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Thursday
Results for Qualifying Round 1POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run: Right Lane: Bob Bode Runs 4.973/289.32, Now #12:30 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 75 degrees, relative humidity 43 percent, barometer 29.04 inches, adjusted altitude 2,372 feet, track temperature 99 degrees.Bob Bode is the first of the nitro floppers to make the call here in round one of qualifying. Bode looked strong until just before the lights. A loud bang followed by smoke but no oil. The diaper did its job this time.
Right Lane: Frank Pedregon Runs 4.939/285.95, Now #1Oh that run just went so wrong! Everything was fine until about 1000 feet again and the car appeared to lose traction followed by losing an engine. The car came to a stop on the track and the Safari was rolling from both directions. We're down for just a bit while they clean the racing surface in the right lane.Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.805/313.37, Now #1 Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 13.471/74.96, Now #4The newly married Jack Beckman comes to the line in Don Schumacher's Matco Tools Charger. Beckman is away first and manages to keep the Dodge hooked up all the way to the stripe. Wilkerson on the other hand has his 2006 woes continue as he blows the tires off early in the run.Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 10.323/78.78, Now #5 Right Lane: Bob Gilbertson Runs 9.525/113.13, Now #4Head appeared to lose a blower belt just a few feet off the starting line and winds up coasting most of the run. Gilbertson blew the tires off early and he was coasting just a little faster in the other lane.Left Lane: Scott Kalitta Runs 4.843/319.37, Now #2 Right Lane: Gary Densham Runs 4.845/320.43, Now #3Kalitta shook pretty hard right at the hit but recovered right away. He managed to record the second best number of the session to this point. Densham goes to #3 with a sweet run right down the middle. There was some smoke as he crossed the finish.Left Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 5.223/218.80, Now #7 Right Lane: Mike Ashley Runs 4.762/328.38, Now #1Bartone was losing and getting cylinders back all the way down. His ET certainly reflects that. Ashley goes to the top over the heap and has a huge MPH to go with that ET. We've had ten cars make an attempt in the session.Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 4.712/309.56, Now #1 Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 5.231/221.09, Now #9Worsham resets the low ET for the round but it was certainly costly. At first you could see pieces coming coming out from under and then followed by lots of engine smoke. That makes him #1 and becomes his personal best ET. Must be the diaper worked again as the Safari made a quick inspection and then returned to their positions.Left Lane: Phil Burkart Runs 4.881/315.12, Now #6 Right Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 8.469/96.14, Now #11Burkart follows the boss and manages to take the other CSK racer to a top half spot. Scelzi got a little out of the groove and wound up striking the tires at about half track.Left Lane: T. Johnson Jr. Runs 4.798/320.81, Now #3 Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.808/316.67, Now #5TJ takes Prudhomme's Skoal racer to the #3 spot and gets into the 4.7s. Pedregon was just a tick behind has to settle for #5.Left Lane: Eric Medlen Runs 4.730/318.69, Now #2 Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 5.637/170.90, Now #14Hight made no bones yesterday about his and Prock's attempt to win the title and that it included going after the record. That will have to wait until another session as there was raw fuel out the pipes early in the run. Medlen got a lot further but can't quite catch Worsham.Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.769/324.36, Now #5 Right Lane: John Force Runs 4.731/323.74, Now #3Two of the points contenders meet here in the final pair of the session. A great side by side is the result and it's Force that gets there first and slots into the #3 position. Yesterday at the luncheon it was Force that said he was more worried about qualifying than setting a record. He most likely can put that worry out of his mind at this point. Capps was certainly no slouch and he's just a couple of spots behind Force at the moment. He needs Force to go out early and for him to win the event to have a reasonable shot at the title. That's all for Funny Car and the long engine stands will takes the stage in a few moments.
Thursday
Order for Qualifying Round 1POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Del Worsham Checker Schuck's Kragen Monte 4.712 309.56 2. Eric Medlen Castrol Syntec Mustang 4.730 318.69 3. John Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.731 323.74 4. Mike Ashley Skull Racing Gear Charger 4.762 328.38 5. Ron Capps Brut Charger 4.769 324.36 6. Tommy Johnson Jr. Skoal Racing Monte Carlo 4.798 320.81 7. Jack Beckman Matco Tools Charger 4.805 313.37 8. Tony Pedregon Q Power Monte Carlo 4.808 316.67 9. Scott Kalitta Kalitta Air Solara 4.843 319.37 10. Gary Densham RaceBricks Monte Carlo 4.845 320.43 11. Phil Burkart Checker Schucks & Kragen Monte 4.881 315.12 12. Frank Pedregon Autolite XP Stratus 4.939 285.95 13. Bob Bode Alard Machine Products Monte C 4.973 289.32 14. Tony Bartone Jim Dunn Racing/Lucas Oil Mont 5.223 218.80 15. Cruz Pedregon Advance Auto Parts Monte Carlo 5.231 221.09 16. Robert Hight AAA of So. Cal Mustang 5.637 170.90 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Gary Scelzi Hemi Oakley Charger 8.469 96.14 18. Bob Gilbertson Autolite XP Spark Plugs Stratu 9.525 113.13 19. Jim Head Head Racing Stratus 10.323 78.78 20. Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup Monte Carlo 13.471 74.96
Friday
Results for Qualifying Round 2POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals 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: Peter Russo Runs 5.035/263.20, Now #14 No Prior Run3:10 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 28 percent, barometer 29.15 inches, adjusted altitude 2,497 feet, track temperature 101 degrees.Russo sat out yesterday's session and comes out this afternoon,runs his career best and puts the car in the show. Anything else he needs to do this afternoon? Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oy Oy Oy!
Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.961/295.46, Now #13 Best prior run: 13.471/74.96, Was #21 Right Lane: Grant Downing Runs 13.150/79.98, Now #22 No Prior RunDowning is another that sat out the Thursday session like Russo. for him the result wasn't quite as good as he struck the tires almost at the hit. Wilkerson goes straight and makes the field for the moment.Left Lane: Bob Gilbertson Runs 4.838/318.54, Now #9 Best prior run: 9.525/113.13, Was #20 Right Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 10.695/67.53, Now #22 No Prior RunThat right lane seems to be a little bit tricky at the moment as Haddock is up in smoke almost at the hit. Gilbertson puts some smoke out of the engine in the lights but appears to be pretty stong in the field.Left Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.824/322.58, Now #9 Best prior run: 8.469/96.14, Was #20 Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 11.437/54.79, Now #21 Best prior run: 10.323/78.78, Was #21Head is up on the tire by about 100 feet and smoking the tires by 150. Scelzi fires a pretty nice shot and he's now middle of the pack qualified.Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.724/328.54, Now #2 Best prior run: 5.637/170.90, Was #20 Right Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 4.895/291.51, Now #15 Best prior run: 5.223/218.80, Was #18Hight pulled no punches earlier in the week when he stated that Prock was going after the record this weekend and they would need those 20 points. With others struggling in this session Prock sends the car down for a low 4.7 and to #2 on the list behind Worsham. Bartone got the car off the starting line and past the spot others have had trouble. He still records a good run and makes the show. Hight did leave some oil after that one.Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.860/287.84, Now #14 Best prior run: 5.231/221.09, Was #20 Right Lane: Phil Burkart Runs 4.884/283.79, Now #15 Best prior run: 4.881/315.12, Was #14Cruz Pedregon moves into the field but suffers from the same problems that have plagued him all season. At about 700 feet the car started mixing cylinders and at about 1000 feet the engine erupted into flames. On the replay you could see the entire cockpit fill with flames and it appeared to last for a bit. The fire system did it's job and the Safari was all over Pedregon as the car stopped. Burkart had to slap the pedal at about 330 but he makes the field as well. We're down for a few minutes as they clean up the debris in Pedregon's lane.Left Lane: Bob Bode Runs 6.225/139.75, Now #19 Best prior run: 4.973/289.32, Was #19 Right Lane: Scott Kalitta Runs 5.522/180.09, Now #12 Best prior run: 4.843/319.37, Was #12Kalitta has been on a roll ever since they debuted the new Solara body for the Funny Car. The Celica seemed to suffer from some aero problems that disappeared with the introduction of the new body. This time, body or no body, both cars struck the tires and the runs were broken.Left Lane: Frank Pedregon Runs 5.389/196.36, Now #17 Best prior run: 4.939/285.95, Was #17 Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.755/326.32, Now #5 Best prior run: 4.805/313.37, Was #8Beckman picks up a nickel in the right lane and goes to #5. His new wife, Jenna Beckman, is on the starting line watching hubby at work and she appears plenty happy with that result. Just for information Roger Comstock, one of Beckman's sponsors, is driving Beckman's Super Comp car this weekend with Jack lining him up and overseeing the operation. Pedregon used up some parts on his pass and the Safari is back on the track for him as well.Left Lane: Gary Densham No Time, Now #13 Best prior run: 4.845/320.43, Was #13 Right Lane: T. Johnson Jr. Runs 4.774/325.14, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.798/320.81, Was #8Densham's car didn't move three feet when the light changed. He lurched forward a stopped. Johnson improves on his Thursday ET but remains #8.Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.745/323.35, Now #5 Best prior run: 4.808/316.67, Was #9 Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.814/316.08, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.769/324.36, Was #7Here comes one of the three contenders for the Funny Car title. He loses a nickel and T. Pedregon finds it. That moves him into the top half of the show.Left Lane: Mike Ashley Runs 8.077/92.84, Now #7 Best prior run: 4.762/328.38, Was #7 Right Lane: Eric Medlen Runs 9.952/87.53, Now #3 Best prior run: 4.730/318.69, Was #3Ashley announced in a press conference earlier in the afternoon that he will be on his own next season as an owner and driver of his own Funny Car. Right now his problem is traction as both he and Medlen lose it at exactly the same instant at about 200 feet.Left Lane: John Force Runs 7.286/114.69, Now #4 Best prior run: 4.731/323.74, Was #4 Right Lane: Del Worsham Runs 4.877/285.89, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.712/309.56, Was #1Ok. I'm going to do my best to describe this. Worsham had a huge engine explosion at about 1000 feet and it appeared the body locked the front wheels when it buckled. He glanced the wall after the finish line and and then began to ride the concrete all the way to the sand. To compound all his problems either he could not reach the chute release or it was hung up on the body. As the car nosed into the sand trap the front dug in and flipped the car over on it's back and and momentum allowed the car to flip another time and come crashing back to earth. Now the good news. As the car came to a stop Worsham was out of the belts and getting out of the car. He was walking around almost before the Safari got to him. I suspect the car is trash but I'm assuming he's got a spare. Force smoked the tires early and was nowhere near the whole incident.
Friday
Order for Qualifying Round 2POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Del Worsham Checker Schuck's Kragen Monte 4.712 309.56 2. Robert Hight AAA of So. Cal Mustang 4.724 328.54 3. Eric Medlen Castrol Syntec Mustang 4.730 318.69 4. John Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.731 323.74 5. Tony Pedregon Q Power Monte Carlo 4.745 323.35 6. Jack Beckman Matco Tools Charger 4.755 326.32 7. Mike Ashley Skull Racing Gear Charger 4.762 328.38 8. Ron Capps Brut Charger 4.769 324.36 9. Tommy Johnson Jr. Skoal Racing Monte Carlo 4.774 325.14 10. Gary Scelzi Hemi Oakley Charger 4.824 322.58 11. Bob Gilbertson Autolite XP Spark Plugs Stratu 4.838 318.54 12. Scott Kalitta Kalitta Air Solara 4.843 319.37 13. Gary Densham RaceBricks Monte Carlo 4.845 320.43 14. Cruz Pedregon Advance Auto Parts Monte Carlo 4.860 287.84 15. Phil Burkart Checker Schucks & Kragen Monte 4.881 315.12 16. Tony Bartone Jim Dunn Racing/Lucas Oil Mont 4.895 291.51 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Frank Pedregon Autolite XP Stratus 4.939 285.95 18. Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup Monte Carlo 4.961 295.46 19. Bob Bode Alard Machine Products Monte C 4.973 289.32 20. Peter Russo Russo Racing Avenger 5.035 263.20 21. Jim Head Head Racing Stratus 10.323 78.78 22. Terry Haddock H57 Hoodia Monte Carlo 10.695 67.53 23. Grant Downing Hamer Toyota Trans Am 13.150 79.98
Saturday
Results for Qualifying Round 3POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals 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: Phil Burkart Runs 4.774/325.30, Now #9 Best prior run: 4.881/315.12, Was #15 Right Lane: Gary Densham Runs 4.805/322.88, Now #11 Best prior run: 4.845/320.43, Was #13Weather conditions: air temperature 73 degrees, relative humidity 45 percent, 12:43 p.m. barometer 29.12 inches, adjusted altitude 2,080 feet, track temperature 89 degrees.The first session of the day opens with Burkart and Densham. Both are currently qualified but but look to improve with pretty good conditions. They didn't make a lier out of me anyway. Both get a hold on the Pomona concrete and black top and both improve.
Left Lane: Grant Downing Runs 4.933/305.49, Now #17 Best prior run: 13.150/79.98, Was #23 Right Lane: Mike Ashley Runs 4.730/331.85, Now #3 Best prior run: 4.762/328.38, Was #7Ok. Conditions are GOOD! Downing just misses the field but runs his career best ET. Ashley moves up four spots and runs a big MPH. Bartone is on the bump. Ashley's 331.85 is top speed for the class. He just misses Cory Mac's 331.88 mark for top speed of the meet.Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.831/322.34, Now #13 Best prior run: 10.323/78.78, Was #22 Right Lane: John Force Runs 4.741/326.32, Now #5 Best prior run: 4.731/323.74, Was #5Force is about the first car that fails to improve. He did say on Wednesday that he was looking to be consistent, not rotate the earth. Head moves way up and in.Left Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 9.342/92.56, Now #23 Best prior run: 10.695/67.53, Was #23 Right Lane: Bob Bode Runs 4.886/305.98, Now #17 Best prior run: 4.973/289.32, Was #21Bode made his run and went about 1400 feet by the time he reached the stripe. he just misses the bump and gets his last shot later on today. Haddock made a hard right hand turn and just about crossed at about 60 feet.Left Lane: Eric Medlen Runs 4.723/323.58, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.730/318.69, Was #4 Right Lane: Frank Pedregon Runs 8.650/89.04, Now #20 Best prior run: 4.939/285.95, Was #20Let's hope the Pedregon kids can keep the oil and parts inside the engine this session. Frank Pedregon is first out and rattles the tires loose at about 200 feet. Medlen had no such problem as he was down the middle of Parker Avenue and puts the Syntec Mustang into #2 behind Worsham. He moves teammate Hight down to #3.Left Lane: Scott Kalitta Runs 10.108/93.64, Now #15 Best prior run: 4.843/319.37, Was #15 Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.888/317.27, Now #18 Best prior run: 4.961/295.46, Was #21Kalitta blows the tires off before 200 feet and winds up coasting. Wilkerson left pretty well at a .902 60 foot number but was really falling off from half track to the stripe compared to the numbers for Medlen.Left Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 4.886/293.47, Now #18 Best prior run: 4.895/291.51, Was #19 Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 7.741/111.29, Now #16 Best prior run: 4.860/287.84, Was #16Bartone picks it up a taste but just falls short of this really tough field. Pedregon didn't burn anything this time but the engine was silent by 330. Couldn't see why.Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 5.048/219.54, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.712/309.56, Was #1 Right Lane: Bob Gilbertson Runs 5.838/167.86, Now #14 Best prior run: 4.838/318.54, Was #14I watched Gilbertson's crew remove the center section of the rear spoiler to take away some down force. Worsham is in a new backup car and seated on a whoopee cushion to help with his fractured tailbone. Nothing made much difference though as Worsham proceeds to run numbers within .02 of Medlen's. He clicked it early as planned, just not as early as he said he would. He was certainly on a pass to that point. Gilbertson shook the tires loose and called it done early.Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.725/328.86, Now #4 Best prior run: 4.769/324.36, Was #8 Right Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.798/328.70, Now #11 Best prior run: 4.824/322.58, Was #12This time it's Capps that serves notice that he's not given up on the weekend either. He moves well up in the show. Scelzi was running well but only picks off one spot. Good mph for the Dodge though.Left Lane: T. Johnson Jr. Runs 9.253/90.12, Now #10 Best prior run: 4.774/325.14, Was #10 Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 5.551/176.77, Now #7 Best prior run: 4.745/323.35, Was #7Pedregon just about bought a piece of wall as the car made an abrupt move towards the wall at 330 feet. Johnson has something go away in the engine and he's out of the power early.Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.705/328.78, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.755/326.32, Was #8 Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 5.608/170.67, Now #4 Best prior run: 4.724/328.54, Was #3Beckman continues to impress and say all the right things. He thanked Todd Okahara and the other members of his crew for giving him the kind of a racecar that can qualify #1. That's just what Beckman did on that run. Hight shook the tires loose and wound up coasting. I think Prock overloaded on that on e just a might.
Saturday
Order for Qualifying Round 3POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Revised order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Del Worsham Checker Schuck's Kragen Monte 4.712 309.56 2. Eric Medlen Castrol Syntec Mustang 4.723 323.58 3. Robert Hight AAA of So. Cal Mustang 4.724 328.54 4. Ron Capps Brut Charger 4.725 328.86 5. Mike Ashley Skull Racing Gear Charger 4.730 331.85 6. John Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.731 326.32 7. Tony Pedregon Q Power Monte Carlo 4.745 323.35 8. Jack Beckman Matco Tools Charger 4.755 326.32 9. Phil Burkart Checker Schucks & Kragen Monte 4.774 325.30 10. Tommy Johnson Jr. Skoal Racing Monte Carlo 4.774 325.14 11. Gary Scelzi Hemi Oakley Charger 4.798 328.70 12. Gary Densham RaceBricks Monte Carlo 4.805 322.88 13. Jim Head Head Racing Stratus 4.831 322.34 14. Bob Gilbertson Autolite XP Spark Plugs Stratu 4.838 318.54 15. Scott Kalitta Kalitta Air Solara 4.843 319.37 16. Cruz Pedregon Advance Auto Parts Monte Carlo 4.860 287.84 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Bob Bode Alard Machine Products Monte C 4.886 305.98 18. Tony Bartone Jim Dunn Racing/Lucas Oil Mont 4.886 293.47 19. Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup Monte Carlo 4.888 317.27 20. Grant Downing Hamer Toyota Trans Am 4.933 305.49 21. Frank Pedregon Autolite XP Stratus 4.939 285.95 22. Peter Russo Russo Racing Avenger 5.035 263.20 23. Terry Haddock H57 Hoodia Monte Carlo 9.342 92.56
Saturday
Results for Qualifying Round 4POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from final, round 4 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals 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: Peter Russo Runs 10.946/84.56, Now #22 Best prior run: 5.035/263.20, Was #223:58 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 69 degrees, relative humidity 52 percent, barometer 29.06 inches, adjusted altitude 1,932 feet, track temperature 78 degrees.Russo is first out to try and crack the field. he's already run his career best on the second run and this time he makes a squirt and clicks it off. Hope to see these folks again soon.
Left Lane: Frank Pedregon Runs 9.131/84.24, Now #22 Best prior run: 4.939/285.95, Was #21 Right Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 4.886/302.69, Now #18 Best prior run: 9.342/92.56, Was #23Pedregon pedaled two or three times before lifting. Haddock ran hard but falls just short of Cruz Pedregon's 4.860. To make matters worse he has problems getting the car stopped and into the sand he went. He commented that one of the parachute levers bent and when he went after the brakes the bent lever kept the brake handle from functioning correctly. Tough break...Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.772/317.57, Now #9 Best prior run: 4.888/317.27, Was #20 Right Lane: Grant Downing Runs 11.507/78.51, Now #21 Best prior run: 4.933/305.49, Was #21Here comes another pair that have had no luck so for this weekend. For Wilkerson some have that's true of his entire season. Wow, where did that come from? Wilkerson gets one right and runs one of the better passes of his career. Downing was off the pedal very early with a very rough running nitro engine. That decision certainly saved some parts. Wilkerson goes in at #9 and bumps C. Pedregon and puts Kalitta on the bump.Left Lane: Bob Bode Runs 4.888/273.27, Now #19 Best prior run: 4.886/305.98, Was #18 Right Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 4.869/296.57, Now #18 Best prior run: 4.886/293.47, Was #20Oh, ever so close for both of these guys. Bode has a huge explosion at about 1000 feet and the fire went on for a bit. He was really busy inside the car and the chutes took forever to come out but he still managed to slide the car to a stop. Bode says the only problem was he didn't go quick enough. Bartone was really close but the Dunn camp will be folding their tents early. We're down to clean the lane behind Bode.Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon No Time, Now #17 Best prior run: 4.860/287.84, Was #17 Right Lane: Scott Kalitta No Time, Now #16 Best prior run: 4.843/319.37, Was #164:21 p.m. and were back after a quick cleaning of the left lane. Kalitta is currently on the bump and this one isn't going to help. Kalitta stopped the clocks by mowing down the final two orange blocks on the center. He has a huge hole in the front of the Toyota and his 4.783/284.62, that would have moved him to #13, is DQd. That also means no time in the other lane for Pedregon as well. No real loss as he had problems early in the run and was only going 230 mph at half track. It appeared the belt came off. both runs of course are out.Left Lane: Bob Gilbertson Runs 6.961/150.60, Now #15 Best prior run: 4.838/318.54, Was #15 Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 5.645/174.71, Now #14 Best prior run: 4.831/322.34, Was #14Gilbertson shook and called it off before 60 feet. Head got a bit further but I'm wondering if the track is getting a bit cold.Left Lane: Gary Densham Runs 4.799/322.88, Now #13 Best prior run: 4.805/322.88, Was #13Densham improves ever so slightly but remains #13. He drifted over towards the wall starting at about 900 feet and barely held it off to finish the run.Left Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.766/325.92, Now #10 Best prior run: 4.798/328.70, Was #12 Right Lane: T. Johnson Jr. Runs 4.725/327.35, Now #5 Best prior run: 4.774/325.14, Was #11Johnson puts a good looking run together and moves well into the top half of the show. Scelzi improves but can't quite crack the top half. Right now Tony Pedregon is #8 with a 4.747.Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.753/317.57, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.745/323.35, Was #8 Right Lane: Phil Burkart Runs 9.336/91.84, Now #12 Best prior run: 4.774/325.30, Was #12Pedregon fires a pretty good shot but still can't better his earlier ET. Burkart was coasting early and the windows are so dark that it's really hard to see what happened.Left Lane: John Force Runs 4.677/328.22, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.731/323.74, Was #7 Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.671/333.66, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.755/326.32, Was #9Beckman was #1 for awhile earlier but as it turned out there was a problem with his fuel and the run was DQd. Ok...LOOK AT THE NUMBERS!!!! Beckman runs one of the quickest and fastest runs in Funny Car history and when he looked over, there was Force, right next to him and looking back. John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.891 sec., 330ft-2.257, 660ft-3.210/265.90mph, 1,000ft-4.000
Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.904 sec., 330ft-2.287, 660ft-3.224/271.73mph, 1,000ft-4.002
Now what was that fuel problem about? Whit Bazemore was in the press room watching that run. I wonder what went through his mind watching Beckman.Left Lane: Mike Ashley Runs 4.731/330.07, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.730/331.85, Was #8 Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.759/326.63, Now #6 Best prior run: 4.725/328.86, Was #6Ashley and Capps put two good runs together but they are kind of lost in the hoopla surrounding the prior pair.Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.672/328.94, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.724/328.54, Was #5 Right Lane: Eric Medlen Runs 9.355/80.75, Now #5 Best prior run: 4.723/323.58, Was #4Now here's another pair that could rotate the earth! Hight JUST misses! he winds up just .001 behind Beckman for the top spot. Medlen was off the power early and that was all for his qualifying efforts.
Saturday
Order for Qualifying Round 4POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 4 rounds of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Jack Beckman Matco Tools Charger 4.671 333.66& 2. Robert Hight AAA of So. Cal Mustang 4.672 328.94 3. John Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.677 328.22 4. Del Worsham Checker Schuck's Kragen Monte 4.712 309.56 5. Eric Medlen Castrol Syntec Mustang 4.723 323.58 6. Ron Capps Brut Charger 4.725 328.86 7. Tommy Johnson Jr. Skoal Racing Monte Carlo 4.725 327.35 8. Mike Ashley Skull Racing Gear Charger 4.730 331.85 9. Tony Pedregon Q Power Monte Carlo 4.745 323.35 10. Gary Scelzi Hemi Oakley Charger 4.766 328.70 11. Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup Monte Carlo 4.772 317.57 12. Phil Burkart Checker Schucks & Kragen Monte 4.774 325.30 13. Gary Densham RaceBricks Monte Carlo 4.799 322.88 14. Jim Head Head Racing Stratus 4.831 322.34 15. Bob Gilbertson Autolite XP Spark Plugs Stratu 4.838 318.54 16. Scott Kalitta Kalitta Air Solara 4.843 319.37 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Cruz Pedregon Advance Auto Parts Monte Carlo 4.860 287.84 18. Tony Bartone Jim Dunn Racing/Lucas Oil Mont 4.869 296.57 19. Bob Bode Alard Machine Products Monte C 4.886 305.98 20. Terry Haddock H57 Hoodia Monte Carlo 4.886 302.69 21. Grant Downing Hamer Toyota Trans Am 4.933 305.49 22. Frank Pedregon Autolite XP Stratus 4.939 285.95 23. Peter Russo Russo Racing Avenger 5.035 263.20 & = Track Speed Record
Sunday
Results for Elimination Round 1POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Tommy Johnson Jr. (Skoal Racing Monte Carlo 0.069 5.000 279.61 (L) Gary Scelzi (Hemi Oakley Charger) 0.072 7.419 116.0211:31 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 74 degrees, relative humidity 42 percent, barometer 29.20 inches, adjusted altitude 2,049 feet, track temperature 91 degrees.Johnson was runner-up here in 2002. Scelzi won here in TAD in 1985 and 1987. He followed those wins with a win in Top Fuel in 1990. Tire smoke ends the season for Scelzi about 100 feet off the line. I suspect they're glad at this point since they had a very difficult year trying to defend the 2005 title. Johnson had problems of his own, but they occurred near the finish. According to him the car filled with clutch dust and he couldn't see. He kept his foot in it for the win.
(W) Gary Densham (RaceBricks Monte Carlo) 0.074 6.345 196.56 (L) Del Worsham (Checker Schuck's Kragen Monte 0.098 6.366 280.43Worsham overcame his problems from the sand trap incident on Friday to make a fairly quick squirt to 1000 feet checking out his backup car. He's 19-8 for his career against Densham. Densham is making his 370th start in Funny Car. Worsham was up in smoke at he hit and Densham joined him at ab out 100 feet. Worsham had to work the pedal but got the car to stick. He was catching Densham big time but just ran out of real estate.(W) Jack Beckman (Matco Tools Charger) 0.104 4.715 332.75 (L) Scott Kalitta (Kalitta Air Solara) 0.091 7.548 111.88Beckman becomes the 82nd different driver to qualify #1 at an NHRA national event. His speed in qualifying was the best this season for Top Fuel or Funny Car. This is Kalitta's 300th event and the 15th time he's qualified #16. Beckman and his team just have the Matco Funny Car set on kill. The speed here backs his 333.66 for the new national record. Kalitta smoked the tires fairly early in the left lane.(W) John Force (Castrol GTX Mustang) 0.055 4.801 284.69 (L) Jim Head (Head Racing Stratus) 0.080 6.113 149.83Force's first race ever here was in 1978 and he lost in round 1 at that event on a holeshot. This is Head's 375th race. He's is up in smoke early but Force takes another step towards that 14th championship.(W) Robert Hight (AAA of So. Cal Mustang) 0.049 4.706 324.67 (L) Bob Gilbertson (Autolite XP Spark Plugs Str 0.065 14.577 79.37Hight is 6-3 against Gilbertson and is making his 132nd start. This is his 21st #15 qualifying spot. Gliby was traction challenged early but Hight goes low for the round. Hight has choice over Johnson next round.(W) Phil Burkart (Checker Schucks & Kragen Mont 0.070 4.789 326.87 (L) Eric Medlen (Castrol Syntec Mustang) 0.068 8.127 105.25Medlen has accomplished something that other teams would kill for. This event represents the third full season that he's qualified for every event. He's 7-2 against Burkart, who's making his 89th start. That 89th is really good for Burkart as Medlen strikes the tires early and was coasting most of the way to the stripe. Burkart gets Densham nest round with lane choice in his pocket.(W) Ron Capps (Brut Charger) 0.064 4.755 330.47 (L) Tim Wilkerson (Levi, Ray & Shoup Monte Carl 0.057 4.774 330.47Capps is 14-4 against Wilkerson, who's starting his 210th event. What a race this was. Capps certainly hasn't given up yet. He pulls out a close win over Wilkerson and collects lane choice against Force next round.(W) Tony Pedregon (Q Power Monte Carlo) 0.060 0.000 No Speed (L) Mike Ashley (Skull Racing Gear Charger) 0.000 No SpeedAshley has some unfinished work before striking out on his own in 2007. He's qualified well and raced pretty good this season. His 331.85 in qualifying was only eclipsed by Beckman's 333.66. T. Pedregon won this event in 2005. Pedregon runs 4.710/259.76 and takes the win. Ashley takes out the finish line markers when he crosses at about 1000 feet and his 4.828/283.79 is DQd. Bad news for Pedregon as Ashley's taking out the lights DQs his time as well. Had it not been for that he would have had lane choice over Beckman in round 2. By the way. All this happened after Ashley red lighted.
Sunday
Results for Elimination Round 2POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Phil Burkart (Checker Schucks & Kragen Mont 0.085 5.186 283.31 (L) Gary Densham (RaceBricks Monte Carlo) 0.080 7.291 121.191:24 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 72 degrees, relative humidity 36 percent, barometer 29.19 inches, adjusted altitude 1,931 feet, track temperature 94 degrees.Pretty even at the hit but Densham struck the tires early and Burkart had the same problem at the top end. He still gets the win through.
(W) John Force (Castrol GTX Mustang) 0.064 4.742 326.95 (L) Ron Capps (Brut Charger) 0.072 5.262 204.29Here we go. If Force wins he's the Champ...again. And now it's OVER. Capps stayed close until around half track but started to spin the tires. Force stays glued to the racing surface and adds another page to his overflowing record books. Capps took the loss tough at the other end but Force came over and spoke with him with an arm around his shoulder. Pretty tight group here.(W) Jack Beckman (Matco Tools Charger) 0.087 5.060 232.39 (L) Tony Pedregon (Q Power Monte Carlo) 0.062 5.223 210.37Beckman get lucky this time. The car got out of the groove and over towards the wall and by the time Beckman corralled the car Pedregon should have gone around him. The problem was that Pedregon no long had a blower belt after half track. Beckman pulls out the win and actually has choice over Burkart next time out.(W) Robert Hight (AAA of So. Cal Mustang) 0.072 4.758 328.94 (L) Tommy Johnson Jr. (Skoal Racing Monte Carlo 0.048 6.896 135.74TJ actually took the lead at the hit but has the car drive him towards the wall before half track. He starts spinning the tires and can't get the car to recover. Hight was down the middle of Parker Avenue but loses lane choice to the new champ in the other semi final.
Sunday
Results for Elimination Round 3POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Jack Beckman (Matco Tools Charger) 0.107 4.743 323.19 (L) Phil Burkart (Checker Schucks & Kragen Mont 0.073 4.917 312.783:13 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 73 degrees, relative humidity 34 percent, barometer 29.16 inches, adjusted altitude 2,024 feet, track temperature 94 degrees.'Really Fast' Jack is still at it. He wins his seventh round in a row and is going to his second straight final round. Nice ROOK! He does need to tune his lights a little for the final though. Burkart was game but jut couldn't muster the run at the right time.
(W) John Force (Castrol GTX Mustang) 0.054 4.834 265.59 (L) Robert Hight (AAA of So. Cal Mustang) 0.060 4.883 261.07Hight and Force left almost as one and remained just that way until Hight went bowling for cones in the right lane. He actually threw the 1000 foot cone at 'The Boss' just missing his Mustang. It's 'Really Fast' Jack with choice over Force in the final.
Sunday
Results for Final RoundPOMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) John Force (Castrol GTX Mustang) 0.058 4.697 319.75 (L) Jack Beckman (Matco Tools Charger) 0.103 4.662 329.994:48 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 79 degrees, relative humidity 28 percent, barometer 29.19 inches, adjusted altitude 2,385 feet, track temperature 89 degrees.Beckman becomes the 40th different driver that Force faced in a Funny Car final round. Beckman was late again and that was all the advantage the new ?Champ needed to take the event win. About the only thing that makes the loss less painful is that Beckman now owns both ends of the national record. Force had the record at 4.665 but Beckman lowered it in the final and had earlier runs that backed it. Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.899 sec., 330ft-2.279, 660ft-3.212/272.72mph, 1,000ft-3.989
