CDR: 2009 Funny Car Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals Elims #2-4

MOHNTON, Pa. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 25th annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals:

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	9	L	Ron CAPPS	Charger	0.088	4.019	313.3
L	1	R	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	0.092	4.144	301.5

Tim Wilkerson loses his fourth quarterfinal race out of eleven in a very close contest, but Capps is only three for nine at this stage.  Both men, racing against each other for the first time this year, got away together and were neck and neck right up until Ron Capps was able to keep his car ahead.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	12	R	Jim HEAD	Solara	0.117	4.629	288.0
L	4	L	Robert HIGHT	Mustang	0.066	4.706	281.0

Another debut battle and another close call. A terrible start from Jim Head was quickly balanced out by Robert Hight's sudden loss of all momentum past the tree. Head qualifies for his first semifinal of '09, while Hight loses his fourth straight QF after his first two earlier in the year.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	15	L	John FORCE	Mustang	0.040	4.485	288.0
L	7	R	Ashely FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	0.102	4.711	277.0

Father and daughter also go head to head for the first time with the elder driver coming out on top. A poor getaway by Force-Hood leaves her going into the next round with a 21-14 record this year. John Force stayed clean throughout his run to reach his first semi of the season.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	14	R	Matt HAGAN	Charger	0.086	5.408	270.0
L	11	L	Jeff AREND	Solara	0.095	5.588	257.5

Matt Hagan wins more than one race in a day for the first time in nine events, but neither competitor was on song. Jeff Arend is 2-5 in recent rounds after winning a semifinal in the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, and his poor luck continued here with a gearbox malfunction as he was leading the cars in to the finish line.

Semifinals

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	12	L	Jim HEAD	Solara	0.093	4.797	289.5
L	9	R	Ron CAPPS	Charger	0.113	6.164	222.5

After putting in two of the fastest times in all races, Ron Capps then has a huge moment early in his third semifinal of the season, somehow keeping his car going in the right direction. Jim Head reported before his debut final appearance that the noise heard at the end of his race was engine related.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	14	R	Matt HAGAN	Charger	0.095	4.534	292.0
L	15	L	John FORCE	Mustang	0.084	4.717	283.0

Matt Hagan will be in his fourth final of the season and John Force is out in his first attempt at a semifinal. There were internal issues for the driver in the right-hand lane again, but the winner came through unscathed.

Final

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	14	R	Matt HAGAN	Charger	0.074	4.025	303.3
L	12	L	Jim HEAD	Solara	0.119	6.466	190.8

With the fourth fastest time of the round it is three of four in finals for Matt Hagan, defeating Jim Head for the second time in as many events. A bad start and wheelspin decided this one very early on.

CDR: 2009 Funny Car Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals Elim #1

MOHNTON, Pa. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 25th annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals:

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	1	R	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	0.098	4.028	311.8
L	16	L	Del WORSHAM	Solara	0.058	4.223	294.8

The second meeting in four events led to the same result with Tim Wilkerson progressing to the next round. Del Worsham started strongly but was unable to build on his momentum in the second half of the race.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	9	R	Ron CAPPS	Charger	0.082	4.035	300.8
L	8	L	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	0.091	4.415	289.0

It's fourth time lucky for Ron Capps as he gets his first win against Bob Tasca III who loses his third first-round race this year; his second in as many events. Capps improves to 11-15 with nine of those victories coming in the first round.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	4	R	Robert HIGHT	Mustang	0.086	4.532	275.5
L	13	L	Jack WYATT	Firebird	0.122	8.897	123.5

Jack Wyatt has qualified in just three of the last seven events, losing his first race in each of them. Hight takes his eighth win of 2009 thanks to his opponent suffering from a major mechanical problem early doors.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	12	R	Jim HEAD	Solara	0.098	4.229	295.3
L	5	L	Mike NEFF	Mustang	0.041	4.452	293.5

The season series between these two is tied at 1-1 in a race that was closer than it should have been. Two-time finalist Mike Neff flew off the starting line but stuttered badly past the tree, allowing Head the chance to take just his third win in ten races.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	15	L	John FORCE	Mustang	0.034	3.982	314.0
L	2	R	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	0.091	4.531	291.0

