Mon, 4 Oct 1999, 02:57 PM TOPEKA - Funny Car Round 3 Eliminations

By Bob Orme Force and Johnson in the final

TOPEKA, Kan. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Funny Car at the 11th annual Advance Auto Parts Nationals:

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   5 Tommy Johnson Jr.   4.999 305.70  Q    1 Whit Bazemore       4.885 298.40
   (S Cannon    ) 0.499  4.953 314.24  E1   (L Huff      ) 0.512  5.427 262.95
   (C Powell    ) 0.484  4.975 311.70  E2   (F Pedregon  ) 0.523  6.258 253.61
 *****WINNER***** 0.512  5.207 274.39  E3                  0.505  9.290  98.20

1:42 PM and the Nitro Funny Cars are doing their burnouts. Bazemore was up in smoke by the 60' mark. Johnson lost traction at half track and was fishing tailing through about 900'. Bazemore tried pedaling the car to catch Johnson, but by then he was too far ahead.

  
 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 John Force          4.905 311.70  Q    2 Tony Pedregon       4.894 305.01
   (R Capps     ) 0.508  4.843 287.96  E1   (B Gilbertson) 0.511 10.115  83.81
   (D Worsham   ) 0.516  4.921 316.15  E2   (J Epler     ) 0.476  4.885 318.99
 *****WINNER***** 0.534  4.843 316.23  E3                  0.495  5.851 177.70

Pedregon started hazing the tires at 900', blows the burst panel off, and brings the car to a stop with a small fire in the engine diaper. In the Force vs Johnson final round matchup, Force has lane choice.