Sun, Oct 18, 04:48 AM TOPEKA - Funny Car Round 3 Eliminations

By Bob Orme

TOPEKA, Kan. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Funny Car at the 10th annual Parts America Nationals:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  12 Al Hofmann          5.446 197.88  Q   1 Cruz Pedregon       4.941 293.82
   (T Wilkerson ) 0.531  7.266 219.13 E1   (F Pedregon  ) 0.551  4.929 310.98
   (T Pedregon  ) 0.475  5.113 292.77 E2   (J Force     ) 0.493  7.241 247.18
 *****WINNER***** 0.516  5.980 261.62 E3                  0.496  6.330 294.31

11:37 PM Both cars lose traction at 100', and while Pedregon was charging hard at the finish, Hofmann got hooked up before Pedregon did and was able to advance to the final.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 Ron Capps           4.986 303.84  Q   2 Chuck Etchells      4.951 306.74
   (V Fanning   ) 0.562  5.303 297.22 E1   (J Wyatt     ) 0.557  4.970 309.81
   (W Bazemore  ) 0.549  5.099 294.31 E2   (J Epler     ) 0.379 12.126  83.24
 *****WINNER***** 0.489  5.031 305.81 E3                  0.508  5.013 306.95

Now that was a drag race! Capps left enough in the bank on the launch to take the win light by .001 seconds, about a half a foot. He will have lane choice over Hofmann in the final.