Since reaching the final in the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, Bob Gilbertson has lost four of his last six races. John Force was just flat out unbeatable with a time under four seconds; he will compete in his fourth quarterfinal of the year.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	7	R	Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	0.093	4.000	309.8
L	10	L	Bob BODE	Impala	0.108	5.419	290.0

Bob Bode has lost nine straight first round races and eleven contests all year, with only two wins coming in the Lucas Oil Mist NHRA Nationals - the second event of the year. Force-Hood is 21-13 thanks to this fast win in her first race against Bode.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	14	R	Matt HAGAN	Charger	0.083	4.629	290.0
L	3	L	Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	0.057	4.786	293.0

A very tight race was spoiled at the very end by the inner workings of Wilkerson's car forcing him to correct some wheelpsin. Matt Hagan has won a race in each of the last five events.

W/L	#	L	Driver	Car	R/T	E.T.	Speed
W	11	L	Jeff AREND	Solara	0.081	4.032	313.0
L	6	R	Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	0.083	No Time	N/A

An eighth quarterfinal beckons for Arend as he stormed home; the shutdown by three-time race winner Mike Smith almost unimportant as he was already falling behind.

Second Elimination Round Schedule (Asterisk indicates fastest driver in previous round and gets the lane choice)
(1)* Tim Wilkerson vs Ron Capps (9)
(4) Robert Hight vs Jim Head (12)*
(7) Ashley Force-Hood vs John Force (15)*
(11)* Jeff Arend vs Matt Hagan (14) 

CDR: 2009 Funny Car Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals Qual #4

MOHNTON, Pa. - READING - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 25th annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

Two drivers did get make the cut in the final qualifying session, but neither of them was named Tony Pedregon who fails to finish in the top sixteen for the first time this season by only five-thousandths of a second.. His previous low was sixteenth place three events ago at the NHRA Northwest Nationals. The two who are included are Bob Bode and Jeff Arend, both shooting up from twenty-forth and twentieth respectively to qualify in tenth and eleventh. The two who are forced to make way are Andy Kelley and Cruz Pedregon.

	Driver	Car	#4	SPEED
R	Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.203	301.3
R	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.227	298.8
R	Bob BODE	Impala	4.276	297.5
R	Jeff AREND	Solara	4.291	294.3
L	Del WORSHAM	Solara	4.330	305.5
L	Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.335	302.5
R	Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	4.340	294.5
R	Jim HEAD	Solara	4.345	289.8
L	John FORCE	Mustang	4.397	289.0
L	Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.402	301.5
R	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.419	290.0
R	Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	4.489	298.5
R	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.560	276.0
L	Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	4.629	293.5
R	Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.838	278.5
R	Leif HELANDER	Camaro	4.850	274.0
R	Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.906	279.0
L	Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	5.166	275.3
L	Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	5.174	271.3
R	John SMITH	Monte Carlo	5.228	271.8
R	Robert HIGHT	Mustang	5.326	260.3
R	Gary DENSHAM	Impala	5.460	266.5
R	Jack WYATT	Firebird	7.871	124.0
R	Mike NEFF	Mustang	9.544	64.0
L	Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	11.261	35.0
R	Andy KELLEY	Stratus	No Start	N/A
L	Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	No Start	N/A
L	Cory LEE	Dodge	No Time	N/A
R	Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	No Time	N/A

Final Qualifying Order

Driver	Car	Fast Time	Qual Spd	Fast Spd
Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.007	295.8	310.8
Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.014	294.3	303.5
Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	4.156	292.3	311.8
Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.159	293.3	312.8
Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.163	312.3	312.3
Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.172	310.8	310.8
Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.203	301.3	307.0
Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.227	298.8	311.8
Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.272	294.0	294.0
Bob BODE	Impala	4.276	297.5	297.5
Jeff AREND	Solara	4.291	294.3	294.3
Jim HEAD	Solara	4.311	289.0	289.8
Jack WYATT	Firebird	4.313	288.0	298.0
Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.317	390.5	290.5
John FORCE	Mustang	4.322	285.5	289.5
Del WORSHAM	Solara	4.330	305.5	305.5

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Driver	Car	Fast Time	Qual Spd	Fast Spd
Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.335	N/A	302.5
Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	4.340	N/A	294.5
Andy KELLEY	Stratus	4.394	N/A	286.0
Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.402	N/A	303.5
Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	4.429	N/A	294.0
Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	4.446	N/A	306.0
Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	4.568	N/A	287.5
John SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.728	N/A	280.8
Gary DENSHAM	Impala	4.735	N/A	289.5
Leif HELANDER	Camaro	4.850	N/A	274.0
Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	5.166	N/A	275.3
Cory LEE	Dodge	5.741	N/A	255.5
Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	11.875	N/A	36.0

CDR: 2009 Funny Car Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals Qual #3

MOHNTON, Pa. - READING - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 25th annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

There are changes aplenty in the penultimate run of qualifying. Starting at the top Bob Gilbertson slots in between Tim and Daniel Wilkerson with the fastest time of round three, moving those in 2nd-8th down a spot. The middle of pack saw positive movement from Ron Capps, who moves up three places to 9th, and Jack Wyatt who now sits in 11th spot, starting this round in 18th.

The bottom of the order holds the biggest story though. Tony Pedregon has a do a die run left to qualify to avoid missing out on a successful qualification for the first time this year. Helping to knock him down from 14th to 17th was his own brother Cruz and a potential first-time qualifier Andy Kelley.

	Driver	Car	#3	SPEED
L	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.014	294.3
L	Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.160	312.8
L	Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.163	312.3
L	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.196	310.8
L	Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.272	294.0
L	Jack WYATT	Firebird	4.313	288.0
L	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.344	296.5
R	John FORCE	Mustang	4.368	286.0
L	Andy KELLEY	Stratus	4.394	286.0
L	Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	4.429	294.0
R	Del WORSHAM	Solara	4.567	285.0
R	Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.624	298.0
L	Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.737	275.5
R	Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.768	287.5
L	Bob BODE	Impala	4.824	279.0
L	Gary DENSHAM	Impala	4.865	289.5
R	Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.872	277.0
L	Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	5.126	264.3
L	Jim HEAD	Solara	5.222	264.5
L	John SMITH	Monte Carlo	5.303	261.5
R	Cory LEE	Dodge	5.741	255.5
L	Jeff AREND	Solara	6.977	139.5
L	Leif HELANDER	Camaro	7.107	164.0
L	Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	8.124	97.3
R	Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	12.077	34.8
R	Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	No Start	N/A
L	Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	No Time	N/A
R	Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	No Time	N/A
R	Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	No Time	N/A

Order After Three Rounds

Driver	Car	Fast Time
Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.007
Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.014
Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	4.156
Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.159
Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.163
Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.172
Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.217
Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.234
Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.272
Jim HEAD	Solara	4.311
Jack WYATT	Firebird	4.313
Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.317
John FORCE	Mustang	4.322
Del WORSHAM	Solara	4.353
Andy KELLEY	Stratus	4.394
Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	4.429

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

Driver	Car	Fast Time
Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.433
Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	4.446
Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.495
Jeff AREND	Solara	4.563
Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	4.568
John SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.728
Gary DENSHAM	Impala	4.735
Bob BODE	Impala	4.824
Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	5.195
Cory LEE	Dodge	5.741
Leif HELANDER	Camaro	6.344
Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	11.875
Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	N/A

CDR: 2009 Funny Car Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals Qual #2

MOHNTON, Pa. - READING - Notes from round 2 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 25th annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

Tony Pedregon gets inside the top sixteen as does Jerry Toliver, and they sit 14th and 16th at the midpoint of qualification. Their inclusion forces both Jack Wyatt and Cruz Pedregon to the outside. Four-time quarter finalist and two-time semifinalist Robert Hight moves up ten spots to third, and Ashley Force-Hood stays in sixth place by beating out the man who is chasing Tony Pedregon,  Bob Tasca III. 

