Sun, 10 Nov 2002, 06:21 PM Funny Car Round 3 Eliminations

By Dave Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 38th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals:

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   6 Tim Wilkerson       4.873 310.55  Q   15 Tommy Johnson Jr.   9.078   NS
   (F Pedregon  ) 0.513  4.949 307.30  E1   (D Skuza     ) 0.467  4.949 314.53
   (J Gray      ) 0.513  4.943 310.70  E2   (C Pedregon  ) 0.524  4.948 314.39
                  0.555  4.921 308.64  E3 *****WINNER***** 0.467  4.983 312.50

3:07 PM The weather for this round hasn't changed much from the start of Top Fuel this morning with a temperature of 66 degrees, 62% humidity, and 30.05 inches and falling on the barometer.

It sounded like a "double pump" on the throttle off the line, but it's more likely the difference in their reaction times. Johnson was away first and streaks to a upset win.

T Joh Margin 60ft(0.005), 330ft(0.003), 660ft(0.014), 1,000ft(0.019). MOV: 0.0267 seconds (approximately 12 feet).

Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 John Force          4.762 324.05  Q   13 Tony Pedregon       7.328 285.59
   (S Cannon    ) 0.453  4.862 315.93  E1   (B Sarver    ) 0.446  4.917 314.90
   (C Lee       ) 0.458  4.944 303.98  E2   (R Capps     ) 0.494  4.974 287.11
 *****WINNER***** 0.447  4.954 315.12  E3                  0.471  4.935 310.84

This may be it for the 2002 Championship. If Force can win, it's over. If Pedregon win's, he has to also win the race. The word from the pits on Tony Pedregon's last pass was the old Bad News, Good News. The Bad News: The engine went BANG. The Good News: The blower belt finally stayed on (and he won!).

And it is over.... Force and Tony both deep stage and John is right there with a better reaction time. They are back and forth down the track with Force mathematically behind at 660 feet and 1000 feet, but comes back to take a five foot win. Classic drag race!!!

Force will have lane choice over T.J. in the finals.

NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Feb 10- Wally Parks 75th Anniversary Appreciation Fund Part of $27 Million Overall Purse
Feb 08- NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Releases 2026 Schedule
Feb 07- Huge List of Legends Set to Appear at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Feb 05- NHRA and Legends Global Extend Merchandise Partnership Ahead of 75th Anniversary Season
Feb 04- Doug Foley Announces Addition of Ron Douglas as Consultant to Foley Lewis Racing Top Fuel Team
Feb 04- Tickets Now on Sale for NHRA's Debut at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park and Rockingham Dragway
Feb 04- Reed, Zetterström to Share Driving Duties of Reed Trucking & Excavating Top Fuel Dragster
Jan 29- NHRA to Honor Iconic John Force in 2027 with "50 Years Of Force"
Jan 28- Top Fuel All-Star Callout Returns to Open NHRA's 75th Anniversary Season at Gatornationals
Jan 28- John Force Racing Announces Crew Chiefs for NHRA's 75th Anniversary Season