Sun, 1 Oct 2000, 12:06 PM TOPEKA - Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations

By Bob Orme A Great Round

TOPEKA, Kan. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Funny Car at the 12th annual Advance Auto Parts Nationals:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 Tim Wilkerson       4.958 292.96  Q   12 Jerry Toliver       5.018 297.48
                  0.537  5.013 299.66  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.535  4.899 302.75

10:30 AM Both cars were on a tear, Wilkerson quicker out of the box with a .904 60' time versus a .918 for Toliver, but from there on, it was all Toliver as he just drove around him.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Ron Capps           4.905 300.73  Q   14 Bob Gilbertson      5.056 299.00
 *****WINNER***** 0.536  4.958 296.50  E1                  0.482  5.203 263.26

Gilbertson had the advantage at the line, but Capps quickly made up the difference. The track seems to be holding anything these drivers want to throw at it.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 John Force          4.853 299.46  Q   16 Phil Burkart        5.093 301.60
 *****WINNER***** 0.519  4.970 292.08  E1                  0.525  5.018 305.22

Burkart gave Force a run for his money, but he got out of the groove at the top end of the track and couldn't keep up with the Castrol horsepower.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Frank Pedregon      4.903 301.20  Q   15 Al Hofmann          5.076 288.27
 *****WINNER***** 0.521  4.934 293.92  E1                  0.503  4.993 300.20

Hofmann was moving around his lane on the top half of the track and couldn't keep up with Pedregon. All in all, a good drag race.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Tony Pedregon       4.927 303.64  Q   13 Gary Densham        5.043 288.83
 *****WINNER***** 0.493  4.935 295.46  E1                  0.507  4.945 308.28

Pedregon had trouble making a burnout, but it didn't seem to matter. This was another good drag race, the margin of victory was 0.024 seconds (approximately 11 feet). Tony will give up lane choice to Jerry Toliver in the second round.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  11 Cristen Powell      4.985 286.98  Q    6 Scotty Cannon       4.973 293.35
                  0.528  8.666  98.83  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.534  5.702 171.90

Powell was up in smoke at 200'. That's too bad, because Cannon was ripe for picking, his car out of power by the 1000' mark. Cannon will give up lane choice to Ron Capps in round two.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   7 Bruce Sarver        4.973 289.38  Q   10 Del Worsham         4.984 303.43
                  0.527  6.468 135.14  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.465  4.973 267.22

Sarver was in trouble on the hit, he had a dead cylinder from the start, then he hazed the tires at half track. Worsham will give up lane choice to Frank Pedregon in round two.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   8 Whit Bazemore       4.979 294.18  Q    9 Jim Epler           4.983 297.94
                  0.507  4.938 305.84  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.497  4.927 303.43

Another good drag race, the cars close all the way down the track with the margin of victory of only 0.021 seconds (approximately 9 feet). Epler will have lane choice over John Force in round two.




NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Oct 17- DALLAS - Friday Wrap Up
Oct 16- DALLAS - Top Fuel Qualifying, Session #2 Bonus Points
Oct 16- DALLAS - Funny Car Qualifying, Session #2 Bonus Points
Oct 16- DALLAS - Top Fuel Qualifying, Session #2 Order
Oct 16- DALLAS - Top Fuel Qualifying Notes, Session #2
Oct 16- DALLAS - Funny Car Qualifying, Session #2 Order
Oct 16- DALLAS - Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #2
Oct 16- DALLAS - Top Fuel Qualifying, Session #1 Bonus Points
Oct 16- DALLAS - Outlaw Street Qualifying, Session #1 Order
Oct 16- DALLAS - Funny Car Qualifying, Session #1 Bonus Points