Sun, 17 Mar 2013, 16:59 PM Funny Car Final, Round 4 Eliminations

By Michael L. Jex

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 44th annual Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    6 Johnny Gray                           750 Del Worsham                  
E4   ****WINNER****  0.073  4.053 315.49                     0.095  4.100 303.50
 Prior rounds:
E3    (J Beckman   ) 0.098  4.140 302.89      (R Hight     ) 0.161  4.070 309.49
E2    (A DeJoria   ) 0.069  4.080 312.28      (C Force     ) 0.069  4.122 306.53
E1    (J Arend     ) 0.070  4.038 311.56      (T Wilkerson ) 0.090  4.689 253.04
 Qualified:             #2  4.071 313.22                        #5  4.105 305.49

5:06 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 75 degrees, relative humidity 36 percent, barometer 29.80 inches, adjusted altitude 1,647 feet, track temperature 92 degrees.

This is the first time that Gray and Worsham have met in the final round; however the two have a long history together. Gray and Worsham were teammates in 2002-2003 when Gray drove the Checker Schuck's-Kragen "Blue Team" Firebird Funny Car.

Gray is looking for his 4th victory in Funny Car - he's been to the final round in Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car and Pro Stock.

Both drivers have won in other categories - Lifetime Gray has been to the final 12 times and won 3 of them, Worsham has been to the final an amazing 33 times, and collected 17 wins.

Gray won the starting line battle, ran right down the groove, and collected the 199th win for DSR. Worsham had a good pass, but Gray's was better in every statistic. Johnny Gray's incremental times: 60ft-0.910 sec., 330ft-2.317, 660ft-3.277/268.81 mph.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink