Sun, 28 Sep 2003, 02:43 PM Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Jonathan Adams

JOLIET, Ill. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Third annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   28 Ron Capps                               1 John Force
E2                   0.067 10.619  91.37     ****WINNER****  0.053  4.833 320.58
 Prior rounds:
E1    (T Johnson Jr) 0.057  4.875 322.04      (J Lawson    ) 0.070  4.883 305.42
 Qualified:            #10  4.816 319.60                        #2  4.725 323.81

Capps is the only non-Team Castrol car left on the bottom half of the ladder. And now we're guaranteed an all-Castrol semi-final, as Capps strikes the tires just past 60 feet, and Force waltzes into the semi's.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  156 Phil Burkart                           13 Cory Lee
E2   ****WINNER****  0.099  4.773 318.54                    -0.019  4.860 307.93
 Prior rounds:
E1    (S Cannon    ) 0.125  4.817 320.05      (W Bazemore  ) 0.093  4.960 304.12
 Qualified:             #8  4.802 318.02                       #16  4.893 285.17

Burkart has made three runs between 4.80 and 4.82 this weekend, while Lee is fresh off a round one upset of Whit Bazemore.

Lee takes a shot at the Tree and misses, but Burkart makes his best run ever. Great run for the CSK team.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Tony Pedregon                           4 Gary Densham
E2   ****WINNER****  0.088  4.996 235.15                     0.091  9.461  84.05
 Prior rounds:
E1    (B Bode      ) 0.090  4.845 312.28      (B Gilbertson) 0.133  4.723 324.90
 Qualified:             #6  4.787 320.66                        #3  4.728 299.13

Densham, who has lane choice, is in the right lane even though the left lane seems to be the preferred lane. A win by Tony would strengthen his hold on the points lead.

Densham pedals it early--not sure why--and then gets back on it and smokes the tires. Pedregon's run wasn't pretty, but he's going to the semi's to face Force, Force with lane choice.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   20 Gary Scelzi                             3 Del Worsham
E2   ****WINNER****  0.062  4.738 329.18                     0.051  4.764 321.19
 Prior rounds:
E1    (C Pedregon  ) 0.083  4.768 328.70      (T Wilkerson ) 0.080  4.786 320.66
 Qualified:             #4  4.750 320.74                        #5  4.776 323.50

A win by Worsham would set up an all CSK semi-final with Burkart. Scelzi is looking to back up the speed record.

Not only does he back it up, he raises it! The fastest speed ever, and the quickest side-by-side race in Funny Car history. Scelzi will have lane choice over Burkart in the semi's.

Gary Scelzi's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.018), 330 ft(-0.007), 660ft(-0.006), 1,000ft(0.001). MOV: 0.0157 seconds (approximately 7 feet).

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Apr 08- Hood Scoops Set to Return to NHRA Pro Stock Category in 2027
Apr 07- PowerEdge Returns as Presenting Sponsor of DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway
Apr 07- GESi Pro Stock No. 1 Qualifier Award Returns for 2026 Season
Apr 06- POMONA 1 - Funny Car Preview
Apr 02- Revchem Composites Plays Critical Role in Ron Capps Motorsports' Continued Success
Apr 01- Second Wave of NHRA 75th Anniversary Commemorative Tickets Include Wealth of Legends
Mar 30- CHARLOTTE - Event Preview
Mar 30- BELLE ROSE - Super Gas Round 5 Eliminations
Mar 30- BELLE ROSE - HEMI Chootout Round 3 Eliminations
Mar 30- BELLE ROSE - Competition Eliminator Final, Round 5 Eliminations