CDR: 2009 Funny Car NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Qual #1

BRISTOL, Tenn. - BRISTOL - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Ninth annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed:

After getting dumped in the first round of races in two of the last three events championship leader Tony Pedragon started brightly on this occasion, finishing the first round of qualifying as the fastest driver. Robert Hight is in second place, a season-best if he can hold onto it, and Bob Gilbertson rounds out the top three.  

Ashley Force-Hood sits in the ever precarious sixteenth spot, ahead of two men who have not failed to qualify yet: previous event runner-up Bob Tasca III and Ron Capps. Tim Wilkerson is another regular name who will need to improve in order to make the cut.

Order after one round:
 

	Driver	Car	#1	SPEED
R	Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.200	297.3
R	Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.234	289.8
L	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.263	299.0
L	Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	4.288	306.0
L	Gary DENSHAM	Impala	4.293	296.0
R	Bob BODE	Impala	4.308	290.0
R	Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.312	289.5
L	John FORCE	Mustang	4.314	286.0
L	Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	4.318	305.0
R	Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	4.336	294.5
L	Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.371	300.5
R	Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.433	284.0
R	Jeff AREND	Solara	4.436	300.0
R	Del WORSHAM	Solara	4.539	280.0
L	Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	4.550	286.0
R	Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.554	289.5

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	Driver	Car	#1	SPEED
L	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.592	288.0
L	Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.627	291.0
R	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.776	284.5
L	Jack WYATT	Firebird	4.795	284.5
L	Jim HEAD	Solara	4.799	275.0
R	Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	4.833	293.0
R	John SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.855	277.5
R	Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	5.831	268.0
L	Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	6.556	212.0
L	Cory LEE	Dodge	7.898	140.0
L	Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	8.493	94.0
R	Leif HELANDER	Camaro	8.591	87.5
R	Andy KELLEY	Stratus	No Start	N/A