Sat, Oct 24, 01:25 AM ENNIS - Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session # 2

By Ed Dykes Feast or Famon Tonight

ENNIS, Texas - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Funny Car at the 13th annual NHRA Revell Nationals, 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: Chuck Etchells Runs 4.940/300.20 Now # 1, (Best prior run: 4.931/308.00 Was # 1)
Right Lane: Frank Pedregon Runs 12.131/ 76.43 Now #16, (Best prior run: 6.966/128.13 Was #16)

8:39 PM, and after a brief pre-race ceremony, we're back in business here in the Lone Star state. Pedregon gets very close to the wall and clicks it off, while Etchells gets yet another solid run. He has the potential to really stir up the points battle if he gets hot, even though it seems everybody is just looking at Force and Capps.

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Left Lane: Glenn Mikres Runs 17.665/ 54.94 Now #13, (Best prior run: 5.305/269.46 Was #12)
Right Lane: Jim Epler Runs 5.127/308.43 Now # 8, (Best prior run: 5.332/301.40 Was #13)

Mikres was up in smoke at the first hit of the throttle, an obvious clutch system malfunction. Epler continues to sneak up on the top spot this weekend.

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Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 5.309/200.66 Now #11, (Best prior run: 5.214/253.73 Was #11)
Right Lane: John Force Runs 15.303/ 70.87 Now # 6, (Best prior run: 5.013/300.50 Was # 6)

Capps' Camaro was in trouble right from the start, the orange header flames accompanied by lots of sparks out the left side. Force was up in smoke early this time.

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Left Lane: Whit Bazemore Runs 4.891/309.70 Now # 1, (Best prior run: 15.308/ 70.72 Was #21)
Right Lane: Randy Anderson Runs 13.653/ 60.78 Now #10, (Best prior run: 5.131/291.35 Was # 9)

Bazemore shows he came to play, running the quick time on a track that many of the heavy hitters couldn't get hold of.

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Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.923/303.03 Now # 2, (Best prior run: 5.051/296.34 Was # 8)
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 13.292/ 62.28 Now # 6, (Best prior run: 4.957/292.68 Was # 5)

Wilkerson falls to the right side traction gremlins, while Pedregon learns from his boss' mistakes and motors right down the left side, sliding right in behind Bazemore and ahead of Etchells.

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Left Lane: Al Hofmann Runs 4.970/307.06 Now # 8, (Best prior run: 5.149/298.70 Was #11)
Right Lane: Dean Skuza Runs 4.923/301.70 Now # 3, (Best prior run: 5.717/173.81 Was #16)

Skuza holds down the bump spot currently... well, he did, before this one, where he snuck in front of Etchells. And Hofmann moves the GM Goodwrench Pontiac ahead of Worsham, Force, et al.

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Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.839/317.90 Now # 1, (Best prior run: 4.948/311.41 Was # 6)

A few right lane singles to end the round, and we start with a great one. The Interstate Batteries Firebird didn't shake, wiggle, or bobble at all here, just straight and true to the finish. That's a new track record, speed and mph, and just 0.020 off the current national record. All in a lane that many of the big hitters couldn't handle. Awesome.

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Right Lane: Gary Densham Runs 11.073/ 83.05 Now #19, (Best prior run: 9.607/ 84.92 Was #19)

Densham's Avenger makes a right turn and heads for the wall, so he steps off the loud pedal and coasts thru.

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Right Lane: Jerry Toliver Runs 15.214/ 88.25 Now #20, (Best prior run: 9.886/ 79.78 Was #20)

The Mad Magazine machine makes mega smoke...

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Right Lane: Al Segrini Runs 22.486/ 44.56 Now #22, (No prior time)

For the second lap in a row, the Segrini machine jumps straight up in the air at the hit of the throttle. So that's the last of the floppers tonight, it's Cruz on top and Don Sosenka on the bubble.