Sun, 20 Sep 2015, 14:14 PM Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green

CONCORD, N.C. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, Eighth annual NHRA Carolina Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  771 Alexis DeJoria                          9 Tim Wilkerson                
E1   ****WINNER****  0.082  4.107 301.94                     0.094  8.049  97.48
 Qualified:            #13  4.208 293.54                        #4  4.003 318.32

Weather conditions: air temperature 88 degrees, relative humidity 46 percent, barometer 29.28 inches, adjusted altitude 3,441 feet, track temperature 116 degrees.

Tim Wilkerson is in 8th place in the points and Alexis DeJoria is in 10th coming into eliminations. This is the 13th time this year that Tim has started from the top half of the field. Wilkerson is 3 - 1 against DeJoria in prior events. wilkerson with the starting line advantage, but is up in smoke as soon as he hits the throttle. DeJoria make her quickest pass of the weekend for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  139 Dave Richards                         750 Del Worsham                  
E1                   0.119 11.309  79.78     ****WINNER****  0.087  4.120 304.94
 Qualified:            #15  4.582 200.68                        #2  3.993 318.32

This is the first time Richards and Worsham have faced each other in eliminations. Richards is up in smoke as soon as he hits the throttle. Worsham was straight down the groove for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  206 Bob Gilbertson                          3 Tommy Johnson Jr.            
E1                   0.324  5.306 150.92     ****WINNER****  0.088  4.338 303.71
 Qualified:            #16  4.812 214.42                        #1  3.971 312.42

This is the 12th number one qualifying spot for Tommy Johnson and his second of the year. He has one win when starting from the top of the field..This is the 27th time that Bob Gilbertson has qualified #16 and he is 2-24 in round one when starting from the last spot in the field. Gilbertson makes it back after the big engine explosion in qualifying round three. He has problems getting staged, and Johnson Jr. with the starting line advantage and then started to break the tires loose and did a quick pedal job and got it to hook up and take the win. Gilbertson was up in smoke right at the hit.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   72 Tony Pedregon                          28 Ron Capps                    
E1                   0.055  6.162 190.11     ****WINNER****  0.065  5.887 276.29
 Qualified:            #14  4.243 280.72                        #3  3.994 317.34

Ron Capps won here in 2012. Ron has 550 round wins in his FC career and that is 2nd best in the class behind only John Force..Tony Pedregon has 515 round wins and that is 4th best in the Funny Car class. Pedregon is 29 - 28 against Capps in prior events. Pedregon with the starting line advantage and then are both up in smoke right at the hit and then it is pedal fest. Capps gets it to hook up enough to get the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    5 Robert Hight                          744 Shane Westerfield            
E1                   0.080  4.371 277.20     ****WINNER****  0.097  4.269 252.95
 Qualified:             #5  4.004 313.95                       #12  4.204 291.63

Coming into eliminations Robert Hight has won 340 rounds which ties him with Whit Bazemore for 6th place on the all-time Funny Car list. Robert has two wins at this event..Shane Westerfield is making his second start in the Funny Car class and he will be the 49th different driver that Robert has faced in eliminations. Hight with the starting line advantage and then is up in smoke and pedals it, but can't catch Westerfield. Westerfiel's chute is out earl, but still gets the win. He will give up lane choice to DeJoria in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 John Force                            496 John Hale                    
E1   ****WINNER****  0.071  4.266 265.06                     0.125  6.201 109.58
 Qualified:             #6  4.004 313.80                       #11  4.198 272.94

This (#11) equals the best starting position of the year for John Hale..This is the 16th time this year that John Force has started from the top half of the field. In his career he is 496 - 164 in the first round for a 75% winning record. Force with the startingline adavantage and never trailed for the win Force will have lane choice over Capps in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Courtney Force                        711 Jack Beckman                 
E1   ****WINNER****  0.072  4.086 305.63                     0.076  9.391  58.24
 Qualified:             #9  4.062 307.86                        #8  4.022 304.60

Jack Beckman is coming off his sweep at Indy, meaning he was #1, set low elapsed time, top speed and won the race. In the history of the U.S. Nationals Jack became only the 4th Funny Car driver to do that. Jack won here in 2008..Beckman is 6 - 5 against Force in prior events. Force with the starting line advantage and never trails as Beckman is up in smoke as soon as he hit the throttle. She will have lane choice over Johnson Jr. in the next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   71 Cruz Pedregon                           1 Matt Hagan                   
E1                   0.024  4.965 158.17     ****WINNER****  0.071  4.119 303.78
 Qualified:            #10  4.079 301.33                        #7  4.015 314.02

Pedregon with the starting line advantage, but is up in smoke. Hagan with a real nice pass for and lane choice over Worsham in the next round.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink