Sun, 29 Jun 2003, 09:29 PM Funny Car Round 3 Eliminations

By Rick Green

MADISON, Ill. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Seventh annual Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    1 John Force                              2 Tony Pedregon
E3   ****WINNER****  0.060  4.948 312.42                     0.071  5.008 301.20
 Prior rounds:
E2    (D Skuza     ) 0.052  5.071 297.81      (F Pedregon  ) 0.055  5.008 312.50
E1    (G Scelzi    ) 0.065  5.128 300.20      (D Creasy Jr ) 0.079  5.361 269.89
 Qualified:            #10  4.959 297.22                        #3  4.895 314.97

Current weather conditions: 86 degrees, 30.10 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.10 inches, with a track temperature of 100 degrees.

THis is the 53rd time these two have race and John has won 39 of them. Since this race last year John and Tony have raced seven times with John winning the four time they raced at the end of last year and Tony winning the three times they have raced this year.

Force with the starting line advantage and just increased the lead at each incremental for the win. Force is going to second final round in a row and is the defending event champion.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   28 Ron Capps                               3 Del Worsham
E3                   0.066  5.133 249.07     ****WINNER****  0.065  5.007 308.99
 Prior rounds:
E2    (T Wilkerson ) 0.062  4.981 303.57      (S Cannon    ) 0.082  5.011 304.12
E1    (W Bazemore  ) 0.036  5.078 297.35      (G Densham   ) 0.054  5.086 300.13
 Qualified:            #12  4.964 305.84                       #16  5.088 296.05

Capps has owned Worsham beating him 15 times of the 18 times they have raced. They leave at almost the same time and then Worsham grabs the lead and never looks back. Something went away in Capps cars as the header flames go out around 1100 feet. Worsham will give up lane choice to Force.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink