Sun, 06 Oct 2013, 13:29 PM Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Jim Samuel

MOHNTON, Pa. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 29th annual Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 2814 Matt Hagan                             28 Ron Capps                    
E2                   0.077  5.751 129.99     ****WINNER****  0.071  4.095 314.68
 Prior rounds:
E1    (T Pedregon  ) 0.052  4.100 317.05      (J Gray      ) 0.047  4.175 278.17
 Qualified:             #4  4.035 319.45                       #12  4.110 311.56

1:17 p.m. - Weather conditions: air temperature 81 degrees, relative humidity 62 percent, barometer 29.45 inches, adjusted altitude 2,860 feet, track temperature 101 degrees.

Hagan came off the starting line just a few thousandths after Capps, but then his rear tires went up in smoke a hundred feet out or so. Capps took his car straight down the groove for the win and a trip to the semi-final round of eliminations.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  750 Del Worsham                             5 Courtney Force               
E2   ****WINNER****  0.089  4.121 311.49                     0.111  4.125 303.03
 Prior rounds:
E1    (T Wilkerson ) 0.073  4.121 313.15      (B Alexander ) 0.044  4.083 316.15
 Qualified:            #10  4.084 313.37                        #2  4.025   NS  

Worsham was quicker out of the gate and led to 60 feet, then Force pulled ahead and led at 330 feet. Worsham got the lead back and pulled away for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 3111 Chad Head                             771 Alexis DeJoria               
E2   ****WINNER****  0.088  4.162 303.57                     0.139  4.114 305.77
 Prior rounds:
E1    (R Hight     ) 0.095  4.639 227.54      (J Beckman   ) 0.074  4.077 310.70
 Qualified:            #11  4.109 307.16                       #14  4.145 305.42

Head got this one on a holeshot. DeJoria was gaining ground but Head held on for the win. He'll race Worsham in the next round and Worsham will have lane choice. Chad Head's incremental margins: 60ft(0.038), 330 ft(0.025), 660ft(0.012). MOV: 0.0031 seconds (approximately 17 inches).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Cruz Pedregon                           9 John Force                   
E2                   0.050  5.376 141.02     ****WINNER****  0.070  4.061 317.12
 Prior rounds:
E1    (B Tasca III ) 0.060  4.459 224.51      (J Arend     ) 0.082  4.076 314.17
 Qualified:             #8  4.077 311.13                        #1  3.987 323.50

Force is 60 - 29 against Pedregon in prior events. Make that 61-29 as Force had a clean run down the groove while Pedregon lost a cylinder and came close to crossing the center line. Force will have lane choice over Capps in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink