Sat, 13 Oct 2018, 14:23 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #3

By Bob Orme

CONCORD, N.C. - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 11th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals presented by WIX Filters 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:

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Right Lane: Bob Gilbertson Runs 4.301/250.88, Now #16; Best prior run: 7.007/87.58, Was #17

1:49 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 70 degrees, relative humidity 46 percent, barometer 29.27 inches, adjusted altitude 1,983 feet, track temperature 106 degrees.

Gilbertson dropped a cylinder or two on this trip down the track. This pass puts him on the bump spot.

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Left Lane: Jim Campbell Runs 4.679/181.03, Now #13; Best prior run: 4.035/309.42, Was #13
Right Lane: Dale Creasy Jr. Runs 4.181/301.87, Now #14; Best prior run: 4.235/280.72, Was #14

Campbell was dropping cylinders before half track and he lifted. Creasy runs better than his earlier time but does not improve his position.

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Right Lane: Jonnie Lindberg Runs 5.484/127.96, Now #17; Best prior run: 4.869/159.99, Was #17

Lindberg struck the tires at about 300 feet and he lifted.

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Left Lane: Shawn Langdon Runs 5.380/134.77, Now #12; Best prior run: 3.980/324.44, Was #11
Right Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 3.920/323.58, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.004/313.80, Was #12

Langdon hazed the tires at half track. A clean pass by Tasca moves him up to the number 8 spot for now.

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Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 3.987/314.39, Now #11; Best prior run: 3.953/324.98, Was #11
Right Lane: Courtney Force Runs 4.301/205.13, Now #10; Best prior run: 3.945/308.50, Was #10

Force's engine went silent around half track. Beckman is unable to improve.

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Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 3.944/301.07, Now #6; Best prior run: 3.906/328.22, Was #6
Right Lane: John Force Runs 3.932/329.26, Now #9; Best prior run: 3.932/329.26, Was #9

A decent pass by both drivers but neither improves.

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Left Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 3.924/327.03, Now #4; Best prior run: 3.901/329.26, Was #4
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 3.911/329.50, Now #7; Best prior run: 3.911/330.31, Was #7

Hight is driving a bracket car, 3.91 three times in a row. Johnson makes a good pass but he doesn't improve.

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Left Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 3.929/324.12, Now #3; Best prior run: 3.894/327.90, Was #3
Right Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 4.873/158.95, Now #5; Best prior run: 3.903/325.14, Was #5

Hagan hazed the tires before half track and he lifted. Todd makes a good pass but he doesn't improve.

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Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 5.394/133.65, Now #1; Best prior run: 3.875/329.42, Was #1
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 9.622/91.32, Now #2; Best prior run: 3.876/323.74, Was #2

Both drivers lost traction - Wilkerson at about 100 feet and Capps at about 250 feet.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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