Fri, 28 Jul 2006, 07:43 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Darryl Jackman

SONOMA, Calif. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 19th annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Right Lane: Mike Ashley Runs 6.849/154.33, Now #1

4:00 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 79 degrees, relative humidity 56 percent, barometer 30.09 inches, adjusted altitude 1,409 feet, track temperature 122 degrees.

Ashley rattled the tires early and lifted completely but got back on the pedal and finished the run.

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Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 5.183/274.61, Now #1
Right Lane: Scott Kalitta Runs 5.722/173.36, Now #2

Kalitta looked to be on a good pass until about 800 feet. Lots of wet out of the pipes indicated a blower belt maybe. Wilkerson was soft at each mark but finished his run under power.

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Left Lane: Bob Gilbertson Runs 4.975/301.33, Now #2
Right Lane: Gary Densham Runs 4.920/310.77, Now #1

Another pair gets down the track under power and post leading numbers for the moment.

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Left Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 9.446/87.29, Now #7
Right Lane: Phil Burkart Runs 7.663/118.30, Now #6

Both drivers rattle the tires loose at about 300 feet and both wind up coasting across the finish line.

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Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 5.273/265.53, Now #4
Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 7.740/109.03, Now #8

Again both cars kick the tires loose at around the transition but Worsham gets back on the fuel and finishes under power.

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Left Lane: Whit Bazemore Runs 5.612/184.83, Now #5
Right Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 7.122/131.77, Now #8

This is not the prettiest nitro session that I've ever seen. Both smoke the tires but Bazemore attempted to finish the run. Johnson slapped the pedal but the tires never rehooked on his Monte Carlo.

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Left Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 10.317/64.89, Now #13
Right Lane: Eric Medlen Runs 5.605/183.62, Now #5

Scelzi struck the tires early but despite the numbers Medlen struck them often. Scelzi had a small fire and lots of equipment rolled. Nothing on the ground so no penalty.

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Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 5.404/205.47, Now #6
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 5.111/300.53, Now #3

Hight appears to be sporting a new paint scheme that features the 'Road To The Future' Rookie of the year award. He outlasts Tony Pedregon to move in behind Densham and Gilbertson.

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Left Lane: John Force Runs 9.855/70.51, Now #16
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.973/298.14, Now #2

Force tried to recover from the same lack of traction that has bothered most of the other racers in this session. He was on and over the loud pedal several times but the Mustang just would not hook up. Capps rattled the tires loose early in the run but a slap brought the Goodyears back under control. He just misses catching Densham from the top spot but he falls just about a nickel short.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink