CDR: 2009 Funny Car O'Reilly NHRA Spring Natiionals Elim #2-4

BAYTOWN, Texas - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 22nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil:

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	10	R	Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	0.076	4.171	303.8
L	15	L	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	0.089	4.962	291.5

Tony Pedragon moves past Bob Gilbertson for the second event running as the championship leader continues to look untouchable.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	4	R	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	0.088	4.363	296.0
L	5	L	Mike NEFF	Mustang	0.113	9.647	70.8

A simple route to the next round for Tasca III when the engine of Mike Neff gave out early on.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	8	L	Ron CAPPS	Charger	0.098	4.218	290.3
L	1	R	Jeff AREND	Solara	0.086	6.232	184.0

Ron Capps makes it to the semi-finals for the first time this season on a good clean run. Jeff Arend reported engine difficulties after the race.

W	3	R	Del WORSHAM	Solara	0.064	4.282	300.0
L	6	L	Gary DENSHAM	Impala	0.099	4.357	307.3

A quick getaway helped Del Worsham to keep ahead of his opponent despite ending the race with a chute malfunction.

Semi-Finals

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	10	L	Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	0.086	4.905	276.0
L	3	R	Del WORSHAM	Solara	0.122	5.808	260.0

Pedragon reached his fourth straight final despite, what is for him, a terrible time. Worsham's chute troubles continued into this race leaving the winner still unbeaten this year.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	4	R	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	0.077	4.331	304.5
L	8	L	Ron CAPPS	Charger	0.084	4.606	294.5

Both men looked to slow down a little near the finish line. Capps pumped the pedal to combat wheelspin, and Tasca III seemed to be fighting some internal problem but was able to keep it straight for the win.

Final

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	4	L	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	0.100	4.358	313.8
L	10	R	Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	0.064	4.584	296.5

The second final in a row between these two finally brought an end to Tony Pedragon's unbeaten run at fifteen races. Tasca III did not get away as good as the standings leader but reeled him in for his first event victory of 2009.

CDR: 2009 Funny Car O'Reilly NHRA Spring Natiionals Elim #1

BAYTOWN, Texas - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 22nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil:

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	8	L	Ron CAPPS	Charger	0.025	4.014	298.3
L	9	R	Matt HAGAN	Charger	0.115	5.000	279.0

Ron Capps takes the season series advantage in the third meeting between himself and Matt Hagan by getting away almost a tenth of a second faster and not looking back.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	10	R	Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	0.057	4.059	290.5
L	7	L	Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	0.095	6.817	214.0

Four events, four defeats for Force-Hood to Tony Pedragon. Maybe the three-times event winner this season has got into her head but she was unable to ever get it going while Pedragon was smooth throughout.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	6	L	Gary DENSHAM	Impala	0.081	4.200	308.8
L	11	R	Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	0.104	8.845	105.8

Mike Smith is eliminated at the first challenge for the third event running, this time to Gary Densham making his season debut as a qualifier. The winner got away nicely but was not trouble thanks to opponent's mechanical problems.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	5	L	Mike NEFF	Mustang	0.084	4.216	297.8
L	12	R	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	0.099	8.337	109.0

Both former-finalists got away nicely but it did not last long for Tim Wilkerson as he skidded out of control, allowing Neff to cruise home.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	1	L	Jeff AREND	Solara	0.034	4.053	298.8
L	16	R	Jack BECKMAN	Charger	0.121	4.748	280.0

Jack Beckman is another driver who has yet to get over the hump of the first race at an event this year as his slow reaction time was exacerbated by a slow getaway, leaving Jeff Arend to take the line.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	15	R	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	0.072	4.029	290.3
L	2	L	Jim HEAD	Solara	0.115	4.973	291.5

Bob Gilbertson had little trouble against first time qualifier Jim Head who struggled to get on the power early.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	4	L	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	0.096	4.359	297.8
L	13	R	Robert HIGHT	Mustang	0.126	4.968	273.0

A third victory over Robert Hight in the first round sees the runner-up of the previous event move forward to the quarter-finals.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	3	L	Del WORSHAM	Solara	0.094	4.219	305.3
L	14	R	John FORCE	Mustang	0.085	4.383	301.5

John Force was unable to get revenge for losing to Worsham in the opening round of the season after a hard-fought battle here.

Second Elimination Round Schedule (Asterisk indicates fastest driver in previous round and gets the lane choice)
(1) Jeff Arend vs Ron Capps (8)*
(4) Bob Tasca III vs Mike Neff (5)*
(10) Tony Pedragon vs Bob Gilbertson (15)*
(3) Del Worsham vs Gary Densham (8)* 

CDR: 2009 Funny Car O'Reilly NHRA Spring Natiionals Qual #4

BAYTOWN, Texas - HOUSTON - Notes from round 4 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals listing lane, driver name, vehicle, elapsed time, and top speed::

Jeff Arend moves all the way up to first from seventeenth as former leader Jim Head had to settle for second after shutting it down on his final run. The only other addition to the top ten is Matt Hagan leapfrogging multiple drivers to finish ninth. Brian Thiel and Grant Downing both miss out on qualifying when Mike Smith surged up to eleventh in addition to the improved times from John Force and Matt Hagan.

	Driver	Car	#4	SPEED
R	Jeff AREND	Solara	4.135	292.3
R	Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.294	305.5
R	Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.320	299.0
R	Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.326	288.0
L	Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.372	294.8
R	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.397	296.0
R	Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.422	290.0
R	John FORCE	Mustang	4.445	287.0
R	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.540	293.5
R	Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.546	300.0
R	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.563	287.5
R	Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.638	275.5
L	Bob BODE	Impala	4.684	291.0
L	Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	4.687	299.0
L	Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	4.749	292.5
L	Gary DENSHAM	Impala	4.781	286.5
R	Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.846	290.5
L	Leif HELANDER	Camaro	5.132	273.0
R	Jack WYATT	Firebird	5.496	277.0
L	Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	5.625	273.5
R	Jim HEAD	Solara	9.771	84.0
R	Del WORSHAM	Solara	10.147	74.8
L	Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	10.151	74.0
L	Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	10.891	76.8
L	Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	10.919	71.3
L	Andy KELLEY	Stratus	No Start	N/A
L	Cory LEE	Dodge	No Start	N/A
L	Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	No Start	N/A
R	John SMITH	Monte Carlo	No Start	N/A

Final Qualifying Order

Driver	Car	Fast Time	Qual Spd	Fast Spd
Jeff AREND	Solara	4.135	292.3	292.3
Jim HEAD	Solara	4.198	297.8	297.8
Del WORSHAM	Solara	4.200	306.3	306.3
Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.212	299.3	304.5
Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.221	295.8	300.5
Gary DENSHAM	Impala	4.222	290.8	290.8
Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.253	305.3	305.3
Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.294	305.5	309.0
Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.320	299.0	299.0
Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.326	288.0	298.0
Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.372	294.8	294.8
Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.401	289.8	308.0
Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.422	290.0	302.0
John FORCE	Mustang	4.445	287.0	287.0
Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.539	298.0	298.0
Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.581	292.0	292.0

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Driver	Car	Fast Time	Qual Spd	Fast Spd
Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	4.617	290.0	290.0
Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	4.658	284.0	284.0
Bob BODE	Impala	4.684	291.0	291.0
Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	4.687	299.0	299.0
Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	4.749	292.5	292.5
John SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.760	281.0	288.5
Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	4.811	300.0	300.0
Leif HELANDER	Camaro	5.132	273.0	273.0
Jack WYATT	Firebird	5.496	277.0	277.0
Andy KELLEY	Stratus	5.552	275.5	275.5
Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	9.711	N/A	72.3
Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	9.827	N/A	81.3
Cory LEE	Dodge	10.872	N/A	59.8

CDR: 2009 Funny Car O'Reilly NHRA Spring Natiionals Qual #3

BAYTOWN, Texas - HOUSTON - 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, vehicle, elapsed time, and top speed::

There is a new driver at the top of qualifying with one round left to go. Jim Head leads the way to guarantee his first time in the top sixteen come race time. Bob Tasca III improves up to third spot, and Jack Beckman moves up from seventeenth to rejoin the qualifiers. Grant Downing is another driver who improved enough to make the top sixteen, pushing Jeff Arend and Cruz Pedragon to the outside. One of four non-starters, Brian Thiel failed at the line for the second time and drops to thirteenth.

	Driver	Car	#3	SPEED
L	Jim HEAD	Solara	4.198	297.8
L	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.212	299.3
L	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.401	289.8
L	Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.472	298.0
L	Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.513	293.5
L	Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.581	292.0
L	Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.611	300.5
L	Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.630	288.5
R	Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	4.658	284.0
L	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.674	288.5
L	Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.711	287.0
L	John SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.760	281.0
L	Jeff AREND	Solara	4.794	291.0
L	Del WORSHAM	Solara	5.132	274.0
R	Gary DENSHAM	Impala	5.299	269.0
L	John FORCE	Mustang	5.355	281.8
R	Andy KELLEY	Stratus	5.552	275.5
R	Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	5.558	275.0
R	Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	8.981	100.3
R	Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	9.119	88.5
R	Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	9.698	80.3
R	Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	9.827	81.3
R	Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	10.419	68.0
R	Bob BODE	Impala	10.744	80.5
R	Cory LEE	Dodge	10.872	59.8
R	Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	No Start	N/A
L	Jack WYATT	Firebird	No Start	N/A
R	Leif HELANDER	Camaro	No Start	N/A
L	Ron CAPPS	Charger	No Start	N/A

Order After Round Three

Driver	Car	Fast Time
Jim HEAD	Solara	4.198
Del WORSHAM	Solara	4.200
Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.212
Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.221
Gary DENSHAM	Impala	4.222
Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.253
Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.313
Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.401
Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.472
Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.539
Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.581
Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.609
Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	4.617
Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	4.658
Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.677
John FORCE	Mustang	4.679