	Driver	Car	#2	SPEED
R	Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.159	293.3
R	Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	4.199	311.8
R	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.199	306.8
R	Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.217	307.0
L	Del WORSHAM	Solara	4.353	294.5
R	Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.363	286.5
L	Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.433	298.0
L	Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	4.446	306.0
R	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.465	285.0
R	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.480	302.0
L	Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.577	288.5
L	Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.612	288.5
R	Jack WYATT	Firebird	4.636	296.0
R	Jeff AREND	Solara	4.690	287.0
R	John SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.728	271.0
L	John FORCE	Mustang	4.729	287.0
R	Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.755	273.0
R	Jim HEAD	Solara	4.784	281.5
R	Matt HAGAN	Charger	5.192	273.0
L	Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	5.195	272.3
R	Bob BODE	Impala	10.973	47.3
R	Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	10.999	48.3
L	Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	11.875	36.0
L	Cory LEE	Dodge	No Start	N/A
R	Gary DENSHAM	Impala	No Start	N/A
R	Andy KELLEY	Stratus	No Time	N/A
R	Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	No Time	N/A
L	Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	No Time	N/A
R	Leif HELANDER	Camaro	No Time	N/A

Order After Round Two

Driver	Car	Fast Time
Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.007
Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	4.156
Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.159
Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.166
Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.172
Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.217
Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.234
Jim HEAD	Solara	4.311
Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.317
John FORCE	Mustang	4.322
Del WORSHAM	Solara	4.353
Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.360
Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.420
Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.433
Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	4.446
Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.495

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

Driver	Car	Fast Time
Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	4.540
Jack WYATT	Firebird	4.558
Jeff AREND	Solara	4.563
Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	4.568
John SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.728
Gary DENSHAM	Impala	4.735
Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	5.195
Bob BODE	Impala	5.455
Leif HELANDER	Camaro	6.344
Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	11.875
Cory LEE	Dodge	12.110
Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	N/A
Andy KELLEY	Stratus	N/A

CDR: 2009 Funny Car Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals Qual #1

MOHNTON, Pa. - READING - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 25th annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

Five time finalist Tim Wilkerson is easily the fastest driver on track, narrowly close to reaching a time of under four seconds. His son who knocked him out of the first round in the previous event, Daniel, is second fastest, and Mike Neff, who has only failed to qualify once this season, rounds out the top three. Tony Pedregon is down in twentieth as all the other main players make the top sixteen after one run.

	Driver	Car	#1	SPEED
L	Tim WILKERSON	Mustang	4.007	295.8
L	Daniel WILKERSON	Impala	4.156	292.3
L	Mike NEFF	Mustang	4.166	304.3
R	Mike SMITH	Monte Carlo	4.172	310.8
L	Bob TASCA III	Mustang	4.234	311.8
L	Ashley FORCE-HOOD	Mustang	4.289	285.0
L	Jim HEAD	Solara	4.311	289.0
L	Matt HAGAN	Charger	4.317	290.5
R	John FORCE	Mustang	4.322	285.5
L	Ron CAPPS	Charger	4.360	291.5
R	Del WORSHAM	Solara	4.406	298.5
L	Bob GILBERTSON	Stratus	4.420	303.5
L	Robert HIGHT	Mustang	4.420	292.0
R	Jack BECKMAN	Charger	4.495	303.5
L	Cruz PEDRAGON	Solara	4.540	291.5
L	Jack WYATT	Firebird	4.558	298.0

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

	Driver	Car	#1	SPEED
L	Jeff AREND	Solara	4.563	283.5
R	Grant DOWNING	Monte Carlo	4.568	287.5
R	Jerry TOLIVER	Monte Carlo	4.609	286.5
R	Tony PEDRAGON	Impala	4.630	294.0
L	Gary DENSHAM	Impala	4.735	288.5
L	John SMITH	Monte Carlo	5.451	264.0
L	Bob BODE	Impala	5.455	264.0
L	Leif HELANDER	Camaro	6.344	209.3
R	Cory LEE	Dodge	12.110	31.3
L	Brian THIEL	Monte Carlo	No Start	N/A
R	Justin SCHRIEFER	Camaro	No Start	N/A
L	Andy KELLEY	Stratus	No Time	N/A
R	Terry HADDOCK	Stratus	No Time	N/A