Sat, 13 Nov 2021, 14:20 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Final Session

By Dave Gerard

POMONA, Calif. - Notes from final, round 3 qualifying in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, 56th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals 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: Chris Marshall Runs 5.541/264.96, Now #5; Best prior run: 9.721/47.96, Was #12
Right Lane: Jake Guadagnolo Runs 5.587/251.81, Now #8; Best prior run: 5.669/240.42, Was #8

10:58 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 20 percent, barometer 30.08 inches, adjusted altitude 2,648 feet.

Bellemeur is number one at 5.474 and field not filled, no bump spot.

Marshall takes the long way down, as the car drifts towards the centerline going down the track. He pulls it back into the groove and move way up to the current #5 spot.

Guadagnolo finds a little ET and speed, but stays number eight.

Chris Marshall's incremental times: 60ft-0.971 sec., 330ft-2.505, 660ft-3.685/210.50 mph, 1,000ft-4.692.
Jake Guadagnolo's incremental times: 60ft-0.949 sec., 330ft-2.483, 660ft-3.689/205.88 mph, 1,000ft-4.716.

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Left Lane: Don Hudson Runs 5.740/250.23, Now #12; Best prior run: 5.847/249.90, Was #12
Right Lane: Ray Martin Runs 10.062/90.70, Now #9; Best prior run: 5.599/260.66, Was #9

Hudson drives his Camaro from near the guardrail to near the centerline to pick up a little performance, but stays #12.

Martin shakes the tires loose right off the line and coasts on down.

Don Hudson's incremental times: 60ft-0.973 sec., 330ft-2.548, 660ft-3.784/201.10 mph, 1,000ft-4.842.

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Left Lane: Mike Doushgounian Runs 26.898/257.04, Now #11; Best prior run: 5.722/250.46, Was #11
Right Lane: Brian Hough Runs 15.260/69.60, Now #6; Best prior run: 5.543/259.16, Was #6

Ouch! Both drivers are off the throttle right at the hit, as the RPM's go sky high with tire spin in both lanes.

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Left Lane: Nick Januik Runs 5.517/264.18, Now #5; Best prior run: 5.693/262.03, Was #10
Right Lane: Terry Ruckman Runs 5.506/267.37, Now #4; Best prior run: 5.514/267.80, Was #4

Much better! Great side by side runs right on down the race track!

They both run better times and ET's, but Januik gets the better of it with a five position improvement. Ruckman will stay number four.

Nick Januik's incremental times: 60ft-0.955 sec., 330ft-2.475, 660ft-3.657/210.47 mph, 1,000ft-4.666.
Terry Ruckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.943 sec., 330ft-2.475, 660ft-3.659/209.72 mph, 1,000ft-4.662.

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Left Lane: Ulf Leanders Runs 5.550/264.96, Now #8; Best prior run: 5.577/262.85, Was #8
Right Lane: Shane Westerfield Runs 5.514/268.33, Now #3; Best prior run: 5.498/267.80, Was #3

Two more strong passes, but neither car improves their positions.

Ulf Leanders' incremental times: 60ft-0.988 sec., 330ft-2.520, 660ft-3.698/210.60 mph, 1,000ft-4.702.
Shane Westerfield's incremental times: 60ft-0.965 sec., 330ft-2.503, 660ft-3.679/211.16 mph, 1,000ft-4.674.

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Left Lane: Doug Gordon Runs 6.182/173.54, Now #2; Best prior run: 5.493/267.48, Was #2
Right Lane: Sean Bellemeur Runs 11.642/72.37, Now #1; Best prior run: 5.474/269.89, Was #1

Bellemeur does a classic "John Force" burnout way down the track. Gordon was not quite as far.

Not so spectacular after that, as Bellemeur hits the tree with an eight light and then has a ton of shake and spin.

Gordon was strong to about half track and then clicks it off for no apparent reason.

Doug Gordon's incremental times: 60ft-0.937 sec., 330ft-2.505, 660ft-3.747/194.44 mph, 1,000ft-4.972.
Sean Bellemeur's incremental times: 60ft-0.940 sec., 330ft-3.042, 660ft-5.730/081.59 mph, 1,000ft-8.689.

11:15 a.m. Field not filled, no bump spot. This is Bellemeur’s 20th number one qualifier position and the 4th this year.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink

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