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Romine Struggles in the Opening Day of Qualifying at the NHRA Gatornationals

7 March 1998

GAINESVILLE, FL -- After day one of the NHRA Mac Tools Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, FL, the CARQUEST Auto Parts / Aerolite Racing Top Fuel Dragster of Paul Romine is not qualified.

In the opening session of qualifying, Romines CARQUEST / Aerolite Racing machine dropped a cylinder on the left bank of the engine at the hit of the throttle and lost traction at the 200 foot mark. In session two of qualifying, Romine sacrificed an engine to the aluminum gods with his 6000 horsepower power plant letting go in a spectacular fireball at the eighth-mile mark.

The CARQUEST machine will get two more shots to make the Gatornationals field, Saturday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. EST.

DAY ONE BESTS
Qualifying session 1
60 .830 (Jim Head)
330 2.121 (Head)
660 3.078 (Head)
MPH 261.09 (Cory McClenathan)
1000 3.901 (Head

Romine:  .874 60-foot time, 10th best

Qualifying session 2
60 .837 (Gary Scelzi)
330 2.138 (Scelzi)
660 3.097 (Head)
MPH 263.31 (Kenny Bernstein)

Romine:  .868 60-foot time, 9th best

-CARQUEST Top Fuel Dragster-