Fri, 13 Nov 2015, 19:54 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #2 |
By David Gerard |
POMONA, Calif. - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 51st annual Auto Club NHRA Finals 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:
Left Lane: Bob Bode Runs 4.684/186.15, Now #12; Best prior run: 11.143/79.22, Was #19
Right Lane: Brandon Welch Runs 11.007/58.29, Now #20; Best prior run: 15.070/60.71, Was #20
4:19 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 78 degrees, relative humidity 19 percent, barometer 28.82 inches, adjusted altitude 2,881 feet, track temperature 78 degrees.
Ron Capps is number one at 3.951 and Jeff Arend is on the bump spot at 4.858.
Bode was on a good pass until right after the 330 lights and then pumps the pedal. He runs it on down away before lifting.
He still gets into the show for now.
Welsh may have broke something, as the engine goes quiet early.
Bob Bode's
incremental times: 60ft-0.946 sec., 330ft-2.421, 660ft-3.496/209.69 mph.
Left Lane: Courtney Force Runs 7.833/78.26, Now #19; Best prior run: 8.197/70.25, Was #19
Right Lane: Chad Head Runs 8.781/67.69, Now #16; Best prior run: 5.805/117.46, Was #16
These two are usually well into the show by now.
Both cars shook right off the line and are done.
Left Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 3.917/324.67, Now #1; Best prior run: 7.395/81.28, Was #18
Right Lane: Alexis DeJoria Runs 3.987/318.02, Now #5; Best prior run: 5.107/146.94, Was #15
Another pair who are usually in the show.
Much better! They leave within three thousands of each other and Johnson pulls steadily ahead going down the track. Johnson runs over 279 MPH at the 660 and powers on to the finish line for the number one spot and both the track ET and speed records.
DeJoria looked slow, compared to Johnson, but runs a strong 3.987 for the number five spot.
Tommy Johnson Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.879 sec., 330ft-2.244, 660ft-3.167/279.15 mph.
Alexis DeJoria's incremental times: 60ft-0.888 sec., 330ft-2.286, 660ft-3.228/274.61 mph.
Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 3.974/324.05, Now #4; Best prior run: 6.915/94.20, Was #18
Lee was supposed to be in the right lane, but chose to set this session out.
Worsham gets a full pass this time and moves up into the top four. He had to manhandle the car to keep it in the groove, but finishes well.
Del Worsham's incremental times: 60ft-0.880 sec., 330ft-2.273, 660ft-3.218/275.17 mph.
Left Lane: Tim Gibbons Runs 6.531/108.39, Now #17; Best prior run: 4.995/161.07, Was #17
Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 7.520/81.36, Now #11; Best prior run: 4.128/261.17, Was #11
John Force is on the bump spot at 4.343.
No joy here. Both cars are shaking and spinning early.
Left Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 7.733/82.50, Now #16; Best prior run: 4.858/175.48, Was #16
The sun is down behind the grandstands now and the track will quickly continue to cool.
Densham decided at the last minute not to make the pass and pulls out of line.
Arend gets past the sixty foot lights and then shakes the tires.
Left Lane: John Hale No Time, Now #13; Best prior run: 4.431/210.14, Was #13
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 6.475/100.48, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.023/308.43, Was #8
Hale has a huge front wheel wobble at the end of the burn out and shakes out the parachutes. They gather up the chutes and the car backs up to the starting line , so Wilkerson can make the pass.
He has a 0.885 sixty foot time and drives hard into tire spin. He had to lift.
Left Lane: John Force Runs 6.886/97.92, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.343/209.39, Was #12
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 3.965/319.52, Now #4; Best prior run: 3.978/322.88, Was #5
Force is safely in the top twelve, but likely to be happy with a 4.343 ET. No joy here either, as the tires are rattling and shaking before the 330 lights.
Hight has the tuneup though and power on down the track up a spot to the latest #4 spot with style!
Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.880 sec., 330ft-2.263, 660ft-3.203/275.51 mph.
Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 3.955/318.09, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.064/306.46, Was #10
Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 3.964/296.70, Now #4; Best prior run: 3.964/319.29, Was #3
Two great side by side passes. Beckman was well out in front of Pedregon down track and then slows to lose a spot to him.
Cruz Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.883 sec., 330ft-2.263, 660ft-3.191/275.06 mph.
Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.864 sec., 330ft-2.243, 660ft-3.182/275.11 mph.
Left Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 3.923/329.50, Now #2; Best prior run: 3.995/323.50, Was #8
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 3.937/325.69, Now #3; Best prior run: 3.951/322.04, Was #2
Hagan is away first and thunders down the track to reset the track speed record at almost 330 MPH.
Capps makes a strong run too, but ends up two spots down from the beginning of the session.
Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.860 sec., 330ft-2.244, 660ft-3.180/278.35 mph.
Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.872 sec., 330ft-2.251, 660ft-3.186/277.09 mph.
4:50 p.m. John Force is on the bump spot at 4.343.
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