NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

11:39 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 72 degrees, relative humidity 59 percent, barometer 29.25 inches, adjusted altitude 2,267 feet, track temperature 100 degrees. Alexander is 2 - 1 against Beckman in prior events. Jack Beckman won this race in 2016. Beckman gets a small advantage off the line and starts to pull away. Alexander was staying with him for about 500 feet, then struck the tires and had to back off the throttle.. Jack Beckman's incremental margins: 60ft(0.011), 330 ft(0.011), 660ft(0.068). MOV: 0.3256 seconds (more than 100 feet).

This is the first time Langdon and Arend have faced each other in eliminations. Arend gets out of the gate first but langdon reels him in before they reach the sixty foot mark. Langdon gets about 400 feet out, strikes the tires, then bangs the blower. Arend strikes the tires at about the same point and pedals. Arend gets back on the throttle, the car moves around pretty wildly, then he backs off the throttle. Langdon drifts to the right, the chutes take out the timing block at the end of the track and he crosses the centerline, costing him five points. Jeff Arend's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.002), 330 ft(-0.029), 660ft(0.172). MOV: 0.8864 seconds (more than 100 feet). Beckman will have lane choice over Arend in the next round.

Robert Hight is the defending event champion. He also was runner-up twice. This is his sixth No. 1 spot this year. Jim Campbell beat Robert in the first round at this race in 2017 after Robert was No. 1 qualifier. Hight is 4 - 1 against Campbell in prior events. Hight dodges a bullet on this one. He gets out of the gate first and starts pulling away. He extends his lead to half track, then strikes the tires and has to back off the throttle. Campbell makes up ground at that point but ran out of race track. Robert Hight's incremental margins: 60ft(0.038), 330 ft(0.079), 660ft(0.095). MOV: 0.0156 seconds (approximately 7 feet).

Tommy Johnson was the winner here in 2015 and runner-up three times. He got the No. 2 spot based on speed. It's only the second time in his career that has happened, the other was in 2004..Paul Lee is making his 57th start and second this year. Johnson Jr. is 1 - 0 against Lee in prior events. Lee gets a little holeshot and was out in front past the 330 foot mark. Lee strikes the tires just after that and Johnson drives around him and pulls away for the win. Tommy Johnson Jr.'s incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.014), 330 ft(-0.019), 660ft(0.250). MOV: 0.7246 seconds (more than 100 feet).

Ron Capps was the 2017 winner here and runner-up three times. He is coming off back-to-back wins in Atlanta and Richmond..Bob Bode is making his 96th start. His 10 losses against Capps are the second most for him against any driver he has faced (Force - 11). Capps is 10 - 1 against Bode in prior events. Capps gets out of the gate first and stars to pull away. bode's car starts drifting toward the centerline, gets way out of the groove and has to back off the throttle about 700 feet out.

The No. 6 FC qualifier at this race is 17 - 4 in the first round..John Force went to the final round 6 times at this event and he won here in 2000, 2004 & 2006. He is 12 - 9 in round 1 at this event. Todd is 3 - 2 against Force in prior events. Force gets a big holeshot when Todd double steps it at the line. Todd starts reeling him in but Force holds him off and takes the holeshot win. John Force's incremental margins: 60ft(0.181), 330 ft(0.166), 660ft(0.171). MOV: 0.1859 seconds (approximately 87 feet). Capps will have lane choice over Force in the next round.

Matt Hagan has 3 wins and a runner-up at this event. Hagan is 10 - 9 against Tasca III in prior events. Tasca gets out of the gate first, stays in front past the sixty foot mark, then Hagan is able to power by and pull away for the win. Matt Hagan's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.010), 330 ft(0.004), 660ft(0.012). MOV: 0.0259 seconds (approximately 12 feet). Johnson will have lane choice over Hagan in the next round.

Cruz Pedregon starts the day with an overall record of 560 - 499 and that is the eighth most rounds among all pro drivers in NHRA history. The No. 8 Funny Car qualifier is 11 - 10 on round 1 at this event. Tim Wilkerson won his first FC race here in 1999. Pedregon is 20 - 18 against Wilkerson in prior events. Pedregon gets the advantage off the line but Wilkerson starts making up ground quickly. Wilkerson is out in front at the 660 foot mark but the car starts making a move to the right. he continues to move to the right and tags the wall just at the finish line DQ'ing his run. Pedregon will have lane choice over Hight in the next round.