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Driver	Car	Fast Time
Jeff AREND	Solara	4.721
Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	4.751
John SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.760
Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	4.794
Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	4.811
Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.918
Bob BODE	Impala	4.987
Andy KELLEY	Stratus	5.552
Leif HELANDER	Camaro	8.994
Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	9.711
Jack WYATT	Firebird	9.714
Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	9.827
Cory LEE	Dodge	10.872

CDR: 2009 Funny Car O'Reilly NHRA Spring Natiionals Qual #2

BAYTOWN, Texas - HOUSTON - 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, vehicle, elapsed time, and top speed::

Del Worsham and Mike Neff remain in the top two spots. Gary Densham did not let his failure to put in a time during the first round of qualifying prevent him from claiming third, just one-thousandth of a second off Neff's time. Ashley Force-Hood and Ron Capps also improve upon their times to cement their places in top five. Three time race winner Tony Pedragon drops two places to ninth as Bob Tasca III moves on up to eighth.

Leader Del Worsham's performance raised some eyebrows as his clutch suffered problems before he could get away from the line, but everyone else reached the line at least.

	Driver	Car	#2	SPEED
L	Gary DENSHAM	Impala	4.222	290.8
R	Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.253	305.3
R	Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.313	309.0
R	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.516	304.5
R	Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.564	297.5
R	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.569	284.0
R	Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.609	288.0
L	Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	4.617	290.0
R	Jim HEAD	Solara	4.618	277.0
R	John FORCE	Mustang	4.679	283.0
L	Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	4.751	295.5
L	Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	4.794	284.0
L	Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	4.811	300.0
R	Jeff AREND	Solara	4.907	276.0
L	Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.918	278.0
L	Bob BODE	Impala	4.987	284.0
R	Jack BECKMAN	Charger	5.317	266.5
R	Matt HAGAN	Charger	5.343	265.5
R	John SMITH	Monte Carlo	5.346	288.5
L	Andy KELLEY	Stratus	5.968	255.0
L	Leif HELANDER	Camaro	8.994	94.8
R	Mike NEFF	Mustang	9.172	86.3
L	Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	9.711	72.3
R	Jack WYATT	Firebird	9.714	90.3
L	Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	9.891	81.0
R	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	10.566	66.0
L	Cory LEE	Dodge	11.318	55.8
L	Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	11.522	57.0
R	Del WORSHAM	Solara	No Start	N/A

Order After Round Two

Driver	Car	Fast Time
Del WORSHAM	Solara	4.200
Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.221
Gary DENSHAM	Impala	4.222
Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.253
Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.313
Jim HEAD	Solara	4.489
Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.501
Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.516
Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.518
Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.539
Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.609
Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	4.617
Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.677
John FORCE	Mustang	4.679
Jeff AREND	Solara	4.721
Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	4.751

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Driver	Car	Fast Time
Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.770
Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	4.794
Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	4.811
Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.918
John SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.932
Bob BODE	Impala	4.987
Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	5.611
Andy KELLEY	Stratus	5.968
Leif HELANDER	Camaro	8.994
Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	9.711
Jack WYATT	Firebird	9.714
Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	10.974
Cory LEE	Dodge	11.318

CDR: 2009 Funny Car O'Reilly NHRA Spring Natiionals Qual #1

BAYTOWN, Texas - HOUSTON - 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, vehicle, elapsed time, and top speed::

No less than seven drivers failed to get away as Del Worsham heads up the pack after one round of qualifying. Times were not too quick either with Mike Smith rounding out the top sixteen with an elapsed time of over five seconds.

The not so magnificent seven were Gary Densham, Cruz Pedragon, Andy Kelley, Brian Thiel, Jack Wyatt, Justin Schriefer, and Cory Lee, all succumbing to a variety of mechanical and electrical faults on the line.

	Driver	Car	#1	SPEED
L	Del WORSHAM	Solara	4.200	306.3
L	Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.221	295.8
L	Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.328	292.3
L	Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.451	297.0
L	Jim HEAD	Solara	4.489	294.5
L	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.501	308.0
L	Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.518	287.0
L	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.539	298.0
L	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.549	297.5
L	Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.611	302.0
L	Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.677	294.5
L	Jeff AREND	Solara	4.721	292.0
L	Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.770	286.5
L	John SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.932	282.5
L	John FORCE	Mustang	5.070	273.0
R	Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	5.311	280.0
R	Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	5.611	257.0
R	Bob BODE	Impala	6.474	244.0
R	Leif HELANDER	Camaro	9.762	82.3
R	Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	10.974	67.5
R	Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	10.974	61.5
R	Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	11.127	55.0
R	Andy KELLEY	Stratus	No Start	N/A
R	Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	No Start	N/A
R	Cory LEE	Dodge	No Start	N/A
R	Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	No Start	N/A
R	Gary DENSHAM	Impala	No Start	N/A
L	Jack WYATT	Firebird	No Start	N/A
R	Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	No Start	N/A