Funny Car

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Thursday Results for Qualifying Round 1

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 47th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run: Left Lane: Cory Lee Runs 5.661/126.28, Now #1 Right Lane: Peter Russo Runs 8.632/76.80, Now #2 Weather conditions: air temperature 73 degrees, relative humidity 22 percent, barometer 28.99 inches, adjusted altitude 2,327 feet, track temperature 84 degrees. 12:55 p.m. We open with a couple of fresh faces - Russo making the trek from Australia and Lee coming out of hiding for his first NHRA appearance of the year. Russo launched, spun the tires and lifted. Lee used up a lot of lane and the header flames were very orange before he shut it off around half track. Right Lane: Alexis DeJoria Runs 8.264/77.45, Now #2 Todd Lesenko was schedule to run beside DeJoria but chose to skip this round.DeJoris rattled the tires immediately and shut off by the 330-foot marker. Left Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 8.886/85.81, Now #5 Right Lane: Jeff Diehl Runs 7.547/95.52, Now #2 In almost-perfect synchronization, they launched, smoked the tires and shut off. Left Lane: Gary Densham Runs 4.993/164.81, Now #2 Right Lane: Jon Capps Runs 4.165/298.01, Now #1 Capps went to the top of the list with the first full pass of the session, running his best speed of the season. Densham made a good launch and was beside Capps to about 300 feet, then started smoking the tires. Left Lane: Bob Bode Runs 4.257/295.79, Now #2 Right Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 5.488/222.73, Now #4 Troxel lost traction early in the run, backpedaled and got it hooked back up enough to improve her position on the list for round 2. Bode also had to get through some tire shake, but only lost about a tenth of a second doing so, his car making a big move toward the wall when he did so. Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 6.701/102.77, Now #7 Right Lane: Paul Lee Runs 4.254/300.20, Now #2 Head lost traction about 300 feet out. Lee's car was moving around a lot and was very close to the wall on the top end, but he finished the run under power. Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.471/270.81, Now #4 Right Lane: Johnny Gray Runs 8.957/75.35, Now #13 Gray smoked the tires early in the run, shut it off. Pedregon started to haze the tires, did a quick pedal job and finished the run. It wasn't pretty, but may keep him in the provisional field until tomorrow. Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.125/301.87, Now #1 Right Lane: John Force Runs 4.585/260.06, Now #6 Finally more-or-less complete runs in both lanes. Wilkerson made a clean run to take over the top spot. Force's run was not "clean," with early tire shake and apparent engine damage on the top end. But it looks like the containment devices did their job because the track is clean and dry. Left Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 4.261/241.71, Now #6 Right Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.138/306.33, Now #2 These two were side-by-side until Arend's car made a huge move toward the centerline and he had to shut it off. Nice pass by Tasca, with our best speed so far. Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.124/301.94, Now #2 Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.084/312.13, Now #1 Side-by-side nice runs to rest the top two spots and Ron outqualifies his brother. Hight runs low ET and top speed so far - but "we ain't done yet." Left Lane: Mike Neff Runs 4.087/313.44, Now #2 Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 9.157/73.41, Now #21 Capps, Hight, these two, Mike Neff and Matt Hagan are all in the running for the 2011 championship. Whatever your opinion of the Countdown, it made for an interesting final race this year. Neff joined his teammate at the top of the list, not quite as quick, but faster. Pedregon ran out of traction past he 330-foot marker after a strong launch - he was just 0.004 seconds back at that point, then went up in smoke. Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 6.613/96.95, Now #16 Right Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 4.137/304.32, Now #5 Beckman's car lost traction about 100 feet out. He pedaled, lost traction again, and shut it off. Hagan's car was moving around a lot on this run and that cost him some times. John Force is on the provisional bump spot at 4.585 after one round.

Thursday Order for Qualifying Round 1

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 47th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Robert Hight Auto Club Mustang 4.084 312.13 2. Mike Neff Castrol GTX Mustang 4.087 313.44 3. Ron Capps NAPA Auto Parts Charger 4.124 301.94 4. Tim Wilkerson Levi Ray & Shoup Mustang 4.125 301.87 5. Matt Hagan DieHard Charger 4.137 304.32 6. Bob Tasca III Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang 4.138 306.33 7. Jon Capps Chuck Worsham Charger 4.165 298.01 8. Paul Lee Rislone/Bars Leaks Impala SS 4.254 300.20 9. Bob Bode Alard Machine Solara 4.257 295.79 10. Jeff Arend DHL Solara 4.261 241.71 11. Tony Pedregon Pedregon Racing Impala SS 4.471 270.81 12. John Force Castrol GTX High Mileage Musta 4.585 260.06 --------- Not Qualified --------- 13. Gary Densham Densham Motorsports Charger 4.993 164.81 14. Melanie Troxel In-N-Out Solara 5.488 222.73 15. Cory Lee Fuel Saver Group MPG3 Monte Ca 5.661 126.28 16. Jack Beckman Aaron's/Valvoline Charger 6.613 96.95 17. Jim Head Head Racing Solara 6.701 102.77 18. Jeff Diehl Rimz One Monte Carlo 7.547 95.52 19. Alexis DeJoria Tequila Patron Solara 8.264 77.45 20. Peter Russo Russo Racing Monte Carlo 8.632 76.80 21. Terry Haddock Acme Refining Solara 8.886 85.81 22. Johnny Gray Service Central Charger 8.957 75.35 23. Cruz Pedregon Snap-on Tools Solara 9.157 73.41

Friday Results for Qualifying Round 2

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 47th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run: Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.445/195.31, Now #11 Best prior run: 9.157/73.41, Was #23 Right Lane: Todd Lesenko Runs 5.273/155.02, Now #15 No Prior Run 2:15 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 70 degrees, relative humidity 28 percent, barometer 28.75 inches, adjusted altitude 2,467 feet, track temperature 87 degrees. A thin cloud layer has now moved in, possibly the precursors for overnight showers. Lesenko skipped yesterday's session and Pedregon smoked the tires, so they get to lead off today. John Force is on the bump spot at 4.585. Weather conditions: air temperature 70 degrees, relative humidity 28 percent, barometer 28.75 inches, adjusted altitude 2,467 feet, track temperature 87 degrees. Both drivers were off the throttle well before the stripe, Lesenko with early tire smoke, Pedregon doing the same around half track. Left Lane: Johnny Gray Runs 6.551/99.85, Now #19 Best prior run: 8.957/75.35, Was #24 Right Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 5.909/117.16, Now #18 Best prior run: 8.886/85.81, Was #23 Oh-for-two, Gray losing traction first, Haddock not long after. Left Lane: Peter Russo No Time, Now #24 Best prior run: 8.632/76.80, Was #24 Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 5.821/122.74, Now #18 Best prior run: 6.701/102.77, Was #21 Russo made the burnout and shut it off. Head got about 200 feet, started smoking the tires, backpedaled and tried again, lifting just in time to stay in his own lane. Left Lane: Alexis DeJoria Runs 4.158/306.88, Now #8 Best prior run: 8.264/77.45, Was #23 Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.136/310.55, Now #5 Best prior run: 6.613/96.95, Was #21 Two pretty good runs - at least by comparison with the earlier runs. Given tomorrow's "iffy" forecast, those runs were probably about what the two teams were looking for. Left Lane: Jeff Diehl Runs 4.293/288.95, Now #13 Best prior run: 7.547/95.52, Was #23 Right Lane: Cory Lee Runs 10.300/41.83, Now #20 Best prior run: 5.661/126.28, Was #19 Lee's supercharger went BANG in the first 200 feet, sending the pressure relief hatch sailing through the air and deploying the chutes. Diehl made a full pass, missed the cut. Left Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 4.397/216.93, Now #15 Best prior run: 5.488/222.73, Was #19 Right Lane: Gary Densham Runs 4.163/301.94, Now #9 Best prior run: 4.993/164.81, Was #17 Densham made a nice pass to bump into the field. That puts Bob Bode on the bump spot at 4.257. Troxel had a strong start, started spinning the tires around half track. Left Lane: John Force No Time, Now #18 Best prior run: 4.585/260.06, Was #18 Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.368/273.05, Now #15 Best prior run: 4.471/270.81, Was #17 Both cars started out okay, but then both started spinning the tires and mixing up cylinders. Force's car made a hard right turn and crossed the centerline briefly, the supercharger letting go in a big flash of flame as he did so. That sent the pressure relief hatch sailing high in the air, probably minimizing the amount of damage to the carbon-fibre body. Neither car was quick enough to make the field and Force's run was negated by the centerline violation. Left Lane: Paul Lee Runs 4.739/182.28, Now #12 Best prior run: 4.254/300.20, Was #11 Right Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 4.133/307.02, Now #5 Best prior run: 4.261/241.71, Was #13 Arend made a very nice run to bump Bob Bode from the provisional field, putting Arend well up in the field. Lee started hazing the tires on the top end and shut it off. That puts him on the bump spot with his 4.254 from yesterday. Left Lane: Jon Capps Runs 4.182/299.20, Now #11 Best prior run: 4.165/298.01, Was #11 Right Lane: Bob Bode No Time, Now #13 Best prior run: 4.257/295.79, Was #13 Bode was just bumped from the field, Capps should be safely in, even if Bode moves around him here, because the remaining cars are already in the field. Bode was on a good pace, but his car took dead aim at the 660-foot timing reflector and he clipped it. He also lifted, so the run would not have helped him anyway. Left Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 7.319/92.21, Now #8 Best prior run: 4.138/306.33, Was #8 Right Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 4.122/304.46, Now #3 Best prior run: 4.125/301.87, Was #4 The remaining cars are already qualified, so they are jockeying for position. Tasca hazed the tires and lifted around 300 feet out, but Wilkerson made the best run of the round so far, right down the groove, and moves up one spot. Tim Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.911 sec., 330ft-2.349, 660ft-3.324/264.60 mph. Left Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 4.088/310.41, Now #3 Best prior run: 4.137/304.32, Was #7 Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 7.277/87.48, Now #5 Best prior run: 4.124/301.94, Was #4 Capps lost traction about 300 feet out, but Hagan made the quickest run of the session so far and he took over the third spot. Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.909 sec., 330ft-2.333, 660ft-3.302/265.27 mph. Left Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.102/313.07, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.084/312.13, Was #1 Right Lane: Mike Neff Runs 4.123/308.99, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.087/313.44, Was #2 Last pair. These two grabbed the bonus points for the top two spots yesterday, need to beat Hagan's 4.088 to do the same today. Well, Hight grabbed two bonus points, but Neff missed the one-point award by a thousandth (Wilkerson gets that one) and left Hagan with the three-point bonus. Good runs, clean and straight, but not as quick as expected. Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.906 sec., 330ft-2.342, 660ft-3.317/265.06 mph. Mike Neff's incremental times: 60ft-0.912 sec., 330ft-2.348, 660ft-3.330/263.26 mph.

Friday Order for Qualifying Round 2

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 47th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Robert Hight Auto Club Mustang 4.084 313.07 2. Mike Neff Castrol GTX Mustang 4.087 313.44 3. Matt Hagan DieHard Charger 4.088 310.41 4. Tim Wilkerson Levi Ray & Shoup Mustang 4.122 304.46 5. Ron Capps NAPA Auto Parts Charger 4.124 301.94 6. Jeff Arend DHL Solara 4.133 307.02 7. Jack Beckman Aaron's/Valvoline Charger 4.136 310.55 8. Bob Tasca III Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang 4.138 306.33 9. Alexis DeJoria Tequila Patron Solara 4.158 306.88 10. Gary Densham Densham Motorsports Charger 4.163 301.94 11. Jon Capps Chuck Worsham Charger 4.165 299.20 12. Paul Lee Rislone/Bars Leaks Impala SS 4.254 300.20 --------- Not Qualified --------- 13. Bob Bode Alard Machine Solara 4.257 295.79 14. Jeff Diehl Rimz One Monte Carlo 4.293 288.95 15. Tony Pedregon Pedregon Racing Impala SS 4.368 273.05 16. Melanie Troxel In-N-Out Solara 4.397 222.73 17. Cruz Pedregon Snap-on Tools Solara 4.445 195.31 18. John Force Castrol GTX High Mileage Musta 4.585 260.06 19. Todd Lesenko Jolly Rogers Charger 5.273 155.02 20. Cory Lee Fuel Saver Group MPG3 Monte Ca 5.661 126.28 21. Jim Head Head Racing Solara 5.821 122.74 22. Terry Haddock Acme Refining Solara 5.909 117.16 23. Johnny Gray Service Central Charger 6.551 99.85 24. Peter Russo Russo Racing Monte Carlo 8.632 76.80

Saturday Results for Qualifying Round 3

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 47th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run: Left Lane: Bob Bode Runs 4.199/293.47, Now #13 No Prior Run Right Lane: John Force Runs 4.131/308.21, Now #6 No Prior Run 11:58 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 65 degrees, relative humidity 50 percent, barometer 28.72 inches, adjusted altitude 2,256 feet, track temperature 72 degrees. Bode missed the provisional field by three thousandths of a second, so he has to start all over today, as does Force, who wasn't even close in two attempts. Both teams came through under pressure, Force all the way up to the top half of the field. Force's car was trying to go left or right on the top end, it didn't seem to care which, but Force muscled it back to the groove. Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 4.158/297.48, Now #5 Best prior run: 4.124/301.94, Was #5 Right Lane: Bob Tasca III Runs 4.140/305.42, Now #9 Best prior run: 4.138/306.33, Was #9 These two are already on the field with good runs Thursday. Both made full passes here - nothing spectacular and no improvement for either, however. Left Lane: Terry Haddock No Time, Now #23 No Prior Run Right Lane: Johnny Gray Runs 4.107/308.28, Now #4 No Prior Run Haddock made the burnout, backed up, then the team shut the car off and he's down to one last chance later today. Gray made the quickest pass of the session so far and is solidly in the field. Left Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.912/187.26, Now #16 No Prior Run Right Lane: Paul Lee Runs 5.105/153.37, Now #15 Best prior run: 4.254/300.20, Was #15 Cory Lee won't make a run in this session. Paul Lee was on the 12-car bump spot yesterday.Both cars were struggling and Lee shut it off around 660 feet. Head's car was laboring and dropped a couple cylinders. He gets in, on the bump spot, but there are a few not-qualified, quick cars left in line. Left Lane: Todd Lesenko No Time, Now #21 No Prior Run Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 4.087/307.79, Now #3 No Prior Run Here's one of those not-yet-qualified, quick cars. Pedregon made hard launches, then overpowered the track on his first two attempts. Lesenko skipped the first session, made a half-pass in the second. Lesenko's car had a big fuel leak after the burnout and the crew shut it off. Pedregon made yet another hard charge, with the quickest 330-foot time so far, got the tires to stick through the early part of the run this time, and vaulted into the top part of the field. Cruz Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.911 sec., 330ft-2.321, 660ft-3.291/264.39 mph. He ties #2 qualifier Mike Neff's ET, gives up second place on speed. Left Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.203/296.83, Now #17 No Prior Run Right Lane: Melanie Troxel Runs 4.087/309.70, Now #3 No Prior Run Tony Pedregon's run looked okay, right down the groove, but the header flames were orange and the incremental times were off the quick pace. By contrast, Troxel made a hard charge, matching Cruz Pedregon and Mike Neff on ET, taking the #3 spot away from Cruz on speed. Tony Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.924 sec., 330ft-2.366, 660ft-3.376/250.83 mph. Melanie Troxel's incremental times: 60ft-0.895 sec., 330ft-2.314, 660ft-3.295/264.70 mph. Left Lane: Gary Densham Runs 4.172/295.85, Now #14 Best prior run: 4.163/301.94, Was #14 Right Lane: Jeff Diehl Runs 7.762/87.86, Now #20 No Prior Run Diehl launched, shook, and shut off. Densham made another full pass, just a few ticks slower than his run yesterday. Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 4.113/313.58, Now #7 Best prior run: 4.136/310.55, Was #11 Right Lane: Jon Capps Runs 9.642/80.48, Now #15 Best prior run: 4.165/298.01, Was #15 Capps launched, then smoked the tires and lifted. Beckman made a nice pass, moved into the top half of the field. Left Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 4.111/308.92, Now #7 Best prior run: 4.133/307.02, Was #11 Right Lane: Alexis DeJoria Runs 8.066/84.49, Now #13 Best prior run: 4.158/306.88, Was #13 DeJoria shook hard and headed for the centerline, then lifted. Arend made a nice pass, picked up his pace a bit and moved into the top half of the field. Left Lane: Mike Neff Runs 4.141/306.12, Now #2 Best prior run: 4.087/313.44, Was #2 Right Lane: Robert Hight Runs 4.093/313.88, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.084/312.13, Was #1 Okay run for Neff, another quick run for Hight, but he will only get one bonus point (if any) because Cruz pedregon and Melanie Troxel were quicker in this session. Left Lane: Tim Wilkerson Runs 6.852/106.24, Now #9 Best prior run: 4.122/304.46, Was #9 Right Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 4.033/315.27, Now #1 Best prior run: 4.088/310.41, Was #5 Final pair. Wilkerson lost traction after 100 feet, but Hagan had it loaded to rotate the Earth and he went right to the top spot with low ET and top speed of the weekend. That shuts Hight out of the bonus points for this session.

Saturday Order for Qualifying Round 3

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 47th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Matt Hagan DieHard Charger 4.033 315.27& 2. Robert Hight Auto Club Mustang 4.084 313.88 3. Mike Neff Castrol GTX Mustang 4.087 313.44 4. Melanie Troxel In-N-Out Solara 4.087 309.70 5. Cruz Pedregon Snap-on Tools Solara 4.087 307.79 6. Johnny Gray Service Central Charger 4.107 308.28 7. Jeff Arend DHL Solara 4.111 308.92 8. Jack Beckman Aaron's/Valvoline Charger 4.113 313.58 9. Tim Wilkerson Levi Ray & Shoup Mustang 4.122 304.46 10. Ron Capps NAPA Auto Parts Charger 4.124 301.94 11. John Force Castrol GTX High Mileage Musta 4.131 308.21 12. Bob Tasca III Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang 4.138 306.33 13. Alexis DeJoria Tequila Patron Solara 4.158 306.88 14. Gary Densham Densham Motorsports Charger 4.163 301.94 15. Jon Capps Chuck Worsham Charger 4.165 299.20 16. Bob Bode Alard Machine Solara 4.199 295.79 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Tony Pedregon Pedregon Racing Impala SS 4.203 296.83 18. Paul Lee Rislone/Bars Leaks Impala SS 4.254 300.20 19. Jim Head Head Racing Solara 4.912 187.26 20. Jeff Diehl Rimz One Monte Carlo 7.762 288.95 21. Todd Lesenko Jolly Rogers Charger NT 22. Cory Lee Fuel Saver Group MPG3 Monte Ca NT 23. Terry Haddock Acme Refining Solara NT 24. Peter Russo Russo Racing Monte Carlo NT & = Track Speed Record

Saturday Results for Qualifying Round 4

POMONA, Calif. - POMONA 2 - Notes from final, round 4 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 47th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run: Left Lane: Peter Russo Runs 12.632/45.72, Now #22 No Prior Run Right Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 8.580/81.35, Now #21 No Prior Run 4:10 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 67 degrees, relative humidity 56 percent, barometer 28.68 inches, adjusted altitude 2,345 feet, track temperature 68 degrees. Bob Bode is on the bump spot at 4.199. No help in either lane, both cars coasting after a couple hundred feet. As they were clearing both cars from the track, a light mist started falling and we are on hold until it stops. Left Lane: Jeff Diehl Runs 11.327/91.03, Now #20 Best prior run: 7.762/87.86, Was #20 Right Lane: Todd Lesenko Runs 19.869/20.72, Now #23 No Prior Run 4:58 p.m. Sprinkles finally stopped and it's time to try again. Both cars lost traction almost immediately, up in smoke, and they coasted through. Left Lane: Paul Lee Runs 4.943/160.00, Now #18 Best prior run: 4.254/300.20, Was #18 Right Lane: Cory Lee Runs 8.980/80.00, Now #22 No Prior Run No help for either driver. Left Lane: Jon Capps Runs 8.948/72.97, Now #15 Best prior run: 4.165/298.01, Was #15 Right Lane: Jim Head Runs 4.551/262.59, Now #19 Best prior run: 4.912/187.26, Was #19 Capps smoked the tires almost immediately, Head made a full pass, but the header flames changed and went orange about 300 feet out. Left Lane: Paul Lee Runs 4.943/160.00, Now #18 Best prior run: 4.254/300.20, Was #18 Right Lane: Cory Lee Runs 8.980/80.00, Now #24 No Prior Run Left Lane: Alexis DeJoria Runs 4.171/274.61, Now #14 Best prior run: 4.158/306.88, Was #13 Right Lane: Tony Pedregon Runs 4.150/304.94, Now #13 Best prior run: 4.203/296.83, Was #17 Tony was the last car in line with a chance to bump Bob Bode from the field. Both cars made good runs, DeJoria getting very close to the wall on the top end. Now Jon Capps is on the bump spot at 4.165. Left Lane: Bob Tasca III No Time, Now #12 Best prior run: 4.138/306.33, Was #12 Right Lane: Bob Bode No Time, Now #17 Best prior run: 4.199/293.47, Was #17 These two cars fired, then were shut off - more sprinkles. 5:33 p.m. The plug was just pulled, we are through for today. Bob Bode is out of luck, won't get a chance to get back into the field.

Saturday Order for Qualifying Round 4

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 4 rounds of qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 47th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: Psn Driver Vehicle ET Speed 1. Matt Hagan DieHard Charger 4.033 315.27& 2. Robert Hight Auto Club Mustang 4.084 313.88 3. Mike Neff Castrol GTX Mustang 4.087 313.44 4. Melanie Troxel In-N-Out Solara 4.087 309.70 5. Cruz Pedregon Snap-on Tools Solara 4.087 307.79 6. Johnny Gray Service Central Charger 4.107 308.28 7. Jeff Arend DHL Solara 4.111 308.92 8. Jack Beckman Aaron's/Valvoline Charger 4.113 313.58 9. Tim Wilkerson Levi Ray & Shoup Mustang 4.122 304.46 10. Ron Capps NAPA Auto Parts Charger 4.124 301.94 11. John Force Castrol GTX High Mileage Musta 4.131 308.21 12. Bob Tasca III Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang 4.138 306.33 13. Tony Pedregon Pedregon Racing Impala SS 4.150 304.94 14. Alexis DeJoria Tequila Patron Solara 4.158 306.88 15. Gary Densham Densham Motorsports Charger 4.163 301.94 16. Jon Capps Chuck Worsham Charger 4.165 299.20 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Bob Bode Alard Machine Solara 4.199 295.79 18. Paul Lee Rislone/Bars Leaks Impala SS 4.254 300.20 19. Jim Head Head Racing Solara 4.551 262.59 20. Jeff Diehl Rimz One Monte Carlo 7.762 288.95 21. Terry Haddock Acme Refining Solara 8.580 117.16 22. Cory Lee Fuel Saver Group MPG3 Monte Ca 8.980 126.28 23. Peter Russo Russo Racing Monte Carlo 12.632 76.80 24. Todd Lesenko Jolly Rogers Charger 19.869 155.02 & = Track Speed Record

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 1

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 47th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Johnny Gray (Service Central Charger) 0.104 4.090 313.00 (L) John Force (Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustan 0.071 4.271 290.94 11:28 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 70 degrees, relative humidity 45 percent, barometer 28.81 inches, adjusted altitude 2,559 feet, track temperature 86 degrees. Force is 10 - 4 against Gray in prior events. Force's 2011 Countdown record is now perfect - six events, no round wins. On the other hand, Gray is on a hot streak and he showed why here, with his best run of the weekend. (W) Cruz Pedregon (Snap-on Tools Solara) 0.066 4.141 313.29 (L) Bob Tasca III (Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustan 0.058 4.199 308.07 Pedregon is 8 - 2 against Tasca III in prior events. This was a good drag race, Tasca first off the line, Pedregon with the quicker car after that. Cruz Pedregon's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.014), 330 ft(0.034), 660ft(0.041). MOV: 0.0501 seconds (approximately 23 feet). (W) Melanie Troxel (In-N-Out Solara) 0.066 4.151 303.64 (L) Tony Pedregon (Pedregon Racing Impala SS) 0.044 5.022 162.65 Pedregon is 4 - 1 against Troxel in prior events. Both drivers got into the field on their final qualifying attempt, Pedregon one of the few getting a fourth qualifying attempt yesterday. pedregon left first, but Troxel led after 60 feet and pulled away when Pedregon lost traction a couple hundred feet out. Troxel will face the other Pedregon brother, Cruz, in the second round and he will have lane choice. (W) Robert Hight (Auto Club Mustang) 0.085 4.149 309.13 (L) Gary Densham (Densham Motorsports Charger) 0.105 4.269 266.48 Hight is 10 - 0 against Densham in prior events. Densham's car was all over the lane on the top end, making a hard right turn and trailing a lot of smoke when he crossed the line. (W) Matt Hagan (DieHard Charger) 0.045 4.092 309.77 (L) Jon Capps (Chuck Worsham Charger) 0.022 4.602 236.22 This is the first time Capps and Hagan have faced each other in eliminations. This is Capps' fourth start in nine races. Hagan's car came through the gate very late, but got to the water in plenty of time. Ron's brother did his best, with a great light, but his car was out of the groove and got very close to the wall, forcing him to lift. Hagan was on time, with a good light, then ran the second-quickest ET so far. That knocks Ron Capps out of the championship chase. (W) Mike Neff (Castrol GTX Mustang) 0.083 4.150 311.27 (L) Alexis DeJoria (Tequila Patron Solara) -0.077(R) 4.386 218.58 This is DeJoria's third start in four races, her Funny Car career starting in Dallas this year. This is the first time Neff and DeJoria have faced each other in eliminations. DeJoria left early and Neff keeps his title hopes alive with a clean, straight run. However, he lost lane choice to Gray for round 2. (W) Ron Capps (NAPA Auto Parts Charger) 0.072 4.110 311.13 (L) Jeff Arend (DHL Solara) 0.072 4.140 299.20 Capps is 7 - 5 against Arend in prior events and just saw his title hopes for this year come to an end. However, he can set up a pair of DSR vs JFR pairings for round 2 by defeating Arend here - Johnny Gray will race Mike Neff and the winner here faces Robert Hight. This was a great drag race, dead-even at the start and locked together all the way down the track. Ron Capps' incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.005), 330 ft(0.017), 660ft(0.016). MOV: 0.0303 seconds (approximately 13 feet). Capps will have lane choice against Hight in round 2. (W) Jack Beckman (Aaron's/Valvoline Charger) 0.055 4.522 280.84 (L) Tim Wilkerson (Levi Ray & Shoup Mustang) 0.091 7.012 92.23 Wilkerson is 8 - 7 against Beckman in prior events. Both cars came off the line hard, then both lost traction at almost the same time, both cars fishtailing as the tires smoked. Beckman's car reacted less violently than Wilkerson's and Beckman reined it in nicely and continued, while Wilkerson battled to stay in his own lane and had to lift. Beckman faces teammate (and points-leader) Hagan in round 2, Hagan has lane choice.

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 2

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 47th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Johnny Gray (Service Central Charger) 0.079 4.105 313.07 (L) Mike Neff (Castrol GTX Mustang) 0.083 4.155 308.57 1:35 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 73 degrees, relative humidity 45 percent, barometer 28.77 inches, adjusted altitude 2,778 feet, track temperature 92 degrees. Neff and Gray have each won 2 times against the other in prior events. This is the first of two DSR vs JFR matchups this round, both have championship implications since the losers stop earning points. Gray is taking Team Force out one at a time! He left slightly ahead of Neff, then ran away from him. Johnny Gray's incremental margins: 60ft(0.026), 330 ft(0.035), 660ft(0.044). MOV: 0.0542 seconds (approximately 25 feet). (W) Robert Hight (Auto Club Mustang) 0.088 4.091 311.77 (L) Ron Capps (NAPA Auto Parts Charger) 0.099 4.114 311.13 Capps' title hopes ended in the first round, but he could help teammate Matt Hagan by stopping Hight right here. Hight is 19 - 9 against Capps in prior events. It was a good race, but Hight left first and made the quicker run. Robert Hight's MOV: 0.0340 seconds (approximately 16 feet). He will have lane choice against Gray (another DSR car) in the semifinals. His title hopes are mathematically alive, but just barely. (W) Matt Hagan (DieHard Charger) 0.064 4.107 307.44 (L) Jack Beckman (Aaron's/Valvoline Charger) 0.056 4.142 310.27 This is for a bunch of marbles. Beckman is 6 - 4 against Hagan in prior events. Beckman left first, but Hagan led by the time they went 60 feet and steadily opened the lead. Matt Hagan's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.020), 330 ft(0.032), 660ft(0.033). MOV: 0.0274 seconds (approximately 12 feet). That shuts Beckman and Hight out of championship contention and forces Cruz pedregon to win the event to have a chance. (W) Cruz Pedregon (Snap-on Tools Solara) 0.106 4.079 312.28 (L) Melanie Troxel (In-N-Out Solara) 0.056 4.154 308.57 Cruz must win here, then beat Hagan next round and win the event to win the title. Pedregon is 2 - 0 against Troxel in prior events. Pedregon was late, Troxel had a good light and led past the 330-foot marker, but Pedregon's car is getting better with each run and he ran her down for the win. Cruz Pedregon's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.052), 330 ft(-0.012), 660ft(0.014). MOV: 0.0258 seconds (approximately 12 feet). Pedregon has lane choice against Hagan in the semifinals and must win that matchup and the final round to take the championship. Following the race, there was a mishap at the top end of the track. As Troxel's car went around the corner, the car refired and went through a fence, hitting a support trailer parked down at the end of the race track. The trailer (and another trailer) and the race car all appear to be damaged, but Troxel got out of the car and appears to be okay.

Sunday Results for Elimination Round 3

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 47th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Robert Hight (Auto Club Mustang) 0.079 4.079 315.42 (L) Johnny Gray (Service Central Charger) 0.068 7.473 83.20 3:30 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 71 degrees, relative humidity 44 percent, barometer 28.76 inches, adjusted altitude 2,685 feet, track temperature 84 degrees. Hight is 3 - 1 against Gray in prior events. Both are out of the title chase, are racing for the event title opportunity. Gray lost traction about 100 feet out and Robert Hight will get a shot at winning the event. (W) Matt Hagan (DieHard Charger) 0.029 4.096 309.34 (L) Cruz Pedregon (Snap-on Tools Solara) 0.049 4.113 311.77 Hagan and Pedregon have each won 7 times against the other in prior events. This could determine the 2011 champion. If Hagan wins, it's his. If Pedregon wins, he must also win the event to claim the championship. Hagan won thhe 2011 championship in decisive fashion, leaving first and running quicker. Matt Hagan's incremental margins: 60ft(0.068), 330 ft(0.048), 660ft(0.044). MOV: 0.0374 seconds (approximately 17 feet). Hagan finally gets the one that got away last year. He lost lane choice in the final round against Hight, but that probably doesn't make him feel bad at all. Pedregon will finish third, three points behind Jack Beckman.

Sunday Results for Final Round

POMONA, Calif. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 47th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals: W/L Driver R-Time E-Time Speed (W) Matt Hagan (DieHard Charger) 0.038 4.009 317.79 (L) Robert Hight (Auto Club Mustang) 0.054 4.031 318.92 5:08 p.m. Hight is 7 - 5 against Hagan in prior events and Hight is 2 - 1 against Hagan in prior final rounds. This is a rerun of the Winternationals final round - Hight won that one on a holeshot. Two great runs, but Hagan left first and pulled away with the third-quickest run in history, while Hight runs one of the fastest 1,000-foot speeds ever in a losing cause. Matt Hagan's incremental margins: 60ft(0.033), 330 ft(0.028), 660ft(0.037). MOV: 0.0387 seconds (approximately 18 feet). Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.897 sec., 330ft-2.298, 660ft-3.240/272.61 mph. Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.914 sec., 330ft-2.310, 660ft-3.261/271.02 mph. I believe that's called 'Finishing with a flourish!"

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