Funny Car

Friday

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Friday Results for Qualifying Round 1

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - GAINESVILLE - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run: Left Lane: Mike Smith Runs 4.247/295.01, Now #1 Weather conditions: air temperature 77 degrees, relative humidity 56 percent, barometer 29.95 inches, adjusted altitude 1,856 feet, track temperature 101 degrees. The sound of a blown nitro funny car fills the air for the first time this weekend. Good baseline blast for the Florida driver. Left Lane: Bob Bode Runs 7.233/107.39, Now #3 Right Lane: Jerry Toliver Runs 4.380/212.23, Now #2 Bode smoked the tires and lifted, Toliver drifted over to the centerline, but didn't appear to go over. It was close! Left Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 4.222/290.94, Now #1 Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.284/284.45, Now #3 Pedregon drifted over toward the wall, then made a hard hook toward the left, but manage to cross the finish line and get the chutes out to calm things down. Great job of driving for Cruz. Arend's pass was A-to-B, right down the groove. Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.237/296.50, Now #3 Right Lane: John Force Runs 4.153/288.52, Now #1 .912 60-foot for Force, best of the session (so far). Pedregon's was .937, the rest of the way the two went right down the middle of their lanes. Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.238/296.05, Now #4 Right Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 10.316/71.16, Now #9 Hagan lost traction right from the hit. Wilkerson's Mustang will have some good data to tune for the next round. Tim Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.937 sec., 330ft-2.406, 660ft-3.414/254.47 mph. Left Lane: A. Force Hood Runs 4.179/278.40, Now #2 Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 6.369/101.81, Now #9 Beckman lit up the tires after carding a .921 60-foot time and lifted. Ashley had a lot of smoke billow out of her race car after she crossed the finish line. The track is dry, so we hear the order to fire up the next pair. Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.124/296.76, Now #1 Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 7.215/67.67, Now #11 Tasca's moves his Ford ahead of the two team Force cars, Head hazed the tires hard at the 330-foot mark and lifted. Left Lane: Mike Neff Runs 4.154/300.93, Now #3 Right Lane: Del Worsham Runs 4.207/289.57, Now #5 1:05 p.m. The track temp is now 105 degrees, it's climbed quite a bit since the start of this round of qualifying. Neff joins his boss and Ashley near the top of the heap. That makes Mustangs 1-4, followed by Worsham in the top five. Left Lane: Robert Hight No Time, Now #17 Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 7.901/80.24, Now #15 Hight blew it up right on the line, the body lifted up, flames coming out both sides of the car as the chutes popped out the back. He pulled it over toward the wall and stopped about 150 feet from the starting line. Capps had to lift early, but all eyes were watching to make sure Hight is OK. He's fine - the car isn't, and that is the end of round one of Funny Car. Bob Tasca's Mustang is on top with a 4.124.

Friday Order for Qualifying Round 1

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Bob Tasca III Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang 4.124 296.76 2. John Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.153 288.52 3. Mike Neff JFR/Ford Mustang 4.154 300.93 4. Ashley Force Hood Castrol GTX Mustang 4.179 278.40 5. Del Worsham Al-Anabi Racing Solara 4.207 289.57 6. Jeff Arend DHL Solara 4.222 290.94 7. Tony Pedregon Quaker State Impala 4.237 296.50 8. Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang 4.238 296.05 9. Mike Smith Diamond Trucking Monte Carlo 4.247 295.01 10. Cruz Pedregon Advance Auto Parts Solara 4.284 284.45 11. Jerry Toliver Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo 4.380 212.23 12. Jack Beckman Valvoline/MTS Charger 6.369 101.81 --------- Not Qualified --------- 13. Jim Head Team Strange Apparel Solara 7.215 67.67 14. Bob Bode Alard Machine Products Impala 7.233 107.39 15. Ron Capps NAPA Auto Parts Charger 7.901 80.24 16. Matt Hagan Brakesafe Charger 10.316 71.16 17. Robert Hight AAA of So. Cal Mustang NT

