Fri, 6 Oct 2000, 09:40 PM MEMPHIS - Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #2

By David Rowe

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Funny Car at the 13th annual AutoZone Nationals presented by Pennzoil 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: Frank Pedregon Runs 4.936/267.27, Now #3; Best prior run: 14.567/67.68, Was #20
Right Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 10.752/89.50, Now #18; No Prior Run

7:27 PM Before this round started, the WWF's Kane came out to the starting line and set off fireworks down the left side of the track. Pedregon had a busted run in the first round, but not so here. He drifted toward the centerline but steers it back to the middle. Haddock headed toward the centerline as soon as he hit the throttle and had to shut it down.

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Left Lane: Bob Gilbertson Runs 10.255/82.43, Now #18; Best prior run: 11.770/73.53, Was #20
Right Lane: Dale Creasy Jr. Runs 11.662/107.87, Now #21; Best prior run: 21.682/26.59, Was #22

Creasy goes up in smoke right off the line. Gilbertson gets a little further down the track and suffers the same fate.

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Left Lane: Scott Weis Runs 5.008/296.31, Now #10; Best prior run: 11.059/70.94, Was #20
Right Lane: Gary Densham Runs 5.012/292.33, Now #11; Best prior run: 12.012/72.54, Was #22

Weis starts out on a good run but drops a cylinder around the 1000 foot mark. Densham makes a decent run but there was a big explosion just as he goes through the lights.

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Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 12.126/73.21, Now #19; Best prior run: 10.019/79.46, Was #19
Right Lane: Louis Sweet Runs 5.074/239.57, Now #14; Best prior run: 5.697/194.27, Was #18

7:48 PM Were back after a short cleanup in the right lane. Sweet makes a decent run and bumps out Powell. Worsham heads toward the left wall and shuts it down.

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Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 12.126/73.21, Now #19; Best prior run: 10.019/79.46, Was #19

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Left Lane: Tommy Johnson Jr. Runs 5.135/289.01, Now #17; Best prior run: 5.147/282.54, Was #18
Right Lane: Cristen Powell Runs 10.201/74.55, Now #18; Best prior run: 5.145/218.09, Was #17

Johnson makes a good pass but still isn't in. Powell has problems early and has to shut down.

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Left Lane: Dean Skuza Runs 11.564/77.52, Now #16; Best prior run: 5.084/255.77, Was #16
Right Lane: Scotty Cannon Runs 4.920/308.85, Now #2; Best prior run: 5.076/300.60, Was #15

Skuza shakes the tires and has to back out. Cannon was all over the track and sparks were flying out of the headers all the way down the track. He makes a big move into the second spot.

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Left Lane: Phil Burkart Runs 5.857/163.41, Now #13; Best prior run: 5.026/295.92, Was #13

Burkart comes off the line, pedals and gets back on it. A ball of flame comes out from under the car around the thousand foot mark and the engine goes silent.

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Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 5.065/301.27, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.972/295.40, Was #9
Right Lane: Bruce Sarver Runs 11.074/81.98, Now #10; Best prior run: 4.985/294.43, Was #10

8:19 PM The Geronimo car left some oil on the track and we had to take a short break to clean it up. Wilkerson makes a good, clean pass but doesn't improve. Sarver was up in smoke right after he hit the throttle.

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Left Lane: Jim Epler Runs 20.785/35.49, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.971/295.53, Was #8
Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 8.934/93.83, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.952/294.18, Was #7

Epler hits the throttle and has to back out. He leaves a trail of fuel about 200 feet out. Pedregon was on a decent run until he pops the burst panel about half-track.

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Left Lane: John Force Runs 11.319/56.08, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.945/299.86, Was #6
Right Lane: Whit Bazemore No Time, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.931/299.86, Was #3

Force comes off the line and starts shaking the tires. Bazemore comes off the line and the engine goes silent.

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Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.940/300.53, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.942/302.01, Was #5
Right Lane: Jerry Toliver Runs 12.388/68.26, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.896/302.28, Was #1

Capps makes a good pass but doesn't improve. Toliver goes up in smoke right off the line. We end Friday qualifying with Toliver on the pole and Skuza on the bump with a 5.084.