Fri, 14 Jul 2006, 07:41 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Bob Orme

MORRISON, Colo. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 27th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 6.133/207.56, Now #1
Right Lane: Mike Ashley Runs 9.795/85.63, Now #2

5:12 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 89 degrees, relative humidity 27 percent, barometer 24.86 inches,adjusted altitude 7,811 feet, track temperature 129 degrees.

Both drivers struck the tires at about 250 feet. Ashley got off the throttle while Wilkerson pedaled it a couple times.

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Left Lane: Bob Gilbertson Runs 7.482/138.06, Now #2
Right Lane: Gary Densham Runs 7.683/114.21, Now #3

Another pair of tire strikers, both at around 250 feet.

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Left Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 8.707/93.21, Now #5
Right Lane: Phil Burkart Runs 5.318/290.38, Now #1

Bartone hazed the tires just before the 330-foot mark. Burkart makes the first full pass of the day for the nitro Funny Cars.

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Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 5.422/265.17, Now #3
Right Lane: Del Worsham Runs 5.268/265.64, Now #1

Pedregon pedaled it at about 300 feet, but other than that, it was a trouble-free pass for both drivers.

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Left Lane: Whit Bazemore Runs 5.174/294.24, Now #1
Right Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 7.384/115.20, Now #6

Scelzi lost traction at about 400 feet and he was all over his lane through the 1000-foot mark. No problems for Bazemore.

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Left Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 6.810/144.97, Now #7
Right Lane: Eric Medlen Runs 5.670/216.45, Now #5

Traction troubles for both drivers. Medlen was able to pedal it once at about 300 feet to get the car hooked up. Johnson pedaled it a couple times without much success.

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Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 5.175/287.84, Now #2
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 5.722/263.87, Now #7

A good looking pass for Pedregon. Hight stuck the tires at about 300 feet, then he had at least one cylinder out from half track through the finish.

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Left Lane: John Force Runs 5.049/307.37, Now #1
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 9.512/85.93, Now #15

A very good looking pass for Force. Capps struck the tires at about 300 feet and he lifted.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink