Sat, 17 Apr 2010, 04:34 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #3

By Bob Orme

LAS VEGAS - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 11th annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals 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:

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Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.289/287.47, Now #11; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.532/269.24, Now #14; No Prior Run

12:48 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 87 degrees, relative humidity 15 percent, barometer 27.83 inches, adjusted altitude 4,569 feet, track temperature 119 degrees.

Pedregon had to do a quick pedal job when he struck the tires at about 300 feet. Beckman makes his first full pull of the weekend.

Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.929 sec., 330ft-2.403, 660ft-3.440/245.36 mph.
Cruz Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.938 sec., 330ft-2.465, 660ft-3.618/225.03 mph.

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Left Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 4.450/285.47, Now #14; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.565/257.73, Now #16; No Prior Run

Head moved to the right of the groove at about 250 feet and he started hazing the tires at about 400 feet. No visible problems for Arend.

Jeff Arend's incremental times: 60ft-0.933 sec., 330ft-2.508, 660ft-3.592/239.61 mph.
Jim Head's incremental times: 60ft-0.931 sec., 330ft-2.400, 660ft-3.597/207.34 mph.

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Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.388/285.47, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.290/293.66, Was #12
Right Lane: Jeff Diehl Runs 6.745/105.33, Now #17; No Prior Run

Diehl was up in smoke at about 200 feet and he lifted. A trouble-free pass for Tasca.

Bob Tasca III's incremental times: 60ft-0.955 sec., 330ft-2.456, 660ft-3.528/238.81 mph.

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Left Lane: Paul Lee Runs 5.064/160.48, Now #17; No Prior Run

Lee was having a hard time keeping his car in the groove and he lifted at about 600 feet.

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Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.591/197.62, Now #13; Best prior run: 4.301/270.86, Was #13
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 5.292/141.70, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.255/292.90, Was #9

Both drivers lost traction; Wilkerson at about 500 feet and Pedregon at about 700 feet.

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Left Lane: John Force Runs 5.541/140.62, Now #10; Best prior run: 4.263/297.94, Was #10
Right Lane: Del Worsham Runs 7.015/96.81, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.235/292.90, Was #6

Both drivers lost traction at about 250 feet. Forced tried to pedal through it while Worsham just lifted.

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Left Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 7.676/85.74, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.250/302.28, Was #8
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 7.836/82.48, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.223/300.00, Was #5

Traction troubles and both drivers were off the throttle at about 200 feet.

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Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 7.846/82.28, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.221/291.70, Was #4
Right Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 4.332/257.97, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.217/297.16, Was #2

Capps struck the tires at about 200 feet. Hagan was able to keep his car hooked up all the way down the track, although he was slowing just before the finish.

Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.937 sec., 330ft-2.413, 660ft-3.444/247.43 mph.

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Left Lane: Gary Densham Runs 4.766/175.25, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.220/295.92, Was #3
Right Lane: Ashley Force Hood Runs 5.649/131.23, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.195/295.14, Was #1

Force Hood hazed the tires at the 330-foot mark. Densham had to lift just before half track.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink