Fri, 13 Oct 2017, 18:11 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Dave Rowe

ENNIS, Texas - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 32nd annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

---

Left Lane: Daniel Wilkerson Runs 3.987/311.13, Now #1
Right Lane: Todd Simpson No Time, Now #2

3:22 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 88 degrees, relative humidity 54 percent, barometer 29.46 inches, adjusted altitude 3,364 feet, track temperature 112 degrees.

Simpson hits the throttle, moves about ten feet and the car noses over.

Wilkerson goes right down the groove with a career best pass but has problems near the end of the run. he gets to the finish line, the engine explodes and breaks the body into two pieces. he comes to a stop in the shutdown area, the car is still on fire and he climbs out of the escape hatch.

The good news, it's a career best. The bad news, he has a lot of work to do to get it back for the next round.

---

Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 3.941/320.43, Now #1
Right Lane: Jeff Diehl Runs 7.137/90.38, Now #3

Diehl hits the throttle, gets about 200 feet out and goes up in smoke.

Tasca goes right down the groove with a clean pass to take the early pole.

---

Right Lane: Jim Campbell Runs 7.323/90.22, Now #4

Campbell leaves the line, starts rattling the tires, then goes up in smoke about 200 feet out and has to back off the throttle.

---

Left Lane: Jonnie Lindberg Runs 10.721/78.66, Now #6
Right Lane: Alexis DeJoria Runs 10.107/82.23, Now #5

Lindberg hits the throttle, makes a hard move toward the wall and he had to give up on the run quickly. DeJoria gets about ten feet out and the car noses over, not sure why.

---

Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 5.186/146.59, Now #4
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.015/314.75, Now #3

Pedregon gets about 20 feet out and fluid started spraying out of the back of the car. He gets about 400 feet out and the car noses over.

Wilkerson makes a clean pass and gets in the third spot for now.

---

Left Lane: J.R. Todd No Time, Now #12
Right Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 4.149/236.96, Now #4

Todd completes his burnout, can't seem to get it in reverse, then drives off the end of the track.

Johnson was on a good pass, then drifted to the left, back to the right, then he backs off the throttle.

---

Left Lane: John Force Runs 4.856/162.12, Now #6
Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 3.914/329.50, Now #1

Force leaves the line, gets about 400 feet out, hazes the tires and backs off the throttle.

Beckman goes right down the groove with a clean pass to take the pole for now.

---

Left Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 12.388/70.44, Now #13
Right Lane: Courtney Force Runs 3.928/331.94, Now #2

Hagan goes up in smoke at the hit and gave up on the run quickly.

Force goes right down the groove with a good pass to get in the second spot for now.

---

Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 6.337/105.66, Now #9
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 8.981/77.02, Now #12

Capps gets about 200 feet out and goes up in smoke. Hight gets a little further, loses traction and gives up on the run.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Oct 25- LAS VEGAS - Event Preview
Oct 22- NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Awards Ceremony Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino
Oct 22- NHRA Breakfast at 2026 SEMA Show Features Legends, Champs & A Rookie Talking Funny Car Showdown
Oct 22- DALLAS - Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Wrap Up
Oct 22- Five NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Drivers Currently Eligible for 2026 Rookie of the Year
Oct 22- Lucas Oil and NHRA Celebrate 25-Year Partnership with Multi-Year Extension
Oct 19- DALLAS - Sunday Video
Oct 18- DALLAS - Sunday Wrap Up
Oct 18- DALLAS - Summary of Eliminations in Super Stock
Oct 18- DALLAS - Summary of Eliminations in Competition Eliminator