CONCORD, N.C. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals:
| W/L | # | L | Driver | Car | R/T | E.T. | Speed |
| W | 16 | L | John FORCE | Mustang | 0.078 | 4.196 | 298.8 |
| L | 1 | R | Matt HAGAN | Charger | 0.120 | 5.781 | 249.5 |
Three of
John Force's past five races have been against
Matt Hagan and in their fourth encounter of the season
Force gets his first victory in the matchup. A bad start from
Hagan, who had won eight of his last twleve races including the final at the
Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals, proved very costly, but
Force lived up to his name with a very good run in any case.
| W/L | # | L | Driver | Car | R/T | E.T. | Speed |
| W | 8 | R | Jeff AREND | Solara | 0.088 | 4.008 | 311.8 |
| L | 9 | L | Andy KELLEY | Stratus | 0.090 | No Time | N/A |
Andy Kelley's debut race was a disaster as his vehicle veered him off track in very short order.
Jeff Arend has now won ten of seventeen first round races in '09.
| W/L | # | L | Driver | Car | R/T | E.T. | Speed |
| W | 4 | R | Ron CAPPS | Charger | 0.092 | 4.181 | 303.3 |
| L | 13 | L | Bob GILBERTSON | Stratus | 0.093 | 4.181 | 310.8 |
The right-hand lane was a very popular choice throughout the event. The general consensus being that the left-hand side was significantly slower - almost two-tenths if talk in the garages was to be believed. In this race it made all the difference as
Ron Capps ties the season series against
Gilbertson at 1-1 after a holeshot victory was needed to determine the winner. The five-time finalist
Gilbertson's title hopes may be over.
| W/L | # | L | Driver | Car | R/T | E.T. | Speed |
| W | 12 | L | Tony PEDREGON | Impala | 0.075 | 4.213 | 296.3 |
| L | 5 | R | Bob TASCA III | Mustang | 0.090 | 5.198 | 279.0 |
One of the biggest races this year failed to live up to it's hype. Second in the championship
Tasca III did not enjoy one of his best starts and that gives advantage in this years title race to
Tony Pedregon who now has a 3-2 advantage over his main rival.
| W/L | # | L | Driver | Car | R/T | E.T. | Speed |
| W | 2 | R | Ashley FORCE-HOOD | Mustang | 0.093 | 4.611 | 298.5 |
| L | 15 | L | Jim HEAD | Solara | 0.107 | No Time | N/A |
A simple race for
Force-Hood's 22nd race victory of the year after
Jim Head could not control his wheelspin and promptly spun out of the contest.
| W/L | # | L | Driver | Car | R/T | E.T. | Speed |
| W | 7 | R | Del WORSHAM | Solara | 0.090 | 4.021 | 312.3 |
| L | 10 | L | Tim WILKERSON | Mustang | 0.097 | 4.393 | 298.3 |
The third meeting between these in seven events was a thriller.
Del Worsham, three-time semifinalist, found a way to beat
Tim Wilkerson, five semis and three finals to his name, at the third attempt but both men drove straight and true,
Worsham just doing enough at the end.
| W/L | # | L | Driver | Car | R/T | E.T. | Speed |
| W | 14 | L | Jack BECKMAN | Charger | 0.098 | 5.647 | 264.0 |
| L | 3 | R | Mike NEFF | Mustang | 0.110 | No Time | N/A |
The last two times
Jack Beckman qualified at the
Moper Mile-High and
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals he went on to win the finals, and he beat
Mike Neff in the semifinal of the former. Here
Beckman wins by default as a win was there for the taking but
Neff's car had other ideas near the end.
| W/L | # | L | Driver | Car | R/T | E.T. | Speed |
| W | 6 | R | Robert HIGHT | Mustang | 0.116 | 5.304 | 275.8 |
| L | 11 | L | Brian THIEL | Monte Carlo | 0.019 | 9.549 | 77.3 |
Another race that will not be remembered by many but
Robert Hight reaches his eighth quarterfinal of the season, condemning
Brian Thiel to his eleventh loss this year in sixteen races.
Second Elimination Round Schedule (Asterisk indicates fastest driver in previous round and gets the lane choice)
(2) Ashley Force-Hood vs
Del Worsham (7)*
(4)* Ron Capps vs
Tony Pedregon (12)
(6)* Robert Hight vs
Jack Beckman (14)
(8)* Jeff Arend vs
John Force (16)
