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Sat, 27 Feb 2016, 19:42 PM

Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Final Session

By David Gerard

CHANDLER, Ariz. - Notes from final, round 4 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 32nd annual CARQUEST Auto Parts 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:

Right Lane: Alexis DeJoria Runs 4.026/310.27, Now #10; No Prior Run

5:12 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 87 degrees, relative humidity 16 percent, barometer 28.77 inches, adjusted altitude 3,564 feet, track temperature 111 degrees.

Alexis DeJoria is on the bump with a "No Time" pass. She ran a better 4.651 yesterday to be #16.

Well, it's really nice when a plan comes together. The Tequila Patron Camry makes a strong and safe pass right on down the track to move up to the current #10 spot. The car moved towards the center line on the top end, but was never in real trouble.

Alexis DeJoria's incremental times: 60ft-0.886 sec., 330ft-2.293, 660ft-3.250/270.59 mph.

Left Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 4.191/297.42, Now #15; Best prior run: 7.327/99.41, Was #15
Right Lane: John Hale Runs 4.133/313.22, Now #14; Best prior run: 4.105/312.06, Was #14

Jeff Diehl is on the bump spot at 9.905.

They leave close together and run close together right on down the track. Haddock gets a career best ET and speed to stay #15. The car started to drift towards the wall near the top end and gets way too close after the finish line.

Hale runs a career best speed and them almost collects Haddock's car at the last turnout. THis chute gets way close to Haddock.

Terry Haddock's incremental times: 60ft-0.928 sec., 330ft-2.385, 660ft-3.382/259.71 mph.
John Hale's incremental times: 60ft-0.924 sec., 330ft-2.368, 660ft-3.352/264.75 mph.

Left Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 3.990/321.58, Now #10; Best prior run: 4.030/318.17, Was #11
Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.429/220.44, Now #13; Best prior run: 4.086/302.08, Was #13

Hagan finally gets the Charger into the threes and up one spot on the ladder to #10.

Pedregon's engine starts to drop cylinders after a strong leave and he is off the pedal before the lights to stay #13.

Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.881 sec., 330ft-2.284, 660ft-3.232/274.55 mph.
Cruz Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.890 sec., 330ft-2.351, 660ft-3.424/237.71 mph.

Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 3.959/319.60, Now #4; Best prior run: 3.980/316.52, Was #8

Single foe Worsham, as Campbell is a no show. He makes his best pass of the weekend, right into the top four for now. Nice!

Del Worsham's incremental times: 60ft-0.872 sec., 330ft-2.262, 660ft-3.200/275.90 mph.

Left Lane: Chad Head Runs 11.497/49.35, Now #9; Best prior run: 3.976/314.31, Was #8
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 3.966/317.19, Now #7; Best prior run: 3.982/316.15, Was #9

These two would meet in round one tomorrow, if nothing changes.

Head is away first, but has the tires up in smoke right after that.

Wilkerson makes it three out of four passes in the threes with a great looking pass that moves his Mustang up two spots into the top half of the field.

Tim Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.876 sec., 330ft-2.268, 660ft-3.203/275.06 mph.

Left Lane: John Force Runs 3.938/323.81, Now #2; Best prior run: 3.973/321.12, Was #8
Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 8.253/69.71, Now #6; Best prior run: 3.959/319.22, Was #5

Beckman took the blame for the last session challenge at the green. This time the car lets him down. The Charger drives hard off the line and then into smoke before the 330 lights. He will stay #6.

Force's Camaro powers on down the track and slides right in behind daughter, Courtney's #1, on a terrific looking pass with his best speed and ET of the weekend. That's #2 for now.

John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.864 sec., 330ft-2.247, 660ft-3.184/276.58 mph.

Left Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 4.007/316.30, Now #7; Best prior run: 3.965/318.77, Was #7
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 3.925/320.05, Now #1; Best prior run: 3.954/320.89, Was #4

Capps' Charger matches Force's 60 foot time and then pull hard to the finish line to jump past Team JFR into the #1 spot.

Johnson makes a clean and straight pass without any drama to stay #7.

Tommy Johnson Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.885 sec., 330ft-2.284, 660ft-3.236/271.57 mph.
Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.864 sec., 330ft-2.236, 660ft-3.169/276.29 mph.

Left Lane: Courtney Force Runs 7.401/82.38, Now #2; Best prior run: 3.930/323.97, Was #2
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 8.848/85.08, Now #4; Best prior run: 3.945/317.87, Was #4

Last pair and it's all Team JFR.

No joy here, as Hight rattles the tires and lifts about 100 feet out.

Force gets about 50 feet further and has her Camaro get loose too.

That wraps up qualifying for the weekend.

5:36 p.m. Ron Capps is number one at 3.925 and Jeff Diehl is on the bump spot at 9.905.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink