Sun, 16 Nov 2008, 05:04 PM Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Darryl Jackman

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 44th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Jack Beckman                          507 Melanie Troxel               
E2   ****WINNER****  0.086  4.148 301.00                     0.065  4.184 299.33
 Prior rounds:
E1    (G Scelzi    ) 0.080  4.149 299.80      (J Head      ) 0.075  5.192 189.95
 Qualified:            #10  4.123 301.67                        #2  4.082 305.01

1:46 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 18 percent, barometer 28.92 inches, adjusted altitude 2,809 feet, track temperature 101 degrees.

Beckman is trying to win the event and finish as high in the points as possible. Beckman and Troxel have each won 1 time against the other in prior events. This was pretty close at the other end. Jack Beckman's MOV: 0.0155 seconds (approximately 7 feet). He is still trying to finish as high as second.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   10 Ashley Force                           28 Ron Capps                    
E2                   0.098  4.124 299.60     ****WINNER****  0.107  4.114 300.33
 Prior rounds:
E1    (G Densham   ) 0.083  4.178 296.96      (B Tasca III ) 0.083  4.142 299.13
 Qualified:             #3  4.092 304.87                        #6  4.118 302.08

A.Force is 4 - 2 against Capps in prior events. Oh my, was this ever so CLOSE! Ron Capps' MOV: 0.0012 seconds (approximately 6 inches). Force had the lead at the hit and Capps trailed at 660ft. After that marker he drove around Force for the win. Capps also wins lane choice over Beckman in the semis.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 7701 Mike Neff                               1 Tony Pedregon                
E2   ****WINNER****  0.096  4.112 293.60                     0.070  4.170 288.70
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Arend     ) 0.094  4.076 307.72      (R Hight     ) 0.074  4.252 272.61
 Qualified:             #1  4.079 305.49                        #8  4.122 301.67

Pedregon is 2 - 1 against Neff in prior events, not that it matters much here. T.Ped took an early lead but Neff and the Pony tracked him down before 330ft. He takes the win by 0.0328 seconds (approximately 14 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   71 Cruz Pedregon                           7 John Force                   
E2   ****WINNER****  0.061  4.165 299.00                     0.065  4.209 282.84
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Toliver   ) 0.110  4.142 301.47      (T Wilkerson ) -0.024  4.226 258.27
 Qualified:            #12  4.150 300.33                        #4  4.108 303.78

Force is 52 - 24 against Pedregon in prior events. Man, have these two raced each other a bunch of times! Pretty even when the lights came down but by the finish the Cruzer had opened a lead of over 20ft. Looks like he and Tobler are closing out the 2008 season in grand style. Championship in the bag and they are going after the event win as well. Neff will have lane choice over Cruz in the other semi.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink