MReeves

Fri, 30 Sep 2011, 03:26 PM

Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1
By Rick Green





MOHNTON, Pa. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 27th annual Uni-Select Auto Plus NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

Right Lane: Leah Pruett Runs 7.941/80.91, Now #1

Pruett in the ProCare RX car that Melanie Troxel has been driving is driving for this race. She launches and has severe tire shake and clicks it off.

Left Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 10.382/83.92, Now #3
Right Lane: Dale Creasy Jr. Runs 6.853/109.30, Now #1

Haddock is up in smoke as soon as he hits the throttle...Creasy Jr. starts to shake right at the hit and clicks it off...

Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.501/213.06, Now #1
Right Lane: Paul Lee No Time, Now #5

Lee banged the blower right off the starting line and the chutes automatically deployed. there is oil in Lee's lane so this will cost him 5 points. Head with a bang and pop, and coasted on through the 1000 feet.

Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.546/277.83, Now #2
Right Lane: Johnny Gray Runs 5.025/264.70, Now #3

Gray starts to shake and clicks it off....Pedregon starts to shake and pedals it a couple times.

Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.126/301.81, Now #1
Right Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 4.156/302.75, Now #2

This was a good drag race as these two go to the top of the list with a couple great passes...Tim Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.898 sec., 330ft-2.337, 660ft-3.321/261.78 mph.
Jeff Arend's incremental times: 60ft-0.898 sec., 330ft-2.351, 660ft-3.347/258.22 mph.

Left Lane: John Force Runs 4.096/310.41, Now #1
Right Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.142/306.95, Now #3

Force launched hard and was straight down the groove to go to the number one spot...John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.890 sec., 330ft-2.321, 660ft-3.304/262.64 mph. Tasca with a really good pass to go to the number three spot. Bob Tasca III's incremental times: 60ft-0.909 sec., 330ft-2.352, 660ft-3.343/261.02 mph.

Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.090/312.21, Now #1
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.136/307.37, Now #4

Another good side-by-side drag race... Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.895 sec., 330ft-2.320, 660ft-3.304/263.46 mph.
Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.912 sec., 330ft-2.344, 660ft-3.337/259.16 mph.

Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.210/303.30, Now #8
Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.095/305.42, Now #2

Beckman had a wacky burnout and backed up and made another short burnout. He still makes a good pass...straight down the groove. Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.916 sec., 330ft-2.394, 660ft-3.397/255.15 mph. Pedregon with a great pass to go to the number two spot. Cruz Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.898 sec., 330ft-2.305, 660ft-3.292/259.96 mph.

Left Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 4.076/308.50, Now #1
Right Lane: Mike Neff Runs 4.085/312.35, Now #2

This was a great drag race to wrap up round one of qualifying as these two go to the top of the list. Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.898 sec., 330ft-2.314, 660ft-3.286/264.13 mph.
Mike Neff's incremental times: 60ft-0.907 sec., 330ft-2.338, 660ft-3.303/267.64 mph.



Timing data courtesy of CompuLink









FromragRaceCentral.com

MReeves

Fri, 30 Sep 2011, 06:30 PM

Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #2
By Rick Green





MOHNTON, Pa. - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 27th annual Uni-Select Auto Plus NHRA 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:

Left Lane: Mike Smith Runs 8.333/73.78, Now #16; No Prior Run

Smith started to lose traction early and pedaled it one time and started to lose traction and clicked it off.

Left Lane: Paul Lee No Time, Now #19; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Blake Alexander Runs 4.182/267.48, Now #10; No Prior Run

Lee can't get the car in reverse on the burnout and drives off the top end. Alexander making his NHRA debut after getting his license last Monday in Dallas. He launched hard and keep it hooked up before he clicked it off early. Blake Alexander's incremental times: 60ft-0.903 sec., 330ft-2.348, 660ft-3.339/259.31 mph.

Left Lane: Leah Pruett Runs 8.407/76.44, Now #16; Best prior run: 7.941/80.91, Was #16
Right Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 9.438/96.76, Now #18; Best prior run: 10.382/83.92, Was #18

Haddock is up in smoke right at the hit and clicked it off. Pruett started to rattle the tires and clicked it off.

Left Lane: Dale Creasy Jr. Runs 4.393/289.20, Now #12; Best prior run: 6.853/109.30, Was #15
Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 8.188/85.74, Now #14; Best prior run: 4.546/277.83, Was #13

Pedregon is up in smoke right off the starting line and clicks it off. Creasy Jr. starts to lose traction and pedals it one time and gets it to hook up to get in the show...Dale Creasy Jr.'s incremental times: 60ft-0.912 sec., 330ft-2.482, 660ft-3.544/244.12 mph.

Left Lane: Johnny Gray Runs 4.023/318.24, Now #1; Best prior run: 5.025/264.70, Was #15
Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.104/300.40, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.501/213.06, Was #13

Gray launched hard and was straight down the groove with his career quickest and fastest pass. He goes to the number one spot. Johnny Gray's incremental times: 60ft-0.900 sec., 330ft-2.292, 660ft-3.250/269.03 mph. Head with a really good pass...Jim Head's incremental times: 60ft-0.907 sec., 330ft-2.324, 660ft-3.301/263.00 mph.

Left Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 4.094/311.63, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.156/302.75, Was #11
Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.103/313.22, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.210/303.30, Was #13

Arend with a really good pass, straight down the groove to go to the number five spot. Jeff Arend's incremental times: 60ft-0.898 sec., 330ft-2.338, 660ft-3.310/264.91 mph. beckman gets into the show. Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.904 sec., 330ft-2.346, 660ft-3.319/265.27 mph.

Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 7.804/87.49, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.142/306.95, Was #12
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.085/307.16, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.126/301.81, Was #10

Tasca starts to rattle the tires and clicks it off. Wilkerson with a great looking pass to go to the number four spot. Tim Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.910 sec., 330ft-2.332, 660ft-3.293/266.11 mph.

Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.059/315.27, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.136/307.37, Was #11
Right Lane: John Force Runs 4.061/314.31, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.096/310.41, Was #8

This is great side-by-side drag race with capps going to the number two spot. Capps with his career fastest pass...Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.898 sec., 330ft-2.315, 660ft-3.282/267.96 mph. Force goes to the number three spot...John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.897 sec., 330ft-2.309, 660ft-3.280/265.80 mph.

Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 6.711/102.17, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.095/305.42, Was #9
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.121/310.77, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.090/312.21, Was #7

Pedregon starts to lose traction right off the starting line and clicks it off. Hight was straight down the groove, but will not improve. Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.904 sec., 330ft-2.349, 660ft-3.331/263.20 mph.

Left Lane: Mike Neff Runs 4.470/196.96, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.085/312.35, Was #5
Right Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 4.012/316.67, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.076/308.50, Was #4

Neff started to haze the tires just past half track and clicked it off. Hagan launched hard and was straight down the groove to go to the number one spot with the fourth quickest pass in the history of 1000 feet. Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.897 sec., 330ft-2.300, 660ft-3.243/271.84 mph.




Timing data courtesy of CompuLink








From DragRaceCentral.com

MReeves

Sat, 1 Oct 2011, 01:26 PM

Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #3
By Jim Samuel





MOHNTON, Pa. - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 27th annual Auto-Plus NHRA 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:

Right Lane: Paul Lee Runs 5.173/159.36, Now #13; No Prior Run

12:52 p.m. - Weather conditions: air temperature 64 degrees, relative humidity 60 percent, barometer 29.16 inches, adjusted altitude 1,761 feet, track temperature 76 degrees.

Lee shook the tires to about 200 feet, pedaled it, then clicked it off at the eighth mile. Still, this run got him into the field for now.

Left Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 7.936/88.51, Now #14; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Leah Pruett No Time, Now #18; No Prior Run

Pruett launched and popped the blower on her car immediately. Haddock got out to about 200 feet when he struck the tires and lost a bunch of cylinders.

Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.246/273.39, Now #13; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Mike Smith Runs 5.799/229.08, Now #15; No Prior Run

Smith launched, smoked the tires and pedaled. The car jerked and lurched as he finished his trip down the track. Pedregon's car trailed a lot of smoke as it crossed the finish line.

Left Lane: Blake Alexander Runs 4.193/298.21, Now #13; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 10.831/69.30, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.142/306.95, Was #12

Tasca shook the rear tires, then smoked them before clicking it off at mid track. Alexander went down the groove to get himself into the field for now.

Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.314/213.70, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.090/312.21, Was #7
Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.060/304.74, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.095/305.42, Was #9

Hight and Pedregon both looked good for the first three-quarters of these runs. After that, Hight's car shut off, while Pedregon continued under power to move up five spots in the order.

Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.077/305.01, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.104/300.40, Was #11
Right Lane: Mike Neff Runs 7.404/86.25, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.085/312.35, Was #6

Head took his car down the groove to move up five spots in the order. Neff launched and his car shut down a couple hundred feet down the track.

Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.039/317.94, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.103/313.22, Was #11
Right Lane: Dale Creasy Jr. Runs 4.481/281.42, Now #15; No Prior Run

Beckman had some tire shake but drove right through it to move up eight spots and into the third place in the qualifying order for now. Creasy was not as quick but did get himself into the field for now.

Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 9.528/89.18, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.085/307.16, Was #9
Right Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 7.805/82.47, Now #11; Best prior run: 4.094/311.63, Was #11

Wilkerson went up in smoke as soon as he launched. Arend got out about 200 feet before he clicked it off.

Left Lane: John Force Runs 4.011/319.22, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.061/314.31, Was #6
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.388/204.98, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.059/315.27, Was #4

Force let loose with his career best ET to move to the top of the qualifying order for now. Capps had some tire smoke and clicked it off at mid track.

Left Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 4.632/177.51, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.012/316.67, Was #2
Right Lane: Johnny Gray Runs 4.034/317.57, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.023/318.24, Was #3

Hagan got out to mid track when the engine in his car let go. Gray had a good run down the track but was not as quick as in the second session.






Timing data courtesy of CompuLink











From DragRaceCentral.com

MReeves

Sat, 1 Oct 2011, 05:16 PM

Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Final Session
By Jim Samuel





MOHNTON, Pa. - Notes from final, round 4 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 27th annual Auto-Plus NHRA 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:

Left Lane: Leah Pruett Runs 4.644/212.43, Now #16; No Prior Run

4:36 p.m. - Pruett launched,shook the tires, pedaled it, shook the tires again and clicked it off. Even with all that, she managed to edge her way into the field. She's sitting on the bump spot.

Left Lane: Mike Smith Runs 4.696/183.52, Now #17; Best prior run: 5.799/229.08, Was #18
Right Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 9.383/88.79, Now #19; Best prior run: 7.936/88.51, Was #19

Haddock launched and his rear tires immediately went up in smoke. Smith got down to 800 feet or so when he struck the tires and clicked it off. Neither driver will be back for eliminations tomorrow.

Left Lane: Paul Lee Runs 4.999/163.26, Now #18; Best prior run: 5.173/159.36, Was #18
Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.169/297.22, Now #13; Best prior run: 4.246/273.39, Was #14

Pruett was on the bump spot and Lee was the last driver left who could push her out of the field. Lee had a pretty good run going to mid track, then he started losing cylinders. Pedregon moved up one spot in the order. There is no one left to run who is not already in the field, so Pruett will hang on to the final spot in the qualifying order.

Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.106/308.85, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.142/306.95, Was #12
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 9.214/80.36, Now #10; Best prior run: 4.090/312.21, Was #10

Hight launched and the rear tires went up in smoke. Tasca had a good run down the groove but was not quick enough to move up in the order.

Left Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 4.084/310.77, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.094/311.63, Was #11
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.027/307.86, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.085/307.16, Was #9

A pair of good runs that moved Arend up two spots and Wilkerson up five spots.

