John Force has a hill to climb again

CONCORD – John Force is down to his last chance at the Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway @ Concord.

Force ran 4.153 seconds in Saturday’s third qualifying run, but he got bumped out of the top 16 when Bob Tasca III ran 4.119 seconds during the Funny Car round.

Tony Pedergon is actually on the bump spot at No. 16 with an elapsed time of 4.134 seconds. Force will at least have to go faster than that to make the show in the final round later today.
Pedregon is second in the Countdown to 1 championship playoff, so he’ll be trying to hold on to his spot as the afternoon progresses.

It’s hot and humid at the new track, making conditions difficult. It’s only going to get hotter, too, but there are some puffy white clouds in the sky and depending on how they come over the sun things could still shake up.

Nothing changed atop the qualifying order in Funny Car, with Jack Beckman easily holding onto the top spot.

Tony Schumacher, meanwhile, will race on Sunday. There never was really much drama about that since there are only 17 Top Fuel cars trying for the 16 spots in eliminations, but Schumacher made a pass at 3.879 seconds in Saturday’s third qualifying run he didn't officially have a spot.

Even though Schumacher got down the track just before noon on Saturday, it wasn't without adventure. As he crossed the finish line Schumacher ejected smoke, fluid and perhaps parts from the engine in his dragster. That led to a lengthy track clean-up just as the nitro session got under way.

There's other drama shaping up for this afternoon's final session in other classes.

Angelle Sampey, a three-time champion in Pro Stock Motorcycle, ran 7.826 seconds on her first run Saturday and that has here 17th. If she can't improve on that, she'll fail to qualify for a National Hot Rod Association event for the first time in her career. She's made eliminations in all 178 of the races she's entered so far.

Matt Smith stayed No. 1 in Pro Stock Motorcycle after Round 3. Joe Desantis, Angie McBride, Shawn Gann and Valerie Thompson got slots 13 through 16 with their first runs Saturday.

In Pro Stock, Richie Stevens blasted from outside the top 12 all the way up to No. 3 with his run at 6.685 seconds in Round 3. Allen Johnson ran 6.696 seconds to move up to No. 5 and Rob Mansfield moved in at No. 6. Kurt Johnson and Jeg Coughlin remain 1-2 off runs they made Friday evening.

Qualifying order after three rounds

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Matt Smith, 6.952 seconds (192.08 mph); 2. Chris Rivas, 6.968 seconds (191.19 mph); 3. Eddie Krawiec, 6.981 seconds (192.30 mph); 4. Andrew Hines, 7.007 seconds (191.24); 5. Steve Johnson, 7.029 seconds (192.22 mph); 6. Chip Ellis, 7.036 seconds (191.19 mph); 7. Karen Stoffer, 7.037 seconds (189.71 mph); 8. Craig Treble, 7.044 seconds (191.02 mph); 9. Hector Arana, 7.044 seconds (188.89 mph); 10. Wes Wells, 7.072 seconds (189.68 mph); 11. Junior Pippin, 7.098 seconds (184.47 mph); 12. Matt Guidera, 7.102 seconds (184.42 mph); 13. Joe Desantis, 7.114 seconds (190.19 mph); 14. Angie McBride, 7.166 seconds (183.89 mph); 15. Shawn Gann, 7.197 seconds (181.86 mph); 16. Valerie Thompson, 7.291 seconds (178.80 mph).

Pro Stock

1. Kurt Johnson, 6.680 seconds (206.42 mph); 2. Jeg Coughlin, 6.684 seconds (206.26 mph); 3. Richie Stevens, 6.685 seconds (206.54 mph); 4. Warren Johnson, 6.694 seconds (208.01 mph); 5. Allen Johnson, 6.896 seconds (206.29 mph); 6. Rob Mansfield, 6.697 seconds (207.50 mph); 7. Greg Anderson, 6.697 seconds (207.11 mph); 8. Dave Connolly, 6.697 seconds (207.02 mph); 9. Mike Edwards, 6.700 seconds (205.63 mph); 10. Justin Humphreys, 6.703 seconds (206.57 mph); 11. Jason Line, 6.706 seconds (206.89 mph); 12. Steve Spiess, 6.710 seconds (205.85); 13.. V Gaines, 6.711 seconds (205.82 mph); 14. Jim Yates, 6.712 seconds (205.16 mph); 15. Greg Stanfield, 6.714 seconds (205.51 mph); 16. Vinnie Deceglie, 6.715 seconds (205.69 mph).

Top Fuel

1. Larry Dixon, 3.846 seconds (310.20 mph); 2. Cory McClenathan, 3.863 seconds (312.13 seconds); 3. Antron Brown, 3.865 seconds (311.20 mph); 4. Hillary Will, 3.869 seconds (315.12 mph); 5. Doug Herbert, 3.870 seconds (311.49 mph); 6. Doug Kalitta, 3.872 seconds (309.77 mph); 7. Brandon Bernstein, 3.875 seconds (309.49 mph); 8. David Grubnic, 3.876 seconds (311.92 mph); 9. Tony Schumacher, 3.879 seconds (306.19 mph); 10. J.R. Todd, 3.883 seconds (312.93 mph); 11. Rod Fuller, 3,889 seconds (304.60 mph); 12. Bob Vandergriff Jr., 3.898 seconds (306.95 mph); 13. Troy Buff, 3.923 seconds (303.50 mph); 14. Clay Millican, 3.931 seconds (305.77 mph); 15. Doug Foley, 3.975 seconds (302.55 mph); 16. Morgan Lucas, 4.022 seconds (299.53 mph).

Funny Car

1. Frank Hawley, 4.072 seconds (307.16 mph); 2. Robert Hight, 4.072 seconds (300.33 mph); 3. Del Worsham 4.074 seconds (304.12 mph); 4. Ashley Force, 4.075 seconds (307.02); 5. Cruz Pedrgeon, 4.087 seconds (303.43 mph); 6. Jim Head, 4.087 seconds (303.43 mph); 7. Melanie Troxel, 4.100 seconds (303.57 mph); 8. Mike Neff, 4.104 seconds (304.46 mph); 9. Gary Densham 4.108 seconds (296.18 mph); 10. Ron Capps, 4.117 seconds (299.73 mph); 11. Jack Beckman, 4.118 (300.86 mph); 12. Bob Tasca III, 4.119 (299.66 mph); 13. Tim Wilkerson, 4.121 seconds (300.60 mph); 14. Gary Scelzi, 4.123 seconds (301.67 mph); 15. Jeff Arend, 4.131 (304.19); 16. Tony Pedregon, 4.134 seconds (299.40).