Fri, 31 Oct 2008, 05:08 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Bob Orme

LAS VEGAS - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Eighth annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Left Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 7.884/88.36, Now #1
Right Lane: Bob Bode No Time, Now #2

1:32 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 79 degrees, relative humidity 29 percent, barometer 28.09 inches, adjusted altitude 3,883 feet, track temperature 96 degrees.

Bode was shut off after the burnout. Arend struck the tires at about 150 feet and he lifted.

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Left Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 4.268/279.85, Now #1
Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 8.128/77.92, Now #3

Head struck the tires at about 250 feet. A smooth pass for Johnson.

Tommy Johnson Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.952 sec., 330ft-2.413, 660ft-3.423/252.24mph.

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Left Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 5.121/148.33, Now #2
Right Lane: Jerry Toliver Runs 9.371/78.75, Now #5

Toliver started smoking the tires at about 200 feet. Bartone's engine expired at about 500 feet.

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Left Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 7.127/89.84, Now #4
Right Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 4.137/302.69, Now #1

Scelzi lost traction at about 250 feet. Troxel was skating around a little on the top half.

Melanie Troxel's incremental times: 60ft-0.925 sec., 330ft-2.348, 660ft-3.331/260.11mph.

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Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.134/303.64, Now #1
Right Lane: Del Worsham Runs 10.661/76.42, Now #9

Worsham was up in smoke before the 100-foot mark. A good looking pass for Tasca.

Bob Tasca III's incremental times: 60ft-0.917 sec., 330ft-2.353, 660ft-3.331/261.78mph.

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Left Lane: Gary Densham Runs 4.100/297.75, Now #1
Right Lane: Mike Neff Runs 7.341/82.81, Now #7

Neff struck the tires just before the 330-foot mark. A very good looking pass for Densham.

Gary Densham's incremental times: 60ft-0.896 sec., 330ft-2.315, 660ft-3.288/261.22mph.

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Left Lane: John Force Runs 4.134/301.13, Now #3
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.170/296.44, Now #5

Capps was a little to the right of the groove in the middle section of he track. No visible problems for Force.

John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.911 sec., 330ft-2.337, 660ft-3.324/258.81mph.
Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.917 sec., 330ft-2.367, 660ft-3.353/259.06mph.

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Left Lane: Ashley Force Runs 4.147/300.26, Now #6
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.094/301.60, Now #1

A good looking pass for both John Force Racing drivers.

Ashley Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.911 sec., 330ft-2.341, 660ft-3.334/257.28mph.
Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.905 sec., 330ft-2.317, 660ft-3.290/262.39mph.

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Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.130/301.20, Now #3
Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.149/297.09, Now #8

No problems for either of the Pedregon brothers.

Tony Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.909 sec., 330ft-2.342, 660ft-3.325/261.32mph.
Cruz Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.917 sec., 330ft-2.345, 660ft-3.333/258.02mph.

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Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.147/299.46, Now #8
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.154/301.07, Now #10

Beckman was all over the staging lanes and starting line in his Ricky-Bobby Halloween costume before he climbed into his car. A trouble-free pass for both drivers.

Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.923 sec., 330ft-2.345, 660ft-3.334/257.63mph.
Tim Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.927 sec., 330ft-2.361, 660ft-3.347/259.71mph.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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