Virginia NHRA Nationals FUNNY CAR

Funny Car

Friday

Saturday

Sunday
Friday

Results for Qualifying Round 1
DINWIDDIE, Va. - RICHMOND - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Fourth annual Virginia NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:
 
      Left Lane: John Smith       Runs 4.245/293.54, Now #1
     Right Lane: Dale Creasy Jr.  Runs 4.325/280.89, Now #2
2:52 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 83 degrees, relative humidity 56 percent, barometer 29.65 inches, adjusted altitude 2,717 feet, track temperature 103 degrees.
A pair of second-generation racers faced off here, Smith making his NHRA Funny Car debut. Both made solid opening runs - nothing spectacular, but those are career-best 1,000-foot numbers for "Peanut" and even better numbers for Smith's inaugural flopper ride.
     Right Lane: Jim Head         Runs 4.248/287.41, Now #2
Justin Schriefer was scheduled to run opposite Head, but did not answer the call for the session.
Head made a solid first pass, but was not quite quick enough to dislodge Smith from the top spot. The car made a good early move, but was laboring on the top end.
      Left Lane: Jerry Toliver    Runs 4.431/232.95, Now #5
     Right Lane: Jeff Arend       Runs 4.221/295.27, Now #1
Toliver's car had at least one dead cylinder from the start and the flames went out early. Arend made a nice-looking run, something they should be able to tune from, and he was quick enough to take the early pole position.
      Left Lane: Matt Hagan       Runs 4.197/294.31, Now #2
     Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon    Runs 4.178/299.33, Now #1
These two upped the ante a bit, with low-ninety 60-foot times and clean, straight runs.
      Left Lane: Del Worsham      Runs 4.244/293.22, Now #5
     Right Lane: Mike Neff        Runs 4.203/293.09, Now #3
Neff's Mustang sports a surfer-dude theme this weekend - I'm sure closeups of the body art will appear sometime during this weekend's TV coverage.
Both runs looked good, but the numbers were not as aggressive as the prior pair and they did not challenge for the top spot.
      Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson    Runs 4.164/296.83, Now #1
     Right Lane: John Force       Runs 4.276/281.01, Now #9
Force's car started huffing and puffing on the top end, but Wilkerson made a clean run to take over the top spot.
      Left Lane: Bob Tasca III    Runs 4.191/296.96, Now #1
     Right Lane: Ron Capps        Runs 4.225/288.83, Now #9
Capps' 'Susan G Komen For the Cure"-themed car sports breast cancer awareness pink highlights in addition to the usual blue and yellow NAPA paint scheme this weekend.
Good runs in both lanes - but Tasca's teammate Wilkerson stays atop the list.
      Left Lane: Jack Beckman     Runs 5.641/123.91, Now #15
     Right Lane: Tony Pedregon    Runs 4.189/300.40, Now #3
Beckman's car lost traction about 300 feet out, but Pedregon made a nice opening run that might hang on for one bonus point - but Hight and Force Hood are waiting in the water.
      Left Lane: Robert Hight     Runs 4.157/299.73, Now #2
     Right Lane: A. Force Hood    Runs 4.140/301.33, Now #1
Final pair, Force Hood leading teammate Hight by just three points in the championship countdown.
Two nice runs, the two quickest of the session, with top speed to boot for Force Hood. She gets three bonus points, Hight gets two, and she now leads by four points. Wow!
Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.892 sec., 330ft-2.340, 660ft-3.342/255.53 mph.
Ashley Force Hood's incremental times: 60ft-0.903 sec., 330ft-2.339, 660ft-3.330/257.97 mph.
       
Friday

Order for Qualifying Round 1
DINWIDDIE, Va. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Fourth annual Virginia NHRA Nationals:
 Psn  Driver               Vehicle                            ET   Speed
   1. Ashley Force Hood    Castrol GTX Mustang             4.140  301.33 
   2. Robert Hight         AAA of So. Cal Mustang          4.157  299.73 
   3. Tim Wilkerson        Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang       4.164  296.83 
   4. Cruz Pedregon        Advance Auto Parts Solara       4.178  299.33 
   5. Tony Pedregon        Quaker State Impala             4.189  300.40 
   6. Bob Tasca III        Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang   4.191  296.96 
   7. Matt Hagan           Fram/Shelor Charger             4.197  294.31 
   8. Mike Neff            JFR/Ford Mustang                4.203  293.09 
   9. Jeff Arend           DHL Solara                      4.221  295.27 
  10. Ron Capps            NAPA Auto Parts Charger         4.225  288.83 
  11. Del Worsham          Al-Anabi Racing Solara          4.244  293.22 
  12. John Smith           John Smith Racing Monte Carlo   4.245  293.54 
          --------- Not Qualified ---------
  13. Jim Head             Head Racing Solara              4.248  287.41 
  14. John Force           Castrol GTX Mustang             4.276  281.01 
  15. Dale Creasy Jr.      Tek Pak Inc. Impala             4.325  280.89 
  16. Jerry Toliver        Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo    4.431  232.95 
  17. Jack Beckman         Valvoline/MTS Charger           5.641  123.91 
Friday

Results for Qualifying Round 2
DINWIDDIE, Va. - RICHMOND - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Fourth annual Virginia NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:
 
      Left Lane: Dale Creasy Jr.  Runs 4.982/159.31, Now #15
                                  Best prior run: 4.325/280.89, Was #15
4:56 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 82 degrees, relative humidity 61 percent, barometer 29.62 inches, adjusted altitude 2,691 feet, track temperature 101 degrees.
Justin Schriefer was once again scheduled to be in the first pair out for the session, but did not answer the call - probably saving parts for tomorrow.
Creasy's throttle hung at a high idle at the end of the burnout, but his crew member was able to knock it loose so he could get the car into reverse. The car started rattling the tires around half track and he lifted, the car making a hard move toward the centerline.
For the record, John Smith is on the 12-car provisional bump spot at 4.245. There are 18 cars here, so a couple will not make the field tomorrow.
      Left Lane: John Force       Runs 4.135/301.00, Now #2
                                  Best prior run: 4.276/281.01, Was #14
     Right Lane: Jack Beckman     Runs 4.129/302.69, Now #1
                                  Best prior run: 5.641/123.91, Was #17 
From the bottom to the top in one pass...two nice runs, but they probably won't stay #1 and #2 through this session.
John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.892 sec., 330ft-2.325, 660ft-3.320/255.43 mph.
Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.906 sec., 330ft-2.341, 660ft-3.324/261.32 mph.
      Left Lane: Jim Head         Runs 4.129/302.62, Now #2
                                  Best prior run: 4.248/287.41, Was #15
     Right Lane: Jerry Toliver    Runs 7.192/98.82, Now #17
                                  Best prior run: 4.431/232.95, Was #17 
Toliver started smoking the tires a couple hundred feet into the run and he lifted. Head made a nice run, matching Beckman's ET, but 0.07 mph short on MPH.
Jim Head's incremental times: 60ft-0.899 sec., 330ft-2.330, 660ft-3.321/258.91 mph.
      Left Lane: Ron Capps        Runs 4.171/300.93, Now #7
                                  Best prior run: 4.225/288.83, Was #13
     Right Lane: John Smith       Runs 4.222/295.53, Now #14
                                  Best prior run: 4.245/293.54, Was #15 
Both drivers improved over their first run today, but Capps is likely to keep his time going into Saturday, Smith will not.
      Left Lane: Jeff Arend       Runs 4.106/302.41, Now #1
                                  Best prior run: 4.221/295.27, Was #13
     Right Lane: Del Worsham      Runs 4.131/296.96, Now #4
                                  Best prior run: 4.244/293.22, Was #15 
The Kalitta team appears to be getting a firm handle on the DHL Solara because this was a very good-looking run, easily moving to the top of the lift. It probably won't last through the next few pairs, but it was definitely a "keeper." Meanwhile, Worsham's crew also appears to be making the right changes because he moved way up in the field - and with just eight cars left to run in this session, he is safely in the provisional field. Bob Tasca III is now on the bump spot at 4.191.
      Left Lane: Mike Neff        Runs 4.144/303.64, Now #8
                                  Best prior run: 4.203/293.09, Was #14
     Right Lane: Matt Hagan       Runs 4.124/303.84, Now #2
                                  Best prior run: 4.197/294.31, Was #13 
Two solid runs, and Arend stays atop the list. Nice side-by-side show for the good Friday crowd, the left-side stands full and the fence-side crowd about four-deep.
      Left Lane: Tony Pedregon    Runs 4.143/301.67, Now #9
                                  Best prior run: 4.189/300.40, Was #13
     Right Lane: Bob Tasca III    Runs 4.135/301.54, Now #6
                                  Best prior run: 4.191/296.96, Was #14 
These two were just bumped from the provisional field, putting Cruz Pedregon on the bump spot at 4.178.
Almost identical runs, good enough to bump back in, bumping Cruz and Ron Capps. Cruz has yet to run, but Capps will have to start over tomorrow and Tim Wilkerson is on the bump spot at 4.164.
      Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon    Runs 4.119/278.69, Now #2
                                  Best prior run: 4.178/299.33, Was #14
     Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson    Runs 4.161/292.08, Now #13
                                  Best prior run: 4.164/296.83, Was #12 
Cruz was just bumped and Wilkerson was on the bubble...Pedregon ate some pistons on the top end, but moved way up in the field, bumping Wilkerson, who dropped a cylinder early in the run and did not improve enough to get back in. He, too, will have to start over tomorrow.
      Left Lane: A. Force Hood    Runs 4.094/307.79, Now #1
                                  Best prior run: 4.140/301.33, Was #9
     Right Lane: Robert Hight     Runs 4.110/306.19, Now #3
                                  Best prior run: 4.157/299.73, Was #12 
These two led the field after the first session, but dropped way down the list sitting in the staging lanes. They were both still in the provisional field, but not in the bonus points positions.
They took car of business, but Force Hood increased her lead over Hight by two more points by taking the top spot back, picking up three bonus points to his one, and she now leads by six. The other two bonus points go to Jeff Arend, who is not in the countdown.
       
Friday

Order for Qualifying Round 2
DINWIDDIE, Va. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Fourth annual Virginia NHRA Nationals:
 Psn  Driver               Vehicle                            ET   Speed
   1. Ashley Force Hood    Castrol GTX Mustang             4.094  307.79 
   2. Jeff Arend           DHL Solara                      4.106  302.41 
   3. Robert Hight         AAA of So. Cal Mustang          4.110  306.19 
   4. Cruz Pedregon        Advance Auto Parts Solara       4.119  299.33 
   5. Matt Hagan           Fram/Shelor Charger             4.124  303.84 
   6. Jack Beckman         Valvoline/MTS Charger           4.129  302.69 
   7. Jim Head             Head Racing Solara              4.129  302.62 
   8. Del Worsham          Al-Anabi Racing Solara          4.131  296.96 
   9. Bob Tasca III        Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang   4.135  301.54 
  10. John Force           Castrol GTX Mustang             4.135  301.00 
  11. Tony Pedregon        Quaker State Impala             4.143  301.67 
  12. Mike Neff            JFR/Ford Mustang                4.144  303.64 
          --------- Not Qualified ---------
  13. Tim Wilkerson        Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang       4.161  296.83 
  14. Ron Capps            NAPA Auto Parts Charger         4.171  300.93 
  15. John Smith           John Smith Racing Monte Carlo   4.222  295.53 
  16. Dale Creasy Jr.      Tek Pak Inc. Impala             4.325  280.89 
  17. Jerry Toliver        Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo    4.431  232.95 
Saturday

Results for Qualifying Round 3
DINWIDDIE, Va. - RICHMOND - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Fourth annual Virginia NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:
 
