Fri, 04 Aug 2017, 18:52 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By David Gerard

KENT, Wash. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 30th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Left Lane: Gary Densham Runs 6.327/118.40, Now #1

3:01 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 90 degrees, relative humidity 36 percent, barometer 29.50 inches, adjusted altitude 3,198 feet, track temperature 133 degrees.

Jeff Diehl was scheduled to be in the right lane, but it looks like he is sitting out the session. There are only 16 FC's entered, so this will be an "all run" show.

Densham's Mustang got to about the 100 foot mark before the big slicks started to chatter, shake, and spin. He is quickly off the throttle and coasting. Nice 0.887 sixty foot time though.

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Left Lane: Alexis DeJoria Runs 4.046/316.60, Now #1
Right Lane: Del Worsham Runs 4.111/311.41, Now #2

DeJoria is away first and pulls steadily ahead right on down the track to set a mark for the field.

Worsham is right behind her and makes a clean pass too.

Alexis DeJoria's incremental times: 60ft-99.999 sec., 330ft-2.322, 660ft-3.279/270.43 mph.
Del Worsham's incremental times: 60ft-0.913 sec., 330ft-2.357, 660ft-3.329/266.53 mph.

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Left Lane: Jonnie Lindberg Runs 4.559/190.97, Now #4
Right Lane: Jim Campbell Runs 4.114/305.08, Now #3

Campbell s running local company, Oberto, colors this weekend on his Charger. He runs straight on down the groove on a nice clean pass.

Lindberg looked late, but Campbell red lit. He is quicker to near the 660 lights and then loses a cylinder or two. That pushes the Camry towards the center line and he has to lift early.

Jim Campbell's incremental times: 60ft-0.925 sec., 330ft-2.351, 660ft-3.325/264.65 mph.

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Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.060/298.40, Now #3
Right Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 4.015/318.39, Now #1

Todd won his first Funny Car race last weekend at Sonoma and powers on down the track and into the new top spot.

Pedregon is right with him to slot into the #3 spot.

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Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.127/278.46, Now #7
Right Lane: John Force Runs 3.973/307.23, Now #1

Force shows the Prock power and runs our first three second pass to take over the top spot for now. There are wet pipes near the lights and he slows a little.

Strong pass for Wilkerson in his new Mustang to take a spot in the top half of the field. He went to the final round last week at Sonoma in it's debut.

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Left Lane: Courtney Force Runs 4.187/230.33, Now #9
Right Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 4.011/319.60, Now #2

Johnson is away first and keeps the lead going down the track. Big speed for the conditions and the new #2 spot.

Force chases, but is off the throttle and coasting right before the 660 lights. Courtney Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.879 sec., 330ft-2.266, 660ft-3.225/253.90 mph.
Tommy Johnson Jr.'s incremental times: 330ft-2.286, 660ft-3.245/270.27 mph.

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Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.008/316.45, Now #2
Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.133/301.87, Now #10

Beckman gets a big head start at the green, but Hight drives on by to move right up to the #2 spot with the second quickest ET and speed.

Beckman is off the pedal right before the 660 lights and will have to settle for number 10 for now.

Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.884 sec., 330ft-2.293, 660ft-3.243/272.83 mph.
Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.888 sec., 330ft-2.317, 660ft-3.323/255.43 mph.

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Left Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 4.059/314.97, Now #6
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.175/241.41, Now #12

They leave close together and Capps starts to pull steadily ahead until right before the 660 lights. He has a better ET at that point, but Hagan is much faster.

Hagan makes a strong pass to the finish line for the conditions and ends up in the #6 spot.

Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.885 sec., 330ft-2.302, 660ft-3.279/263.72 mph.
Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.869 sec., 330ft-2.279, 660ft-3.253/251.67 mph.

3:30 p.m. John Force is number one at 3.973. Field not filled, no bump spot.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink