Fri, 21 Jul 2006, 07:35 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Michael L. Jex

KENT, Wash. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 19th annual Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Left Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 8.744/116.04, Now #2
Right Lane: Mike Ashley Runs 5.962/167.36, Now #1

4:03 p.m. The National weather service is reporting temps over 100 degrees in the area, it's 98 to the north of us, and 101 degrees to the south. The track temp is currently 135 degrees. Haddock lost traction and pedaled, but lost the blower belt, Ashley pedaled a couple of times, then hazed the tires at the top end of the track.

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Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 5.832/173.54, Now #2
Right Lane: Scott Kalitta Runs 5.608/194.27, Now #1

Tim once called hot, humid conditions "Snotty" in Chicago, (the year he won there if memory serves) that term may fit here so far this weekend.

Both drivers made it till the top half of the track, both drivers lifted when they started to haze, then smoke the tires at the top end. .922 60-foot for Wilkerson, .938 for Kalitta.

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Left Lane: Gary Densham Runs 5.977/163.33, Now #4
Right Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 8.906/92.84, Now #6

Two more runs that end early - Bartone lifted when he drifted over toward the centerline, Densham lifted when the big Goodyears started to spin and smoke past the halfway point.

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Left Lane: Bob Gilbertson Runs 7.117/129.74, Now #5
Right Lane: Phil Burkart Runs 7.849/110.76, Now #6

Burrrrppp!!!! And then they coasted the rest of the way. Did we mention it's hot outside?

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Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 5.823/236.05, Now #2
Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 6.253/141.19, Now #6

The two second power two-step continues, both drivers were off the loud pedal well before the halfway point.

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Left Lane: Whit Bazemore Runs 5.476/262.64, Now #2
Right Lane: Eric Medlen Runs 5.196/223.99, Now #1

Medlen made it the furthest so far - he lifted about 900-feet out before he lifted. Eric Medlen's incremental times: 60ft-0.911 sec., 330ft-2.365, 660ft-3.390/247.34mph, 1,000ft-4.274

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Left Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 6.161/151.14, Now #8
Right Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 6.779/139.13, Now #10

Scelzi won in the heat in Denver last weekend, his Oakley Dodge started to spin the tires at the top end, Gary lifted when his Charger got over near the left side wall. TJ's run ended earlier - Gary Scelzi's incremental times: 60ft-0.921 sec., 330ft-2.385, 660ft-3.532/199.43mph, 1,000ft-4.795
Tommy Johnson Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.919 sec., 330ft-2.495, 660ft-3.930/173.03mph, 1,000ft-5.299

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Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 5.315/288.77, Now #2
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 5.763/176.24, Now #5

Pedregon pedaled once then charged the rest of the way in his Monte Carlo. Hight pedaled too, but couldn't get a hold of this tricky track.

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Left Lane: John Force Runs 5.872/252.33, Now #9
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 5.123/293.54, Now #1

Capps has a 26 point lead in the Funny Car standings - he did a great job pedaling and guiding his Brut Funny Car to the top of the field. John lost traction just past the 100-foot mark with a big cloud of tire smoke.

We end the first round with Ron on top, followed by Eric Medlen and Tony Pedregon, Phil Burkart is on the bubble with a 7.84. 4:30 p.m.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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