Fri, 10 Feb 2017, 20:16 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, 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals 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: Cruz Pedregon Runs 13.651/67.16, Now #18; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Bob Bode Runs 4.142/285.29, Now #6; No Prior Run

4:04 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 68 degrees, relative humidity 68 percent, barometer 28.90 inches, adjusted altitude 2,471 feet, track temperature 76 degrees.

Matt Hagan is number one at 3.840 and Jim Campbell is on the bump spot at 8.722.

Bode has a good leave and fights the car going down the track to keep the car off the center line. Lots of smoke from the engine after the lights, but he moves into the field in the number six position.

Pedregon get to take the green this time, but has to lift immediately, when the slicks are spinning hard.

Looks like some stuff on the track near the turnout.

Bob Bode's incremental times: 60ft-0.914 sec., 330ft-2.322, 660ft-3.298/255.00 mph.

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Left Lane: Jim Campbell Runs 4.451/219.79, Now #9; Best prior run: 8.722/73.62, Was #17
Right Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 7.702/89.45, Now #16; Best prior run: 8.618/81.03, Was #16

4:19 p.m. Back to qualifying. That took a while!Track temp down to 73 degrees now.

They leave together and post identical 0.906 60 foot numbers. Arend's Impala smokes the tires right after that.

Campbell's Charger moves around a lot after half track and he has to lift early.

Jim Campbell's incremental times: 60ft-0.906 sec., 330ft-2.388, 660ft-3.442/241.84 mph.

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Left Lane: Gary Densham Runs 5.823/129.49, Now #13; Best prior run: 8.310/92.61, Was #17
Right Lane: Jeff Diehl Runs 4.564/187.94, Now #11; Best prior run: 7.431/91.61, Was #14

Jeff Arend is on the bump spot at 7.702.

No joy for these two. Densham had a nice 0.877 60 foot time and then had to pedal before the 330 lights, He wants into the field and hammers the throttle again to move into the field in the #13 spot.

Diehl's car was softer down low and he got further before having to lift. He still moves three spots up the ladder.

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Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 3.857/322.65, Now #3; Best prior run: 7.551/107.97, Was #16
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.699/232.67, Now #13; Best prior run: 6.042/117.39, Was #15

Tim Wilkerson is on the bump spot at 7.551.

Both cars struggled in round one. they both post strong 0.860 plus 60 foot times, but Hight has to dump early.

Wilkerson keep the header flames high and flies down the track and into the new #3 spot.

Tim Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.865 sec., 330ft-2.225, 660ft-3.120/287.53 mph.

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Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 8.363/79.98, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.158/325.14, Was #9
Right Lane: John Force Runs 4.247/313.00, Now #10; Best prior run: 5.846/137.32, Was #16

John Force is now on the bump spot at 5.846. He shows his skill and is on and off the throttle four times and most of the way to the finish line to move off the bump and into the tenth spot.

Capps Has a a strong leave and then has to lift with tire shake. He will stay #9.

John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.880 sec., 330ft-2.415, 660ft-3.451/255.15 mph.

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Left Lane: Jack Beckman No Time, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.153/295.14, Was #8
Right Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. No Time, Now #15; Best prior run: 4.723/183.97, Was #15

4:32 p.m. Time out for sprinkles on the top end. 4:59 p.m. NHRA has announced that additional qualifying has been canceled for today, due to continuing rain and cool track conditions.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink