Sun, 4 May 2003, 01:37 PM Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Bob Orme

COMMERCE, Ga. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 23rd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals presented by Pontiac:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   73 Frank Pedregon                          5 Whit Bazemore
E2                   0.101 14.084  76.81     ****WINNER****  0.076  4.927 313.44
 Prior rounds:
E1    (T Johnson Jr) 0.088  4.910 311.20      (T Wilkerson ) 0.096  4.890 312.35
 Qualified:             #6  4.880 311.77                        #3  4.802 322.73

This is the first time these two drivers have met in eliminations this season. Pedregon was up in smoke on the hit. Bazemore's rear end was moving around a little between 1000 feet and the finish line.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   10 Johnny Gray                             4 Gary Densham
E2   ****WINNER****  0.052  5.064 305.91                     0.094  5.759 180.60
 Prior rounds:
E1    (G Scelzi    ) 0.017  4.864 313.37      (D Skuza     ) 0.103  4.835 321.42
 Qualified:            #13  4.923 311.13                        #5  4.856 317.27

Densham lost traction at 300 feet, pedaled it, and smoked 'em again just past half track.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Del Worsham                             1 John Force
E2                   0.047  5.491 195.08     ****WINNER****  0.007  4.902 311.41
 Prior rounds:
E1    (C Pedregon  ) 0.103  4.892 297.22      (B Gilbertson) 0.026  4.826 320.20
 Qualified:             #8  4.906 310.41                        #1  4.768 320.13

Force lost to Worsham last week in Bristol in the second round. Force is able to avenge that loss as Worsham dropped a cylinder almost immediately.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   28 Ron Capps                               2 Tony Pedregon
E2                   0.058  7.519 112.96     ****WINNER****  0.074  4.873 310.84
 Prior rounds:
E1    (S Cannon    ) 0.080  4.898 314.46      (D Creasy Jr ) 0.082  4.863 319.98
 Qualified:             #7  4.892 313.29                        #2  4.799 320.58

Big-time tire smoke for Capps at 300 feet. Pedregon will use the quickest run of the round to take lane choice over Bazemore in the semi's, and his teammate John Force will have lane choice over Johnny Gray.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink