Fri, 18 Aug 2017, 17:19 PM Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Bob Orme

BRAINERD, Minn. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 36th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

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Left Lane: Dale Creasy Jr. No Time, Now #1
Right Lane: Brian Stewart No Time, Now #3

3:16 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 52 percent, barometer 28.52 inches, adjusted altitude 3,775 feet.

Stewart was drifting left shortly after the hit. He crossed the centerline, taking out the 660-foot cone. He pulled directly in front of Creasy and they came very close to colliding.

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Left Lane: Alexis DeJoria Runs 8.212/89.25, Now #2
Right Lane: Bob Bode Runs 4.855/168.62, Now #1

DeJoria had severe tire shake on the launch and she lifted. Bode's engine went silent at about 500 feet.

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Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 9.804/83.54, Now #3
Right Lane: Jim Campbell No Time, Now #5

Both drivers struck the tires on the hit. Campbell rolled to a stop before the finish line lights and he had to be pushed off the track.

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Left Lane: Jonnie Lindberg Runs 3.988/294.24, Now #2
Right Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 3.937/327.98, Now #1

A pretty good looking pass by both drivers.

Jonnie Lindberg's incremental times: 60ft-0.885 sec., 330ft-2.280, 660ft-3.213/277.94 mph.

J.R. Todd's incremental times: 60ft-0.886 sec., 330ft-2.275, 660ft-3.194/282.24 mph.

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Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 7.516/108.58, Now #5
Right Lane: John Force Runs 3.963/296.11, Now #2

Wilkerson lost traction and he was off the throttle before the 330-foot mark.

Force was pressing the centerline on the top end of the track. John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.894 sec., 330ft-2.279, 660ft-3.194/282.24 mph.

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Left Lane: Courtney Force Runs 3.863/335.98, Now #1
Right Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 3.907/328.22, Now #2

A very good looking drag race and Force sets the track Speed record on this pass. That speed ties for the 7th fastest pass ever made by a Funny Car.

Courtney Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.863 sec., 330ft-2.227, 660ft-3.132/286.98 mph.

Tommy Johnson Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.878 sec., 330ft-2.246, 660ft-3.164/280.84 mph.

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Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 6.535/129.18, Now #8
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 3.844/335.07, Now #1

Beckman was shaking and bouncing around for the first 150 feet and he lifted.

A very good looking pass by Hight. Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.872 sec., 330ft-2.225, 660ft-3.118/288.70 mph.

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Left Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 3.831/333.33, Now #1
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 3.928/325.14, Now #5

A very good looking pair!

Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.862 sec., 330ft-2.200, 660ft-3.100/287.47 mph.

Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.869 sec., 330ft-2.258, 660ft-3.181/279.50 mph.

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Right Lane: Del Worsham Runs 8.628/83.65, Now #13

Worsham shook on the hit and was off the throttle at about 120 feet

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink