NHRA: Topeka NHRA Chevy PST Elimintations Notes
3 October 1999
FIRST ROUND: BRAD JETER, JETER RACING CHEVY S-10, was eliminated in the first round by MIKE COUGHLIN, JEG'S MAIL ORDER CHEVY S-10, 7.553/177.72 for Brad, 7.539/177.42 for Mike. JETER: "We made a good run and all I can say is that they made a better run than we did. If you look down the sheet we could have won any other round except the one Panella won or the one I was in. It's tough to get beat that way. On the other hand, we did all we could do to win the race, it just didn't happen. They did a better job. I guess we will try to work harder, and we have to put together some rounds and win races." JOHN LINGENFELTER, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVY S-10, was defeated by LARRY KOPP, SPEEDCO TRUCK LUBES CHEVY S-10, on a holeshot advantage, 7.597/176.77 (.479 R/T) for Lingenfelter, 7.605/176.97 (.465 R/T) for Kopp. LINGENFELTER: "That was a close run. He had a hundredth better light, I went eight thousandths quicker than he did. It was close all the way down. You don't look (at the other lane) at first. I thought I had a decent light, the Chevy S-10 left good and didn't do anything wrong. When I finally looked over in high gear he was sitting right there with me. I didn't know he had won until we saw the T.V. people go over to him and the other competitors respond to him." JIM KESSINGER, team owner of MARK OSBORNE'S RCL COMPONENTS CHEVY S-10 and the BLUEGRASS TRANSPORTATION CHEVY S-10 formerly driven by Tim Freeman, announced today that STEVIE JOHNS would drive the Bluegrass Chevy S-10 beginning in Memphis. It was announced previously that Johns would join the Kessinger team in 2000. However, with Freeman's departure from the team, Johns has agreed to begin driving earlier. KESSINGER: ON FREEMAN'S RESIGNATION: "Tim is a fine young man. I have no hard feelings. I hated to lose him from the team. He had some different ideas than I had and how certain things should occur and he felt he would be better off if he moved along." SECOND ROUND: RANDY DANIELS, DANIELS MOTORSPORTS CHEVY S-10, was eliminated by MIKE COUGHLIN, JEG'S MAIL ORDER CHEVY S-10, when he red-lighted, 7.575/176.30 for Coughlin (7.595/177.42 for Daniels). DANIELS: "We knew he had lane choice, we knew he was fast, we took a shot at it. You feel like when you have a lane disadvantage you have to try to get everything you can off the starting line. If we hadn't rolled the lights we could have run with him, but it still took better than a .43 light, which is what he had. That's what next week is for, another chance." Points leader going into this round MARK OSBORNE, RCL COMPONENTS CHEVY S-10, lost to SCOTT PERIN, NAPA DEVELOPMENT CORP. CHEVY S-10 (runner-up at the U.S. Nationals), when he red-lighted, 7.627/176.07 for Perin (7.700/175.89 for Osborne). With Panella advancing, Osborne loses the points lead. OSBORNE: "I'm not making any excuses, but I think I let up on the clutch pedal a little bit, the clutch fingers came out and engaged and it rolled through the lights. It was rolling before I let the clutch out. We had a 1.12 60-ft. time, we could have gone 1.08 out there. I know it rolled the lights, we have it on video. We struggled big time this weekend, hopefully we can go somewhere and get the bug off our back. Maybe we'll do some testing on Monday, if we can find somewhere warm enough." ON THE POINTS CHASE: "It's not like it's gone forever (No. 1 in points). This is not the last race of the season. We still have three more races. I feel maybe we can gain right back on it in the next three. I'm not treating it like it is out of reach or untouchable." BOB PANELLA, PANELLA MOTORSPORTS CHEVY S-10, advanced to the semifinals by defeating KIM SMITH'S CHEVY S-10 in the second round, 7.553/176.51 for Panella, 7.630/176.10 for Smith. Panella takes over the points lead. PANELLA: ON HAVING A GOOD SHOT TO WIN THIS RACE: "Obviously there is no breathing room in the points. Maybe by tomorrow I'll feel more comfortable. We will need two more consistent runs tomorrow." IS IT TOO EARLY TO CELEBRATE? "No doubt. No matter what happens he (Osborne) is not going to be too far behind and Jeter is not too far behind and (Mike) Coughlin is coming. It will go down to Pomona (the last race of the year). Hopefully we'll be on top when the time comes." NOTE: The semifinals will see Panella vs. Perin and Mike Coughlin vs. Kopp, all in Chevy S-10 Pickups.