Sun, 15 Nov 2009, 08:00 PM Funny Car Final, Round 4 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

POMONA, Calif. - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 45th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    9 Mike Neff                               6 Ashley Force Hood            
E4   ****WINNER****  0.119  5.131 285.05                     0.102 No Time      
 Prior rounds:
E3    (T Wilkerson ) 0.098  4.197 291.32      (R Capps     ) 0.143  4.133 307.09
E2    (J Force     ) 0.092  4.121 306.40      (D Worsham   ) 0.099  4.146 306.60
E1    (J Head      ) 0.090  4.184 296.31      (B Bode      ) 0.133  4.240 289.94
 Qualified:            #10  4.137 300.00                        #1  4.059 310.20

4:44 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 74 degrees, relative humidity 25 percent, barometer 28.99 inches, adjusted altitude 2,457 feet, track temperature 83 degrees.

Force Hood has been in twelve final rounds in her career, with three wins, seven finals and two wins this year. Neff has been in five career final rounds, two this year, with no wins. Force Hood is 5 - 1 against Neff in prior events and this is the first time they have faced each other in a final round.

Neff lit the tires up as soon as he hit the throttle and Force Hood looked like a sure winner, but her car also lost traction, about 200 feet out. Both drivers pedaled, Neff getting hooked back up to finish the run and turn on the win light, while Force Hood's car fishtailed violently, the rear of the car tapping the wall. Neff gets his first win in a pedaling contest.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink