Sun, 28 Jul 2013, 15:06 PM Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations

By David Gerard

SONOMA, Calif. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 26th annual NHRA Sonoma Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    6 Johnny Gray                             8 Tim Wilkerson                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.100  4.057 315.42                     0.093  4.941 157.25
 Qualified:            #12  4.112 306.46                        #5  4.026 314.09

11:28 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 66 degrees, relative humidity 62 percent, barometer 29.85 inches, adjusted altitude 1,112 feet, track temperature 80 degrees.

Wilkerson is 8 - 3 against Gray in prior events. Both cars struggled a little in qualifying, with Gray not making the show until the last session yesterday. Wilkerson made two strong runs on Friday, but struggled yesterday.

They leave close together and Wilkerson gets the early advantage. The tires come loose after the 330 lights and Gray drives on by. He make his best pass of the weekend to boot.

Johnny Gray's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.008), 330 ft(-0.026), 660ft(0.254). MOV: 0.8772 seconds (more than 100 feet).

Johnny Gray's incremental times: 60ft-0.897 sec., 330ft-2.321, 660ft-3.280/268.76 mph.
Tim Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.896 sec., 330ft-2.302, 660ft-3.541/178.83 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  750 Del Worsham                            28 Ron Capps                    
E1                   0.090  4.855 188.94     ****WINNER****  0.102  4.066 311.20
 Qualified:            #14  4.157 306.26                        #3  4.012 312.50

Capps is 32 - 14 against Worsham in prior events, with a 12/9 win advantage in first round.

Worsham gets a small starting line advantage, but Capps is quickly out in front. Worsham's tires start to smoke before the 330 lights and he is done. Capps runs close to his best in the easy win.

Ron Capps' incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.012), 330 ft(0.149), 660ft(0.395). MOV: 0.7771 seconds (more than 100 feet).

Del Worsham's incremental times: 60ft-0.913 sec., 330ft-2.463, 660ft-3.686/212.66 mph.
Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.889 sec., 330ft-2.302, 660ft-3.279/264.08 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  771 Alexis DeJoria                       2814 Matt Hagan                   
E1   ****WINNER****  0.110  4.705 185.08                     0.077  5.228 189.87
 Qualified:            #16  4.188 303.71                        #1  3.986 320.51

Hagan is 1 - 0 against DeJoria in prior events. This is his 3rd number one off the year and his 21st career best.

Hagan gets a big starting line advantage and then starts to smoke the tires about 100 feet out. He pumps the throttle several times to no avail.

DeJoria flew on by and looked to be on her way to an easy win, when her tires started to smoke too. She slaps the pedal and has the blower bang for a crazy win.

Alexis DeJoria's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.053), 330 ft(0.198), 660ft(0.521). MOV: 0.4906 seconds (more than 100 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   22 Todd Lesenko                            1 Jack Beckman                 
E1                  -0.170 No Time           ****WINNER****  0.080  4.057 313.29
 Qualified:            #15  4.165 304.87                        #2  3.994 319.67

Lesenko is 2 - 0 against Beckman in prior events, but he gives one back on a wild pass. He misses the green big time and then has the Charger drive right towards the center line. He tries to correct and gets the car way sideway and slides it across the line and nails the 330 reflector.

Beckman was chasing and moved over when he saw Lesenko, but still makes his best run of the weekend on a terrific looking pass.

Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.892 sec., 330ft-2.281, 660ft-3.274/265.38 mph.

11:41 a.m. Time for some reflector recovery.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   72 Tony Pedregon                           9 John Force                   
E1                   0.082  4.267 258.22     ****WINNER****  0.109  4.073 312.86
 Qualified:            #13  4.145 298.27                        #4  4.025 316.60

11:46 a.m. Back to racing. Force is 59 - 26 against Pedregon in prior events.

Pedregon is away first, but Force has the tune up to drive on by and thunder on down the track for a clean win. Pedregon's Camry is off the pace he qualified with,

He will face Gray in round two without lane choice.

John Force's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.025), 330 ft(0.054), 660ft(0.081). MOV: 0.1674 seconds (approximately 63 feet).

Tony Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.947 sec., 330ft-2.396, 660ft-3.398/254.71 mph.
John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.895 sec., 330ft-2.315, 660ft-3.290/266.11 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   10 Jeff Arend                            782 Gary Densham                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.124  4.170 287.23                     0.121  5.081 151.70
 Qualified:            #11  4.107 307.23                        #6  4.055 304.32

Densham is 4 - 1 against Arend in prior events.

Just 0.003 difference in RT's and close numbers to after the 330 lights, where Densham's tires start to smoke. Arend surges ahead for the easy win. He gives up lane choice to Capps next round.

Jeff Arend's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.017), 330 ft(-0.008), 660ft(0.278). MOV: 0.9088 seconds (more than 100 feet).

Jeff Arend's incremental times: 60ft-0.930 sec., 330ft-2.345, 660ft-3.338/256.11 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Cruz Pedregon                           5 Courtney Force               
E1                   0.087  4.831 168.94     ****WINNER****  0.080  4.088 317.72
 Qualified:            #10  4.102 302.89                        #7  4.057 314.46

Pedregon is 3 - 1 against Force in prior events.

A strong race until right about 400 feet out with just 0.001 difference at 60 feet, Pedregon's Camry strikes the tires. Force is in overdrive and pulls hard to the finish line with a big MPH win.

Beckman will have lane choice in the second round.

Courtney Force's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.001), 330 ft(-0.010), 660ft(0.214). MOV: 0.7506 seconds (more than 100 feet).

Cruz Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.906 sec., 330ft-2.328, 660ft-3.523/191.40 mph.
Courtney Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.912 sec., 330ft-2.345, 660ft-3.316/268.17 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   77 Bob Tasca III                           7 Robert Hight                 
E1                   0.058  4.105 312.21     ****WINNER****  0.092  4.018 317.49
 Qualified:             #9  4.078 298.67                        #8  4.058 311.41

Hight is 9 - 5 against Tasca III in prior events. The winner of the race will take the tenth spot in the Count Down.

Tasca gets a good leave and stays out in front until after the 60 foot lights. Neff power takes over and Hight thunders right on down the tract and cards the best numbers of the session.

That's a special win for Neff, as he scores his 300th career win. Hight will have lane choice over DeJoria next round.

Robert Hight's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.004), 330 ft(0.015), 660ft(0.037). MOV: 0.0538 seconds (approximately 25 feet).

Bob Tasca III's incremental times: 60ft-0.915 sec., 330ft-2.333, 660ft-3.317/264.18 mph.
Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.885 sec., 330ft-2.284, 660ft-3.246/269.13 mph.

12:01 p.m.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink