Sat, 15 Jul 2006, 09:05 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Final Session

By Bob Orme

MORRISON, Colo. - Notes from final, round 4 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 5.289/273.94, Now #14; Best prior run: 5.172/254.66, Was #13
Right Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 5.118/293.15, Now #12; Best prior run: 8.707/93.21, Was #18

6:28 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 83 degrees, relative humidity 30 percent, barometer 24.84 inches,adjusted altitude 7,506 feet, track temperature 111 degrees.

The candles were lit all the way down the track for both drivers. Bartone will be racing tomorrow, but Kalitta has to wait and see what happens behind him.

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Left Lane: Mike Ashley Runs 5.214/297.55, Now #13; Best prior run: 5.138/299.80, Was #13
Right Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 8.103/110.92, Now #18; Best prior run: 8.540/105.44, Was #18

Haddock was up in smoke at about 200 feet. Ashley's pass looked good until right at the finish line where he hazed the tires.

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Left Lane: Eric Medlen Runs 5.019/309.42, Now #10; Best prior run: 5.088/301.60, Was #11
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 6.936/135.27, Now #17; Best prior run: 5.440/210.54, Was #17

Bob Gilbertson is on the bump spot at 5.397. Wilkerson lost traction at about 300 feet. He pedaled it several times, trying to get into the show, but his weekend is done.

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Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 6.377/153.06, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.983/317.64, Was #7
Right Lane: Bob Gilbertson Runs 5.107/298.14, Now #12; Best prior run: 5.397/265.48, Was #16

A good looking run for Gilbertson. Worsham lost traction at about 400 feet and he lifted.

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Left Lane: Phil Burkart Runs 5.018/310.55, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.952/313.37, Was #6
Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 5.177/286.32, Now #16; Best prior run: 5.257/278.17, Was #16

A good looking pass for both drivers. It was Pedregon's best pass of the weekend, but it wasn't good enough to move him up the ladder. Looks like he left a little oil on the track after the finish line. 6:40 p.m.

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Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 5.288/217.60, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.941/307.37, Was #5
Right Lane: John Force Runs 4.984/314.31, Now #8; Best prior run: 5.049/307.37, Was #11

6:45 p.m. Pedregon's oildown was very small, making for a quick clean up. Capps was all over his lane on the top end of the track. A very good looking pass for Force.

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Left Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.896/310.20, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.932/308.00, Was #4
Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.956/308.28, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.992/309.91, Was #10

A good looking side-by-side drag race! Scelzi just missed moving into the top spot.

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Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.940/311.41, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.916/301.87, Was #4
Right Lane: Whit Bazemore Runs 4.952/302.35, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.985/311.70, Was #10

Another good looking pair, both cars where in the groove with the candles lit all the way down the track.

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Right Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 7.270/122.02, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.907/307.37, Was #3

Johnson's engine didn't sound right while idling, and it didn't sound much better when he launched. He was off the throttle at about 400 feet.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink