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NHRA: Quickest Funny Car field has been set seven times in 2001

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

May 31, 2001

Just making the show has become extremely competitive this season in the NHRA Funny Car category. No longer does running the 6,000 horsepower vehicles in the 4.9-second range guarantee a spot among the top 16 qualifiers for eliminations. Following the 2000 season the quickest FC field was 5.022 seconds (Bruce Sarver, Matco Tools SuperNationals, Houston). Funny Car starting lineups have continued to become quicker over the course of the 2001 season.

NHRA Funny Car teams will try to lower the 16-car field record once again when qualifying begins for this weekend's Lucas Oil Products NHRA Nationals, May 31-June 3, at Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Ill.

  • -Pomona, Calif.: No. 1 qualifier, Tommy Johnson Jr., 4.838 seconds, to No. 16 qualifier, Tony Bartone, 5.013.
  • -Phoenix: No. 1 qualifier, Dean Skuza, 4.805, to No. 16 qualifier, Gary Densham, 4.961 (first four-second field).
  • -Gainesville, Fla.: No. 1, John Force, 4.812, to Chuck Etchells, 4.960.
  • -Las Vegas: No.1, Bruce Sarver, 4.822, to No. 16, Al Hofmann, 4.958.
  • -Commerce, Ga.: No. 1 Jerry Toliver, 4.843, to No. 16, Johnny Gray, 4.957.
  • -Englishtown, N.J.: No. 1, Tony Pedregon, 4.801, to No. 16, Tim Wilkerson, 4.950.
  • -Topeka, Kan.: No. 1, John Force, 4.809, to No. 16, Chuck Etchells, 4.911.

Text provided by Anthony Vestal

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