Fri, 20 Jun 2008, 09:08 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #2 |
By Larry Sullivan |
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 39th annual Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals 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:
Left Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 7.035/124.58, Now #17; Best prior run: 10.923/74.15, Was #20
Right Lane: Scott Kalitta Runs 5.009/247.52, Now #7; Best prior run: 9.230/85.55, Was #19
8:12 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 78 degrees, relative humidity 46 percent, barometer 29.90 inches, adjusted altitude 1,897 feet, track temperature 97 degrees.
These two ran as a pair in the first session, losing traction in almost perfect synchronization.
Bartone shiut it off about 300 feet out, hazing the tires. Kalitta looked ;like he was on a good run until about
1,000 feet, then there was a flash of flame under the car and he slowed. But he hade the momentum to move into the field - for now,
anyway. Jim Head is now on the bump spot at 5.497.
Left Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 4.891/295.21, Now #2; Best prior run: 8.674/100.43, Was #20
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.856/317.34, Now #1; Best prior run: 7.459/110.90, Was #19
Thats more like it - two good runs to scramble the field, from the outside to the top two spots. TJ's car nosed over on the top end, with a small flash of flame, after running 258 mph at half track to Capps' 256.
Left Lane: Mike Neff Runs 4.870/306.12, Now #2; Best prior run: 6.624/133.01, Was #17
Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.890/317.12, Now #3; Best prior run: 7.268/118.05, Was #20
Those two put Jerry Toliver on the bump spot at 5.133.
Two more nice runs and the field shifts again. Now Melanie
Troxel is on the bump spot at 5.024.
Left Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.883/315.64, Now #4; Best prior run: 6.099/153.23, Was #18
Right Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.856/316.38, Now #2; Best prior run: 6.752/128.42, Was #19
We are behind schedule because of a plethora of oildowns earlier today, and the improved conditions are working to the advantage of the fuel cars.
Two more good runs, the field shifts again and the next poair anxiously awaits their turn. Now Del
Worsham is on the bump spot at 5.008.
Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 10.590/84.33, Now #19; Best prior run: 5.850/201.13, Was #19
Right Lane: Jerry Toliver Runs 4.876/318.02, Now #4; Best prior run: 5.133/276.63, Was #16
Pedregon lost traction about 100 feet out, pedaled, smoked 'em again. Nice pass by Toliver to bump into the field far enough up to be assured he'll stay in the top twelve.
Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.803/320.51, Now #1; Best prior run: 5.497/188.44, Was #18
Right Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 4.835/321.50, Now #2; Best prior run: 5.024/288.64, Was #15
Head goes to the top of the list on a nice run, Troxel hot on his heels. The fans are getting a good show tonight, the late session now dark enough that the header flames are clearly visible.
Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 8.947/87.70, Now #18; Best prior run: 5.182/224.88, Was #18
Right Lane: Mike Ashley Runs 8.727/95.42, Now #14; Best prior run: 5.007/298.54, Was #14
Those two runs put Robert Hight on the bump spot at 4.963.
Both lost traction about 200 feet out, Pedregon first,
Ashley right after.
Left Lane: Gary Densham Runs 7.785/110.03, Now #17; Best prior run: 5.051/280.25, Was #17
Right Lane: Ashley Force Runs 4.803/314.75, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.976/300.20, Was #13
Densham lost traction about 200 feet out, but Force matched Head's elapsed time, losing the position on speed.
Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 4.831/314.53, Now #4; Best prior run: 5.008/265.33, Was #15
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.810/303.71, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.963/283.55, Was #13
Force's run bumped Hight, putting Tim Wilkerson on the bump spot at 4.953.
Both Worsham and Hight bumped in, bumping
out Wilkerson and John Force, who started the round in the top two spots in the field, with Tommy Johnson Jr. on the bump spot at
4.891 and Jack Beckman 11th at 4.890.
Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.873/317.27, Now #10; Best prior run: 4.953/304.67, Was #14
Right Lane: John Force Runs 4.810/321.12, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.932/301.60, Was #13
Both got in, bumping TJ and Beckman. The provisional field goes from Head at 4.803 to Gary Scelzi, at 4.883. Great session, tough break for the teams that missed the provisional field because they will have to start over in tomorrow's two daytime sessions.
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