Results of round 1 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 36th annual
MAC Tools NHRA Gatornationals:
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
206 Bob Gilbertson 8 Tony Pedregon
E1 ****WINNER**** 0.086 4.924 311.41 0.092 4.991 247.93
Qualified: #10 4.887 311.63 #7 4.834 313.91
Weather conditions: air temperature 69 degrees, relative humidity 56 percent, barometer 29.94
inches, adjusted altitude 866 feet, track temperature 100 degrees.This is the first time this
year Tony has not been the number one qualifier and holds a 8 to 4 advantage over Gilbertson in
head to head matchups. This is Gilbertson's 103rd start.
Gilbertson is out of the gate first,
but then Pedregon grabbed the lead until just before the finish line when the engine started to go
away and Gilbertson drove around him. Gilbertson picks up his first round win this season.
Bob
Gilbertson's incremental times: 60ft-0.919 sec., 330ft-2.359, 660ft-3.371/251.67mph,
1,000ft-4.209
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
427 Tony Bartone 2 Del Worsham
E1 0.144 4.970 273.05 ****WINNER**** 0.101 4.886 320.39
Qualified: #13 4.926 315.90 #4 4.803 322.34
Worsham is defending event champion and has beat Bartone all three times they have raced. This
is Bartone's 27th start in a fuel car.Worsham is out of the gate first and never looks back for
the win. Bartone
got out of the groove on the top end and had some tire spin.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
7 Tim Wilkerson 5 Eric Medlen
E1 0.097 5.008 302.62 ****WINNER**** 0.136 4.824 322.69
Qualified: #15 5.014 259.14 #2 4.773 326.08
This is the 22nd time Medlen has qualified in the top half of the field in 26 starts.
Wilkerson holds a 3 to 2 advantage in head-to-head matchups.Wilkerson with the starting line
advantage, but Medlen has the difference made up right off the starting line and Medlen takes the
win. Medlen has lane choice over Gilbertson in the next round.
Wilkerson started to lose
traction around half track and had a quick pedal job.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
302 Dale Creasy Jr. 7000 Robert Hight
E1 0.099 12.574 82.42 ****WINNER**** 0.131 4.809 320.05
Qualified: #16 5.034 286.80 #1 4.749 325.96
Hight is the 78th different driver to qualify number one in Funny Car and he does it in only
his third start. This is Creasy Jr.'s 68th start.Creasy is out of the gate first, but is up in
smoke right off the starting line. Apparently he hurt the engine because we have oil in his lane
and that will use up his freebie.
Hight with a great looking pass for his second career
win.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
388 Jim Head 1 John Force
E1 0.085 5.038 292.58 ****WINNER**** 0.119 4.847 323.04
Qualified: #14 4.967 302.41 #3 4.775 329.42
This is the 349th race in row Force has qualified. Head's first race here in Gainesville was in
1982 and he has raced here 20 times.Head with the starting line advantage, but Force has the
difference made up by 200 feet and just drives away for the win.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
28 Ron Capps 3 Gary Scelzi
E1 0.099 4.908 315.67 ****WINNER**** 0.111 4.857 319.48
Qualified: #12 4.902 321.65 #5 4.815 310.77
Scelzi has never won here in Funny Car or Top Fuel and is three and three against Capps. This
is the second time in three races Capps has raced a Schumacher teammate in round one.Capps with
the starting line advantage, but Scelzi was able to chase him down by half track and took the win
light by a couple care lengths.
Scelzi has lane choice against Worsham.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
170 Jeff Arend 503 Tommy Johnson Jr.
E1 ****WINNER**** 0.060 4.928 301.60 0.104 4.913 314.57
Qualified: #11 4.887 304.56 #6 4.824 320.17
Johnson Jr. holds a two and oh lead in head-to-head matchups.Arend with a big starting line
advantage and the power to hold on for the hole shot win. Jeff Arend's incremental margins:
60ft(0.032), 330 ft(0.057), 660ft(0.058), 1,000ft(0.053). MOV: 0.0298 seconds (approximately 14
feet).
This is his first round win since Reading of 1996.
Arend will give up lane choice to
Force.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
9 Cruz Pedregon 6 Whit Bazemore
E1 0.097 10.693 89.68 ****WINNER**** 0.068 4.869 316.67
Qualified: #9 4.865 302.31 #8 4.862 313.26
Pedregon holds a 19 to 15 lead in head-to-head matchups. Cruz won this race in
1998.Bazemore with a great light and then Cruz is up in smoke right off the starting line.
Bazemore will give up lane choice to Hight.
Timing data courtesy of
CompuLink
