Sat, 14 Aug 2010, 02:10 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #2

By Bob Orme

BRAINERD, Minn. - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 29th annual Lucas Oil 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: Matt Hagan Runs 4.122/290.69, Now #2; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 5.448/132.00, Now #13; Best prior run: 4.247/290.38, Was #12

12:35 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 78 degrees, relative humidity 52 percent, barometer 28.49 inches, adjusted altitude 3,584 feet.

Pedregon started to lose traction just past the 330-foot mark. Straight down the groove for Hagan and he moves up to the number two spot for now.

Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.884 sec., 330ft-2.306, 660ft-3.298/259.46 mph.

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Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.171/293.47, Now #8; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Dale Creasy Jr. Runs 10.137/82.42, Now #13; Best prior run: 4.232/282.95, Was #12

Creasy was up in smoke almost immediately. Capps was mixing up the cylinders right at the finish line.

Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.893 sec., 330ft-2.327, 660ft-3.346/254.09 mph.

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Left Lane: John Force Runs 7.100/90.57, Now #15; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.187/293.47, Now #10; Best prior run: 4.195/292.39, Was #11

Force struck the tires just before the 330-foot mark. Head has a portrait of Ray Charles on a side window of his Funny Car.

Jim Head's incremental times: 60ft-0.899 sec., 330ft-2.360, 660ft-3.367/255.63 mph.

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Left Lane: Paul Lee Runs 5.154/134.44, Now #15; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.944/160.54, Now #11; Best prior run: 4.189/294.69, Was #11

Both drivers struck the tires just before the 660-foot timing blocks.

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Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 5.238/140.63, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.208/293.28, Was #12
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 5.609/125.47, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.167/297.68, Was #6

Both drivers lost traction at about 400 feet.

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Left Lane: Bob Bode Runs 6.290/107.18, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.184/297.35, Was #9
Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.239/262.54, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.139/285.89, Was #4

Bode had traction troubles before the 330-foot mark. Pedregon's car nosed over just before the finish line.

Cruz Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.916 sec., 330ft-2.349, 660ft-3.372/249.03 mph.

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Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 5.172/143.46, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.171/299.60, Was #7
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.223/289.32, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.131/302.35, Was #3

Worsham was all over his lane before half track. Hight was a little loose on the top end.

Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.911 sec., 330ft-2.380, 660ft-3.396/255.97 mph.

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Left Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 7.195/89.30, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.165/289.63, Was #5
Right Lane: Ashley Force Hood Runs 4.166/296.44, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.102/302.55, Was #1

Arend lost traction at about 250 feet. A smooth pass for Force Hood and she remains in the top spot on the ladder.

Ashley Force Hood's incremental times: 60ft-0.896 sec., 330ft-2.341, 660ft-3.349/256.21 mph.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink