Thu, 18 Oct 2007, 09:08 PM Funny Car Time Trial Notes, Session #3

By Darryl Jackman

LAS VEGAS - Notes from round 3 time trials in Funny Car at the NHRA, Las Vegas Test listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:

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Left Lane: Phil Burkart Jr Runs 9.259/87.04, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.878/256.75, Was #6

9:56 a.m. We have two funny cars coming up that I can see. Burkart and T. Pedregon. Burkart gets out to about 200ft before the rpm begins to rise. He clicked it immediately.

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Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.733/318.54, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.760/322.81, Was #2

T. Pedregon is on the line and Mike Neff is out to watch dressed for work. I'll assume they are in line as well. T. Ped jumps all the way to the top of the order with a nice looking lap. Tony Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.901 sec., 330ft-2.298, 660ft-3.257/267.91mph, 1,000ft-4.046.

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Left Lane: Ashley Force Runs 4.814/280.14, Now #4; Best prior run: 5.214/207.78, Was #7

A. Force is up for her second hit of the testing session. Nice run but it sounded like the engine might have been chewing on it's self a bit at the other end of the race track. There were strange orange header flames from the left bank of the engine from after half track to the point she clicked it. Ashley Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.894 sec., 330ft-2.297, 660ft-3.271/261.67mph, 1,000ft-4.077.

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Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 5.193/208.68, Now #8; No Prior Run

10:27 a.m. Hight is out with a brand spanking new racer and makes about a three quarter pass. Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.921 sec., 330ft-2.335, 660ft-3.314/262.13mph, 1,000ft-4.208.

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Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 5.077/235.72, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.801/298.67, Was #3

10:50 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 63 degrees, relative humidity 20 percent, barometer 30.09 inches, adjusted altitude 2,700 feet, track temperature 89 degrees.

Capps was off the pedal early and coasted on out. Let's see if the Safari has to roll on this one. Nope. Just people out wandering around and looking. Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.914 sec., 330ft-2.363, 660ft-3.364/253.85mph, 1,000ft-4.210.

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Left Lane: Mike Neff Runs 4.818/318.47, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.849/316.23, Was #6

11:00 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 63 degrees, relative humidity 20 percent, barometer 30.09 inches, adjusted altitude 2,700 feet, track temperature 89 degrees.

I could be mistaken but I belive that will get Neff his E-Ticket license. Congratulations to him and the rest of his team. Mike Neff's incremental times: 60ft-0.910 sec., 330ft-2.336, 660ft-3.318/260.81mph, 1,000ft-4.124.

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Left Lane: Phil Burkart Jr Runs 10.917/92.09, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.878/256.75, Was #6

12:29 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 67 degrees, relative humidity 21 percent, barometer 30.09 inches, adjusted altitude 2,800 feet, track temperature 92 degrees.

Burkart rattles the tires loose really early. Nothing consistent about John's racer so far this week. Wonder what Coil's working on?

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Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 11.796/77.28, Now #8; Best prior run: 5.193/208.68, Was #8

Hight is back for a short 60ft squirt.

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Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 7.360/111.46, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.760/322.81, Was #2

T. Ped is back for another shot at the LVMS Strip. He got to about the 330ft marker before shutting off. Looked like it might have been planned.

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Left Lane: Mike Neff Runs 5.732/171.82, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.849/316.23, Was #5

Ok folks. Here's the deal about this run. I've been told the engine in the car is the new Ford if everything goes well...if not, it's not. I'd guess they will claim it's a Ford. Everything looked good but Neff appeared to shut the car off at about 600ft. Mike Neff's incremental times: 60ft-0.919 sec., 330ft-2.370, 660ft-3.403/226.77mph, 1,000ft-4.524.

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Left Lane: Phil Burkart Jr Runs 8.367/103.83, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.878/256.75, Was #6

2:47 p.m. Another smoker at about 300ft. Phil Burkart Jr's incremental times: 60ft-0.908 sec., 330ft-2.443, 660ft-4.224/119.18mph, 1,000ft-6.310.

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Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 7.304/116.94, Now #8; No Prior Run

Hight's back and puffs the tires at about 330ft. Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.911 sec., 330ft-2.355, 660ft-3.795/147.92mph, 1,000ft-5.504.

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Left Lane: Mike Neff Runs 6.104/151.77, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.849/316.23, Was #5

4:17 p.m. The Ford powered Mustang is back for another hit. At least we assume it's the Ford. Neff got a little out of the groove and clicked it about half track. Actually the car made a pretty hard move towards the wall and he was well out of the groove. Nice driving and good call on his part.

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Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.757/305.49, Now #3; No Prior Run

4:57 p.m. Hight records almost a full pull this time, It appeared the fire went out just barely before the stripe. Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.901 sec., 330ft-2.292, 660ft-3.257/264.18mph, 1,000ft-4.054. We're inside that last hour of time trials.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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