James Thompson, Vernon, Texas, 5.463, 257.63
6) Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 5.508, 246.66
7) Karl Brounkowski, Magnolia, Texas, 5.579, 248.52
8) Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 5.581, 247.02

Not Qualified

9) Gene Snow, Fort Worth, Texas, 5.585, 257.68
10) Carl Magee, Victoria, Texas, 5.760, 233.40
11) Brandon Pierce, Glendora, Calif., 5.839, 232.51
12) Allan Mittendorf, Millstadt, Ill., 5.903, 243.81
13) Vitali Kazakevich, Houston, 10.369, 85.95