BAYTOWN, Texas - Final order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, South Central Division, NHRA Sportsman Challenge at Houston Raceway Park:
Psn---Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type---------------Qual-ET--Qual-Spd-Top Spd
1 237 Von Smith, Oak Ridge TN, '02 Camaro 5.673 250.27 254.09 2 484 Kebin Kinsley, Kennedale TX, '02 Camaro 5.753 242.19 242.19 3 7 Steve Harker, Gainesville GA, '05 Monte Carlo 5.769 232.47 232.47 4 497 Brandon Lewis, Broken Arrow OK, '05 Monte Carlo 5.854 236.88 236.88 5 41 Jimmy Jones, Cleburne TX, '99 Camaro 5.954 249.76 249.76 6 425 Will Hanna, Richwood Village TX, '05 Monte Car 6.154 244.47 244.47 7 46 Steve Burck, Corpus Christi TX, '02 Camaro 6.384 222.91 222.91 8 432 Burl Brown, Gainesville TX, '98 Avenger 6.647 229.00 229.00
------------ Not Qualified ------------
9 45 Ron Morrison, Oklahoma City OK, '06 Monte Carlo NT
BAYTOWN, Texas - Results of round 1 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, South Central Division, NHRA Sportsman Challenge at Houston Raceway Park:
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 45 Ron Morrison 237 Von Smith E1 0.151 6.365 174.53 ****WINNER**** 0.062 5.843 252.90 Qualified: #9 No Time #1 5.673 250.27
1:16 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 69 degrees, relative humidity 44 percent, barometer 30.40 inches, adjusted altitude 245 feet, track temperature 82 degrees.
Yes, Morrison did not compete a lap during qualifying - but he did manage to take the tree on his third try and is in as an alternate for Burl Brown after Brown made a trip into the beach yesterday.
Morrison made Smith work for this one for about 800 feet, then there was a flash of flame and the pressure relief panel in the hood went sailing over the fence. Smith could not match his qualifying pace, but had enough to advance to the semifinals.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 425 Will Hanna 7 Steve Harker E1 0.055 9.554 96.74 ****WINNER**** 0.086 5.721 254.28 Qualified: #6 6.154 244.47 #3 5.769 232.47
Hanna got the front wheels up, shook, and danced around while Harker was going from A to B in a fairly straight line making his best lap mof the weekend.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 41 Jimmy Jones 497 Brandon Lewis E1 ****WINNER**** 0.076 5.729 254.66 0.078 8.252 108.39 Qualified: #5 5.954 249.76 #4 5.854 236.88
Lewis' car had the wheels up and started to shake and dance its way toward the centerline, forcing him to lift. Meanwhile, Jones went right down the groove on a straight, smooth pass to earn lane choice over Smith in the semifinals.
Both drivers struggled in qualifying, each with just one full run.
When Burck hit the throttle his car jumped up in the air and turned almost sideways. He managed to keep it off the wal - but it was close. Meanwhile, Kinsley went down the groove and into the semifinals, but Harker will have lane choice when they meet next round.
