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Murphy, Green set up Top Fuel showdown
| Saturday, Oct 11 2008 10:55 PM
Last Updated: Monday, Oct 13 2008 9:22 AM
Day by day, run by run, Jim Murphy and Troy Green have embarked on a collision course.
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Pit crew worker Mike Manuel checks the air pressure on Garry Wheeler's A fuel dragster before his race Saturday at Auto Club Famoso Raceway during the California Hot Rod Reunion.
Garry Wheeler concentrates before his upcoming race at Auto Club Famoso Raceway. Wheeler drove to the raceway from Tulsa, Okla.
Many modes of transportation were seen during the California Hot Rod Reunion.
Spectators watch from the grandstand Saturday at Famoso Raceway.
The two have been sparring since their first qualifying round Friday for supremacy at the 17th annual California Hot Rod Reunion at Auto Club Famoso Raceway.
One will emerge with the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series Nostalgia Top Fuel championship and it could come down to the final round of eliminations today.
The two qualified on opposite sides of the ladder for the 16-car field, which was trimmed to eight cars following Saturday afternoon's first round of qualifying in near ideal conditions.
Green qualified No. 1 early Saturday afternoon with a 5.72-second round, while Murphy, who briefly held that spot, wound up third at 5.74. Green ran 5.812 in qualifying on Friday while Murphy ran 5.818 on Friday.
Green took to the track in eliminations before Murphy, beating Rick Rogers with a 5.783-second blast at 252.59 mph. Minutes later, Murphy topped that, running 5.781 at 257.80 to get past Jack Harris.
Murphy trails Green by four points and which ever drivers goes one more round will win the title.
But there are plenty of land mines for the two on the path to a possible final-round matchup.
Brett Harris had the best first-round numbers -- 5.74 at 261.02 -- and could meet up with Murphy in the semifinals if both get past today's quarterfinals. Harris' 261.02 is top speed of the meet thus far.
On the other side of the bracket, Rick White advanced with a solid 5.77 at 255.53. White and Green will meet in the semis if both win their quarterfinal matchups.
Funny Cars fans won't want to arrive later than 11 a.m. as more than 20 of the vintage floppers are on hand for what will be a very tough Chicago-style shootout.
Drivers running the top eight times from the 11 a.m. qualifying session will advance to an eight-car shootout. Only the top two times from that round advance to a final show down.
The second round of Top Fuel eliminations will commence following the Funny Car qualifying session.
Competition will also take place in several other categories, including AA/Supercharged and A/Fuel. Gates open at 8 a.m.