Sun, 10 Feb 2008, 06:38 PM Funny Car Round 3 Eliminations

By Darryl Jackman

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   71 Cruz Pedregon                          10 Ashley Force                 
E3   ****WINNER****  0.040  4.850 325.06                     0.141  4.996 246.75
 Prior rounds:
E2    (J Beckman   ) 0.048  5.010 303.84      (B Tasca III ) 0.119  4.873 318.62
E1    (M Neff      ) 0.045  4.927 311.85      (B Bode      ) 0.112  5.959 300.00
 Qualified:             #7  4.830 321.27                        #6  4.828 309.77

3:27 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 16 percent, barometer 28.92 inches, adjusted altitude 2,883 feet, track temperature 94 degrees.

Cruz's team has the car back together and ready to face A. Force. Force is really late and Pedregon outruns her as well. Force was well behind as they approached the lights the belt may have come off and she ran completely out of power.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Robert Hight                            7 John Force                   
E3   ****WINNER****  0.107  4.842 313.73                     0.110 11.266  84.45
 Prior rounds:
E2    (G Densham   ) 0.113  5.291 295.46      (G Scelzi    ) 0.109  4.871 312.42
E1    (R Capps     ) 0.092  5.521 280.37      (T Pedregon  ) 0.101  4.805 327.66
 Qualified:             #9  4.837 319.14                        #5  4.823 321.58

Will 'Poppa' Force make it to the final? Hight might not roll over. He doesn't and Force strikes the tires hard right at the hit. Hight runs it right out the back door and wins lane choice over Pedregon in the final. Hight stands at 16-8 in final rounds.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink