 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
JOLIET, Ill. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Sixth annual Lucas Oil NHRA Route 66 Nationals: Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 28 Ron Capps 340 Bob Bode E1 ****WINNER**** 0.071 4.753 322.96 0.149 4.947 300.60 Qualified: #8 4.819 321.35 #9 4.830 312.7111:31 AM Current weather conditions: 60 degrees, 43 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.13 inches, with a track temperature of 86 degrees. These two drivers have faced each other in eliminations only once in the past, Capps winning that one. Capps won the CSK NHRA Nationals at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix earlier this year, did so from the 9th qualifying spot. The Safety Safari did some work on the right lane at the starting line after the Top Fuel cars were finished running. Bode was moving around his lane, but he gave it all he had. Capps has a
flawless pass to move into the second round.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
3 Del Worsham 73 Frank Pedregon
E1 ****WINNER**** 0.079 4.791 321.27 0.075 4.853 315.12
Qualified: #5 4.776 318.47 #12 4.855 315.34
This is the first meeting in eliminations between these to drivers this season. They have
faced each other 13 times in the past, Worsham having a 9-4 edge over Pedregon.Both drivers
keep the candles lit all the way down the track. This was a very good run for Pedregon, but
Worsham's was even better. Del Worsham's MOV: 0.0584 seconds (approximately 27 feet).
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
1 John Force 3460 John Lawson
E1 0.075 5.005 297.42 ****WINNER**** 0.078 4.926 289.94
Qualified: #1 4.721 325.30 #16 4.909 311.99
This is the fourth time in six years that John Force has put the Castrol GTX Ford on the
"pole" at the Lucas Oil Nationals. On each previous occasion he reached the final round but won
only in 2000 when he beat Jerry Toliver for an 86th victory that broke Bob Glidden's career
record.This is the 114th time in his career that John has started an NHRA national event from the No. 1 qualifying position, and the 310th consecutive NHRA national event for which he has qualified. Force and Lawson have faced each other four times in eliminations, Force winning all four. Force dropped a cylinder at half track and the rear end of the car began to move around
on him, allowing Lawson to take the upset win.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
2 Tony Pedregon 10 Johnny Gray
E1 ****WINNER**** 0.077 4.785 311.49 0.073 17.210 NS
Qualified: #2 4.756 309.34 #15 4.880 307.72
Pedregon is seeking his second straight victory at Route 66 Raceway but his first in the
Lucas Oil Nationals. He won last fall's Route 66 Nationals.Tony enters eliminations as the NHRA POWERade points leader. He hasn't lost a first round race since last June when he was beaten in St. Louis by teammate John Force. That's 20 straight races without a first round loss, the longest active streak in the sport. Pedregon has beaten Gray both times they've faced each other in eliminations this season and has a 10-1 overall career advantage. Gray blew the burst
panel at about 300 feet and the entire Funny Car body followed it high into the air. The chutes
deployed automatically and Gray brought the car safely to a stop.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
4 Gary Densham 21 Scotty Cannon
E1 ****WINNER**** 0.095 4.803 321.04 0.103 4.975 303.71
Qualified: #3 4.773 322.88 #14 4.860 298.60
Gary Densham has won just two elimination rounds in seven appearances at Route 66 Raceway.
This is the first time this season these two drivers have faced each other in eliminations. They
have faced off 9 times in the past with Cannon having a 5-4 edge.Cannon lost a cylinder or two
at half track. He picked them back up, but by then Densham was too far ahead.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
5 Whit Bazemore 206 Bob Gilbertson
E1 ****WINNER**** 0.080 4.789 322.42 0.082 4.839 288.21
Qualified: #4 4.776 325.69 #13 4.856 315.49
Bazemore beat Gilbertson in the first round in Topeka, their only encounter of this season.
Bazemore holds a 5-1 overall advantage over Gilbertson in career face offs.This was a good
looking drag race, Bazemore pulling away on the top half of the track. Whit Bazemore's
incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.025), 330 ft(-0.008), 660ft(0.007),
1,000ft(0.018). MOV: 0.0529 seconds (approximately 22 feet). Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 20 Gary Scelzi 347 Tim Wilkerson E1 ****WINNER**** 0.082 4.795 328.06 0.068 4.825 313.29 Qualified: #6 4.782 327.98 #11 4.849 314.46This is the first meeting between these two drivers in eliminations this season. They have met once in the past, Scelzi winning that time. Scelzi ran a blistering 327.98 miles-per-hour in qualifying this weekend. If he can run within one percent of that mark today, it will be an official speed record for the NHRA Funny Car class. Another good looking drag race! Gary Scelzi's MOV: 0.0163 seconds (approximately 7 feet). Scelzi not only backed up his earlier top
speed, he topped it! 328.06 is now the NHRA Funny Car speed record. Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 503 Tommy Johnson Jr. 71 Cruz Pedregon E1 ****WINNER**** 0.087 5.526 229.08 0.062 5.792 214.86 Qualified: #7 4.790 309.34 #10 4.840 317.57Pedregon beat Johnson in the first round in Topeka, their only meeting in eliminations this season. They have faced each other a total of five times with TJ having won three of those. Both drivers struck the tires just past the 330-foot cones. Both drivers pedaled their cars, Pedregon less successfully than Johnson. Pedregon got out of shape and nearly crossed the centerline at the top end. Second round pairings, driver with lane choice listed first: Capps
vs Lawson; Bazemore vs Worsham; Tony Pedregon vs Johnson; Scelzi vs Densham.
|
|
Ready to take your order at 1-800-230-3030 | Customer Service 1-800-517-1035