Sat, 15 Jul 2006, 06:37 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #3

By Bob Orme

MORRISON, Colo. - Notes from round 3 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: Bob Gilbertson Runs 5.397/265.48, Now #14; Best prior run: 7.482/138.06, Was #16
Right Lane: Scott Kalitta Runs 5.419/274.50, Now #13; Best prior run: 5.172/254.66, Was #13

4:05 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 100 degrees, relative humidity 21 percent, barometer 24.87 inches,adjusted altitude 8,305 feet, track temperature 142 degrees.

It is hot here! Both cars make it down the track without smoking the tires, somewhat unexpected considering the conditions.

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Left Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 9.682/83.41, Now #18; Best prior run: 8.707/93.21, Was #18
Right Lane: Mike Ashley Runs 5.772/186.61, Now #12; Best prior run: 5.138/299.80, Was #12

Bartone struck the tires at about 250 and Ashley did the same at about 900 feet.

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Left Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 9.193/100.17, Now #17; Best prior run: 8.540/105.44, Was #17
Right Lane: Eric Medlen Runs 7.374/119.81, Now #11; Best prior run: 5.088/301.60, Was #11

This pair went up in smoke at the same place on the track, about 250 feet out. Medlen pedaled it a couple times before he lifted.

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Left Lane: John Force Runs 5.141/302.01, Now #10; Best prior run: 5.049/307.37, Was #10
Right Lane: Del Worsham Runs 5.374/267.22, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.983/317.64, Was #7

Worsham started hazing the tires at about 800 feet. A very good looking pass for Force, he did a quick pedal job at about 300 feet.

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Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 5.257/278.17, Now #14; Best prior run: 5.422/265.17, Was #15
Right Lane: Phil Burkart Runs 5.279/292.71, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.952/313.37, Was #6

A good looking pass for both drivers, the tires stayed hooked up all the way down the track.

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Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 8.869/106.91, Now #16; Best prior run: 5.440/210.54, Was #16
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 9.189/88.26, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.941/307.37, Was #5

Both drivers were up in smoke at about 250 feet.

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Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 10.327/99.77, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.992/309.91, Was #9
Right Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 5.116/290.88, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.932/308.00, Was #4

Pedregon made a move toward the centerline just past the tree and he clicked it off. No problems for Scelzi on this pass.

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Left Lane: Whit Bazemore Runs 5.129/276.13, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.985/311.70, Was #8
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 6.918/134.06, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.916/301.87, Was #3

A good looking pass for Bazemore. Hight struck the tires at about 200 feet. He pedaled it, and lost traction again just before half track.

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Left Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 9.450/92.02, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.907/307.37, Was #2
Right Lane: Gary Densham Runs 7.106/129.67, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.893/292.20, Was #1

Both drivers had traction troubles at about 250 feet. Johnson lifted while Densham feathered the throttle a couple times in the middle section of the track.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink