Sun, 01 Sep 2013, 13:05 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #3

By David Gerard

BROWNSBURG, Ind. - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 59th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. 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:

---

Left Lane: John Force Runs 4.056/312.71, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.087/309.70, Was #9
Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.068/309.06, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.087/298.14, Was #10

12:43 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 82 degrees, relative humidity 64 percent, barometer 28.88 inches, adjusted altitude 3,610 feet, track temperature 110 degrees.

The first four pair are also in the Traxxas Shootout.

Two strong passes and Force move up into the top half of the field on a strong pass.

Pedregon improves one spot too.

John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.905 sec., 330ft-2.319, 660ft-3.279/269.24 mph.
Cruz Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.908 sec., 330ft-2.316, 660ft-3.280/265.69 mph.

---

Left Lane: Johnny Gray Runs 4.122/309.70, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.012/312.13, Was #2
Right Lane: Courtney Force Runs 4.116/312.06, Now #11; Best prior run: 4.088/316.30, Was #11

Clean passes, but neither car will improve,

Johnny Gray's incremental times: 60ft-0.923 sec., 330ft-2.353, 660ft-3.332/264.03 mph.
Courtney Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.922 sec., 330ft-2.347, 660ft-3.332/263.20 mph.

---

Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.118/304.46, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.049/315.27, Was #5
Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.062/310.20, Now #8; No Prior Run

Beckman really need a clean pass here, as he was outside the field coming in. He flies off the line and moves into the current top half of the field.

Strong pass for Capps too, but he doesn't improve.

Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.924 sec., 330ft-2.345, 660ft-3.319/264.34 mph.
Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.904 sec., 330ft-2.314, 660ft-3.278/266.37 mph.

---

Left Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 4.109/311.20, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.007/319.22, Was #1
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.086/312.50, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.130/304.80, Was #13

Wilkerson makes a clean and straight pass to move up a spot on the ladder.

Hagan's pass was strong, but he doesn't improve.

Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.909 sec., 330ft-2.343, 660ft-3.322/264.34 mph.
Tim Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.921 sec., 330ft-2.337, 660ft-3.304/265.90 mph.

---

Left Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 4.138/306.12, Now #14; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Bob Bode Runs 4.357/282.24, Now #15; No Prior Run

Both cars run better than yesterday and get them into the field for now.

Jeff Arend's incremental times: 60ft-0.919 sec., 330ft-2.349, 660ft-3.339/260.01 mph.
Bob Bode's incremental times: 60ft-0.946 sec., 330ft-2.437, 660ft-3.495/241.58 mph.

---

Left Lane: Blake Alexander Runs 4.191/295.66, Now #16; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Alexis DeJoria Runs 4.132/304.53, Now #14; No Prior Run

This pair will set a bump spot and Alexander gets it for now.

DeJoria had a good pass and then had a late chute after the finish line. It finally comes out and she stops without issue.

Blake Alexander's incremental times: 60ft-0.927 sec., 330ft-2.373, 660ft-3.371/256.70 mph.
Alexis DeJoria's incremental times: 60ft-0.900 sec., 330ft-2.337, 660ft-3.330/258.81 mph.

---

Left Lane: Paul Lee Runs 5.400/133.05, Now #11; Best prior run: 4.072/297.61, Was #11
Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 10.229/77.20, Now #18; No Prior Run

Weird burnout for Pedregon. Kind of a "Whomp - Whomp - Whomp" .

Pedregon's tires are right up in smoke before the 60 foot lights and he slows.

Lee had a strong ;leave and then has the slicks smoking right after the 330 lights. That still gets him into the field for now.

---

Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 7.439/81.60, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.046/313.88, Was #4
Right Lane: Chad Head Runs 5.300/139.95, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.064/308.35, Was #9

Two strong leaves and then Tasca's Mustang is smoking the tires about 200 feet out. Head only get to just past the 330 lights before his tires are up in smoke too.

---

Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 4.091/311.63, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.045/313.15, Was #3
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.101/310.55, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.056/310.91, Was #7

Great way to end the session, as we get the best passes of the bunch.

They start just 0.010 seconds apart at the green and finish up just 0.0107 at the finish line. Neither car will improve, but this was a great "race".

Del Worsham's incremental times: 60ft-0.913 sec., 330ft-2.345, 660ft-3.310/267.48 mph.
Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.915 sec., 330ft-2.340, 660ft-3.317/264.70 mph.

1:00 p.m. Matt Hagan is still number one at 4.007 and Blake Alexander is on the bump spot at 4.191.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Feb 13- NHRA and FOX Sports Announce TV Schedule for NHRA's 75th Anniversary Season
Feb 12- 75th Anniversary Celebration Kickoff at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Feb 10- Wally Parks 75th Anniversary Appreciation Fund Part of $27 Million Overall Purse
Feb 08- NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Releases 2026 Schedule
Feb 07- Huge List of Legends Set to Appear at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Feb 05- NHRA and Legends Global Extend Merchandise Partnership Ahead of 75th Anniversary Season
Feb 04- Doug Foley Announces Addition of Ron Douglas as Consultant to Foley Lewis Racing Top Fuel Team
Feb 04- Tickets Now on Sale for NHRA's Debut at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park and Rockingham Dragway
Feb 04- Reed, Zetterström to Share Driving Duties of Reed Trucking & Excavating Top Fuel Dragster
Jan 29- NHRA to Honor Iconic John Force in 2027 with "50 Years Of Force"