Sun, Oct 11, 06:02 PM MEMPHIS - Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations

By Rick Green One Surprise

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Funny Car at the 11th annual Pennzoil Nationals presented by AutoZone:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Ron Capps           4.945 304.39  Q  14 Tom Hoover          5.310 244.78
                  0.506 10.441  64.34 E1 *****WINNER***** 0.605  5.182 235.68

We start round one under bright sunny skies with the temperature at 71 degrees, and 47% humidity. Capps leaves first, then strikes the tires and aborts the pass while Hoover starts to lose traction on the top end, but still takes the win light.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Cruz Pedregon       4.916 311.20  Q  16 Gary Densham        5.341 234.09
 *****WINNER***** 0.496  5.139 275.73 E1                  0.514  5.199 273.58

This is the third time these two have met and it is always in round one. The last time was at the last race (reading), and like there Cruz wins. Densham is in a slump, he has not been past round one since St. Louis.

Cruz get the slight starting line advantage and they both lose traction around 600 feet, but both stay with it. Cruz holds on for the win in a really good drag race.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  15 Frank Pedregon      5.334 272.83  Q   2 John Force          4.924 311.13
                  0.516 11.458  81.87 E1 *****WINNER***** 0.507  5.011 308.85

The only time these guys have raced this year was in Chicago and Frank won that matchup. Force is the defending event champion.

Force takes the right lane while most of the ones with lane choice have been taking the left lane. Pedregon is up in smoke as soon as he hits the throttle, while Force with a good clean pass moves on to round two.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  13 Dale Creasy, Jr.    5.208 275.34  Q   4 Tony Pedregon       4.947 302.48
                  0.519  5.788 267.00 E1 *****WINNER***** 0.525  5.214 265.01

This is the second time they have met this year, and Pedregon won that one, too. Creasy has not made it past the first round in the eleven races he has qualified for this year.

Creasy loses traction around the 300-foot mark and pedals it, but cannot make up the difference. Pedregon starts to spin the big Goodyears from a 1000 feet on through the finishline.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  12 Glenn Mikres        5.184 266.06  Q   5 Whit Bazemore       4.955 310.27
                  0.587  5.097 290.26 E1 *****WINNER***** 0.527  5.018 297.94

Bazemore launches first and never looks back to take the win. It was a great losing effort by the "Hot and Juicy" team and a career best pass for Mikres.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  11 Jim Epler           5.129 301.87  Q   6 Dean Skuza          4.964 301.67
                  0.648  5.136 297.94 E1 *****WINNER***** 0.492  5.002 299.86

Skuza the winner of the most recent completed race beat Epler in round one there.

Skuza launches first as Epler is really late. Skuza mixes up a cylinder or two around half-track, but keeps his foot in it for the win.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  10 Del Worsham         5.075 295.98  Q   7 Al Hofmann          4.979 305.15
                  0.493  6.287 288.30 E1 *****WINNER***** 0.513  6.123 253.71

This is the fourth time these guys have raced. Worsham beat Hofmann at Reading in round one at the last race. Worsham holds a 2-1 advantage.

They almost leave together, then they go up in smoke together, they pedal it together, get close to the centerline together, but then Hofmann is able to pull ahead for a tire smokin' run.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   9 Tim Wilkerson       4.988 279.21  Q   8 Chuck Etchells      4.980 286.68
                  0.512  5.907 177.11 E1 *****WINNER***** 0.514  4.939 309.06

They launch together and Etchells is on a pass with a 0.896 60-foot time and just motors on from there. Etchells with low ET of the round. Wilkerson was mixing up the cylinders early in the run and never recovers.

Etchells will have lane choice over Cruz with two tenths of a second advantage. Skuza gets to pick over Hoover, Force his choice against Hofmann, Bazemore will pick his lane over Tony Pedregon.