Friday Results for Qualifying Round 2

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - GAINESVILLE - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals 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: Matt Hagan Runs 4.157/299.66, Now #4 Best prior run: 10.316/71.16, Was #16 Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 5.578/124.68, Now #13 No Prior Run Weather conditions: air temperature 78 degrees, relative humidity 49 percent, barometer 29.88 inches, adjusted altitude 1,948 feet, track temperature 103 degrees. Hight blew up his engine in spetacular fashion during the first round this morning. The team was busy between rounds, they got the car fixed, but the tuneup was a little too much for the middle of the track. Hight had to lift when he lost traction just past the 330-foot marker. Hagan improved a bunch - and moves into the top half of the field. Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.156/293.15, Now #4 Best prior run: 7.901/80.24, Was #17 Right Lane: Bob Bode Runs 4.286/286.07, Now #13 Best prior run: 7.233/107.39, Was #16 Capps got way over near the left side wall, but never lifted. Capps left a nice big black tire mark to show how close he got to the wall. Bode's lap is his best of 2009 (so far). Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 10.549/63.38, Now #17 Best prior run: 7.215/67.67, Was #17 Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.226/287.17, Now #9 Best prior run: 4.238/296.05, Was #10 Head's Toyota hopped up on the tire, then lost traction. Wilkerson improves enough to bump up one spot. Tim Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.925 sec., 330ft-2.366, 660ft-3.380/250.18 mph. Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.688/177.51, Now #15 Best prior run: 6.369/101.81, Was #16 Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.366/240.17, Now #10 Best prior run: 4.237/296.50, Was #10 Beckman went boom first, then Pedregon lit up his Quaker State machine just half a second or so later. No big fire, just big flashes of flame from both cars and we're down to check out both lanes of the race track. The cleanup crew rolls, time to get the stuff off both lanes. 3:45 p.m. Left Lane: Jerry Toliver Runs 4.365/239.19, Now #14 Best prior run: 4.380/212.23, Was #14 Right Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 5.503/125.25, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.222/290.94, Was #8 3:51 p.m. Toliver improved a few tics on the clock, but was trailing smoke and some flames at the top end. Arend started to haze the tires and lifted. Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.236/292.90, Now #10 Best prior run: 4.284/284.45, Was #12 Right Lane: A. Force Hood Runs 4.253/283.91, Now #6 Best prior run: 4.179/278.40, Was #6 Once again Ashley left a large cloud of smoke at the finish when she lifted off the loud pedal. In round one the track was dry, this time there is stuff in the right lane. Pedregon moves up off the 12th spot bubble. Cruz Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.922 sec., 330ft-2.389, 660ft-3.406/251.67 mph. 3:58 p.m. Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 4.189/292.01, Now #7 Best prior run: 4.207/289.57, Was #7 Right Lane: Mike Neff Runs 4.179/292.96, Now #3 Best prior run: 4.154/300.93, Was #3 4:04 p.m. Good side-by-side action here, both remain in the 3rd and 7th spot. Left Lane: John Force Runs 5.315/138.66, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.153/288.52, Was #2 Right Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.189/293.98, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.124/296.76, Was #1 Tasca runs the 2nd quickest pass of the round and will stay in the top spot. Force struck the tires in the middle of the run and had to lift. 4:10 p.m.

Friday Order for Qualifying Round 2

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Bob Tasca III Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang 4.124 296.76 2. John Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.153 288.52 3. Mike Neff JFR/Ford Mustang 4.154 300.93 4. Ron Capps NAPA Auto Parts Charger 4.156 293.15 5. Matt Hagan Brakesafe Charger 4.157 299.66 6. Ashley Force Hood Castrol GTX Mustang 4.179 283.91 7. Del Worsham Al-Anabi Racing Solara 4.189 292.01 8. Jeff Arend DHL Solara 4.222 290.94 9. Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang 4.226 296.05 10. Cruz Pedregon Advance Auto Parts Solara 4.236 292.90 11. Tony Pedregon Quaker State Impala 4.237 296.50 12. Mike Smith Diamond Trucking Monte Carlo 4.247 295.01 --------- Not Qualified --------- 13. Bob Bode Alard Machine Products Impala 4.286 286.07 14. Jerry Toliver Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo 4.365 239.19 15. Jack Beckman Valvoline/MTS Charger 4.688 177.51 16. Robert Hight AAA of So. Cal Mustang 5.578 124.68 17. Jim Head Team Strange Apparel Solara 7.215 67.67

Saturday Results for Qualifying Round 3

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - GAINESVILLE - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals 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: Mike Smith Runs 4.199/295.21, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.247/295.01, Was #12 Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 48 percent, barometer 29.89 inches, adjusted altitude 2,078 feet, track temperature 104 degrees. Smith's team was VERY happy with this pass - Mike's Monte looked great going down the track, just a couple of wiggles as the clutch timers kicked in. Left Lane: Jim Head No Time, Now #17 No Prior Run Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.585/249.90, Now #13 No Prior Run Head banged the motor right off the starting line, Hight made it out past the halfway point before the motor ate itself up which kicked out the chutes automatically. Head came to a stop near half-track, so action is on-hold for a minute to clear his car off the track. 1:20 p.m. Left Lane: John Force Runs 4.493/212.90, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.153/288.52, Was #2 Right Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 7.028/90.64, Now #9 Best prior run: 4.222/290.94, Was #9 Arend lost traction very early in the run, Force lifted after hazing the tires just past the halfway point. This is the last weekend for Force's gold and black Castrol Edge body by the way... Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.521/284.15, Now #13 No Prior Run Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 5.137/147.47, Now #12 Best prior run: 4.237/296.50, Was #12 Beckman pedaled about the 150-foot mark, Pedregon lifted just past the concrete pad when the big Goodyear tires lost traction. Left Lane: Jerry Toliver Runs 4.184/287.66, Now #7 No Prior Run Right Lane: Bob Bode Runs 4.352/266.06, Now #14 No Prior Run Toliver had a big puff out the pipes when he lifted at the finish line, the team may be replacing a few more motor parts than usual before round four. So far, Toliver's pass is the quickest of this third round. Bode moved up one spot. Jerry Toliver's incremental times: 60ft-0.942 sec., 330ft-2.388, 660ft-3.361/263.00 mph. Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.872/161.92, Now #12 Best prior run: 4.236/292.90, Was #12 Right Lane: A. Force Hood Runs 4.168/299.80, Now #6 Best prior run: 4.179/278.40, Was #6 Ashley ran her best run of the weekend, her Castrol machine danced over near the wall as she pulled the chutes at the top end. Pedregon slowed past half track after a good .915 60-foot time. Left Lane: Del Worsham Runs 4.828/165.48, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.189/292.01, Was #8 Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 6.318/103.59, Now #11 Best prior run: 4.226/287.17, Was #11 Worsham lifted after the cylinders starting mixing things up a bit, Wilkerson was already off the throttle by that point in time. The middle of the track is proving a little tricky for many of the teams this round. Left Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 4.618/183.37, Now #5 Best prior run: 4.157/299.66, Was #5 Right Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.996/152.19, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.124/296.76, Was #1 Both drivers shut down at about the same spot - just past the 330-foot mark. Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.227/287.84, Now #4 Best prior run: 4.156/293.15, Was #4 Right Lane: Mike Neff Runs 6.271/104.19, Now #3 Best prior run: 4.154/300.93, Was #3 Neff's crew chief John Medlen is back in Indianapolis recuperating, he's hoping to return with the team to the Houston event. Like many others both Capps and Neff have problems with the middle of the track, Capps drove it out the back door. With one round of qualifying later today Bob Tasca remains in the top spot, Jim Head will be looking to bump his way into the field. 1:45 p.m.

Saturday Order for Qualifying Round 3

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Bob Tasca III Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang 4.124 296.76 2. John Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.153 288.52 3. Mike Neff JFR/Ford Mustang 4.154 300.93 4. Ron Capps NAPA Auto Parts Charger 4.156 293.15 5. Matt Hagan Brakesafe Charger 4.157 299.66 6. Ashley Force Hood Castrol GTX Mustang 4.168 299.80 7. Jerry Toliver Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo 4.184 287.66 8. Del Worsham Al-Anabi Racing Solara 4.189 292.01 9. Mike Smith Diamond Trucking Monte Carlo 4.199 295.21 10. Jeff Arend DHL Solara 4.222 290.94 11. Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang 4.226 296.05 12. Cruz Pedregon Advance Auto Parts Solara 4.236 292.90 13. Tony Pedregon Quaker State Impala 4.237 296.50 14. Bob Bode Alard Machine Products Impala 4.352 286.07 15. Jack Beckman Valvoline/MTS Charger 4.521 284.15 16. Robert Hight AAA of So. Cal Mustang 4.585 249.90 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Jim Head Team Strange Apparel Solara NT

Saturday Results for Qualifying Round 4

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - GAINESVILLE - Notes from final, round 4 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals 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: Robert Hight Runs 4.179/299.20, Now #7 Best prior run: 4.585/249.90, Was #16 Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 45 percent, barometer 29.84 inches, adjusted altitude 2,103 feet, track temperature 111 degrees. Only Jim Head is not in the field. The track has been pretty tricky today but Jimmy Prock got the tune up right and got a big high-five from boss John Force. Jack Beckman is now on the 16th bump spot. Left Lane: Bob Bode Runs 4.632/277.83, Now #16 Best prior run: 4.352/266.06, Was #15 Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.233/294.43, Now #13 No Prior Run Head bumps out Beckman, Bode had to pedal when he lost traction at the 330-foot mark. Bode is now on the bump, so the drama continues... Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.181/294.56, Now #9 Best prior run: 4.237/296.50, Was #15 Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.178/294.50, Now #7 Best prior run: 4.521/284.15, Was #17 Beckman bumps out Bode - there are a lot of very happy people with Valvoline shirts on the starting line. Pedregon moved up with his best blast of the weekend in the other lane. Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.918 sec., 330ft-2.366, 660ft-3.362/258.71 mph. Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.163/302.08, Now #6 Best prior run: 4.226/287.17, Was #14 Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.222/290.26, Now #15 Best prior run: 4.236/292.90, Was #16 Wilkerson commented after his last run this new car is proving a little tricky to figure out, but this pass was smooth as silk. Cruz bumped Jim Head down to the 16th spot, Head will face the number one qualifier tomorrow. Left Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 4.401/234.82, Now #14 Best prior run: 4.222/290.94, Was #14 Right Lane: Del Worsham Runs 4.152/295.08, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.189/292.01, Was #12 Worsham has got the race day setup - that was a super nice pass! Low ET of the round (so far) btw... Arend dropped a couple of cylinders. Right Lane: Jerry Toliver Runs 4.922/148.31, Now #12 Best prior run: 4.184/287.66, Was #12 Six hundred feet out there was a loud bang, the burst panel came off the body, and chutes automatically kicked out of Toliver's Funny Car. 4:30 p.m. Left Lane: A. Force Hood Runs 4.126/301.00, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.168/299.80, Was #8 Right Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 4.223/297.94, Now #7 Best prior run: 4.157/299.66, Was #6 Huge run for Ashley Force Hood! Wow. Ashley Force Hood's incremental times: 60ft-0.895 sec., 330ft-2.329, 660ft-3.317/258.91 mph. Left Lane: Mike Neff Runs 4.187/296.50, Now #5 Best prior run: 4.154/300.93, Was #5 Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.188/289.63, Now #6 Best prior run: 4.156/293.15, Was #6 Capps had his hands full of wild Mopar, Ron's car made a hard move toward toward the line, but he very quickly grabbed a bunch of steer right and popped out the chutes. The instant reply was a blast to watch! Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.165/301.00, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.124/296.76, Was #1 Right Lane: John Force Runs 4.156/295.21, Now #4 Best prior run: 4.153/288.52, Was #4 Tasca is trying to claim his first number one spot - Force is looking for his 132nd... And... it will be TASCA! Force gave it a great effort, but came up just a bit short. Tasca will face Jim Head in the 1st round tomorrow, Force will race Mike Smith. 4:43 p.m.

Saturday Order for Qualifying Round 4

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 4 rounds of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Bob Tasca III Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang 4.124 301.00 2. Ashley Force Hood Castrol GTX Mustang 4.126 301.00 3. Del Worsham Al-Anabi Racing Solara 4.152 295.08 4. John Force Castrol GTX Mustang 4.153 295.21 5. Mike Neff JFR/Ford Mustang 4.154 300.93 6. Ron Capps NAPA Auto Parts Charger 4.156 293.15 7. Matt Hagan Brakesafe Charger 4.157 299.66 8. Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang 4.163 302.08 9. Jack Beckman Valvoline/MTS Charger 4.178 294.50 10. Robert Hight AAA of So. Cal Mustang 4.179 299.20 11. Tony Pedregon Quaker State Impala 4.181 296.50 12. Jerry Toliver Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo 4.184 287.66 13. Mike Smith Diamond Trucking Monte Carlo 4.199 295.21 14. Jeff Arend DHL Solara 4.222 290.94 15. Cruz Pedregon Advance Auto Parts Solara 4.222 292.90 16. Jim Head Team Strange Apparel Solara 4.233 294.43 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Bob Bode Alard Machine Products Impala 4.352 286.07

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 1

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Matt Hagan (Brakesafe Charger) 0.091 4.146 304.32 (L) Robert Hight (AAA of So. Cal Mustang) 0.082 4.894 169.98 11:26 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 77 degrees, relative humidity 60 percent, barometer 29.92 inches, adjusted altitude 1,943 feet, track temperature 94 degrees. It's a beautiful Florida day here in Gainesville, there is a brisk wind blowing from right to left, it won't be much of a factor till the cars clear the stands near the finish line. Hight struggled in qualifying, he didn't make the show till the last qualifying session yesterday. Hight won the starting line battle, but started hazing the tires, Hagan blasted on by with the quickest 1000 speed of his career. (W) Del Worsham (Al-Anabi Racing Solara) 0.064 4.143 301.40 (L) Jeff Arend (DHL Solara) 0.105 4.196 302.08 Arend's run was his best of the weekend, but it was not enough to cover Worsham who also made his best lap of the weekend. Del Worsham's MOV: 0.0949 seconds (approximately 42 feet). Both Al-Anabi Racing entries are still in the hunt after the first round. (W) Bob Tasca III (Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustan 0.101 4.198 297.48 (L) Jim Head (Team Strange Apparel Solara) 0.093 4.210 300.86 Jim Head made to the semis here in 2008 and gave Tasca all he could handle. This was a great drag race, Tasca slowed a little from yesterday, and Head almost caught him at the top end. At the stripe it was close, just four thousandths of a second, or about two feet between the two drivers. (W) Ashley Force Hood (Castrol GTX Mustang) 0.084 4.118 304.19 (L) Cruz Pedregon (Advance Auto Parts Solara) 0.020 4.195 298.34 Ashley blasted right down the groove with the quickest pass so far this weekend, Pedregon had a good lead after strapping a nice advantage on the line, but Ashley drove by him at the top end of the track. Ashley Force Hood's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.029), 330 ft(-0.022), 660ft(-0.003). MOV: 0.0135 seconds (approximately 6 feet). Ashley will have lane choice against Hagan in the next round. (W) John Force (Castrol GTX Mustang) 0.069 4.156 304.60 (L) Mike Smith (Diamond Trucking Monte Carlo) 0.093 4.296 257.87 This is the last race for John's Gold and Black Castrol Edge body, the team will debut a new scheme at the Houston event. Force lead this from start to finish, Smith got over near the wall at the top end of the track. (W) Jerry Toliver (Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo 0.100 4.240 257.24 (L) Mike Neff (JFR/Ford Mustang) 0.124 4.428 269.13 Best wishes and a quick recovery to Neff's crew chief John Medlen, who hopes to rejoin the team in Houston. Neff lost traction as the first set of timers started to tighten up the clutch, Toliver got very close to the centerline at the top end after he dropped a cylinder, but he managed to stay off the line. Toliver will face John Force in the next round, Force will have lane choice. (W) Tony Pedregon (Quaker State Impala) 0.064 4.198 300.93 (L) Ron Capps (NAPA Auto Parts Charger) 0.117 4.164 298.67 Tony won this event last year - Pedregon and Capps have faced each other 13 times in the first round, Capps leads 7-6... Make that an even 7-7!! Capps was late off the line, this was a good old drag race, both cars were welded to the groove all the way to the finish line. Capps just ran the 2nd quickest ET of the session, but he's done, that's drag racing... Pedregon will race Del Worsham in the next round, and Worsham will have lane choice. (W) Tim Wilkerson (Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang) 0.103 4.153 294.37 (L) Jack Beckman (Valvoline/MTS Charger) 0.080 4.177 302.41 This was SUPER CLOSE! Wilkerson's engine looked like it was eating itself up at the top end, but it held up long enough to take the stripe by the smallest margin of the round. Tim Wilkerson's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.002), 330 ft(0.014), 660ft(0.017). MOV: 0.0018 seconds (approximately 10 inches). Wilkerson will race Tasca in round two, and Tim will have lane choice. 11:49 a.m.

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 2

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) John Force (Castrol GTX Mustang) 0.088 4.178 300.73 (L) Jerry Toliver (Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo 0.105 5.582 134.26 1:23 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 49 percent, barometer 29.90 inches, adjusted altitude 1,970 feet, track temperature 114 degrees. Force is 17 - 4 against Toliver in prior events, when asked about his improved performance this weekend John quipped "We got Coil's medication right this week." Force gave Toliver a ton of payback for defeating Neff in round one, Toliver lost traction and had a good view of Force streaking to the semi finals. Force's top end interview was one of his best in a long time - hopefully it will be on the ESPN telecast later today. (W) Tony Pedregon (Quaker State Impala) 0.033 4.233 297.35 (L) Del Worsham (Al-Anabi Racing Solara) 0.079 4.517 231.71 Pedregon is 28 - 16 against Worsham in prior events. Pedregon deep staged, then Worsham had engine problems at the halfway point. Pedregon drove on to win by over 100 feet. There's some "stuff" on the right lane, so we're on hold for a cleanup. 1:31 p.m. (W) Matt Hagan (Brakesafe Charger) 0.101 4.171 297.61 (L) Ashley Force Hood (Castrol GTX Mustang) 0.107 4.179 292.27 Great drag race!! Hagan got six thousandths on the starting line, he then outran Ashley by eight thousandths more to win by just 14 thousandths of a second! Matt Hagan's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.011), 330 ft(0.001), 660ft(-0.001). MOV: 0.0143 seconds (approximately 6 feet). Hagan will have lane choice over Tony Pedregon in the semi finals. (W) Bob Tasca III (Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustan 0.073 4.191 296.18 (L) Tim Wilkerson (Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang) 0.103 4.201 296.37 Another great race in Gainesville, both car drifted toward the centerline, at it looked like they got pretty close to each other, but the reply quite a bit of distance between the two teammates. So number one qualifier Tasca advances, Bob will race John Force in the semis, and Force will have lane choice. Matt Hagan had low ET of this round with his 4.171. 1:38 p.m.

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 3

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Bob Tasca III (Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustan 0.088 4.170 291.19 (L) John Force (Castrol GTX Mustang) 0.085 4.370 238.93 3:06 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 81 degrees, relative humidity 47 percent, barometer 29.90 inches, adjusted altitude 2,148 feet, track temperature 109 degrees. Force is 1 - 0 against Tasca III in prior meetings, top Ford Mustang bragging rights and a trip to the final round is on the line. Tasca's gleaming red 'stang danced from side-to-side, but was pulling ahead of Force at each interval. Force's Mustang ended up very near the centerline at the finish line, then pulled up behind Tasca for a second in the shutdown area. Force go back over to the left, Tasca had a great top end interview, and the call comes to fire up the next pair. Bob Tasca III's MOV: 0.1972 seconds (approximately 69 feet). (W) Tony Pedregon (Quaker State Impala) 0.078 4.160 300.60 (L) Matt Hagan (Brakesafe Charger) 0.120 4.161 302.62 Pedregon is going to the final round here at Gainesville for the 2nd year in a row, Tony Pedregon's MOV: 0.0431 seconds (approximately 19 feet). Pedregon will have lane choice. 3:12 p.m.

Sunday Results for Final Round

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Bob Tasca III (Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustan 0.098 4.200 280.72 (L) Tony Pedregon (Quaker State Impala) 0.060 4.536 210.90 4:39 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 83 degrees, relative humidity 41 percent, barometer 29.87 inches, adjusted altitude 2,254 feet, track temperature 116 degrees. Pedregon is the defending event champ, he won here last year. Tasca is in his very first final round. The two will once again be the very best of friends after this race is over, but right now all the marbles, bragging rights, valuable points, and more is on the line. Pedregon left first and was pulling away when the engine in the Quaker State machine started to fail. Tasco drove by before half track then likely experienced the longest two seconds of his life before the finish line finally flashed by. Congrats to Tasca and the entire Motorcraft Quick Lane team.

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