Sat, 30 Oct 2010, 06:54 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #3

By Dave Rowe

LAS VEGAS - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 10th annual NHRA Las Vegas 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: Justin Schriefer Runs 8.497/68.58, Now #13; No Prior Run

3:09 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 74 degrees, relative humidity 27 percent, barometer 27.77 inches, adjusted altitude 3,914 feet, track temperature 96 degrees.

Schriefer gets about 300 feet out, starts rattling the tires, then the chute comes out as he backs off the throttle.

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Left Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 7.300/85.50, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.139/306.88, Was #9
Right Lane: James Day No Time, Now #19; No Prior Run

Day is unable to get the engine to fire and does not make a pass. Troxel gets about 200 feet out, strikes the tires and clicks it off.

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Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 11.824/79.10, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.092/309.20, Was #5
Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.987/185.66, Now #13; No Prior Run

Tasca goes up in smoke at the hit and gives up on the run quickly. Pedregon strikes the tires about 400 feet out, pedals several times just trying to get in the show. He manages to get in the 13th spot for now.

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Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 4.212/291.13, Now #12; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 5.003/270.75, Now #15; No Prior Run

Hight loses traction early, has to pedal, then goes on through and gets in the field for now. Worsham goes right down the groove and gets in the field in the 12th spot.

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Left Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 4.496/272.39, Now #14; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 5.298/138.31, Now #13; Best prior run: 4.218/299.93, Was #13

Haddock goes right down the groove and gets in the show for now. Arend loses traction quickly, the car starts to move around, then he wisely backs off the throttle.

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Left Lane: Paul Lee Runs 4.222/289.82, Now #14; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.660/238.85, Now #16; No Prior Run

Lee gets out of the groove, makes a move toward the centerline, but never backs off the throttle and gets in the show, bumping out Hight. Wilkerson had traction problems but was able to get it under control and get in the show and bumping out Tony Pedregon.

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Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.092/305.98, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.126/301.74, Was #8
Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 5.170/149.60, Now #11; Best prior run: 4.187/277.03, Was #11

Head was on a decent pass then strikes the tires about 400 feet out. Capps makes an impressive run, the quickest of the round so far, and moves up a couple of spots on the ladder.

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Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 5.316/140.88, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.124/306.74, Was #8

Beckman makes it to the 330 foot mark and strikes the tires ending his run.

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Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.162/272.01, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.087/304.67, Was #3
Right Lane: Bob Bode Runs 5.773/121.65, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.122/302.08, Was #7

Bode was on a decent pass but goes up in smoke about 300 feet out and aborts the run. Pedregon made a clean, straight pass, the third quickest of the round so far.

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Left Lane: Jeff Diehl Runs 4.427/238.98, Now #15; No Prior Run
Right Lane: John Force Runs 8.948/73.45, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.059/311.70, Was #2

Not a great run for Diehl but quick enough to get in the field and bump out Wilkerson. Force has traction problems early and has to give up on the run.

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Left Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 4.829/163.41, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.090/304.53, Was #4
Right Lane: Ashley Force Hood Runs 5.806/122.33, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.032/309.70, Was #1

Force-Hood gets about 300 feet out, loses traction, makes a move to the left and clicks it off. Hagan gets to half track, strikes the tires and backs off the throttle.

One session left and not qualified includes Wilkerson, Tony Pedregon and Hight.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink