Fri, 12 Oct 2018, 16:20 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Bob Orme

CONCORD, N.C. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 11th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Right Lane: Bob Gilbertson Runs 7.007/87.58, Now #1

3:34 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 72 degrees, relative humidity 38 percent, barometer 29.12 inches, adjusted altitude 2,273 feet, track temperature 113 degrees.

Gilbertson dropped a cylinder or two right after the hit and he lifted at about 250 feet.

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Right Lane: Dale Creasy Jr. Runs 4.235/280.72, Now #1

Creasy had a cylinder out around half track.

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Left Lane: Jim Campbell Runs 4.035/309.42, Now #1
Right Lane: Jonnie Lindberg Runs 4.869/159.99, Now #3

Lindberg lost traction around half track. Campbell dropped a cylinder just before the finish.

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Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 3.985/320.81, Now #1
Right Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.004/313.80, Now #2

A good looking pass by both drivers.

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Left Lane: Shawn Langdon Runs 3.980/324.44, Now #2
Right Lane: John Force Runs 3.978/327.19, Now #1

This was a good looking drag race. Both drivers were straight down the groove.

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Left Lane: Jack Beckman No Time, Now #10
Right Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 3.970/320.66, Now #1

Beckman's car went silent almost immediately. He rolled to a stop before the finish line. He also left some oil on the track. Hagan makes a solid pass to take the top spot in the order for now.

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Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 3.925/327.66, Now #1
Right Lane: Courtney Force Runs 3.977/288.15, Now #3

A solid pass by Capps. Force was also on a good pass but her engine went silent before the finish.

Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.874 sec., 330ft-2.243, 660ft-3.174/278.40 mph.

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Left Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 3.917/327.98, Now #1
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 3.988/319.07, Now #8

Another good looking pair and Johnson moves into the top spot in the order for now. Tommy Johnson Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.866 sec., 330ft-2.238, 660ft-3.168/278.46 mph.

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Left Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 3.961/317.72, Now #4
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 3.918/327.66, Now #2

Another good looking pair, and Hight just misses taking the top spot. Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.880 sec., 330ft-2.257, 660ft-3.174/281.01 mph.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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