Sat, 17 May 2008, 02:16 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #3

By Dave Rowe

BRISTOL, Tenn. - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Eighth annual O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Q 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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Right Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 5.041/235.84, Now #13; No Prior Run

1:43 p.m. Bartone does a good job of driving on this pass. He hits the throttle, starts drifting to the left, then just before half track the car makes a quick move. He gets close to the centerline, almost takes out the half track cone, but hangs on and gets in the show for now.

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Left Lane: Jerry Toliver Runs 4.901/298.80, Now #13; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 4.936/301.00, Now #14; No Prior Run

A couple of clean runs, both right down the groove. Toliver gets in the 13th spot, Johnson 14th, and Bartone drops to the 15th spot.

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Left Lane: Scott Kalitta Runs 8.346/98.96, Now #16; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Gary Densham Runs 11.191/92.38, Now #17; No Prior Run

Densham goes up in smoke as soon as he hits the throttle. Kalitta gets about 100 feet out, loses traction, then clicks it off.

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Left Lane: Mike Ashley Runs 4.970/304.67, Now #15; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 4.947/307.37, Now #11; Best prior run: 4.839/318.62, Was #11

A couple of clean passes, not great, but clean. Ashley gets in the field with this run, though not safely in the field, but at least not on the bump. Troxel doesn't improve on her time from yesterday and stays in the 11th spot.

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Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.932/266.21, Now #15; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.896/313.22, Now #13; No Prior Run

Beckman was on a good pass, then had problems just past the 1000 foot mark and the car nosed over. Scelzi keeps the candles lit all the way through the run and gets in the show.

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Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 7.618/107.56, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.842/322.65, Was #12
Right Lane: Bob Gilbertson Runs 4.967/283.67, Now #17; No Prior Run

Worsham gets about 300 feet out and goes up in smoke. Gilbertson drifts toward the centerline all the way through the run, almost taking out the last timing cone. He makes a decent pass but not quick enough to get in the field.

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Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 7.196/109.96, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.823/318.02, Was #8
Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 9.552/85.53, Now #10; Best prior run: 4.831/313.29, Was #10

Pedregon gets about 150 feet out and strikes the tires. Tasca gets a little further, loses traction, then clicks it off.

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Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.947/292.01, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.821/316.90, Was #6
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.861/305.70, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.831/317.79, Was #9

Capps makes a pretty good run, the quickest of the round so far, but he doesn't improve on his pass from yesterday. Pedregon makes a clean run but slows a little near the finish line.

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Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 12.036/76.18, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.803/311.63, Was #5
Right Lane: John Force Runs 4.959/261.12, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.821/308.78, Was #7

Hight gets about 200 feet out and strikes the tires. Force was on a good pass, then makes a hard move to the right about 800 feet out and he has to back off the throttle early.

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Left Lane: Ashley Force Runs 4.879/303.09, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.792/324.98, Was #3
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 5.066/265.59, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.802/318.24, Was #4

Wilkerson gets to half-track, starts drifting to the left, then has to back off the throttle early. Force goes right down the groove and makes another good run.

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Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.878/284.45, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.785/323.89, Was #2
Right Lane: Mike Neff Runs 4.964/308.43, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.783/321.04, Was #1

Neff makes a decent pass but started mixing up cylinders a little past half-track. Head was out in front all the way through the run, then had engine problems neat the top end and slowed.

That ends this session with Neff still on the pole and Johnson Jr. on the bump with a 4.936.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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