Fri, 20 May 2016, 18:40 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Bob Orme

TOPEKA, Kan. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 28th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Right Lane: Brian Stewart Runs 4.080/295.79, Now #1

4:52 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 68 degrees, relative humidity 58 percent, barometer 28.85 inches, adjusted altitude 2,416 feet, track temperature 91 degrees.

This is Stewart's first pass of this year. He is off the throttle a little early, but his elapsed time is a career best.

Brian Stewart's incremental times: 60ft-0.900 sec., 330ft-2.300, 660ft-3.276/263.20 mph.

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Left Lane: Jack Wyatt Runs 4.456/214.76, Now #2
Right Lane: Dale Creasy Jr. Runs 8.553/76.01, Now #3

Creasy lost traction and he was off the throttle at about 200 feet. It looked like Wyatt was on a good pass, but he too was off the throttle at 600 feet.

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Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.186/242.45, Now #2

Tasca was on a good looking pass but he was off the throttle at about 800 feet.

Bob Tasca III's incremental times: 60ft-0.887 sec., 330ft-2.291, 660ft-3.270/260.86 mph.

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Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 3.985/307.37, Now #1
Right Lane: Chad Head Runs 8.816/67.68, Now #6

Head moved to the right of the groove right after the hit and he lifted at about 250 feet. A good looking pass for Pedregon.

Cruz Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.892 sec., 330ft-2.270, 660ft-3.204/273.11 mph.

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Left Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 3.958/321.42, Now #2
Right Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 3.933/331.69, Now #1

A great looking drag race! Season's best numbers for Johnson, and Hagan sets three records - the track ET record, track speed record, and the national speed record.

Tommy Johnson Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.876 sec., 330ft-2.258, 660ft-3.198/274.44 mph.
Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.871 sec., 330ft-2.267, 660ft-3.191/281.13 mph.

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Left Lane: Alexis DeJoria Runs 3.928/324.05, Now #1
Right Lane: John Force Runs 4.107/326.00, Now #6

Force had to pedal it at about 500 feet, and still runs a career best speed. Hagan didn't have the track ET record for long, as DeJoria tops that number on this run.

Alexis DeJoria's incremental times: 60ft-0.869 sec., 330ft-2.247, 660ft-3.174/276.80 mph.
John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.888 sec., 330ft-2.369, 660ft-3.346/269.73 mph.

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Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 3.918/325.61, Now #1
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 3.932/327.11, Now #3

Another great looking drag race! Worsham takes the track ET record from DeJoria.

Del Worsham's incremental times: 60ft-0.865 sec., 330ft-2.235, 660ft-3.167/276.58 mph.
Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.873 sec., 330ft-2.251, 660ft-3.183/277.49 mph.

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Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 3.924/326.40, Now #3
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 3.907/329.26, Now #1

The hits just keep coming! Capps runs his season's best speed. Wilkerson runs a career best speed and becomes the 4th different owner of the track ET record in this session.

Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.870 sec., 330ft-2.254, 660ft-3.178/279.04 mph.
Tim Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.875 sec., 330ft-2.246, 660ft-3.162/280.78 mph.

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Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 3.891/332.59, Now #1
Right Lane: Courtney Force Runs 3.899/331.45, Now #2

Wow! What a Funny Car session! Beckman takes the track ET and speed record, and sets the national speed record, while Force runs a career best speed.

Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.861 sec., 330ft-2.222, 660ft-3.152/279.56 mph.
Courtney Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.870 sec., 330ft-2.238, 660ft-3.159/281.54 mph.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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