Fri, 14 Jul 2006, 10:37 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #2

By Bob Orme

MORRISON, Colo. - Notes from round 2 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 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: Scott Kalitta Runs 5.172/254.66, Now #2; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 8.540/105.44, Now #15; No Prior Run

7:54 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 34 percent, barometer 24.86 inches,adjusted altitude 7,306 feet, track temperature 104 degrees.

Haddock struck the tires at about 300 feet. He pedaled it, and when he got back on the throttle, the car started to fishtail, and he had to lift to keep it off the wall. Kalitta was mixing up the cylinders at the top end.

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Left Lane: Mike Ashley Runs 5.138/299.80, Now #2; Best prior run: 9.795/85.63, Was #18
Right Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 9.036/83.75, Now #17; Best prior run: 8.707/93.21, Was #16

Bartone smoked the tires at about 300 feet and he lifted. No problems for Ashley on this pass.

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Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.941/307.37, Now #1; Best prior run: 9.512/85.93, Was #18
Right Lane: Bob Gilbertson Runs 7.276/141.12, Now #14; Best prior run: 7.482/138.06, Was #14

The right lane has not been good to the Funny Cars so far tonight, Gilbertson was up in smoke at about 300 feet. A very strong pass for Capps.

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Left Lane: Gary Densham Runs 4.893/292.20, Now #1; Best prior run: 7.683/114.21, Was #16
Right Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 4.907/307.37, Now #2; Best prior run: 6.810/144.97, Was #13

A good looking side-by-side drag race! Both drivers kept the tires hooked and the candles lit all the way down the track. Johnson had something break on his engine after the finish line, as there was oil in the shutdown area. This one won't cost him, as he had a freebie to use.

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Left Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.932/308.00, Now #3; Best prior run: 7.384/115.20, Was #16
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 5.440/210.54, Now #13; Best prior run: 6.133/207.56, Was #14

Wilkerson was off the throttle at about 1000 feet, the engine trailing smoke from that point through the finish.

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Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.916/301.87, Now #3; Best prior run: 5.722/263.87, Was #15
Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 5.653/195.03, Now #13; Best prior run: 5.422/265.17, Was #12

Pedregon was on a good looking pass until his engine blew up at the half track timers. The car was on fire, and was still on fire after he got out of the car in the shutdown area. He's okay, but the same can't be said for the car. 8:17 p.m.

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Left Lane: Eric Medlen Runs 5.088/301.60, Now #8; Best prior run: 5.670/216.45, Was #15
Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.992/309.91, Now #6; Best prior run: 5.175/287.84, Was #10

8:24 p.m. A good looking pass for both cars, Medlen's looking better than the numbers show.

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Left Lane: Phil Burkart Runs 4.952/313.37, Now #6; Best prior run: 5.318/290.38, Was #13
Right Lane: Whit Bazemore Runs 4.985/311.70, Now #7; Best prior run: 5.174/294.24, Was #11

Another good looking pass in both lanes.

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Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 4.983/317.64, Now #7; Best prior run: 5.268/265.64, Was #13
Right Lane: John Force Runs 6.136/178.85, Now #10; Best prior run: 5.049/307.37, Was #9

Force struck the tires at about 300 feet. He pedaled it three times before he crossed the finish line.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink