Fri, 3 Jun 2011, 08:08 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #2

By Rick Green

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual NHRA SuperNationals 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: John Smith Runs 9.538/80.66, Now #19; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.094/306.33, Now #1; No Prior Run

Smith started to smoke the tires and clicked it off...Wilkerson launched hard and keep the big Goodyears hooked up to go to the number one spot. Tim Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.901 sec., 330ft-2.315, 660ft-3.294/261.27 mph.

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Left Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 4.300/214.52, Now #10; Best prior run: 6.979/85.57, Was #17
Right Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 4.135/307.37, Now #3; Best prior run: 7.799/79.27, Was #18

Hagan was on a good pass until right in the lights when it banged the blower. Troxel with a great pass to go to the number three spot. Melanie Troxel's incremental times: 60ft-0.896 sec., 330ft-2.339, 660ft-3.334/258.02 mph.

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Left Lane: Johnny Gray Runs 9.036/80.78, Now #17; Best prior run: 5.995/115.63, Was #17
Right Lane: Terry Haddock No Time, Now #16; Best prior run: 5.272/140.05, Was #16

Gray is up in smoke right off the starting line and clicks it off. Haddock with problems right off the starting line and came to a stop about 150 feet out and was pushed back.

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Left Lane: John Force Runs 6.449/100.91, Now #15; Best prior run: 5.136/180.26, Was #15
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 8.040/80.57, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.942/154.49, Was #12

Capps is up in smoke about 200 feet out and clicks it off. Force was up in smoke early and pedaled it one time, but didn't get it to hook up.

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Left Lane: Mike Neff Runs 6.737/94.54, Now #14; Best prior run: 5.108/145.83, Was #14
Right Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 4.132/306.40, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.741/172.12, Was #11

Neff is up in smoke early and he clicks it off. Arend launched hard and was straight down the groove. He goes to the number three spot. Jeff Arend's incremental times: 60ft-0.906 sec., 330ft-2.355, 660ft-3.335/262.18 mph.

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Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.169/292.77, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.169/292.77, Was #8
Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 7.431/89.30, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.218/292.77, Was #9

Beckman is up in smoke early and clicks it off...Pedregon was straight down Broadway to get into the show. Tony Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.905 sec., 330ft-2.347, 660ft-3.350/256.75 mph.

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Left Lane: Bob Bode Runs 9.388/84.82, Now #11; Best prior run: 4.280/281.01, Was #11
Right Lane: Paul Lee Runs 7.790/61.16, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.168/294.56, Was #7

Bode is up in smoke right off the starting line. Lee is up in smoke and clicks it off.

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Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.137/300.93, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.253/288.39, Was #10
Right Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.113/305.70, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.145/302.89, Was #5

This was a good side-by-side drag race with the header flames shooting high over the roof line. Tasca goes to the number two spot...Bob Tasca III's incremental times: 60ft-0.898 sec., 330ft-2.337, 660ft-3.315/262.74 mph. Head moves up the ladder to the number six spot. Jim Head's incremental times: 60ft-0.904 sec., 330ft-2.344, 660ft-3.335/260.46 mph.

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Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.090/310.34, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.153/302.01, Was #7
Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 9.447/82.28, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.114/304.74, Was #3

Pedregon is up in smoke as soon as he hit the throttle...Hight launched hard and keep it hooked up to go to the number one spot. Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.898 sec., 330ft-2.322,

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink