Sun, 28 Sep 2008, 04:02 PM Funny Car Round 3 Eliminations

By Dave Rowe

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 21st annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals presented by Pennzoil:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  347 Tim Wilkerson                           2 Robert Hight                 
E3   ****WINNER****  0.084  4.168 297.94                     0.079  4.208 287.23
 Prior rounds:
E2    (J Force     ) 0.099  4.231 281.54      (C Pedregon  ) 0.047  4.228 282.24
E1    (M Troxel    ) 0.115  4.186 295.21      (R Capps     ) 0.069  4.125 297.48
 Qualified:            #11  4.154 300.40                        #7  4.122 285.95

2:45 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 86 degrees, relative humidity 38 percent, barometer 29.76 inches, adjusted altitude 2,601 feet, track temperature 118 degrees.

Another big race, Wilkerson will lead the points at the end of this race no matter what happens, but Hight can take a big bite out of his lead with a win here.

Hight is 6 - 3 against Wilkerson in prior events.

Hight can't do it, he starts to pull away but started putting out raw fuel before he reached half-track.

Tim Wilkerson's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.003), 330 ft(-0.008), 660ft(0.009). MOV: 0.0354 seconds (approximately 15 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 7701 Mike Neff                              10 Ashley Force                 
E3                   0.108  4.780 171.25     ****WINNER****  0.092  4.175 293.79
 Prior rounds:
E2    (J Beckman   ) 0.078  4.186 289.51      (G Scelzi    ) 0.079  4.146 291.57
E1    (J Arend     ) 0.078  4.171 297.22      (B Tasca III ) 0.089  4.128 298.47
 Qualified:             #4  4.113 297.42                        #1  4.079 298.87

Force gets the hole-shot, then Neff starts to gain ground. Neff takes the lead at the 330 foot mark, then strikes the tires. Force drives around soon after and pulls away for the win. Force will take on Wilkerson in the final round, Wilkerson with the lane choice. Wilkerson will have the points lead regardless of what happens. Force can tie Beckman for second place if she wins the race.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink