CDR: 2009 Funny Car Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Elims

NORWALK, Ohio - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Third annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals:

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	10	L	Jeff AREND	Solara	0.097	5.317	287.5
L	2	R	Ron CAPPS	Charger	0.062	5.616	261.0

Neither man looked on form for their second race with Jeff Arend taking a 2-1 season lead. Ron Capps looked like he was in a winning position halfway through the contest before Arend motored past at the line.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	13	R	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	0.090	4.934	278.5
L	5	L	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	0.111	8.239	111.0

A major mechanical fault keeps Bob Gilbertson unbeaten against Tasca III despite reporting to his crew of a clutch problem in his own car.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	16	L	Cruz PEDREGON	Solara	0.094	4.021	292.8
L	8	R	Jim HEAD	Solara	0.103	10.113	49.0

For the second event running Jim Head loses out to a Pedregon. He barely got off at the start before something gave way allowing Cruz Pedregon to take the win, putting in the fastest time of the quarterfinals.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	6	L	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	0.067	4.299	307.5
L	14	R	Tony PEDREGON	Impala	0.125	4.605	294.5

After winning four events in the first six rounds Tony Pedregon has only made one final, losing for the first time in three races to three-times runner-up Tim Wilkerson. Wilkerson had some car issues to fix between races but it was the start that ultimately decided this one.

Semifinals

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	10	L	Jeff AREND	Solara	0.073	4.175	299.8
L	6	R	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	0.103	4.437	290.0

Jeff Arend always had his nose in front and he reaches his second final of the season by beating Tim Wilkerson in their debut bout.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	13	R	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	0.058	4.322	290.0
L	16	L	Cruz PEDREGON	Solara	0.109	N/A	N/A

Cruz ended up off the track, losing control thanks to a tyre blowout. Gilbertson's win streak is now seven races as he looks for his third event win of the year, second in a row.

Final

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	13	R	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	0.059	4.405	292.0
L	10	L	Jeff AREND	Solara	0.031	9.789	78.0

And Bob Gilbertson does just that as the mechanical problems continue right until the end which was unlucky for Arend after a blistering getaway.

CDR: 2009 Funny Car Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Elim #1

NORWALK, Ohio - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Third annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals:

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	8	L	Jim HEAD	Solara	0.117	4.760	294.5
L	9	R	Ashley  FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	0.109	6.286	218.0

After her two event wins Force-Hood loses for the second time in three races with a drive she will want to forget in a hurry. Jim Head takes his first win at the fourth time of asking.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	10	R	Jeff AREND	Solara	0.101	4.263	287.0
L	7	L	Jack BECKMAN	Charger	0.090	4.490	286.0

Jeff Arend goes 3-0 against his opponent in a very tight race that had both drivers neck and neck until the finish. Jack Beckman was unlucky not to win a second race this season in back-to-back events.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	6	R	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	0.090	4.588	283.5
L	11	L	Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	0.094	9.919	67.0

A major problem in his tenth race ended Smith's chances before he passed the tree leading to a second defeat to three-time runner-up Tim Wilkerson.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	5	R	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	0.091	4.419	282.0
L	12	L	Jack WYATT	Firebird	0.108	8.556	104.8

The second meeting between these two was a one-sided affair with a reverse decision when Wyatt pulled out halfway downtrack with an engine malfunction. Bob Tasca III moves on to the quarterfinals with his 20th win of the season.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	16	L	Cruz PEDREGON	Solara	0.111	4.583	282.5
L	1	R	Del WORSHAM	Solara	0.104	9.147	75.3

Wheelspin conspired to keep Worsham at bay, leaving Cruz Pedregon to make his fourth quarterfinal appearance in 2009; he is yet to win at that stage.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	2	R	Ron CAPPS	Charger	0.097	5.801	254.5
L	15	L	Matt HAGAN	Charger	0.078	8.178	110.8

In one of the longer rivalries this year Ron Capps ties up the season record at 3-3 but he needed Matt Hagan's car to misfire in order to win.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	13	L	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	0.026	4.018	314.0
L	4	R	Mike NEFF	Mustang	0.108	4.687	275.0

Bob Gilbertson wins his ninth race in the first round through the eleven events he has qualified for. Mike Neff's losing streak reaches five since he made the final at the Thunder Valley Nationals against Matt Hagan.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	14	R	Tony PEDREGON	Impala	0.062	3.992	314.0
L	3	L	Robert HIGHT	Mustang	0.087	4.038	310.8

A lightning quick race from both drivers ended the first round with a bang with Tony Pedregon getting in under 4s to go 2-0 over Robert Hight in the last four events.

Second Elimination Round Schedule (Asterisk indicates fastest driver in previous round and gets the lane choice)
(2) Ron Capps vs Jeff Arend (7)*
(5) Bob Tasca III vs Bob Gilbertson (13)*
(6) Tim Wilkerson vs Tony Pedregon (14)  *
(8) Jim Head vs Cruz Pedregon (16)*

CDR: 2009 Funny Car Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Qual #4

NORWALK, Ohio - NORWALK - Notes from round 4 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Third annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, vehicle, elapsed time, and top speed:

Another day with one change to report as Mike Smith's fastest time of the fourth round moves him up to eleventh place, knocking John Force out of the top sixteen.

	Driver	Car	#4	SPEED
R	Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.351	295.5
R	Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.381	297.0
R	Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.417	292.0
R	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.418	293.0
L	Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.447	302.5
L	Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	4.467	287.5
R	Jeff AREND	Solara	4.473	286.5
R	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.488	298.5
R	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.516	294.5
R	Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.534	292.5
L	Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	4.564	292.0
R	Gary DENSHAM	Impala	4.593	297.0
L	Del WORSHAM	Solara	4.674	279.5
L	John FORCE	Mustang	4.743	286.0
R	Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	4.888	272.0
L	Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	5.161	295.8
R	Matt HAGAN	Charger	5.205	270.8
R	Jack BECKMAN	Charger	5.462	280.0
R	John SMITH	Monte Carlo	5.539	278.0
R	Andy KELLEY	Stratus	5.815	279.3
R	Mike NEFF	Mustang	7.879	129.0
L	Jack WYATT	Firebird	8.556	64.3
R	Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	11.131	39.0
L	Cory LEE	Dodge	11.388	39.0
R	Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	12.009	28.0
R	Bob BODE	Impala	N/A	N/A
R	Leif HELANDER	Camaro	N/A	N/A
L	Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	No Start	N/A
L	Jim HEAD	Solara	No Start	N/A

Final Qualifying Order

Driver	Car	Fast Time	Qual Spd	Fast Spd
Del WORSHAM	Solara	4.151	290.8	290.8
Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.166	309.3	309.3
Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.188	307.8	307.8
Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.213	307.3	307.3
Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.219	298.8	303.8
Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.263	305.0	305.0
Jim HEAD	Solara	4.280	294.0	294.0
Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.280	288.0	288.5
Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.291	286.5	304.0
Jeff AREND	Solara	4.308	292.0	292.0
Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.351	295.5	295.5
Jack WYATT	Firebird	4.384	305.5	305.5
Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.390	295.0	295.0
Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.398	390.5	292.5
Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.409	283.0	301.5
Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	4.415	290.5	290.5

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

Driver	Car	Fast Time	Qual Spd	Fast Spd
John FORCE	Mustang	4.487	306.0	306.0
Bob BODE	Impala	4.521	286.5	286.5
Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	4.530	292.5	292.5
Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	4.564	292.0	292.0
Leif HELANDER	Camaro	4.564	295.5	295.5
Gary DENSHAM	Impala	4.593	297.0	297.0
Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	4.761	271.0	271.0
John SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.768	288.0	288.0
Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	4.783	291.5	291.5
Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	4.869	279.5	295.8
Andy KELLEY	Stratus	5.326	N/A	287.0
Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	8.912	N/A	56.3
Cory LEE	Dodge	9.551	N/A	67.3

CDR: 2009 Funny Car Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Qual #3

NORWALK, Ohio - NORWALK - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Third annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, vehicle, elapsed time, and top speed:

Only one change in the entire top sixteen for this round. Going from zero to hero is Del Worsham who, after dropping out of the top sixteen in the second run, is now top of the rankings.

	Driver	Car	#3	SPEED
R	Del WORSHAM	Solara	4.151	290.8
L	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.234	303.8
L	Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.347	287.0
L	Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.421	286.0
L	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.443	298.0
L	Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.466	286.0
L	Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.466	287.0
L	Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.493	283.5
L	Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.545	294.5
R	John FORCE	Mustang	4.567	284.0
L	Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.580	291.0
L	Jeff AREND	Solara	4.590	289.5
R	Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	4.606	289.0
L	Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	4.761	271.0
L	John SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.768	288.0
L	Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	4.783	291.5
L	Gary DENSHAM	Impala	4.791	290.5
R	Jim HEAD	Solara	4.855	284.0
R	Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	4.912	271.5
R	Jack WYATT	Firebird	4.931	275.0
L	Bob BODE	Impala	4.962	274.5
R	Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	5.186	282.3
L	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	5.323	288.0
R	Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	7.772	94.3
R	Cory LEE	Dodge	9.551	67.3
L	Leif HELANDER	Camaro	10.989	39.0
R	Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	11.715	34.8
L	Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	12.556	33.3
L	Andy KELLEY	Stratus	No Start	N/A

Order After Round Three

Driver	Car	Fast Time
Del WORSHAM	Solara	4.151
Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.166
Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.188
Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.213
Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.219
Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.263
Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.280
Jim HEAD	Solara	4.280
Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.291
Jeff AREND	Solara	4.308
Jack WYATT	Firebird	4.384
Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.390
Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.398
Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.409
Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	4.415
John FORCE	Mustang	4.487

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

Driver	Car	Fast Time
Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.493
Bob BODE	Impala	4.521
Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	4.530
Leif HELANDER	Camaro	4.564
Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	4.606
Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	4.761
John SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.768
Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	4.783
Gary DENSHAM	Impala	4.791
Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	4.869
Andy KELLEY	Stratus	5.326
Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	8.912
Cory LEE	Dodge	9.551

CDR: 2009 Funny Car Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Qual #2

NORWALK, Ohio - NORWALK - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Third annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, vehicle, elapsed time, and top speed:

Robert Hight stays a step ahead of both Mike Neff and Bob Tasca III by putting in the fastest time of the second round, keeping him in second place behind Ron Capps. Jim Head makes his way into a qualifying spot, ahead of eighth-place Ashley Force-Hood. Leif Helendar and Del Worsham are big losers as neither of them put in a time, dropping the pair of them down seven places, outside of the qualifying times. Bob Bode, who had trouble himself for his first run, launched up enough to grab sixteenth spot.

	Driver	Car	#2	SPEED
R	Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.188	307.8
R	Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.213	307.3
R	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.219	298.8
L	Jim HEAD	Solara	4.280	294.0
R	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.280	291.0
R	Jeff AREND	Solara	4.308	292.0
L	Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.343	304.0
R	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.390	295.0
R	Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.398	290.5
L	Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	4.415	290.5
R	Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.434	301.5
R	Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.455	288.5
R	Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.478	291.0
L	John FORCE	Mustang	4.487	306.0
R	Bob BODE	Impala	4.521	286.0
L	Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	4.530	292.5
L	Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	4.869	279.5
L	Jack WYATT	Firebird	4.926	286.0
R	Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	5.235	269.5
R	Andy KELLEY	Stratus	5.326	287.0
R	John SMITH	Monte Carlo	5.447	267.5
L	Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	8.972	58.5
R	Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	10.023	46.0
R	Gary DENSHAM	Impala	10.776	36.0
L	Cory LEE	Dodge	11.292	51.0
R	Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	11.297	44.8
R	Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	N/A	N/A
L	Del WORSHAM	Solara	N/A	N/A
R	Leif HELANDER	Camaro	No Start	N/A

Order After Round Two

Driver	Car	Fast Time
Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.166
Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.188
Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.213
Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.219
Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.263
Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.280
Jim HEAD	Solara	4.280
Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.291
Jeff AREND	Solara	4.308
Jack WYATT	Firebird	4.384
Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.390
Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.398
Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.409
Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	4.415
John FORCE	Mustang	4.487
Bob BODE	Impala	4.521

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

Driver	Car	Fast Time
Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	4.530
Leif HELANDER	Camaro	4.564
Del WORSHAM	Solara	4.567
Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	4.869
Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	5.235
John SMITH	Monte Carlo	5.263
Andy KELLEY	Stratus	5.326
Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	5.489
Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	8.912
Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	8.972
Gary DENSHAM	Impala	9.712
Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	10.023
Cory LEE	Dodge	11.292

CDR: 2009 Funny Car Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Qual #1

NORWALK, Ohio - NORWALK - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Third annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, vehicle, elapsed time, and top speed:

Ron Capps has only made it past the quarterfinal stage once this season, but is one of three drivers who has qualified in every event. Here he leads the way by almost a whole tenth of a second ahead of Robert Hight; Tim Wilkerson is only another .002 behind. Bob Gilbertson put in the thirteenth best time coming off his win over Tony Pedregon who sits in fifteenth.

	Driver	Car	#1	SPEED
L	Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.166	309.3
L	Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.261	297.0
L	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.263	305.0
L	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.278	287.5
L	Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.280	288.0
R	Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.291	286.5
R	Jack WYATT	Firebird	4.384	305.5
L	Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.409	283.0
L	Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.414	306.0
L	Jeff AREND	Solara	4.484	283.0
L	Leif HELANDER	Camaro	4.564	295.5
R	Del WORSHAM	Solara	4.567	282.0
L	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.592	278.0
R	John FORCE	Mustang	4.607	277.5
L	Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.697	291.0
R	Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	5.222	277.3
L	John SMITH	Monte Carlo	5.263	273.5
R	Jim HEAD	Solara	5.329	285.5
L	Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	5.489	268.5
R	Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	5.619	278.5
L	Andy KELLEY	Stratus	8.434	68.8
L	Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	8.783	50.8
L	Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	8.912	56.3
L	Gary DENSHAM	Impala	9.712	40.3
R	Cory LEE	Dodge	11.672	46.0
R	Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	11.907	30.5
L	Bob BODE	Impala	N/A	N/A
R	Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	N/A	N/A
L	Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	N/A	N/A