Sun, 14 Sep 2008, 02:48 PM Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Jason Murray

CONCORD, N.C. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 7701 Mike Neff                               1 Tony Pedregon                
E2                   0.061 10.066  74.44     ****WINNER****  0.061  4.350 243.28
 Prior rounds:
E1    (G Densham   ) 0.068  4.207 303.71      (F Hawley    ) 0.034  4.173 301.07
 Qualified:             #8  4.104 304.46                       #16  4.134 299.40

Weather conditions: air temperature 88 degrees, relative humidity 50 percent, barometer 29.23 inches, adjusted altitude 3,602 feet, track temperature 118 degrees.

Neff and Pedregon have each won 1 times against the other in prior events. Tony had lane choice coming into this round and he choose the right lane, both cars are in the Countdown to the Championship. They at the exact same time, but by that time Neff is already up in smoke and Tony just drives on, but Tony starts to move around a bit down at 500ft and he able to keep control of the car, as the car starts to smoke the tires.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  750 Del Worsham                             5 Jack Beckman                 
E2                   0.066  5.368 214.89     ****WINNER****  0.040  4.155 298.87
 Prior rounds:
E1    (G Scelzi    ) 0.084  4.154 302.41      (J Head      ) 0.116  4.110 304.67
 Qualified:             #3  4.074 304.12                       #11  4.118 300.86

Beckman is 4 - 1 against Worsham in prior events and holds a 2 - 0 in 2nd round meetings. Worsham is up in smoke, and Beckman will take the win as he makes a very good center to keep the center in the center of the lane.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   10 Ashley Force                           71 Cruz Pedregon                
E2                   0.103  4.119 303.64     ****WINNER****  0.044  4.153 301.07
 Prior rounds:
E1    (T Wilkerson ) 0.072  4.164 304.19      (B Tasca III ) 0.087  4.116 305.70
 Qualified:             #4  4.075 307.02                        #5  4.087 303.43

Big match-up here as both are in the Countdown to the Championship. The winner will be taking on Tony Pedregon in the semi-finals. Ashley goes right in and lights both the pre-stage and stage lights, Cruz follows her in. Cruz take a big hole shot at the start, Force goes right down the center of the lane, but can't catch Pedregon. Ashley goes low ET for the round, but won't race next round. Cruz takes the win on a hole shot. Cruz will have lane choice over his brother in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   28 Ron Capps                               2 Robert Hight                 
E2                   0.087  4.371 255.87     ****WINNER****  0.082  4.241 286.74
 Prior rounds:
E1    (M Troxel    ) 0.069  4.153 301.74      (J Arend     ) 0.077  4.142 301.81
 Qualified:            #10  4.117 299.73                        #2  4.072 300.33

Hight is 9 - 5 against Capps in prior events, this should be a great race. Hight gets out first and he never looked back, Capps starts hazing the tires at 500ft and he just watched Hight go into the semi-final. Hight will give up lane choice to Beckman.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink