Sun, 26 Feb 2017, 15:37 PM Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By David Gerard

CHANDLER, Ariz. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 33rd annual NHRA Arizona Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  782 Gary Densham                            1 Ron Capps                    
E2                   0.147  3.944 320.20     ****WINNER****  0.116  3.856 327.03
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Beckman   ) 0.255  6.715 106.55      (J Arend     ) 0.095  3.883 326.56
 Qualified:            #11  3.938 320.36                        #3  3.839 333.58

1:16 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 70 degrees, relative humidity 26 percent, barometer 28.67 inches, adjusted altitude 2,548 feet, track temperature 100 degrees.

Capps is 22 - 11 against Densham in prior events.

Capps was away first and just continues to open up a lead driving down the track.

Densham gives it a valiant try, but is no match for Capps He does run his second three second pass of the weekend.

Gary Densham's incremental times: 60ft-0.876 sec., 330ft-2.251, 660ft-3.184/274.55 mph.

Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.852 sec., 330ft-2.212, 660ft-3.119/284.93 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    8 Robert Hight                            2 Tommy Johnson Jr.            
E2                   0.102  5.419 137.34     ****WINNER****  0.096  3.874 328.22
 Prior rounds:
E1    (D Worsham   ) 0.099  4.699 205.82      (P Burkart Jr) 0.094  3.891 327.43
 Qualified:             #9  3.897 325.45                        #1  3.837 329.10

Hight is 14 - 9 against Johnson Jr. in prior events.

Johnson gets a small starting line advantage. They score identical 60 foot time and then Hight's tire's come loose well before the 330 light to give TJ an easy win.

Tommy Johnson Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.871 sec., 330ft-2.225, 660ft-3.134/282.07 mph.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  703 Jim Campbell                          373 J.R. Todd                    
E2   ****WINNER****  0.158  4.848 165.84                     0.609 No Time      
 Prior rounds:
E1    (C Force     ) 0.130  4.182 273.50      (A DeJoria   ) 0.069  3.887 330.07
 Qualified:            #15  4.950 167.57                        #7  3.889 326.63

Todd's crew are making a last minute thrash before starting the engine. Campbell is told to start the engine and make his burn out. Campbell is just crossing the starting line, as Todd pulls up without a burnout.

Todd is still having problems, as the car rolls away at the green. The call from the starting line is that the management system air supply was broken.

Campbell was on a good pass until after the 330 lights, where the front end starts to clime and he has to lift. He gives up lane choice to Capps next round.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    9 Tim Wilkerson                           3 Matt Hagan                   
E2                   0.087  3.871 332.59     ****WINNER****  0.071  3.883 331.61
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Force     ) 0.085  3.844 331.94      (C Pedregon  ) 0.067  3.839 332.92
 Qualified:             #5  3.852 329.42                        #4  3.839 329.67

Hagan is 15 - 6 against Wilkerson in prior events.

Great pair of runs. Wilkerson makes another career best ET and season best speed , but Hagan gets off the line just 00.016 quicker for the hole shot win. Terrific pass, but he gives up lane choice to Johnson in round three.

Matt Hagan's incremental margins: 60ft(0.013), 330 ft(0.005), 660ft(0.005). MOV: 0.0041 seconds (approximately 24 inches).

Tim Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.866 sec., 330ft-2.237, 660ft-3.139/286.13 mph.
Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.869 sec., 330ft-2.248, 660ft-3.150/286.19 mph.

1:32 p.m.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink