Fri, 18 Jun 2010, 06:26 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Dave Rowe

BRISTOL, Tenn. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 10th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Right Lane: Melanie Troxel No Time, Now #1

5:56 p.m. Troxel was supposed to be running with Diehl but he decided not to make a pass this round.

Troxel hits the throttle, moves off the line, then the engine shuts down, not sure why.

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Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.936/159.32, Now #1

Head was supposed to be paired with Lee but Lee was a no-show this round.

Head was on a decent run, then gets about 400 feet out and strikes the tires.

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Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 5.598/124.75, Now #2
Right Lane: Jeff Arend No Time, Now #4

Arend's car fired one time, had no oil pressure, so they clicked it off. Pedregon gets about 300 feet out and strikes the tires.

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Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.920/171.47, Now #1

Tony Pedregon was supposed to be in this pair but deceided to sit out this session.

Wilkerson gets about 300 feet out and strikes the tires. He stays on the throttle then finally gives up on the run about 600 feet out.

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Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 4.493/199.49, Now #1
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.923/160.14, Now #3

The hot track is giving the crew chiefs problems this round. Capps gets about 500 feet out and goes up in smoke. Worsham gets about 100 feet further and suffers the same fate, but he does move into the top spot for now.

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Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.250/252.33, Now #1
Right Lane: Ashley Force Hood Runs 4.289/267.43, Now #2

Tasca gets out of the gate first, starts pulling away from Force-Hood, then loses traction just before he reaches the finish-line. Force-Hood went right down the groove and gets in the second spot for now.

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Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.333/278.58, Now #4
Right Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 4.311/274.72, Now #3

A good side-by-side here, both right down the groove.

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Left Lane: John Force Runs 4.391/264.49, Now #6
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.326/252.33, Now #4

Hight makes a good run but hazed the tires a little just before he crossed the centerline. Force went right down the groove and gets in the sixth spot to end this round of qualifying.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink