MReeves

Fri, 13 May 2011, 05:46 PM

Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1
By Michael L Jex





COMMERCE, Ga. - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 31st annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

Right Lane: Jon Capps Runs 4.279/290.44, Now #1

5:13 p.m. The wind has been blowing about 20 mph straight down the track toward the startling line, so Jon will have a headwind to contend with. It usually doesn't affect the run much, but when the chutes open, Capps might notice a difference.

Nice, smooth, straight - right down the middle of the lane.

Left Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 4.250/293.92, Now #2
Right Lane: Brian Thiel Runs 4.190/296.96, Now #1

.897 60-foot time for Thiel, Troxel's was .910 - The flames out both sets of pipes were large and steady the whole way.

Left Lane: Paul Lee Runs 5.262/118.97, Now #5
Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 5.035/231.04, Now #4

Tony lost traction early, it appears that Lee banged the blower, his chutes came out before the finish line.

Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.921/160.46, Now #5
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.824/276.18, Now #4

Wilkerson spun the tires, pedaled, then drove it out to the stripe. Head lost traction further downtrack than Wilkerson. Tim Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.909 sec., 330ft-2.658, 660ft-3.922/218.16 mph.

Left Lane: Johnny Gray No Time, Now #10
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 5.439/130.91, Now #8

Two more aborted runs - both cars lost traction, when Gray tried to pedal it and stabbed the his Mustang vaulted over toward the line and clipped a cone, DQ'ing his run.

Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.137/303.98, Now #1
Right Lane: John Force Runs 4.164/301.81, Now #2

Force has won more rounds at Atlanta Dragway than any other racetrack on the tour...

Nice!! Tasca's numbers were a little better than John's early, in the middle Force was gaining a little ET back, then Tasca had the better top end charge to take the top qualifying spot so far this round.

Bob Tasca III's incremental times: 60ft-0.891 sec., 330ft-2.341, 660ft-3.290/352.57 mph.
John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.896 sec., 330ft-2.343, 660ft-3.353/256.70 mph.

Left Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 4.146/299.40, Now #2
Right Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 4.264/292.27, Now #6

Two more good runs, and the track is starting to cool more and more...

Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.169/303.16, Now #4
Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.220/297.55, Now #6

The crew chiefs are making great calls so far this round - two more good looking passes for Beckman and Pedregon.

Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.172/302.62, Now #6
Right Lane: Mike Neff Runs 4.157/304.80, Now #3

Neff missed the top spot by .02, but he ran top speed of the session. 5:44 p.m.


Timing data courtesy of CompuLink







From DragRaceCentral.com

MReeves

Fri, 13 May 2011, 09:04 PM

Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #2
By Michael L Jex





COMMERCE, Ga. - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 31st annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern 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: Ron Capps Runs 4.821/264.34, Now #12; Best prior run: 5.439/130.91, Was #16

8:04 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 77 degrees, relative humidity 58 percent, barometer 29.01 inches, adjusted altitude 2,939 feet, track temperature 94 degrees.



Capps problems this weekend continue into round two - Ron lost traction early, pedaled, then the motor loaded up and labored the rest of the way. It wasn't pretty, but it got him into the 12th spot for now. With the improved conditions it will likely not hold up till the end of the round.

Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.187/298.47, Now #7; Best prior run: 5.035/231.04, Was #15
Right Lane: Johnny Gray Runs 4.253/290.32, Now #11; No Prior Run

Gray was DQ'ed in the last session for taking out a centerline cone.

Nice pass for Pedregon - Tony Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.901 sec., 330ft-2.353, 660ft-3.328/329.67 mph. Evidently Tony had some "fluid" left on the track, but it wasn't oil, so the run counts. Pedregon is out of oil-down freebies btw...

Jeff Arend is now 12th.

Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.515/202.09, Now #14; Best prior run: 4.824/276.18, Was #15
Right Lane: Paul Lee Runs 4.602/204.85, Now #15; Best prior run: 5.262/118.97, Was #17

Both drivers started hazing the tire at the top end, pedaled, and were coasting as they crossed the finish line.

Left Lane: Jon Capps Runs 4.166/291.19, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.166/291.19, Was #6
Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.163/301.74, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.163/301.74, Was #4

8:17 p.m. We're down for a cleanup...

8:31 p.m. Jon's team was very happy with this run, new career best in both ET and speed.

Left Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 4.132/304.87, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.264/292.27, Was #14
Right Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 4.148/305.15, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.250/293.92, Was #12

Troxel's pass was her fastest so far in a Funny Car, and top speed so far this weekend in the class. Arend's run was quicker, he ran all the way to the top of the field. Jeff Arend's incremental times: 60ft-0.898 sec., 330ft-2.344, 660ft-3.262/446.72 mph.
Melanie Troxel's incremental times: 60ft-0.904 sec., 330ft-2.340, 660ft-3.343/257.97 mph.

Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.135/307.65, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.220/297.55, Was #13
Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 5.238/141.43, Now #11; Best prior run: 4.172/302.62, Was #10

Hight lost traction and had to lift. Beckman now has the fastest speed for the session, but he missed the top spot by three thousandths of a second.

Left Lane: Brian Thiel Runs 6.775/106.39, Now #13; Best prior run: 4.190/296.96, Was #13
Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.111/305.77, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.169/303.16, Was #10

Thiel struck the tires, Pedregon threw a couple of sparklers out the pipes on his way to the quickest pass so far this weekend in Funny Car. Cruz Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.906 sec., 330ft-2.339, 660ft-3.318/264.29 mph.

Left Lane: John Force Runs 4.072/310.98, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.164/301.81, Was #9
Right Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 8.987/75.84, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.146/299.40, Was #5

Force has been to the final round here in Atlanta 14 times...

John didn't leave much on the table for the last pair to try and bump him down, just Mike Neff, and Bob Tasca are left, so a Mustang will take the #1 spot in Funny Car.

Left Lane: Mike Neff No Time, Now #8; Best prior run: 4.157/304.80, Was #8
Right Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.714/176.58, Now #5; Best prior run: 4.137/303.98, Was #5

Tasca had problems and lifted, Neff lifted, but still moved across the centerline to DQ his run. He wasn't as fast as his 4.157, so Neff ends up #8 with Force on top. 8:53 p.m.


Timing data courtesy of CompuLink









From DragRaceCentral.com

MReeves

Sat, 14 May 2011, 02:56 PM

Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #3
By Michael L Jex





COMMERCE, Ga. - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 31st annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern 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: Brian Thiel Runs 4.646/256.36, Now #13; No Prior Run

Thiel started hazing the tires at the top end. He pedaled it once, then ran on out to the stripe.

Left Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 4.109/303.71, Now #2; Best prior run: 4.146/299.40, Was #6
Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.166/303.91, Now #10; No Prior Run

Capps and the Napa team have struggled so far this weekend, they are still looking for their first "full-pull."

Looks like 3rd time is a charm for Ron - This blast was like a titan missle, all the way to the stripe. Hagan's run was just a little better at every interval, the difference at the line was eight spots on the ladder.

Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.892 sec., 330ft-2.320, 660ft-3.306/261.78 mph. Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.891 sec., 330ft-2.343, 660ft-3.356/255.39 mph.

Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 9.392/74.67, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.172/302.62, Was #12
Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.967/238.60, Now #15; No Prior Run

Wilkerson drove it like he stole it, he smoked the tires, then pedaled three times trying to find enough traction to get into the program. With a chance of more showers, that may prove to be valuable. Hight lifted after losing traction before he passed the tree.

Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.118/304.94, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.137/303.98, Was #6
Right Lane: Mike Neff Runs 4.138/306.19, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.157/304.80, Was #8

Two more good runs - the cloudy but dry skies are causing a lot of adjustments in the staging area.

Left Lane: Paul Lee Runs 4.270/286.38, Now #14; No Prior Run
Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.169/301.74, Now #12; Best prior run: 4.187/298.47, Was #13

Lee had a small flash of flame out the right side as he crossed the line, then a big puff of smoke out the pipes in the shutdown area.

Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.113/306.26, Now #4; Best prior run: 4.163/301.74, Was #9
Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 8.662/82.03, Now #7; Best prior run: 4.135/307.65, Was #6

First Jon Capps elected to pull out of the line, then Johnny Gray was shut off after the burnout due to rain. It was a thirty minute pause, so Johnny is at the back, refueling to run at the end of this session. Now on to the next pair -

Head walked his lane during the delay - don't know if he found something useful, but he threw down a stout blast down the left lane.

Beckman lost traction and lifted.

Left Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 5.926/113.14, Now #9; Best prior run: 4.148/305.15, Was #9
Right Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 4.160/302.35, Now #6; Best prior run: 4.132/304.87, Was #6

Troxel carried the front wheels a ways out, then started hazing the tires and lifted. Arend's's run was very smooth all the way to the finish line.

Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 6.478/98.10, Now #3; Best prior run: 4.111/305.77, Was #3
Right Lane: John Force Runs 4.090/310.70, Now #1; Best prior run: 4.072/310.98, Was #1

If John qualifies number one at this event he will tie Warren Johnson at the top of the all time number one qualifier list with 134...

Matt Hagan had low ET of the round (so far) with a 4.109, But John just slammed that door with a bang.

Bob Frey may have said it best on the Public Address system: "John Force is running on mean." Great pass down the right lane. Cruz mixed up the cylinders and had to lift early.

Left Lane: Johnny Gray Runs 4.244/279.32, Now #14; No Prior Run

Late breaking news: Updated weather numbers have just come in: Weather conditions: air temperature 78 degrees, relative humidity 58 percent, barometer 28.90 inches, adjusted altitude 3,183 feet, track temperature 107 degrees.



Bump spot is currently Tim Wilkerson's 4.967, Gray does not want to DNQ again like he did in Houston. Gray may have clicked it a little early, it was enough to move into the field, bump out Wilkerson, and put Brian Thiel on the bubble with the final round of qualifying yet to come. 2:52 p.m.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink











From DragRaceCentral.com

MReeves

Sun, 15 May 2011, 06:58 PM

Summary of Eliminations in Funny Car



COMMERCE, Ga. - Summary of eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 31st annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals:


Round 1:

Mike Neff, Yorba Linda CA, '11 Mustang, Left lane, (0.125) 4.091 303.57 def. Jon Capps, Las VegasNV, '08 Monte Carlo, (0.080) 6.170 108.97

Tony Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '10 Impala SS, Right lane, (0.111) 4.156 304.25 def. Jim Head,Columbus OH, '10 Solara, (0.122) 4.154 301.94

John Force, Yorba Linda CA, '11 Mustang, Right lane, (0.106) 4.168 304.19 def. Tim Wilkerson,Springfield IL, '11 Mustang, (0.094) 4.257 286.86

Bob Tasca III, Cranston RI, '11 Mustang, Left lane, (0.087) 4.133 305.49 def. Johnny Gray, ArtesiaNM, '10 Charger, (0.120) DQ-Centerline

Matt Hagan, Brownsburg IN, '10 Charger, Left lane, (0.078) 4.107 301.81 def. Paul Lee, Anaheim CA,'10 Impala SS, (0.113) 6.968 90.86

Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '10 Solara, Left lane, (0.098) 4.518 252.24 def. Robert Hight, YorbaLinda CA, '11 Mustang, (0.076) 4.591 224.85

Jeff Arend, San Dimas CA, '10 Solara, Left lane, (0.101) 4.188 300.86 def. Ron Capps, Carlsbad CA,'10 Charger, (0.084) 4.262 291.95

Jack Beckman, Norco CA, '10 Charger, Left lane, (0.083) 4.083 311.56 def. Melanie Troxel, DuluthGA, '10 Solara, (0.094) 7.755 98.98

Round 2:

C Pedregon, Left lane, (0.064) 4.152 306.33 def. T Pedregon, (0.106) 4.408 222.25

B Tasca III, Right lane, (0.059) 4.121 306.46 def. J Arend, (0.085) 4.214 294.11

M Neff, Right lane, (0.096) 4.126 301.13 def. M Hagan, (0.086) 4.484 212.39

J Beckman, Left lane, (0.089) 4.107 306.12 def. J Force, (0.086) 4.611 192.63

Round 3

M Neff, Left lane, (0.091) 4.560 274.55 def. B Tasca III, (0.060) 6.744 117.42

J Beckman, Left lane, (0.070) 4.095 306.88 def. C Pedregon, (0.084) 4.150 301.74

Round 4:

J Beckman, Left lane, (0.068) 4.111 311.05 def. M Neff, (0.113) 4.119 305.49

Low ET: John Force 4.072 seconds

Top Speed: Jack Beckman 311.56 MPH


Timing data courtesy of CompuLink






From DragRaceCentral.com