Sun, 21 Feb 2010, 07:20 PM Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By David Gerard

CHANDLER, Ariz. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  388 Jim Head                                9 John Force                   
E2                   0.123  8.927  79.54     ****WINNER****  0.109  4.044 309.77
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Arend     ) 0.094  4.170 304.87      (C Pedregon  ) 0.141  4.142 305.01
 Qualified:             #8  4.145 302.89                        #1  4.063 308.78

5:00 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 69 degrees, relative humidity 41 percent, barometer 28.69 inches, adjusted altitude 2,544 feet, track temperature 82 degrees.

Force is 13 - 6 against Head in prior events.

It's only the second race of the year and the resurgent John Force Team gives him a new career best ET and the round win.

Force did his part with a hole shot lead over Head and an easy win, as the Solara shakes, spins, and smokes the tires.

John Force's incremental margins: 60ft(0.036), 330 ft(0.868), 660ft(2.790). MOV: 4.8975 seconds (more than 100 feet).

Jim Head's incremental times: 60ft-0.915 sec., 330ft-3.151, 660ft-6.031/079.46 mph.
John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.893 sec., 330ft-2.297, 660ft-3.255/265.90 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    6 Tony Pedregon                          28 Ron Capps                    
E2   ****WINNER****  0.111  4.195 304.05                     0.092  4.911 216.06
 Prior rounds:
E1    (D Worsham   ) 0.060  4.198 300.06      (G Densham   ) 0.094  4.097 307.65
 Qualified:            #14  4.211 303.23                        #6  4.120 305.22

Pedregon is 26 - 19 against Capps in prior events.

Pedregon didn't get the hole shot, but Capp's Charger shuttered and spun the tires right after the 330 lights to give the Nitro Fish FC the easy win.

Tony Pedregon's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.042), 330 ft(0.137), 660ft(0.477). MOV: 0.6976 seconds (more than 100 feet).

Tony Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.936 sec., 330ft-2.398, 660ft-3.396/260.61 mph.
Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.913 sec., 330ft-2.554, 660ft-3.892/211.76 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 2814 Matt Hagan                              5 Jack Beckman                 
E2                   0.102  6.968 126.84     ****WINNER****  0.104  4.136 303.78
 Prior rounds:
E1    (P Lee       ) 0.097  4.307 216.90      (B Tasca III ) 0.092  4.132 307.37
 Qualified:             #2  4.068 311.34                        #7  4.133 307.30

Beckman is 3 - 1 against Hagan in prior events. The two teammates don't get a chance to bid on bragging rights, as they leave together, and then Hagan's car strikes the tires right after that. He pumps it and then slows.

Beckman basically repeats his first round performance and will get lane choice over Pedregon in round three.

Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-1.031 sec., 330ft-3.677, 660ft-5.246/146.16 mph.
Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.934 sec., 330ft-2.358, 660ft-3.335/262.13 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Ashley Force Hood                       1 Robert Hight                 
E2                   0.074  4.144 295.01     ****WINNER****  0.105  4.107 302.69
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M Troxel    ) 0.100  4.104 306.81      (T Wilkerson ) 0.106  4.075 308.99
 Qualified:             #5  4.119 295.79                        #4  4.094 302.96

Hight is 6 - 3 against Force Hood in prior events. Another two team members meet to see who races John next round.

Force Hood gets a great 0.074 RT and it's enough to keep her Mustang out in from until after the 660 lights. It's all Prock Power after that, as the blue car just gets on by for a close three foot win.

Robert Hight's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.012), 330 ft(-0.007), 660ft(-0.002). MOV: 0.0062 seconds (approximately 3 feet).

Ashley Force Hood's incremental times: 60ft-0.921 sec., 330ft-2.349, 660ft-3.330/259.21 mph.
Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.902 sec., 330ft-2.325, 660ft-3.301/261.07 mph.

5:12 p.m. John Force will have lane choice in the round three.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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