Left Lane: Mike Neff Runs 4.066/316.45, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.085/312.35, Was #10
Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.147/303.78, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.077/305.01, Was #8

Neff moved up two spots with a nice run that pushed Head down one spot.

Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 11.197/33.63, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.060/304.74, Was #7
Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.634/177.93, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.039/317.94, Was #5

Pedregon got out about 200 feet, then he clicked it off. Right before he shut it down, it appeared that the wheelie bar broke and dragged on the tracks, leaving sparks. Beckman had a run that looked good but was not quick enough to change his place in the order.

Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 5.090/147.52, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.059/315.27, Was #6
Right Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 7.418/85.08, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.012/316.67, Was #2

Both drivers launched. Hagan smoked the rear tires and clicked it off at 330 feet. Capps went another hundred feet and did the same thing.

Left Lane: Johnny Gray Runs 4.010/318.62, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.023/318.24, Was #3
Right Lane: John Force Runs 5.483/129.79, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.011/319.22, Was #1

Gray saved his career best ET for the last run to take over the top spot in the order. Force was quicker to 60 feet but then slowed and clicked it off at 500 feet.





Timing data courtesy of CompuLink









From: DragRaceCentral.com

MReeves

Mon, 3 Oct 2011, 04:52 PM

Summary of Eliminations in Funny Car



MOHNTON, Pa. - Summary of eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 27th annual Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals:

Round 1:

Tony Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '10 Impala SS, Left lane, (0.086) 4.164 293.03 def. Tim Wilkerson,Springfield IL, '11 Mustang, (0.105) 9.118 90.04

Matt Hagan, Brownsburg IN, '10 Charger, Right lane, (0.060) 4.058 313.80 def. Blake Alexander,Wirtz VA, '10 Monte Carlo, (0.106) 9.565 70.70

Johnny Gray, Artesia NM, '11 Charger, Left lane, (0.094) 4.319 254.57 def. Leah Pruett, CherryValley CA, '11 Toyota, (0.093) 6.662 143.61

Dale Creasy Jr., Beecher IL, '10 Impala SS, Right lane, (0.129) 4.542 235.43 def. John Force, YorbaLinda CA, '11 Mustang, (0.120) 10.461 65.07

Bob Tasca III, Cranston RI, '11 Mustang, Right lane, (0.064) 4.124 311.99 def. Jack Beckman, NorcoCA, '10 Charger, (0.049) 9.391 77.53

Robert Hight, Yorba Linda CA, '11 Mustang, Right lane, (0.053) 4.041 317.42 def. Ron Capps,Carlsbad CA, '10 Charger, (0.075) 4.115 313.22

Jeff Arend, San Dimas CA, '10 Solara, Right lane, (0.062) 4.161 289.20 def. Cruz Pedregon,Brownsburg IN, '10 Solara, (0.076) 8.004 96.72

Mike Neff, Yorba Linda CA, '11 Mustang, Right lane, (0.087) 4.078 313.66 def. Jim Head, ColumbusOH, '10 Solara, (0.096) 4.109 310.70

Round 2:

J Arend, Left lane, (0.081) 4.190 282.54 def. D Creasy Jr., (0.135) 7.056 104.99

B Tasca III, Right lane, (0.066) 4.146 299.20 def. T Pedregon, (0.082) 4.727 177.39

J Gray, Left lane, (0.093) 4.578 197.68 def. M Neff, (0.073) 8.554 77.12

R Hight, Right lane, (0.067) 4.096 314.02 def. M Hagan, (0.043) 7.293 89.06

Round 3:

J Gray, Left lane, (0.108) 4.022 310.55 def. B Tasca III, (0.060) 4.372 219.04

R Hight, Right lane, (0.069) 4.053 314.53 def. J Arend, (0.076) 4.112 316.01

Round 4:

R Hight, Right lane, (0.051) 4.065 302.62 def. J Gray, (0.088) 9.836 73.91

Low ET: Johnny Gray 4.010 seconds

Top Speed: John Force 319.22 MPH




Timing data courtesy of CompuLink







From DragRaceCentral.com