Fri, 21 Feb 2020, 19:42 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #2

By David Gerard

CHANDLER, Ariz. - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 36th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals 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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Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 3.889/329.42, Now #3; Best prior run: 6.511/107.15, Was #14
Right Lane: Jim Campbell Runs 4.352/269.67, Now #12; Best prior run: 6.707/98.77, Was #15

5:11 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 77 degrees, relative humidity 36 percent, barometer 28.77 inches, adjusted altitude 3,005 feet, track temperature 89 degrees.

Robert Hight is number one at 3.867 Jeff Diehl is on the bump spot at 6.987.

A strong way to start the session. Fast Jack gets a huge starting line advantage and makes a stright and clean pass right on down the track to move eleven spots up the ladder to the new #3 spot with the second fastest speed,so far.

Campbell makes his quickest and fastest pass of the season to move three positions up the ladder into the number twelve spot. He slows near the 1000 foot lights.

Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.864 sec., 330ft-2.240, 660ft-3.152/283.73 mph.
Jim Campbell's incremental times: 60ft-0.898 sec., 330ft-2.377, 660ft-3.459/234.74 mph.

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Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 3.953/326.40, Now #8; Best prior run: 5.473/127.20, Was #14
Right Lane: John Force Runs 3.861/331.94, Now #1; Best prior run: 5.120/144.80, Was #13

Force is away fist by just a tad, but but pushes teammate, Hight, down a spot with a his quickest run of the year.

Capps gets a full pass this time and moves up six spots to the top half of the field.

Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.869 sec., 330ft-2.275, 660ft-3.208/279.50 mph.
John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.866 sec., 330ft-2.222, 660ft-3.129/285.17 mph.

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Left Lane: Paul Lee Runs 4.640/172.30, Now #13; Best prior run: 4.257/210.37, Was #13
Right Lane: Alexis DeJoria Runs 3.942/301.74, Now #7; Best prior run: 3.972/325.30, Was #11

A strong leave for DeJoria, but the Camry starts to push towards the centerline down track and she has to lift. That is still good enough for a four spot move up to the top half of the field.

Lee was a lot stronger to after the 330 lights, but shakes the tires loose and slows.

Alexis DeJoria's incremental times: 60ft-0.887 sec., 330ft-2.258, 660ft-3.181/280.43 mph.

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Left Lane: Blake Alexander Runs 6.672/93.91, Now #12; Best prior run: 3.974/319.75, Was #12
Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.021/313.95, Now #11; Best prior run: 3.962/323.74, Was #11

Alexander takes his Mustang away first, but kicks the tires loose early and slows.

Pedregon way on a strong pass until after the 660 lights and then has the Charger power towards the wall. He lifts just in time to save the shiny on the 100the anniversary SnapOn FC.

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Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 3.883/328.86, Now #4; Best prior run: 3.958/323.50, Was #10
Right Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 3.916/317.64, Now #7; Best prior run: 3.943/327.11, Was #8

They leave just 0.010 apart and run together down the track.

Todd has the getter incremental until near the 660 lights, where Tasca power takes over. Todd moves up one spot and Tasca up six to the top four.

Bob Tasca III's incremental times: 60ft-0.862 sec., 330ft-2.229, 660ft-3.143/282.07 mph.
J.R. Todd's incremental times: 60ft-0.876 sec., 330ft-2.260, 660ft-3.173/284.09 mph.

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Left Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 3.859/331.61, Now #1; Best prior run: 3.882/324.75, Was #3
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 3.893/323.27, Now #6; Best prior run: 3.934/307.72, Was #8

A great ol' drag race!

Big advantage off the line at the green for Hagan and he just pulls steadily ahead all the way to the finish line for the new top spot. Just 0.003 quicker than Force.

Wilkerson chases on his own strong pass and moves up two spots to #6.

Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.852 sec., 330ft-2.219, 660ft-3.125/285.35 mph.
Tim Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.869 sec., 330ft-2.242, 660ft-3.153/282.24 mph.

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Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 5.760/118.47, Now #3; Best prior run: 3.867/330.55, Was #3
Right Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 9.578/75.57, Now #7; Best prior run: 3.915/324.12, Was #7

Too much power, too soon for both cars!

They leave just 0.004 apart and Johnson shakes the tires loose right away. Hight doesn't make it to the 330 lights before his tires are smoking too.

5:36 p.m. Matt Hagan is number one at 3.859 and Jeff Diehl is on the bump spot at 6.987.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink

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