Fri, 24 Feb 2017, 16:45 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By David Gerard

CHANDLER, Ariz. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 33rd annual NHRA Arizona Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Right Lane: Gary Densham Runs 3.938/320.36, Now #1

1:57 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 65 degrees, relative humidity 24 percent, barometer 28.86 inches, adjusted altitude 1,946 feet, track temperature 108 degrees.

After a stout Prostock session, Gary Densham powers off the line and flies on down the track to set a new personal best and ET. He even lost the blower belt near the finish line! STRONG start with his first three second pass!

Gary Densham's incremental times: 60ft-0.873 sec., 330ft-2.245, 660ft-3.177/274.50 mph.

2:01 p.m. Gary Densham was charged with an oildown, #2 for the season. That will cost 10 points.

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Left Lane: Phil Burkart Runs 10.652/83.29, Now #3
Right Lane: Jim Campbell Runs 6.572/104.89, Now #2

2:07 p.m. Back to qualifying. The Jim Dunn FC is sporting a USD wrap for the fifth year in a row.

Campbell is away first and has the tires shake loose before the 330 lights.

Burkhart doesn't get to the 100 feet before the tires on his Schwab Charger are smoking too.

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Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 8.946/79.49, Now #4
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.519/184.62, Now #2

Two more broken passes. Pedregon is off the throttle and coasting right after the 660 foot lights.

Wilkerson's car makes a strong leave and then hikes up the front end right after the 330 lights. The LRS Mustang starts to move out of the groove and he doesn't get much further before the tires are smoking too.

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Left Lane: Alexis DeJoria Runs 3.920/325.14, Now #1
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 3.955/311.27, Now #3

A great pair of good looking passes!

DeJoria is first off the line and makes a clean and straight pass right into the new top spot.

Hight had better numbers on the bottom end, but there is smoke from the engine right before the finish line. No oil though.

Alexis DeJoria's incremental times: 60ft-0.879 sec., 330ft-2.259, 660ft-3.175/282.60 mph.
Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.869 sec., 330ft-2.248, 660ft-3.181/274.44 mph.

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Left Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 3.913/325.77, Now #2
Right Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 3.899/323.50, Now #1

Johnson is strong low and continues strong to the finish line to set the new track record and take over the latest top spot.

Todd took the long way down and has the Camry pull steadily towards the wall right to the lights. He kicks up a bunch of dust right after the finish line and just misses tagging the wall!

J.R. Todd's incremental times: 60ft-0.871 sec., 330ft-2.251, 660ft-3.168/281.01 mph.
Tommy Johnson Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.870 sec., 330ft-2.237, 660ft-3.154/280.95 mph.

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Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 3.929/319.14, Now #5
Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 3.873/329.18, Now #1

Well, that record doesmn't last long! Beckman moves into the top spot on a great looking pass. Check out the eighth mile incrementals below.

Worsham was on a person best run until right before the lights, where there is smoke from the engine and he slows.

Del Worsham's incremental times: 60ft-0.881 sec., 330ft-2.259, 660ft-3.178/280.43 mph.
Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.863 sec., 330ft-2.232, 660ft-3.137/284.62 mph.

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Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.226/215.82, Now #9
Right Lane: John Force Runs 3.941/313.15, Now #7

Force's car looked to be on a strong pass, but slows after the 660 lights.

Capps almost matches Forces early numbers, but succumbs to time smoke right around the 660 lights.

John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.859 sec., 330ft-2.239, 660ft-3.171/274.05 mph.

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Left Lane: Courtney Force Runs 3.838/332.67, Now #1
Right Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 3.839/329.67, Now #2

Hagan is running the SANDVIK yellow scheme this weekend. He gets a big head start at the green and starts well out in front until after the 660 lights.

Force matches Hagan's 660 ET with a better speed. The Camaro has the top end power and scores the better ET and speed to take the top spot and the latest track ET and speed record. That a new career best ET and speed for her too.

These are the fifth and sixth quickest ET in 1000 foot history, as Hagan matches Hight's earlier 3.839 ET.

Courtney Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.866 sec., 330ft-2.214, 660ft-3.106/287.78 mph.
Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.857 sec., 330ft-2.207, 660ft-3.106/287.11 mph.

2:34 p.m. Field not filled, no bump spot.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink