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Funny Car

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Thursday Results for Qualifying Round 1

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 1 - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run: Right Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 5.277/309.34, Now #1 2:27 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 71 degrees, relative humidity 24 percent, barometer 28.98 inches, adjusted altitude 2,233 feet, track temperature 89 degrees. Tasca shook the tires pretty hard at the hit but pedaled the car like a long time Pro. Nice numbers out the back door. Left Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 4.900/316.45, Now #1 Right Lane: James Day Runs 17.101/69.68, Now #3 Troxel gets a full pass but Day shakes the Goodyears hard before 20ft and has to lift. Nice start for Troxel on a fairly green track. Right Lane: Mike Neff Runs 4.850/321.65, Now #1 It seems really strange to see a JFR car in RED! Old spice is featured on the car and that has been their color for years. Great opener for the new team. Neff will begin that long climb to the 'Road to the Future' award at the end of the 24 race series. Left Lane: Bob Bode Runs 4.841/314.68, Now #1 Right Lane: Jerry Toliver Runs 7.048/109.09, Now #5 Bode must have a big smile on his face at the turnout as for the moment, he's #1! Toliver was door to door with Bode until his tires kicked loose at about 200ft. Left Lane: Scott Kalitta Runs 4.818/322.65, Now #1 Right Lane: Gary Densham Runs 8.828/108.93, Now #7 Kalitta makes Bode's rule over the field very short. His run moves Bode to #2 and, uh oh, Kalitta noses the car into the 'beach' at the end of the race track. The TV folks aren't broadcasting today but it appears he didn't get the DHL Toyota into the kitty litter all that deep. Not forgetting Densham, he smoked the tires about 200ft from the line. It looked like a smooth transition from bite to smoke so I'm guessing the power came in just a little bit to quickly.. Left Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 11.060/70.62, Now #9 Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 5.212/240.12, Now #5 It took quite awhile to dig Kalitta out of the sand so I'd say he must have more than just nosed it in. Wilkerson had a nice looking pass until about half track where holes were going out in both banks. Bartone struck the tires early and coasted to the stripe. Left Lane: T. Johnson Jr. Runs 5.151/227.69, Now #5 Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 7.209/97.46, Now #9 Just plain bad luck for Cruz. He rattled the tires a bit but he must have been surprised how sluggish the car was after a parachute rattled out of it's pack. Johnson was putting out some strangely colored header flames and lifted before the finish line. They did send the sweeper down to 1000ft to do a quick dust and clean on his lane. Left Lane: Ashley Force Runs 4.860/278.75, Now #4 Right Lane: Del Worsham Runs 4.967/317.79, Now #6 Pretty nice side by side runs. A. Force was right down the middle of the left lane but did lift a bit early. Check out her speed. Worsham appeared to run the car out the back door and gets into the top half. Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 5.133/221.85, Now #7 Right Lane: John Force Runs 6.726/134.23, Now #11 Ok folks, here it is. Papa John is back in the seat and will make his first hit in competition since that ugly day in Houston. Well, not exactly what he might have dreamed but by heck he has the first one under his belt. I think I was more polite than J. Force. His Mustang struck the tires at about 300ft and tried to pedal. He tried a couple more times before giving up. Head lost the blower belt at about 1000ft and was coasting at the stripe. Left Lane: Mike Ashley No Time, Now #19 Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.864/295.72, Now #5 Ashley was presenting the car in the water box but for some reason the crew pushed the car off to the side as Beckman singled for his first run. Beckman was on a solid run until the pipes went wet at about 1000ft. Blower belt most likely. Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.876/320.51, Now #6 Right Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 7.422/120.23, Now #16 Scelzi strikes the tires early in the run and he's out of the spotlight for the moment. Capps gets to the stripe and cards a bit speed to go with a run the puts him #6. Either Tasca is on the bump at #12 or Scelzi at #16. Just depends on how you look at the new rules. Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 9.526/84.80, Now #19 Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.845/325.45, Now #3 Hight smokes the tires in the Mustang and watches Pedregon take the Q Power Impala all the way to #3. That closes out the Funny Car session for Thursday. Next up are the long engine stands.

Thursday Order for Qualifying Round 1

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Scott Kalitta DHL Solara 4.818 322.65 2. Bob Bode Alard Machine Products Monte C 4.841 314.68 3. Tony Pedregon Q Power Impala 4.845 325.45 4. Mike Neff Old Spice Mustang 4.850 321.65 5. Ashley Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.860 278.75 6. Jack Beckman Valvoline/MTS Charger 4.864 295.72 7. Ron Capps NAPA Auto Parts Charger 4.876 320.51 8. Melanie Troxel ProCare RX Dodge RT 4.900 316.45 9. Del Worsham Checker Schuck's Kragen Impala 4.967 317.79 10. Jim Head Head Racing Solara 5.133 221.85 11. Tommy Johnson Jr. Monster Energy Drink Charger 5.151 227.69 12. Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup Monte Carlo 5.212 240.12 --------- Not Qualified --------- 13. Bob Tasca III Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang 5.277 309.34 14. John Force Castrol GTX Mustang 6.726 134.23 15. Jerry Toliver Rockstar Energy Drinks Charger 7.048 109.09 16. Cruz Pedregon Advance Auto Parts Impala 7.209 97.46 17. Gary Scelzi Mopar Oakley Charger 7.422 120.23 18. Gary Densham RaceBricks Monte Carlo 8.828 108.93 19. Robert Hight AAA of So. Cal Mustang 9.526 84.80 20. Tony Bartone Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo 11.060 70.62 21. James Day Top Fuel Records Stratus 17.101 69.68

Friday Results for Qualifying Round 2

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 1 - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals 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: James Day Runs 7.356/117.99, Now #17 Best prior run: 17.101/69.68, Was #21 3:07 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 79 degrees, relative humidity 19 percent, barometer 28.92 inches, adjusted altitude 2,846 feet, track temperature 96 degrees. Not much of a burnout for Day as he doesn't even turn a tire! It might be that the throttle stop was not adjusted correctly. It didn't matter much as the car fell off the tire before 330ft and there was raw fuel flowing from the pipes. That will leave him #17 out of 22 cars a the moment. Left Lane: Gary Densham Runs 4.866/315.93, Now #7 Best prior run: 8.828/108.93, Was #19 Right Lane: Terry Haddock No Time, Now #22 No Prior Run Densham singles to a spot in the show but it really goes south from that point. The chute doesn't come out until just before the sand and you know what that means at Pomona. Teach is in the kitty litter and the front of his Monte Carlo is pretty torn up. He said that both releases were slapped right at the lights but no chute until about 300ft before the sand. Haddock was supposed to be in the right lane but the crew couldn't get the car to fire and he was pushed away. That's two down and two to go for the Race Girl team. Left Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.845/322.27, Now #4 Best prior run: 7.422/120.23, Was #19 Right Lane: Mike Ashley Runs 4.979/317.57, Now #12 No Prior Run Ashley had problems yesterday so this is his first hit of the new season. Scelzi shook the tires pretty hard on Thursday so in a way this is his first as well. Well, now all of that is settled. Scelzi jumps all the way to #4 and Ashley is in the field at #12. Nice side by side passes for the teams. Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.830/321.27, Now #2 Best prior run: 7.209/97.46, Was #19 Right Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 7.478/112.42, Now #21 Best prior run: 11.060/70.62, Was #22 I can guarantee that Cruz had both hands on the steering wheel on this pass. About half track the car made a big dive towards the wall and a 100ft later it made a big right! Wow, that was a busy driver! Bartone saw the 330ft marker go by just as the Goodyears cut loose and billowed a wall of smoke. Left Lane: Jerry Toliver Runs 5.163/223.17, Now #16 Best prior run: 7.048/109.09, Was #19 Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 7.439/114.07, Now #21 Best prior run: 9.526/84.80, Was #22 Toliver was on a pretty good looking run until the rubber band fell off the supercharger. Jerry Toliver's incremental times: 60ft-0.942 sec., 330ft-2.397. Hight rattled the tires and he remains well down on the charts. Left Lane: John Force Runs 6.391/145.09, Now #19 Best prior run: 6.726/134.23, Was #19 Right Lane: T. Johnson Jr. Runs 4.994/299.06, Now #14 Best prior run: 5.151/227.69, Was #15 Poppa Force started the day in the field but events have pushed him down to #18. With holes out and shake he gets no help at all. Johnson picks up on one spot in the field and had holes out from half track to the stripe. Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 5.218/292.08, Now #18 Best prior run: 5.277/309.34, Was #18 Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.883/325.06, Now #11 Best prior run: 5.133/221.85, Was #15 Tasca had some nice early numbers but holes went wet at about a 900ft and the car slowed like someone jerked the chain. Bob Tasca III's incremental times: 60ft-0.922 sec., 330ft-2.499. Head got the full pass and moves up in the field. Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 8.835/95.35, Now #17 Best prior run: 5.212/240.12, Was #17 Right Lane: Melanie Troxel No Time, Now #12 Best prior run: 4.900/316.45, Was #12 Wilkerson almost looked like he wasn't lined up straight. When he left the nose of the car was headed straight for the centerline and then shake started in. He lifted at that was all she wrote. Troxel headed for the centerline and there was no way to bring it back. Her 5.633/180.96 was DQd for crossing the center. Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 4.974/261.37, Now #13 Best prior run: 4.967/317.79, Was #13 Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.838/322.73, Now #3 Best prior run: 4.876/320.51, Was #10 Capps hurt the engine pretty good but I'm certain he and the team will take that run. Worsham disappeared behind a wall of smoke and slowing on the top end. Nothing on the track so we 'fire the next pair'. Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 8.517/95.74, Now #9 Best prior run: 4.864/295.72, Was #9 Right Lane: Ashley Force Runs 4.927/272.45, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.860/278.75, Was #8 A. Force keeps her spot in the top eight but this run falls off from Thursday. At about 1000ft she had her hands full as the car went the the centerline and I think she had a small fire as well. Vito and the gang will be working a bit later tonight, just as the Safari is out cleaning up Force's lane. The fiberglass forest still stretches back to the opening in the wall. Beckman got to about half track and kicked the tires loose. He does remain locked in at #9. Left Lane: Mike Neff Runs 4.840/317.64, Now #4 Best prior run: 4.850/321.65, Was #7 Right Lane: Bob Bode Runs 5.066/247.38, Now #5 Best prior run: 4.841/314.68, Was #4 Ok. The forest is just about gone. Only four Funny Cars remain here in the Friday Pro session. It wasn't pretty for Neff but he does move all the way to the #4 spot with the Mustang showing holes being mixed and an engine that just didn't sound happy! Bode had his own set of problems and he really slowed before the lights. Down to the final pair. Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 5.724/168.14, Now #6 Best prior run: 4.845/325.45, Was #6 Right Lane: Scott Kalitta Runs 10.918/80.74, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.818/322.65, Was #1 The good news for Kalitta was he didn't need the chutes today. He will remain #1 but on this run the tires were spinning very early and he gave up almost before the 60ft mark. Pedregon got further but he struck the tires as well. He coasted over the stripe and a strange Funny Car session is in the books. Just by way of note, this is the warmest session so far. Almost 80 degrees at the start.

Friday Order for Qualifying Round 2

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Scott Kalitta DHL Solara 4.818 322.65 2. Cruz Pedregon Advance Auto Parts Impala 4.830 321.27 3. Ron Capps NAPA Auto Parts Charger 4.838 322.73 4. Mike Neff Old Spice Mustang 4.840 321.65 5. Bob Bode Alard Machine Products Monte C 4.841 314.68 6. Tony Pedregon Q Power Impala 4.845 325.45 7. Gary Scelzi Mopar Oakley Charger 4.845 322.27 8. Ashley Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.860 278.75 9. Jack Beckman Valvoline/MTS Charger 4.864 295.72 10. Gary Densham RaceBricks Monte Carlo 4.866 315.93 11. Jim Head Head Racing Solara 4.883 325.06 12. Melanie Troxel ProCare RX Dodge RT 4.900 316.45 --------- Not Qualified --------- 13. Del Worsham Checker Schuck's Kragen Impala 4.967 317.79 14. Mike Ashley ProCare RX Charger RT 4.979 317.57 15. Tommy Johnson Jr. Monster Energy Drink Charger 4.994 299.06 16. Jerry Toliver Rockstar Energy Drinks Charger 5.163 223.17 17. Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup Impala 5.212 240.12 18. Bob Tasca III Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang 5.218 309.34 19. John Force Castrol GTX Mustang 6.391 145.09 20. James Day Top Fuel Records Stratus 7.356 117.99 21. Robert Hight AAA of So. Cal Mustang 7.439 114.07 22. Tony Bartone Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo 7.478 112.42

Saturday Results for Qualifying Round 3

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 1 - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals 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: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.856/323.19, Now #8 No Prior Run 12:30 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 74 degrees, relative humidity 18 percent, barometer 28.95 inches, adjusted altitude 2,462 feet, track temperature 102 degrees. Certainly the warmest session of the weekend to this point. From an explanation of who is qualified...read Pro Stock Notes for Round #3! Wilkerson makes the most of the day and goes all the way into the top half od the field. Nice opener! Left Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 5.267/206.04, Now #14 No Prior Run Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.981/294.50, Now #10 Best prior run: 4.864/295.72, Was #10 Beckman had a hole out all the way to the finish line and from there it erupted in smoke. That must have been all that came out as the Safari stayed on the sidelines. Haddock slowed after half track and was coasting over the stripe. Left Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 4.810/327.90, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.900/316.45, Was #13 Right Lane: James Day Runs 10.340/88.97, Now #15 No Prior Run Kalitta slides down a spot and Melanie goes to the top of the heap. Day strikes the tires after the 60ft clocks and something came sliding out from under the car and across the lane behind Troxel. Not a belt and I couldn't make out what it was. Left Lane: Scott Kalitta Runs 12.390/84.87, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.818/322.65, Was #2 Right Lane: John Force Runs 4.898/321.88, Now #14 No Prior Run The Champ won't be pleased with those numbers but he did get some that could help in the final session. That was his team's first full pass of the weekend. The engine in his horsey was definitely NOT happy in the lights, even though he wen't over 320 mph. Kalitta was off the pedal early after shaking the tires loose. Left Lane: Tony Bartone Runs 5.679/174.10, Now #16 No Prior Run Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 5.776/167.49, Now #7 Best prior run: 4.845/325.45, Was #7 Bartone wandered around the left lane before calling it off at about 800ft. Pedregon just about duplicated Bartone's run in the other lane. Not the best looking of pairs. Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.837/319.14, Now #4 No Prior Run Right Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.845/321.42, Now #10 No Prior Run This time we have side by side qualifiers this time. Both drivers come in with no earlier qualifying numbers but they make the most of this session. It's really nice to see a Ford, sponsored by Tasca, qualified in the show. His brother Ford racer, Hight, goes all the way to the top half. Left Lane: Bob Bode Runs 4.852/316.01, Now #7 Best prior run: 4.841/314.68, Was #7 Right Lane: Jerry Toliver Runs 4.861/298.01, Now #13 No Prior Run Bode is living on magic this weekend, as well as that run on Thursday. He is now #7 and Toliver makes the show and he bumps J. Force. Left Lane: T. Johnson Jr. Runs 4.917/313.51, Now #18 No Prior Run Right Lane: Del Worsham Runs 7.733/104.82, Now #21 No Prior Run Oh ouch! TJ remains outside the show while his significant other is uhhh...the #1 qualifier! Johnson made a nice looking run in the Monster car but when the numbers came up it just wasn't quick enough. Worsham blew the tires off at about 330ft and he's down to one session as well. Left Lane: Mike Ashley Runs 4.899/323.66, Now #18 No Prior Run Right Lane: Gary Densham Runs 9.049/104.77, Now #15 Best prior run: 4.866/315.93, Was #15 Head is on the bump at 4.883 and Ashley just misses the field. Densham rattled the tires loose around 330ft and wound up coasting. He remains #15. Left Lane: Ashley Force Runs 5.432/188.70, Now #12 Best prior run: 4.860/278.75, Was #12 Right Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 4.919/318.54, Now #9 Best prior run: 4.845/322.27, Was #9 Both drivers in this pair are already in and that's a good thing. A. Force used all of the left lane from the center to the wall. Well, just short of the wall actually. Very close call as J. Force looked on. Gets the full pass but it's would not have been enough to qualify him. Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.875/321.12, Now #16 Best prior run: 4.883/325.06, Was #16 Right Lane: Mike Neff Runs 7.049/122.27, Now #6 Best prior run: 4.840/317.64, Was #6 Head was on the bump before his run and now, after. Another of those good looking runs that just isn't quite quick enough. Neff had to pedal early and then gave up when the Goodyears refused to rehook. Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.850/314.53, Now #5 Best prior run: 4.838/322.73, Was #5 Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 8.625/95.42, Now #3 Best prior run: 4.830/321.27, Was #3 Capps really is showing the consistency he and his team has been famous for. That's three runs between 4.838 and 4.876. He remains in the #5 spot. C. Pedregon kicked the tires loose pretty early but he remains #3. Pretty good show for all the sunlight.

Saturday Order for Qualifying Round 3

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Melanie Troxel ProCare RX Dodge RT 4.810 327.90 2. Scott Kalitta DHL Solara 4.818 322.65 3. Cruz Pedregon Advance Auto Parts Impala 4.830 321.27 4. Robert Hight AAA of So. Cal Mustang 4.837 319.14 5. Ron Capps NAPA Auto Parts Charger 4.838 322.73 6. Mike Neff Old Spice Mustang 4.840 321.65 7. Bob Bode Alard Machine Products Monte C 4.841 316.01 8. Tony Pedregon Q Power Impala 4.845 325.45 9. Gary Scelzi Mopar Oakley Charger 4.845 322.27 10. Bob Tasca III Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang 4.845 321.42 11. Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup Impala 4.856 323.19 12. Ashley Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.860 278.75 13. Jerry Toliver Rockstar Energy Drinks Charger 4.861 298.01 14. Jack Beckman Valvoline/MTS Charger 4.864 295.72 15. Gary Densham RaceBricks Monte Carlo 4.866 315.93 16. Jim Head Head Racing Solara 4.875 325.06 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. John Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.898 321.88 18. Mike Ashley ProCare RX Charger RT 4.899 323.66 19. Tommy Johnson Jr. Monster Energy Drink Charger 4.917 313.51 20. Terry Haddock Race Girl Monte Carlo 5.267 206.04 21. Tony Bartone Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo 5.679 174.10 22. Del Worsham Checker Schuck's Kragen Impala 7.733 317.79 23. James Day Top Fuel Records Stratus 10.340 117.99

Saturday Results for Qualifying Round 4

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 1 - Notes from final, round 4 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals 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: James Day Runs 5.447/218.55, Now #21 Best prior run: 10.340/88.97, Was #23 3:34 p.m. 3:33 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 77 degrees, relative humidity 21 percent, barometer 28.91 inches, adjusted altitude 2,658 feet, track temperature 91 degrees. Ok, this is it. Final qualifying for the Pro cars is now underway. Well, we're 0-1 as he's forced to pedal at half track. The numbers came up and you could just see the team deflate on the starting line. Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 10.769/84.39, Now #23 Best prior run: 7.733/104.82, Was #23 Right Lane: Tony Bartone No Time, Now #22 Best prior run: 5.679/174.10, Was #22 Bartone is having problems with the car. It's sitting there running but they have a leak they don't seem to be able to stop. Worsham has been waiting after his burnout but Stewart finally activates the tree without Bartone. Worsham welded the clutch at about 100ft and he was up in smoke. Tough start for both teams. Left Lane: John Force Runs 4.823/321.58, Now #3 Best prior run: 4.898/321.88, Was #17 Last shot and all that stuff for the J. Force team. I guess there's a reason that Austin Coil and John Force have won all those titles. Force puts the car in the middle of the lane at the hit and never got more than a couple of feet off center to the finish. He jumps all the way to #3 and puts Jim Head out of the field. Left Lane: Gary Densham Runs 4.869/316.75, Now #16 Best prior run: 4.866/315.93, Was #16 Right Lane: T. Johnson Jr. Runs 4.977/313.22, Now #19 Best prior run: 4.917/313.51, Was #19 Nothing gets any better for Johnson as he can't put the Monster Mobile into the field. Densham remains on the bump and just about duplicates his best. there are still two cars that can bump him. Ashley and Head are coming up. Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 5.830/176.70, Now #15 Best prior run: 4.864/295.72, Was #15 Right Lane: Mike Ashley Runs 8.020/99.83, Now #18 Best prior run: 4.899/323.66, Was #18 Speaking of Ashley, here he comes. 'Teach' lets out just a little bit of that air he's holding in when Ashley blew the tires off at about 300ft. There was no way the car would recover so he just clicked it. Beckman was doing ok but he car fell silent at about 900ft. Left Lane: Jerry Toliver Runs 4.790/320.51, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.861/298.01, Was #14 Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.918/318.69, Now #17 Best prior run: 4.875/321.12, Was #17 Densham is starting to turn purple now. Head backs up from the burnout and he waits at the top end for the result of this run. This is Head's 23 shot at the Winternationals and...he'll be watching on Sunday. Good run, but just not quick enough. Ok Gary, breathe! Meanwhile in the left lane Toliver sort of quietly takes the top spot away from Troxel. Where did THAT come from! Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.790/325.22, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.856/323.19, Was #13 Right Lane: Ashley Force Runs 4.828/309.77, Now #6 Best prior run: 4.860/278.75, Was #14 On speed Tim Wilkerson takes over the #1 spot from Toliver. Toliver says he doesn't care as he won the 50th anniversary from the same spot! A. Force makes a pretty good move as well as she puts the Pony into the top half. Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.860/316.97, Now #14 Best prior run: 4.845/321.42, Was #14 Right Lane: Bob Bode Runs 6.192/144.21, Now #11 Best prior run: 4.841/314.68, Was #11 Tasca becomes part of the contingent that finds the sand at the end of the track. To top it all off Force went down to the pit to check on Tasca and twisted his ankle in the trap. He's hobbling around with help from the Safari and he finds a spot on the hay bales to sit for awhile. The Tasca Mustang appeared to be a bit dirty but not badly injured. It appears they won't have to shoot IT! Bode shook the tires pretty hard and he has to lift. He remains #11 from his first hit of the weekend. Left Lane: Gary Scelzi Runs 7.115/117.46, Now #13 Best prior run: 4.845/322.27, Was #13 Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.836/325.30, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.838/322.73, Was #9 As things have drawn out in this session the track has cooled and the air is going down as well. The tuners are paying attention and the Top Fuel cars just might benefit from these delays. Scelzi looks good for the first 330ft but the big Goodyears lost grip about there at the Dodge disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Capps is just about perfect for the weekend. He runs his quickest of the weekend by .002 and moves into the top half. Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 8.395/98.64, Now #12 Best prior run: 4.845/325.45, Was #12 Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.880/302.41, Now #9 Best prior run: 4.837/319.14, Was #9 That was about the worst looking 4.88 that I've ever seen! They were wet pipes starting at 300ft and getting worse all they way down as they picked up new recruits. By the time it got to the stripe it was an ugly V5. Pedregon struck the tires early and was coasting. He's #12 based on one good run this weekend. Left Lane: Mike Neff Runs 6.149/150.56, Now #10 Best prior run: 4.840/317.64, Was #10 Right Lane: Scott Kalitta Runs 4.897/317.12, Now #4 Best prior run: 4.818/322.65, Was #4 Neff started putting stuff out the pipes after half track and he certainly lifted. Kalitta got a bit further and he had to give up as well. Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.940/259.66, Now #7 Best prior run: 4.830/321.27, Was #7 Right Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 10.044/83.92, Now #3 Best prior run: 4.810/327.90, Was #3 A woman has never qualified #1 in Funny Car and Troxel is SO close at the moment. She comes in #3 and would really like to be the first. That thought ends pretty quickly as she smokes the tires heavily. Just before the lights Pedregon's car erupted in flames and he barely managed to keep it off the wall at the finish line. The car was sliding in the oil and flame retardent and the Safari was on him right away. It didn't look that bad but we're delaying the start of Top Fuel qualifying while it's swept up.

Saturday Order for Qualifying Round 4

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 4 rounds of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup Impala 4.790 325.22 2. Jerry Toliver Rockstar Energy Drinks Charger 4.790 320.51 3. Melanie Troxel ProCare RX Dodge RT 4.810 327.90 4. Scott Kalitta DHL Solara 4.818 322.65 5. John Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.823 321.88 6. Ashley Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.828 309.77 7. Cruz Pedregon Advance Auto Parts Impala 4.830 321.27 8. Ron Capps NAPA Auto Parts Charger 4.836 325.30 9. Robert Hight AAA of So. Cal Mustang 4.837 319.14 10. Mike Neff Old Spice Mustang 4.840 321.65 11. Bob Bode Alard Machine Products Monte C 4.841 316.01 12. Tony Pedregon Q Power Impala 4.845 325.45 13. Gary Scelzi Mopar Oakley Charger 4.845 322.27 14. Bob Tasca III Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang 4.845 321.42 15. Jack Beckman Valvoline/MTS Charger 4.864 295.72 16. Gary Densham RaceBricks Monte Carlo 4.866 316.75 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Jim Head Head Racing Solara 4.875 325.06 18. Mike Ashley ProCare RX Charger RT 4.899 323.66 19. Tommy Johnson Jr. Monster Energy Drink Charger 4.917 313.51 20. Terry Haddock Race Girl Monte Carlo 5.267 206.04 21. James Day Top Fuel Records Stratus 5.447 218.55 22. Tony Bartone Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo 5.679 174.10 23. Del Worsham Checker Schuck's Kragen Impala 7.733 317.79

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 1

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Gary Densham (RaceBricks Monte Carlo) 0.097 4.862 312.86 (L) Tim Wilkerson (Levi, Ray & Shoup Impala) 0.066 5.099 270.86 11:34 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 71 degrees, relative humidity 25 percent, barometer 28.99 inches, adjusted altitude 2,245 feet, track temperature 88 degrees. This is the 11th time that Wilkerson has qualified #1 at an NHRA National Event and the second time he's pulled it off at the Winternationals. For Densham this is his 22nd Winters and his first was in 1974. Let's hope it's only the first of many more for 'Teach'. Wilkerson gets the advantage off the line, but a dropped cylinder on the Impala puts Densham ahead to stay by the 60 foot lights. Great win for the struggling RaceBricks team. Densham says he will have to go to Phoenix now! (W) Jack Beckman (Valvoline/MTS Charger) 0.066 4.959 309.63 (L) Jerry Toliver (Rockstar Energy Drinks Charg 0.086 8.035 91.62 Toliver is now qualified at 97 events and he's won here in 1999 and 2003. Beckman won his only prior meeting with Toliver. New teammates for 2008 and they meet in round one. Beckman is out on the Rockstar FC and stays there, as the black car starts to smoke the tires at the 330 lights. Toliver pumps it, but to no avail. Beckman was as quick as he'ed like, but he is into round two! (W) Gary Scelzi (Mopar Oakley Charger) 0.085 4.911 317.94 (L) Scott Kalitta (DHL Solara) 0.090 10.639 78.11 Scott Kalitta first came to the Winternationals in 1983 as a Pro driver. Scelzi is 6-2 against Scott in the Funny Car class. Kalitta led qualifying on Thursday and stayed in the top half of the field through the rest of qualifying. In a near repeat of the last pair, Scelzi is out first and snakes his way to an easy win. The yellow car starts to smoke the tires before the 330 lights and is done for the weekend. (W) Bob Tasca III (Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustan 0.090 5.235 225.97 (L) Melanie Troxel (ProCare RX Dodge RT) 0.042 6.968 130.07 This pair matches two drivers in their first starts as Nitro Funny Car drivers. Troxel of course as lots of experience in a Nitro dragster but Tasca matches that with his Alcohol Funny Car starts. Tasca's crew seems to have gotten the damage straightened from his trip to the beach on Saturday. Troxel leaves on Tasca pretty good but she kicks the tires loose at about 400ft. Tasca took the lead but had to hold on as the blower belt appeared to part company with the engine. (W) John Force (Castrol GTX Mustang) 0.101 4.805 327.66 (L) Tony Pedregon (Q Power Impala) -0.075(R) 4.983 267.80 J. Force holds a 52-21 record against T. Pedregon. Tony has won this event in 1998 and 2003. I still have not heard how badly he twisted is ankle yesterday as he walked into the sand trap to speak to Bob Tasca III. This is hard to describe. Tony red lights and continues the run to the lights. He has the car blow it's self apart and throw stuff at Force in the other lane. Pedregon was on fire, big time, with part of the body in front of his face. He had no idea where he was and tapped the wall slightly. Force was watching Pedregon's car catch fire and he admitted he forgot to pull the chutes. He nosed the Ford into the sand and had many folks on hand to help him out of the car. Reports are that Pedregon is ok and is only in the ambulance to be checked out. It's certain that it got pretty warm in that car! Oh. Tony DID redlight and Force will have lane choice over Scelzi next round. (W) Ashley Force (Castrol GTX Mustang) 0.112 5.959 300.00 (L) Bob Bode (Alard Machine Products Monte Carl 0.116 6.854 161.27 This becomes the 19th start for A. Force and Bode is the 16th different driver she's faced. This is Bode's 31st start and his career best speed. The first pedalfest od the year for this pair. Bode lost traction first and then A. Forces Ford followed. She waited a bit longer to get back on the noise maker and pulls away for the win. She loses lane choice to Tasca next round. (W) Cruz Pedregon (Advance Auto Parts Impala) 0.045 4.927 311.85 (L) Mike Neff (Old Spice Mustang) 0.024 5.374 205.72 This is C. Pedregon's 17th Winters and he has captured wins in Top Alcohol Dragster (1989) and Funny Car (2005). This will be Neff's third start in the John Force Racing Mustang. Neff has a stellar light but the rubber band falls off at about 1000ft. C.Pedregon pulls away for his first round win of 2008. Pedregon takes lane choice into his match with Beckman next round. (W) Robert Hight (AAA of So. Cal Mustang) 0.092 5.521 280.37 (L) Ron Capps (NAPA Auto Parts Charger) 0.083 DQ-Centerline The Hight vs Capps pairing is a replay of the final round of the 2006 Winternationals. Hight took that race and went on for a really good season. Overall Hight is 8-4 against Capps. Pretty even at the hit but Capps lost traction before half track. He sawed at the pedal and crossed the centerline after half track. The next sashay took out the 1000ft marker and the 6.798/139.43 will simply read, DQ. Densham has choice over Hight.

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 2

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Robert Hight (AAA of So. Cal Mustang) 0.113 5.291 295.46 (L) Gary Densham (RaceBricks Monte Carlo) 0.099 9.088 97.12 1:55 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 78 degrees, relative humidity 16 percent, barometer 28.93 inches, adjusted altitude 2,651 feet, track temperature 104 degrees. Hight and Densham meet to see who gets the spot in the semis. Both cars strike the tires early in the run but Hight gathers the car up and hooks it quicker than Densham. The bad news for Hight and team is that Hight stopped his car on the track and bailed out pretty quickly. He went to the left side of the car and tried to stomp out the flames. By the time the Safari got there he was pointing to where to spry the fire retardent under the body. We're down for a few to do a little cleaning on the shutdown area. (W) Ashley Force (Castrol GTX Mustang) 0.119 4.873 318.62 (L) Bob Tasca III (Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustan 0.129 4.955 310.63 Ford vs Ford and non-winner vs non-winner. Another pair of sterling lights but it's A. Force that lights the light at the finish. Both runs looked really good from the tower. They just need to tune the driver a little. (W) John Force (Castrol GTX Mustang) 0.109 4.871 312.42 (L) Gary Scelzi (Mopar Oakley Charger) 0.060 NT-Broke After Staging Scelzi left on Force but stopped so quickly it appeared the linkage must have fallen off! Force took the lead and Scelzi coasted to a stop at the 330ft marker. BTW, J. Force says A. Force drives like him but looks like her mom. Thank heavens! J. Force has lane choice over Hight in the semi-final. (W) Cruz Pedregon (Advance Auto Parts Impala) 0.048 5.010 303.84 (L) Jack Beckman (Valvoline/MTS Charger) 0.014 5.122 295.21 Beckman has a psychic light but the car lets him down. C. Pedregon drove around him and takes the stripe with a less than great 5.010. Cruz said that they blew it up again but they are working on the fuel system. A. Force has lane choice over Cruz in the other semi.

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 3

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Cruz Pedregon (Advance Auto Parts Impala) 0.040 4.850 325.06 (L) Ashley Force (Castrol GTX Mustang) 0.141 4.996 246.75 3:27 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 16 percent, barometer 28.92 inches, adjusted altitude 2,883 feet, track temperature 94 degrees. Cruz's team has the car back together and ready to face A. Force. Force is really late and Pedregon outruns her as well. Force was well behind as they approached the lights the belt may have come off and she ran completely out of power. (W) Robert Hight (AAA of So. Cal Mustang) 0.107 4.842 313.73 (L) John Force (Castrol GTX Mustang) 0.110 11.266 84.45 Will 'Poppa' Force make it to the final? Hight might not roll over. He doesn't and Force strikes the tires hard right at the hit. Hight runs it right out the back door and wins lane choice over Pedregon in the final. Hight stands at 16-8 in final rounds.

Sunday Results for Final Round

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Robert Hight (AAA of So. Cal Mustang) 0.061 4.861 284.39 (L) Cruz Pedregon (Advance Auto Parts Impala) 0.057 4.879 322.50 4:54 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 21 percent, barometer 28.90 inches, adjusted altitude 2,931 feet, track temperature 84 degrees. Hight is 5-3 in finals and one of those is a win over Pedregon. Pedregon's last win was at Las Vegas '1' in 2006. That makes eight straight wins at this track for Hight and the JFR teams. It was pretty even but Hight was leading at every marker. By the time he got to the stripe the pony was on it's nose, as witnessed by the speed of the Mustang.