Fri, 31 Oct 2008, 09:00 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #2

By Bob Orme

LAS VEGAS - Notes from round 2 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 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: Bob Bode Runs 4.315/284.27, Now #14; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 4.115/302.08, Now #3; Best prior run: 7.884/88.36, Was #16

5:21 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 78 degrees, relative humidity 28 percent, barometer 28.07 inches, adjusted altitude 3,874 feet, track temperature 87 degrees.

Bode had the candles hit but engine sounded like it was laboring while going down the track. A nice looking pass for Arend.

Bob Bode's incremental times: 60ft-0.950 sec., 330ft-2.429, 660ft-3.460/245.90mph.
Jeff Arend's incremental times: 60ft-0.913 sec., 330ft-2.336, 660ft-3.314/262.90mph.

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Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 5.523/128.64, Now #17; Best prior run: 10.661/76.42, Was #20
Right Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.093/301.94, Now #1; Best prior run: 7.127/89.84, Was #16

Worsham struck the tires just before the 330-foot mark. Scelzi moves to the top of the ladder for now.

Gary Scelzi's incremental times: 60ft-0.909 sec., 330ft-2.323, 660ft-3.290/263.31mph.

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Left Lane: Jerry Toliver Runs 4.141/297.88, Now #9; Best prior run: 9.371/78.75, Was #20
Right Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 4.789/168.75, Now #17; Best prior run: 5.121/148.33, Was #16

Bartone started to get out of shape just before the 660-foot mark and he lifted.

Jerry Toliver's incremental times: 60ft-0.907 sec., 330ft-2.339, 660ft-3.325/258.86mph.

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Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.138/303.71, Now #9; Best prior run: 8.128/77.92, Was #20
Right Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 5.198/143.40, Now #16; Best prior run: 4.268/279.85, Was #15

Johnson's engine started eating itself at about 500 feet. A good looking pass for Head.

Jim Head's incremental times: 60ft-0.936 sec., 330ft-2.364, 660ft-3.338/263.20mph.

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Left Lane: Mike Neff Runs 4.096/308.07, Now #3; Best prior run: 7.341/82.81, Was #20
Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.119/301.40, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.147/299.46, Was #12

A good looking pass for both drivers.

Mike Neff's incremental times: 60ft-0.915 sec., 330ft-2.334, 660ft-3.305/264.60mph.
Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.911 sec., 330ft-2.332, 660ft-3.312/259.96mph.

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Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.100/298.60, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.170/296.44, Was #16
Right Lane: Ashley Force Runs 4.089/305.01, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.147/300.26, Was #13

Another good looking pair as Force moves to the top of the ladder for now.

Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.913 sec., 330ft-2.320, 660ft-3.293/262.33mph.
Ashley Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.895 sec., 330ft-2.311, 660ft-3.290/261.72mph.

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Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.090/304.05, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.154/301.07, Was #16
Right Lane: John Force Runs 4.062/307.37, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.134/301.13, Was #11

The candles were lit and both drivers went straight down the groove.

Tim Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.914 sec., 330ft-2.318, 660ft-3.290/262.85mph.
John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.897 sec., 330ft-2.304, 660ft-3.269/264.60mph.

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Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.080/305.56, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.149/297.09, Was #16
Right Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.138/303.16, Now #13; Best prior run: 4.134/303.64, Was #12

Pedregon moves into the number two spot for now. Tasca has a bracket car after two passes.

Cruz Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.905 sec., 330ft-2.315, 660ft-3.284/264.34mph.
Bob Tasca III's incremental times: 60ft-0.927 sec., 330ft-2.360, 660ft-3.335/261.72mph.

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Left Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 4.082/301.60, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.137/302.69, Was #14
Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 6.636/93.51, Now #13; Best prior run: 4.130/301.20, Was #12

Pedregon got loose early. He tried to pedal through it, but the Goodyears wouldn't hook up. Troxel was close to the wall at the finish.

Melanie Troxel's incremental times: 60ft-0.913 sec., 330ft-2.321, 660ft-3.284/266.06mph.

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Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 5.781/104.70, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.094/301.60, Was #7

Tire shake on the launch turned into tire smoke and Hight was off the throttle at about 400 feet.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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