      Left Lane: Justin Schriefer Runs 7.265/86.27, Now #14
                                  No Prior Run
     Right Lane: Dale Creasy Jr.  Runs 6.032/131.28, Now #13
                                  No Prior Run
2:21 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 78 degrees, relative humidity 60 percent, barometer 29.72 inches, adjusted altitude 2,277 feet, track temperature 91 degrees.
We just saw several spectacular runs in the Top Fuel category, so hang on to your hats, we could easily see record runs in this session.
Both cars exceeded "the limits of adhesion" and lost traction in the first couple hundred feet. Creasy pedaled at least once, Schriefer did not.
      Left Lane: Jerry Toliver    Runs 4.305/283.13, Now #14
                                  No Prior Run
     Right Lane: Ron Capps        Runs 4.120/307.93, Now #5
                                  No Prior Run 
Capps barely missed the cut yesterday, so he has to start over today. He made a nice, clean, safe run, with top speed of the meet and is probably safely in the top half of the field. Toliver's car had at least one dead cylinder and got close to the centerline, but he did manage to complete the run under power.
      Left Lane: John Smith       Runs 4.820/174.23, Now #15
                                  No Prior Run
     Right Lane: Mike Neff        Runs 4.111/301.74, Now #4
                                  Best prior run: 4.144/303.64, Was #13 
Smith left, shook, pedaled, got the front wheels way up, and had to pedal it again to get them down, losing a lot of time just getting to half track. Meanwhile, Neff went right down the groove on a very nice-looking run. Smith will stay in the field until the finals ession because there's only one car outside the field still in line - Tim Wilkerson.
      Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson    Runs 4.093/305.22, Now #1
                                  No Prior Run
     Right Lane: Tony Pedregon    Runs 5.300/135.74, Now #14
                                  Best prior run: 4.143/301.67, Was #13 
pedregon rattled the tires before half track and lifted. Meanwhile, Wilkerson made a very smooth run to go from last to first.
Tim Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.892 sec., 330ft-2.316, 660ft-3.294/262.08 mph.
      Left Lane: Bob Tasca III    Runs 4.103/306.05, Now #3
                                  Best prior run: 4.135/301.54, Was #12
     Right Lane: John Force       Runs 4.112/304.39, Now #7
                                  Best prior run: 4.135/301.00, Was #13 
Two nice runs, but "Wilk" stays atop the field.
      Left Lane: Del Worsham      Runs 4.235/233.12, Now #13
                                  Best prior run: 4.131/296.96, Was #13
     Right Lane: Jim Head         Runs 4.157/292.65, Now #12
                                  Best prior run: 4.129/302.62, Was #12 
Head made a good run, a little off the quick pace. Worsham was on a quicker run to half track, then his car dropped cylinder or two and nosed over.
      Left Lane: Jack Beckman     Runs 4.132/303.91, Now #11
                                  Best prior run: 4.129/302.69, Was #11
     Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon    Runs 9.094/81.38, Now #8
                                  Best prior run: 4.119/278.69, Was #8 
Nice pass by Beckman, but no improvement. Pedregon started hazing the tires about 200 feet out and lifted.
      Left Lane: Matt Hagan       Runs 4.051/309.49, Now #1
                                  Best prior run: 4.124/303.84, Was #10
     Right Lane: Jeff Arend       Runs 6.142/106.99, Now #5
                                  Best prior run: 4.106/302.41, Was #4 
Arend lost traction about 300 feet out. Hagan's car was dancing around and the numbers were a bit of a surprise - neither ET or speed is a track record, but both are the best of the event so far and both are career-best numbers for Hagan.
Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.898 sec., 330ft-2.305, 660ft-3.266/267.11 mph.
      Left Lane: Robert Hight     Runs 5.238/118.66, Now #6
                                  Best prior run: 4.110/306.19, Was #6
     Right Lane: A. Force Hood    Runs 4.097/309.34, Now #3
                                  Best prior run: 4.094/307.79, Was #3 
last pair, and after Hagan's run, both teams had to be hoping they "brought enough."
Hight hazed the tires about 300 feet out and apparently popped the burst panel, the chutes coming out. Force Hood made a very nice run, but failed to improve and stayed third in the order.
With one session left, Hagan leads the pack at 4.051 and John Smith is on the bump spot at 4.820.
       
Saturday

Order for Qualifying Round 3
DINWIDDIE, Va. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Fourth annual Virginia NHRA Nationals:
 Psn  Driver               Vehicle                            ET   Speed
   1. Matt Hagan           Fram/Shelor Charger             4.051  309.49 
   2. Tim Wilkerson        Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang       4.093  305.22 
   3. Ashley Force Hood    Castrol GTX Mustang             4.094  309.34 
   4. Bob Tasca III        Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang   4.103  306.05 
   5. Jeff Arend           DHL Solara                      4.106  302.41 
   6. Robert Hight         AAA of So. Cal Mustang          4.110  306.19 
   7. Mike Neff            JFR/Ford Mustang                4.111  303.64 
   8. John Force           Castrol GTX Mustang             4.112  304.39 
   9. Cruz Pedregon        Advance Auto Parts Solara       4.119  299.33 
  10. Ron Capps            NAPA Auto Parts Charger         4.120  307.93 
  11. Jack Beckman         Valvoline/MTS Charger           4.129  303.91 
  12. Jim Head             Head Racing Solara              4.129  302.62 
  13. Del Worsham          Al-Anabi Racing Solara          4.131  296.96 
  14. Tony Pedregon        Quaker State Impala             4.143  301.67 
  15. Jerry Toliver        Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo    4.305  283.13 
  16. John Smith           John Smith Racing Monte Carlo   4.820  295.53 
          --------- Not Qualified ---------
  17. Dale Creasy Jr.      Tek Pak Inc. Impala             6.032  280.89 
  18. Justin Schriefer     Creasy Family Camaro            7.265   86.27 
Saturday

Results for Qualifying Round 4
DINWIDDIE, Va. - RICHMOND - Notes from final, round 4 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Fourth annual Virginia NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:
 
      Left Lane: Dale Creasy Jr.  Runs 5.196/217.11, Now #17
                                  Best prior run: 6.032/131.28, Was #17
     Right Lane: Justin Schriefer Runs 12.633/57.75, Now #18
                                  Best prior run: 7.265/86.27, Was #18
5:28 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 69 degrees, relative humidity 54 percent, barometer 29.80 inches, adjusted altitude 1,397 feet, track temperature 84 degrees.
John Smith is on the bump spot at 4.820.
Conditions are right for spectacular runs in this session. But the first pair missed the clutch setup and smoked the tires. "Peanut" pedaled several times, Schriefer did not, neither will be in the field tomorrow.
      Left Lane: Tony Pedregon    Runs 4.102/303.84, Now #4
                                  Best prior run: 4.143/301.67, Was #14
     Right Lane: John Smith       No Time, Now #16
                                  Best prior run: 4.820/174.23, Was #16 
After seeing the first pair go up in smoke, Smith's team backed the car out of the water and headed back to the pits, saving parts for tomorrow.
Pedregon made a nice run to jump into the top half of the field, but that could easily change with these conditions.
      Left Lane: Jim Head         Runs 4.105/294.18, Now #6
                                  Best prior run: 4.129/302.62, Was #13
     Right Lane: Jerry Toliver    Runs 4.165/283.79, Now #15
                                  Best prior run: 4.305/283.13, Was #15 
Head got over very close to the centerline, may have clicked it off a bit early to stay on his side of the centerline, lost some speed but was still quick enough to move into the top half of the field. Toliver picked up the pace nicely from his earlier run today, stayed 15th.
      Left Lane: Ron Capps        Runs 4.046/308.71, Now #1
                                  Best prior run: 4.120/307.93, Was #12
     Right Lane: Del Worsham      Runs 7.409/87.03, Now #14
                                  Best prior run: 4.131/296.96, Was #14 
Worsham was up in smoke in the first couple hundred feet. Capps went right down the groove and moved the rest of the field down a notch.
Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.891 sec., 330ft-2.298, 660ft-3.257/266.32 mph. That's a career-best 1,000-foot speed and crew chief Ed McCulloch may keep wearing his pink hat...
      Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon    Runs 8.396/86.31, Now #13
                                  Best prior run: 4.119/278.69, Was #12
     Right Lane: Jack Beckman     Runs 4.044/305.22, Now #1
                                  Best prior run: 4.129/302.69, Was #13 
Pedregon was up in smoke early in the run. Capps' teammate Beckman took the top spot away with a slightly better run and he is now atop the list.
Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.886 sec., 330ft-2.283, 660ft-3.247/264.44 mph. And it looks like we have a real two-lane track this weekend, Capps' run came in the left lane, Beckman's in the right. That is also a career-best speed for Beckman.
      Left Lane: John Force       No Time, Now #12
                                  Best prior run: 4.112/304.39, Was #12
     Right Lane: Robert Hight     Runs 4.059/309.56, Now #4
                                  Best prior run: 4.110/306.19, Was #10 
Force "blew it up" early in the run, cracking the body, and he stopped just past the 660-foot marker. Hight made a very nice run, but it only earned him fourth spot in this very quick session.
      Left Lane: Mike Neff        Runs 4.085/306.46, Now #6
                                  Best prior run: 4.111/301.74, Was #11
     Right Lane: Bob Tasca III    Runs 4.079/306.40, Now #5
                                  Best prior run: 4.103/306.05, Was #8 
Two full pulls, side-by-side all the way.
Mike Neff's incremental times: 60ft-0.896 sec., 330ft-2.314, 660ft-3.289/261.62 mph.
Bob Tasca III's incremental times: 60ft-0.894 sec., 330ft-2.309, 660ft-3.281/262.33 mph.
      Left Lane: Jeff Arend       Runs 5.935/113.63, Now #11
                                  Best prior run: 4.106/302.41, Was #11
     Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson    Runs 4.052/310.13, Now #4
                                  Best prior run: 4.093/305.22, Was #7 
Arend rattled the tires about 300 feet out and shut it off. Wilkerson made an awesome run, resetting the track speed record with the seventh-fastest run in Funny Car history, running career bests for both speed and ET.
      Left Lane: A. Force Hood    Runs 4.066/311.27, Now #6
                                  Best prior run: 4.094/307.79, Was #8
     Right Lane: Matt Hagan       Runs 10.054/75.75, Now #3
                                  Best prior run: 4.051/309.49, Was #3 
Last pair, both of them capable of matching or beating anything we've seen so far in this session.
Hagan's car was a bit too aggressive and lost traction early in the run. Force Hood ran the third fastest speed ever, resetting the track record, but the time was only good enough for sixth place.
Going into eliminations, Jack Beckman leads the field at 4.044 and John Smith is on the bump spot at 4.820.
       
Saturday

Order for Qualifying Round 4
DINWIDDIE, Va. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 4 rounds of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Fourth annual Virginia NHRA Nationals:
 Psn  Driver               Vehicle                            ET   Speed
   1. Jack Beckman         Valvoline/MTS Charger           4.044  305.22 
   2. Ron Capps            NAPA Auto Parts Charger         4.046  308.71 
   3. Matt Hagan           Fram/Shelor Charger             4.051  309.49 
   4. Tim Wilkerson        Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang       4.052  310.13 
   5. Robert Hight         AAA of So. Cal Mustang          4.059  309.56 
   6. Ashley Force Hood    Castrol GTX Mustang             4.066  311.27&
   7. Bob Tasca III        Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang   4.079  306.40 
   8. Mike Neff            JFR/Ford Mustang                4.085  306.46 
   9. Tony Pedregon        Quaker State Impala             4.102  303.84 
  10. Jim Head             Head Racing Solara              4.105  302.62 
  11. Jeff Arend           DHL Solara                      4.106  302.41 
  12. John Force           Castrol GTX Mustang             4.112  304.39 
  13. Cruz Pedregon        Advance Auto Parts Solara       4.119  299.33 
  14. Del Worsham          Al-Anabi Racing Solara          4.131  296.96 
  15. Jerry Toliver        Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo    4.165  283.79 
  16. John Smith           John Smith Racing Monte Carlo   4.820  295.53 
          --------- Not Qualified ---------
  17. Dale Creasy Jr.      Tek Pak Inc. Impala             5.196  280.89 
  18. Justin Schriefer     Creasy Family Camaro            7.265   86.27 
 
 & = Track Speed Record
Sunday

Results for Elimination Round 1
DINWIDDIE, Va. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Fourth annual Virginia NHRA Nationals:
 W/L  Driver                                     R-Time    E-Time  Speed
 
 (W) John Smith (John Smith Racing Monte Carlo)  0.077      4.259 291.01
 (L) Jack Beckman (Valvoline/MTS Charger)        0.130      4.582 257.58
11:53 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 71 degrees, relative humidity 42 percent, barometer 30.01 inches, adjusted altitude 1,157 feet, track temperature 89 degrees.
This is the first time Smith and Beckman have faced each other in eliminations since this is Smith's first outing in Funny Car. And it's Smith's first career win in Funny Car, Beckman losing traction before the 330-foot marker. Smith's car had a dead cylinder or two before the stripe, but he went right down the groove and ran his best time of the weekend.
 (W) Bob Tasca III (Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustan 0.105      4.099 306.81
 (L) Jim Head (Head Racing Solara)               0.138      4.128 306.26
Head and Tasca III have each won 2 times against the other in prior events, all in the first round.
This was a good side-by-side race for the crowd, but Tasca left first and never trailed, dipping into the "ohs." Then his fun began, his chutes once again very late coming out. By the time the first chute appeared, he was bouncing down the shutdown area in Head's lane, but Head had two good chutes early and the cars were not close to each other.
 (W) Ron Capps (NAPA Auto Parts Charger)         0.110      4.085 309.27
 (L) Jerry Toliver (Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo 0.123      4.241 286.25
Capps is 6 - 3 against Toliver in prior events, 3 - 1 in the first round.
Neither driver will frame this time slip because of reaction time, but Capps left first and made a nice-looking run for an easy win, running a career-best speed. He will have lane choice against Tasca in the second round.
 (W) Tim Wilkerson (Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang)   0.107      4.064 305.84
 (L) Cruz Pedregon (Advance Auto Parts Solara)   0.121      6.798 103.68
Pedregon is 11 - 7 against Wilkerson in prior events, but Wilkerson is 4 - 2 in round one.
Pedregon smoked the tires early in the run, but Wilkerson was skating around and close to the centerline on the top end, barely missing the finish line markers, running low ET of the round so far.
 (W) Del Worsham (Al-Anabi Racing Solara)        0.093      4.108 307.09
 (L) Matt Hagan (Fram/Shelor Charger)            0.100      5.686 103.31
Worsham is 2 - 0 against Hagan in prior events, 1-0 in the first round.
Make it 3 - 0, Hagan up in smoke before the 330-foot mark - almost a duplicate of Beckman's run - and he banged the blower, bringing out the chutes. Meanwhile, Worsham went right down the groove with his best run of the weekend.
 (W) Robert Hight (AAA of So. Cal Mustang)       0.120      4.104 309.63
 (L) John Force (Castrol GTX Mustang)            0.081      4.353 232.11
Hight is 8 - 7 against Force in prior events, 2 - 1 in round one.
This got dramatic - Force made his burnout and Hight's crew thrashed, the car not firing. They finally got it fired and Hight made a quick burnout and an even quicker backup.
Force deep-staged and had the better light, but Hight was ahead by the time they went 60 feet and steadily pulled away for the win. However, he was not quick enough to earn lane choice against Wilkerson in round two.
 (W) Jeff Arend (DHL Solara)                     0.087      4.513 274.44
 (L) Ashley Force Hood (Castrol GTX Mustang)     0.098      5.169 171.49
Arend and Force Hood have each won twice against the other in prior events and they are 1 - 1 in round one.
It was a pedaling contest, Force Hood getting way out of shape trying to regain traction, and Arend's hot streak continues, with five round wins in a row. He won't have lane choice against Worsham in round two.
 (W) Mike Neff (JFR/Ford Mustang)                0.113      4.157 305.29
 (L) Tony Pedregon (Quaker State Impala)         0.079      5.379 181.59
Pedregon is 7 - 3 against Neff in prior events, 4 - 0 in round one.
This round could be a major factor in the championship because Pedregon lost traction almost immediately. Neff went right down the lane, quick enough to earn lane choice against Smith in round two.
       
Sunday

Results for Elimination Round 2
DINWIDDIE, Va. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Fourth annual Virginia NHRA Nationals:
 W/L  Driver                                     R-Time    E-Time  Speed
 
 (W) Mike Neff (JFR/Ford Mustang)                0.119      4.176 300.33
 (L) John Smith (John Smith Racing Monte Carlo)  0.091      4.232 297.16
2:12 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 73 degrees, relative humidity 41 percent, barometer 29.98 inches, adjusted altitude 1,348 feet, track temperature 98 degrees.
This is Smith's first race in Funny Car, so he was looking for his second-ever round win. Neff helped his teammates in the Countdown by knocking Tony Pedregon out in the first round, but needed a win here to have a chance to do them some more good in the semifinals.
Smith left first and gave Neff a good race, but Neff took the lead before half track and won by about half a car length.
 (W) Tim Wilkerson (Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang)   0.094      4.097 307.02
 (L) Robert Hight (AAA of So. Cal Mustang)       0.099      6.365 101.97
Hight is 7 - 5 against Wilkerson in prior events, 3 - 1 in the second round. He now leads in the Countdown, by 13 points over teammate Force Hood, but needs to keep going rounds to extend that lead. Wilkerson is 120 points back, but is not mathematically out of contention.
Hight was up in smoke before going 200 feet and Wilkerson is running on automatic, once again making a solid, clean run to advance to the semifinals. He will have lane choice against Hight's teammate Neff in the semifinals.
 (W) Ron Capps (NAPA Auto Parts Charger)         0.088      4.121 298.07
 (L) Bob Tasca III (Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustan 0.096      4.142 305.77
Capps is one round ahead of Tasca and about 100 out of the lead. Capps holds a 26 - 2 edge against Tasca in prior events, 3 - 0 in the second round. The winner here might still have a chance, the loser is probably out of contention.
Good race, but Capps had the better light and the better car to keep his championship chances alive - not healthy, but still kicking.
Ron Capps' incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.001), 330 ft(0.025), 660ft(0.034). MOV: 0.0296 seconds (approximately 13 feet).
 (W) Del Worsham (Al-Anabi Racing Solara)        0.087      4.123 305.42
 (L) Jeff Arend (DHL Solara)                     0.082     11.836  35.51
Arend is not in the Countdown and Worsham is almost 200 points back, so these two were racing mostly for a chance to win the event. Worsham is 5 - 1 against Arend in prior events, 1 - 0 in the second round.
This was over quickly, Arend rattling the tires and popping the burst panle, the chute out quickly. Worsham won easily, but lost lane choice to Capps in the semifinals.
       
Sunday

Results for Elimination Round 3
DINWIDDIE, Va. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Fourth annual Virginia NHRA Nationals:
 W/L  Driver                                     R-Time    E-Time  Speed
 
 (W) Del Worsham (Al-Anabi Racing Solara)        0.041      4.119 306.95
 (L) Ron Capps (NAPA Auto Parts Charger)         0.100      5.145 149.10
3:45 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 73 degrees, relative humidity 39 percent, barometer 29.97 inches, adjusted altitude 1,341 feet, track temperature 101 degrees.
Capps holds a 28-10 record against Worsham, 5-1 in semifinal rounds. Worsham is 10th in points and effectively out of the countdown, but Capps is now just 63 points back and could narrow that to 23 by winning the event. The problem is, Worsham is running well this weekend.
Capps' hopes of closing in on Robert Hight and Ashley Force Hood went up in smoke about 200 feet out, while Worsham cruised to victory with another smooth, trouble-free run, right down the groove. Capps is not out of contention, but with just eight rounds left to gain on the two Force teammates, he has an uphill climb.
 (W) Tim Wilkerson (Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang)   0.112      4.106 306.40
 (L) Mike Neff (JFR/Ford Mustang)                0.095      4.159 304.74
Wilkerson is 102 points back, his championship chances slim, but he has had the best car all day. He holds an 8-4 edge against Neff, 1-0 in semifinal rounds.
Neff left first, but Wilkerson once again had the best car of the round and will have lane choice against Worsham in the final round - and he could trim his championship deficit to 62 points if he wins the event.
       
Sunday

Results for Final Round
DINWIDDIE, Va. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Fourth annual Virginia NHRA Nationals:
 W/L  Driver                                     R-Time    E-Time  Speed
 
 (W) Del Worsham (Al-Anabi Racing Solara)        0.070      4.091 305.98
 (L) Tim Wilkerson (Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang)   0.080      4.179 281.13
5:19 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 70 degrees, relative humidity 42 percent, barometer 29.97 inches, adjusted altitude 1,178 feet, track temperature 94 degrees.
Surprisingly, this is the first time these two have faced each other in a final round. Worsham has a 24 - 13 record in final rounds, is 2 - 0 this year. Wilkerson is 13 - 9 in finals, also 2-0 this year.
It was a great drag race, Worsham with a hundredth on the tree and ahead all the way, but Wilkerson was right there until about 600 feet, when his car started mixing the cylinders up and smoking. From replays, it appears there was fire in the cockpit and the loss leaves Wilkerson fifth, 82 points back. For the second week in a row, the Funny Car winner comes from the bottom of the field, Worsham starting 14th. The win moves Worsham around John Force, into eighth place in the standings, 135 points behind points-leader Robert Hight.
       