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.