Fri, 09 Nov 2018, 18:06 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By David Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 54th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Right Lane: Ray Martin No Time, Now #1

1:43 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 81 degrees, relative humidity 9 percent, barometer 28.86 inches, adjusted altitude 2,868 feet, track temperature 106 degrees.

We will be using points and a half for the final race of the season. Todd comes into the round with a 74 point lead over Hight, so "Little Points" have the potential of making a difference before Sunday. Martin is driving the Worsham Family Funny Car this weekend.

The Toyota makes a good leave and then starts to drop cylinders down track. That pushes it towards the wall and it hits just before the finish line to scrub the ends off the headers. That DQ's the run and will cost him five points

Ray Martin's incremental times: 60ft-0.916 sec., 330ft-2.402, 660ft-3.473/220.01 mph.

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Left Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 5.783/120.71, Now #2
Right Lane: Bob Bode Runs 4.346/205.76, Now #1

Arend goes into shake and then has the tires smoking. He clicks it early.

Bode's Mustang was a little lazy going down the track.

Bob Bode's incremental times: 60ft-0.885 sec., 330ft-2.285, 660ft-3.272/232.55 mph.

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Left Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 4.253/260.56, Now #1
Right Lane: Jeff Diehl Runs 4.632/190.35, Now #3

Haddock gets to just after the finish line and the engine erupts in flames. The fire continues to burn going down the track and he can't get the Mustang stopped before it drives well into the sand at the end of the track. The fire continues to flare up up and the front and back of the car are enveloped in flames. Haddock is quickly out of the car and has to stand and watch while the car quickly turns into a "Krispy Kritter". The Safety Safari guys are quickly there and pull the body off and put down the flames. Looks like oil on the track too, from after the 660 right on down the track.

Diehl quietly makes a far less dramatic pass in the right lane.

Terry Haddock's incremental times: 60ft-0.886 sec., 330ft-2.307, 660ft-3.346/239.61 mph.
Jeff Diehl's incremental times: 60ft-0.930 sec., 330ft-2.387, 660ft-3.465/212.53 mph.

1:50 p.m. This might take a while.

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Left Lane: Jim Campbell Runs 4.029/307.30, Now #1
Right Lane: Jonnie Lindberg Runs 5.639/122.74, Now #5

2:31 p.m. Back to qualifying!

It's reported that Campbell will retain his ride in the Jim Dunn Racing Charger next year! They are running "Moon Eyes" wrap this weekend!

Campbell marches the car off the line and pulls hard to the finish line on a clean pass.

Lindberg's Mustang gets in trouble before the 330 lights and slows.

Jim Campbell's incremental times: 60ft-0.893 sec., 330ft-2.292, 660ft-3.247/273.27 mph.

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Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 5.443/130.25, Now #6
Right Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.217/230.06, Now #2

Two strong leaves, but Pedregon's Camry starts to shake early and he has to lift.

Tasca powers on down the track and then moves towards the center line after thev660 foot lights. He is off the throttle early too.

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Left Lane: Shawn Langdon Runs 4.018/319.52, Now #1
Right Lane: John Force Runs 4.386/206.54, Now #6

They leave close together and run right side by side through the 330 lights. Force's Camaro starts to get loose before the 660 lights and he starts to slow.

Langdon pushes on to the finish line and moves to the current top of the ladder.

Shawn Langdon's incremental times: 60ft-0.886 sec., 330ft-2.290, 660ft-3.248/273.00 mph.
John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.894 sec., 330ft-2.300, 660ft-3.315/230.53 mph.

2:40 p.m. Force's car has a flat tire near the turnout and is stuck on the track.

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Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.317/217.04, Now #6
Right Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 4.256/214.62, Now #5

2:44 p.m. That didn't take long. Back to qualifying!

Both cars leave hard together and run side by side together until right after the 330 lights. Beckman's Charger starts to lose traction after that and is almost immediately followed by Hagan's.

Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.877 sec., 330ft-2.274, 660ft-3.292/240.94 mph.
Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.876 sec., 330ft-2.241, 660ft-3.221/242.10 mph.

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Left Lane: Courtney Force Runs 3.965/316.15, Now #2
Right Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 3.960/317.42, Now #1

We finally get our three second pass and there are a pair of them!

Identical ET's at 60 feet and they run right together to the finish line, just 0.005 seconds apart! Nice!

Courtney Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.874 sec., 330ft-2.259, 660ft-3.208/274.89 mph.
Tommy Johnson Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.874 sec., 330ft-2.264, 660ft-3.200/274.83 mph.

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Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.815/163.67, Now #12
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 6.172/111.99, Now #16

Both cars leave hard and then both cars shake the tires loose. Capps first and soon followed by Wilkerson.

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Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 6.130/108.49, Now #17
Right Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 4.254/219.12, Now #7

Ron Capps is on the bump spot at 6.172.

Two more broken runs. Neither car will gather Little Bonus Points this session!

They stay close off the line, but Todd starts to pull away before the 330 lights. Hight is done shortly after that and Todd gets a little further before he too is spinning the tires.

Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.880 sec., 330ft-2.392, 660ft-4.111/125.30 mph.
J.R. Todd's incremental times: 60ft-0.889 sec., 330ft-2.275, 660ft-3.246/246.26 mph.

3:00 p.m. Johnson is number one at 3.960 and Jeff Arend is on the bump spot at 5.783.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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