Sat, 9 Oct 2004, 04:05 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Final Session

By Jim Samuel

MOHNTON, Pa. - Notes from final, round 4 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 20th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals 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: Terry Haddock Runs 4.965/299.13, Now #18; Best prior run: 5.063/278.40, Was #18
Right Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 5.228/204.79, Now #17; Best prior run: 4.942/307.72, Was #17

3:35 p.m. - Weather conditions: air temperature 71 degrees, relative humidity 64 percent, barometer 29.50 inches, adjusted altitude 1,578 feet, track temperature 80 degrees.

Haddock has his quickest run of the weekend but it was not enough to make the field. Bartone slowed from his previous best and also will not make the field. Haddock and Bartone were the only two drivers who were not in the field so the 16-car field is set for Funny Car. The rest of his session will determine the qualifying order and matchups in the first round of eliminations.

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Left Lane: Phil Burkart Runs 4.877/280.31, Now #11; Best prior run: 4.903/309.49, Was #13
Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 5.012/291.57, Now #16; Best prior run: 4.926/304.87, Was #16

Burkart moved up two spots in the order a run that looked really good until just before he crossed the center line, when his car started trailing a lot of smoke. Head slowed from his previous best and will stay at the bottom of the order.

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Right Lane: Jerry Toliver Runs 11.242/78.59, Now #15; Best prior run: 4.912/306.95, Was #15

Toliver shook the tires when he launched and backed off the throttle right away.

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Left Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 6.328/139.08, Now #10; Best prior run: 4.841/315.49, Was #10
Right Lane: Whit Bazemore Runs 4.871/294.43, Now #11; Best prior run: 4.910/312.42, Was #14

Johnson shook the tires and backed off the throttle. Bazemore had his quickest run of the weekend and moved up three spots in the order.

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Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 5.115/217.04, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.819/318.62, Was #8
Right Lane: Johnny Gray Runs 4.853/308.28, Now #11; Best prior run: 4.880/315.78, Was #13

Gray changed to the Matco Tools body for this session and is not driving the Wonder Wagon. He made a strong run down the track and moved up two spots in the order. Pedregon lost power at 1,000 feet.

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Left Lane: John Force Runs 4.754/323.81, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.812/318.77, Was #6
Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.836/315.86, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.838/282.48, Was #9

Force had his quickest run of the weekend when he needed it most and took over the top spot in the qualifying order. Pedregon had his quickest pass of the weekend too but it was not enough to change his position in the field.

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Left Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.796/318.77, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.811/316.75, Was #6
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 7.313/118.04, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.813/310.70, Was #7

Scelzi moved up two spots with his quickest pass. Wilkerson shut down at mid track and coasted the rest of the way.

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Left Lane: Eric Medlen Runs 4.741/324.12, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.792/320.13, Was #3
Right Lane: Gary Densham Runs 4.796/323.74, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.800/319.07, Was #6

Medlin took the top spot away from his boss with a great run. He's at the top of the order for now. Densham moved up two spots in the order into the number four position.

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Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.808/310.05, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.777/321.04, Was #3
Right Lane: Del Worsham Runs 4.815/319.82, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.800/319.29, Was #6

A nice pair of laps but neither driver improved his spot in the order. With the final qualifying session complete, Eric Medlin is in the top spot, John Force is second, Ron Capps is third and Gary Densham is in fourth.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink