TOP ELIMINATOR
Troy Turnlock’s blown Fiat altered is DRO’s favorite car for the event. The wheelstanding altered made one lap to qualify and then marched through the field to capture the Top Eliminator gold.
Top Eliminator at ASDA racing runs on a floating index of around 3.00 seconds, but interestingly sets the 16-car field based upon quickest ET. At the Fall Nationals almost half
the field qualified under the three-second mark with the No. 1 qualifier being Tim Martin at 2.983. Kirt Murphy was on the bump with a 3.254. Eliminations in this class were just a little bizarre with many holeshot wins and double eliminations.
In the first round Darrell Cypert and Bud Martins were both eliminated due to staging fouls. That gave No. 3 qualifier and first round winner Jeff Mamer a bye into the semi-final round. Interestingly, Mamer made just one qualifying pass to qualify (2.924). Mamer lost to No. 2 qualifier and class winner Troy Turnock and his blown Fiat in that semi-final matchup.
The final round was a classic dragster-versus-bodied-car battle as Michigan racer Rod Trower and his dragster lined up against Turnock’s wheelstanding Fiat. On the green the dragster’s rear tires spun hard and dug a hole while the Fiat hiked the wheels in the air and Trower marched to a 3.068/103.94 win over Turnock’s game 3.089/101.48 lap.
Rod Trower made the haul from Michigan for the race and runner-upped in Top Eliminator. But he was more than just a competitor. He stepped up and paid for the race banquet on Sunday out of his own pocket. Thanks from all of us, Rod.
