Sun, 16 Aug 2009, 03:38 PM Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations

By Bob Orme

BRAINERD, Minn. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 28th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  170 Jeff Arend                              5 Tony Pedregon                
E1                   0.072  4.230 297.55     ****WINNER****  0.097  4.138 300.26
 Qualified:            #12  4.248 292.65                        #5  4.188 293.73

2:05 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 75 degrees, relative humidity 63 percent, barometer 28.40 inches, adjusted altitude 3,586 feet, track temperature 93 degrees.

Pedregon won this race last year. Arend's last round win was against Pedregon at the 2007 World Finals.

Arend will have to wait to break his round win drought. A flawless pass for Pedregon.

Tony Pedregon's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.001), 330 ft(0.045), 660ft(0.055). MOV: 0.0675 seconds (approximately 29 feet).

Jeff Arend's incremental times: 60ft-0.938 sec., 330ft-2.406, 660ft-3.409/256.31 mph.
Tony Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.914 sec., 330ft-2.336, 660ft-3.329/258.91 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 2814 Matt Hagan                              1 Cruz Pedregon                
E1                   0.097  5.510 114.16     ****WINNER****  0.101  4.134 300.66
 Qualified:            #13  4.266 286.50                        #4  4.179 296.24

Pedregon won this race in 1992 and he was runner up in 1993. Hagan is 2 - 1 against Pedregon in prior events.

Hagan banged the blower at about 400 feet. He had the lead until just past the 330-foot mark. Pedregon ran good enough to get lane choice over his brother in round two.

Cruz Pedregon's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.040), 330 ft(-0.006), 660ft(0.406). MOV: 1.3723 seconds (more than 100 feet).

Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.910 sec., 330ft-2.363, 660ft-3.744/157.78 mph.
Cruz Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.946 sec., 330ft-2.365, 660ft-3.334/265.69 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   34 Jack Wyatt                              6 Ashley Force Hood            
E1   ****WINNER****  0.122  4.272 261.78                     0.139  6.799  95.57
 Qualified:            #14  4.279 280.49                        #3  4.178 292.77

This is Wyatt's second race of 2009. His first round opponent in his last race was Force Hood. Force Hood is 1 - 0 against Wyatt in prior events.

Force Hood overpowered the track at about 200 feet. She could only watch as Wyatt pulled away for the win.

Jack Wyatt's incremental times: 60ft-0.951 sec., 330ft-2.410, 660ft-3.410/255.63 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Jack Beckman                            9 Mike Neff                    
E1   ****WINNER****  0.098  4.195 291.13                     0.102  5.142 147.60
 Qualified:            #16  4.351 269.35                        #1  4.126 304.46

Beckman was runner up here in 2008. This is Neff's 4th start from the top qualifying position. Beckman and Neff have each won 1 time against the other in prior events.

Neff lost traction at about 500 feet. A trouble-free pass for Beckman and he advances to round two.

Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.915 sec., 330ft-2.345, 660ft-3.358/250.74 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Tim Wilkerson                          28 Ron Capps                    
E1                   0.088  4.123 303.98     ****WINNER****  0.090  4.115 302.69
 Qualified:            #15  4.329 279.21                        #2  4.169 292.01

Capps won this race in 1998 and 2001. Wilkerson was runner up here in 2003. Capps is 18 - 11 against Wilkerson in prior events.

That was a great looking drag race! Ron Capps' incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.004), 330 ft(0.007), 660ft(0.008). MOV: 0.0063 seconds (approximately 3 feet).

Tim Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.911 sec., 330ft-2.339, 660ft-3.321/261.57 mph.
Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.913 sec., 330ft-2.330, 660ft-3.311/261.57 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  388 Jim Head                             1777 Bob Tasca III                
E1                   0.102  5.891 111.96     ****WINNER****  0.081  4.600 280.89
 Qualified:            #10  4.213 288.83                        #7  4.200 292.71

Head won this race in 1985. Head is 2 - 1 against Tasca III in prior events.

Tasca had to pedal it at about 300 feet. Head had traction troubles of his own. He got out of shape and almost hit the retaining wall at about 700 feet. Tasca will give lane choice to Capps in round two.

Jim Head's incremental times: 60ft-0.928 sec., 330ft-2.499, 660ft-4.022/142.40 mph.
Bob Tasca III's incremental times: 60ft-0.932 sec., 330ft-2.580, 660ft-3.721/231.16 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  340 Bob Bode                                7 John Force                   
E1                   0.164  5.091 180.14     ****WINNER****  0.088  4.160 303.71
 Qualified:            #11  4.228 278.69                        #6  4.195 285.41

Force is 2 - 0 against Bode in prior events. Bode struck the tires at about 300 feet. Force was to the left of the groove on the top end of the track. Force will have lane choice over Wyatt in round two.

Bob Bode's incremental times: 60ft-0.935 sec., 330ft-2.492, 660ft-3.854/187.21 mph.
John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.927 sec., 330ft-2.362, 660ft-3.356/259.61 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  767 Jerry Toliver                         750 Del Worsham                  
E1                   0.009  4.299 289.20     ****WINNER****  0.072  4.150 302.62
 Qualified:             #9  4.209 296.50                        #8  4.206 292.33

This is Worsham's 19th start at this event, his 9th from the top half of the field. This is Toliver's best starting position this year. Worsham is 12 - 6 against Toliver in prior events.

Toliver had the advantage at the tree, but Worsham erased that by the 330-foot mark. Worsham will have lane choice over Beckman in round two.

Del Worsham's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.018), 330 ft(0.019), 660ft(0.049). MOV: 0.0869 seconds (approximately 37 feet).

Jerry Toliver's incremental times: 60ft-0.963 sec., 330ft-2.437, 660ft-3.457/249.86 mph.
Del Worsham's incremental times: 60ft-0.918 sec., 330ft-2.355, 660ft-3.345/260.26 mph.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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