Sat, Feb 6, 10:18 AM POMONA - Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session # 1

By Darryl Jackman Cold and Damp Session

POMONA, Calif. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the 39th annual NHRA AutoZone Winternationals, listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, position in order following run:

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Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 5.513/203.28 Psn # 1
Right Lane: Dave Benjamin No Time Psn # 2

4:21 PM We begin first round of nitro qualifying with Tim Wilkerson and Dave Benjamin. Wilkerson leaves hard and has to lift at the end of the concrete. He gets back into the throttle and the car just doesn't pull. Benjamin has the honor of the first oil down of the 1999 season as he blows it up right off the starting line.

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Left Lane: Mitch McDowell Runs 5.423/281.30 Psn # 1
Right Lane: Randy Anderson Runs 12.095/ 64.43 Psn # 3

The clean up was in the first 100 feet and we will see how it affects Anderson in his Oakwood Interiors sponsored car. His car was loose after the oil and he was forced to lift. McDowell is soft but gets the car to the other end.

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Left Lane: Glenn Mikres Runs 14.866/ 78.22 Psn # 5
Right Lane: Dale Creasy, Jr. Runs 8.286/100.60 Psn # 3

Mikres was up in smoke from the first hit while Creasy was loose from the time the car got to the end of the concrete.

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Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 5.003/293.79 Psn # 1
Right Lane: Al Hofmann Runs 17.766/ 63.16 Psn # 7

Capps makes a nice pass with only one lift at about half track. Hofmann was smoking the tires before he got to the tree.

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Left Lane: Gary Densham Runs 17.951/ 57.53 Psn # 8
Right Lane: Jerry Toliver Runs 23.199/ 41.85 Psn # 9

We have the first appearance of the 'rasslin' car with Jerry Toliver and 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin. Who? Toliver has Bazemore's crew from last year. Didn't help as both he and Densham were up in smoke at the hit. Densham has an older body on the car after destroying the new parts in a pre-season testing fire.

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Left Lane: Whit Bazemore Runs 9.412/ 84.20 Psn # 6
Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 5.338/272.78 Psn # 2

Pedregon ws quoted as saying that the new paint scheme on the car with less green in it saved 20 pounds. Green paint weighs more? Pedregon pedaled the car twice as there was a hole out on the right side. That drove him right up against the guardrail. Bazemore was smoking the tires within 30 feet.

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Left Lane: John Force Runs 5.016/313.73 Psn # 2
Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 5.717/207.53 Psn # 6

Force does a complete pedal at half track and still runs 313mph. Cruz was loose and shutoff early.

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Right Lane: Scotty Cannon Runs 7.989/109.39 Psn # 7

Scotty makes his first competition pass and it involves tire shake and a move towards the center, forcing a shutoff pass.

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Left Lane: Dale Pulde Runs 12.116/ 84.32 Psn #11
Right Lane: Jim Epler Runs 17.770/ 59.65 Psn #14

These two looked like twins. Both left at the same time and then smoked the tires in unison.

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Left Lane: Dean Skuza Runs 15.350/ 73.26 Psn #13

All the four second cars are having problems getting down the track. Skuza is no exception.

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Left Lane: Cory Lee Runs 9.725/ 86.46 Psn #10

A .896 60 foot number turns into tire smoke by 300 feet. The sun is setting and it is very cool out right now. Low 50's?

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Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 4.968/291.51 Psn # 1

Worsham has this thing figured out. Lift once at about 100 feet and then run straight as a string for the rest of the run.

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Left Lane: Frank Pedregon Runs 12.541/ 74.63 Psn #14

Frank Pedregon is the last car in this session as he fires the Penthouse car and pulls in. A very soft leave turns into a hard right turn at 300 feet. Rick Green will now bring you the Top Fuel cars.