Mon, 4 Sep 2000, 06:20 PM INDY - Funny Car Final, Round 4 Eliminations

By Darryl Jackman

CLERMONT, Ind. - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Funny Car at the 46th annual U.S. Nationals:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  16 Whit Bazemore       5.084 299.86  Q   10 Jim Epler           5.046 298.47
   (T Johnson Jr) 0.506  5.047 301.40  E1   (S Cannon    ) 0.540  5.002 304.46
   (T Wilkerson ) 0.524  4.955 307.65  E2   (J Force     ) 0.500  4.986 295.79
   (C Pedregon  ) 0.471  5.052 303.98  E3   (R Capps     ) 0.527  4.923 305.98
                  0.510  5.968 197.19  E4 *****WINNER***** 0.524  5.017 285.41

5:10 PM Bazemore is an Indianapolis resident so he's appearing in front of the home fans. Both cars leave together and it's close until Bazemore has the tires light up on the Camaro. Epler took the lead as Bazemore tried everything to get the car to go forward. As Epler neared the lights it appeared that several pistons expired as there was a flash out of the headers. I'm sure that Jerry Toliver is willing to pay that bill. The win goes to Epler and maybe that makes up, just a bit, for his final round loss yesterday in the Shootout.