21 Entries in Funny Car for the first event of the year... Of all the professional classes FC seems to be the most stable... Only major change is Tommy Johnson Jr. is taking over the Don Shumaker prepared Dodge Charger FC that Johnny Grey drove last year.... Everything else is about the same... Two qualifying hits on Friday and two on Saturday followed by eliminations on Sunday... More as it happens....

 

I grew up in So Cal and my dad used to take us to the Winternationals every year from the early 60s until the mid 70s then, we moved to Northern California....
Great memories! I remember the first 'altered' wheelbase Mopars first, then others followed and eventually evolved into Funny Cars...
I also remember that strapping the blowers down wasn't a requirement for Top Fuel at the time. So, a couple of times on a typical day, the sky would rain flaming blower parts over the track... Wide open throttle and BOOM!
I'm also a true Sox and Martin fan from the early days!! Ronnie Sox, a real 4 speed driver!!
Didn't mean to sidetrack your thread but, for me, these are great memories!!
Thanks and thanks for keeping us updated!!

 

That's what all these posts are about... Re-living all the races we went to as kid with our Dads or Grand Dads... I know it helps me re-live great times...

 

yep ronnie sox is the real thing. i saw him in tulsa 1968. talked to him next to L'IL Boss. and saw him in wichita same year or next year. my dad and could not under stand why many racers was reving the engine while staging to keep the engine clean. vrooom, vrooom, vroom. so i watched sox he started the engine took it tp 3,000 RPM and held that RPM. NO REVING. lined up , and hammered it. NO REVING. i learned a lot. well having a great tune man helps to.

 

I found the '71 Winternationals of which I was in attendance. Don Garlits brought out his new design 'rear engine rail' in Top Fuel and the overall Mopar win column is impressive!!
It's been a long time but, I remember the Funny Car pulling a wheel stand at the lights, and slamming back down!! Brutal!!

 

19 cars make the first round of Qualifying... Mopars that made a qualifying pass and where they are in the ranking... Sunday only the top 16 cars will make the final eliminations...

3. Matt Hagan 4.077....... 316.01

4. Tommy Johnson Jr 4.082...... 314.75

5. Jeff Arend 4.104........ 309.06

7. Paul Lee 4.306.......... 244.43

12. Gary Desham 6.829........ 105.34

13. Jack Beckman 7.52......... 77.87

14. Ron Capps 8.070...... 89.46


As you can see many didn't get a full pull..... Times will get better later today..... Second round later today......

 

Round two of Funny Car....

3. Ron Capps 4.014...... 304.67

6. Matt Hagan 4.077....... 316.01

8. Tommy Johnson Jr 4.082...... 314.75

9. Jeff Arend 4.104........ 309.06

10. Gary Desham 4.199........ 289.20

12. Paul Lee 4.306.......... 244.43

16. Jack Beckman 5.409......... 103.74

Beckman is yet to get a full pull... Only two more rounds tomorrow... He would make the field where he is but would be on the "bump"... And would have the number 1 qualifier in round 1 on Sunday... You want to be in the top half of the field... That way you get lane choice.... More tomorrow.....

 

Mopars in round Three Funny Car


4. Ron Capps 4.014...... 304.67

7. Matt Hagan 4.077....... 316.01

8. Tommy Johnson Jr 4.069...... 316.82

10. Jeff Arend 4.097........ 309.06

10. Gary Desham 4.179........ 301.67

11. Paul Lee 4.16.......... 271.41

20. Jack Beckman 5.409......... 103.74


Beckman is out of the field.... He has only one more chance to make the field.... Last round is always the best!!!!!

 

Round Four and Final attempts


5. Ron Capps 4.014...... 304.67

8. Jack Beckman 5.409......... 103.74

9. Tommy Johnson Jr 4.069...... 316.82

10. Matt Hagan 4.077....... 316.01

12. Jeff Arend 4.097........ 309.06

14. Gary Desham 4.179........ 301.67

16. Paul Lee 4.16.......... 271.41

Finals are set!!! Beckman in the last session moves all the way to the top half and will have lane choice over Tommy Johnson Jr in round one ... More action tomorrow.....

 

Round One of Funny Car

Mopars in Round One

Ron Capps (Dodge Charger) defeats Jeff Arend

John Force defeats Paul Lee (Charger)

Matt Hagen (Charger) defeats Cortney Force

Tommy Johnson Jr (Charger) defeats Jack Beckman ( Charger)

Gary Densham ( Charger) defeats Alexis DeJoria


Round Two to follow.....

 

Round Two


Matt Hagen. Def. Robert Hight

Gary Densham. Lost to. Del Worsham

Tommy Johnson. Lost to. John Force

Ron Capps Lost to Bob Taska

 

Round Three

Matt Hagen. Def. Del Worsham

 

Matt Hagen loses to John Force




Next race in two weeks in Phoenix Az..