NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

11:36 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 65 degrees, relative humidity 42 percent, barometer 29.96 inches, adjusted altitude 1,858 feet, track temperature 92 degrees.Ten different drivers won in the Funny Car class in 2021 and that is tied for the most in the Countdown Era (since 2007) and it is the 2nd most in any single year (11 in 2006). DeJoria is 4 - 1 against Campbell in prior events. DeJoria has 8 national event wins overall (6 in FC, 1 in TAFC in Super Comp), with 1 win in 2021 at Bristol. This is her 9th race at this event: First was 2012. Best starting spot at this event: #3 (2014). This is Campbell's 7th race at this event: First was 2016. Best starting spot at this event: #11 (2019). DeJoria is away first and pulls steadily ahead to the finish line for a decisive win. She makes her best run of the weekend to boot! Campbell clicked it off just before the finish line and then had a parachute deployment failure. The Charger plows into the sand at the end on the track, but doesn't suffer any significant damage.

11:47 a.m. Back to racing. Hagan and Green have each won 1 times against the other in prior events. This will be Hagan's first race with the new Tony Stewart Racing Team. Matt Hagan is a 3-time FC World Champion with 39 national event wins. 3 wins in 2021. Last win: St. Louis. This is his 14th race at this event. He is a 3-time FC World Champion with 39 national event wins. He had 3 wins in 2021. Last win: St. Louis. This is Green's 1st race at this event. This is his 11th race overall. Best starting spot of his career: #6 (Las Vegas 4-Wide, 2021). Starts the season with an overall record of 1 - 8. He competed at 8 races in 2021. Identical RT's and they run close together until near the 660 lights where the Hagan's tires start to come loose. He does a quick pedal slap and holds on for the win. There was a little blower pop, right in the lights. Green makes his best pass of the weekend. Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.863 sec., 330ft-2.240, 660ft-3.181/263.20 mph.Chad Green's incremental times: 60ft-0.907 sec., 330ft-2.290, 660ft-3.269/250.18 mph.

This is the first time Hight and Rupert have faced each other in eliminations. This was the first national event (pro classes) for Robert Hight (2005), The #1 FC qualifier has won this race 12 times (since the first race in 1969) including 4 of the last 5 years. This is Rupert's 2nd race at this event. In the FC class: First was 2021. Qualified #11 last year (Lost in rd. 1 to A. DeJoria). This is his 4th in the FC class and he has competed in Top Alcohol Funny Car and Nostalgia Funny Car classes. Won the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series in 2011, 2012, 2013 Hight was away first and pulled steadily ahead on a clean and straight pass to take the easy win. Rupert's Mustang left hard and then started to drift towards the wall after the 330 lights. He can't hold it off and just tags it right before the finish line. His time is DQ'ed Robert Hight's incremental times: 60ft-0.874 sec., 330ft-2.248, 660ft-3.154/286.68 mph.Jason Rupert's incremental times: 60ft-0.938 sec., 330ft-2.397, 660ft-3.409/254.62 mph.

Force is 65 - 45 against Capps in prior events. The #1 FC qualifier has won this race 12 times (since the first race in 1969) including 4 of the last 5 years. He is making his first nation event as a car owner/driver. This was the first national event (pro classes) for John Force (1977). This is the 111th meeting between Capps and Force and that is the 2nd most between any two drivers in any class. Force has never lost in rd. 1 when qualified #16. (4 - 0). In round one, Capps has a 13-9 advantage. Last time was 2021 at Brainard. They have raced twice at the WinterNationals in round one in the past. Force's weekend goes from bad to worse, as the Camaro shakes the tires loose early and he is done. Capps would have been hard to beat with a great looking pass to the lights. Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.898 sec., 330ft-2.260, 660ft-3.183/281.89 mph.John Force's incremental times: 60ft-1.034 sec., 330ft-4.014, 660ft-7.308/071.09 mph.

Pedregon is 10 - 0 against Haddock in prior events. This was the first national event (pro classes) for Cruz Pedregon (1991). Terry Haddock is making his 135th start. His 10 losses to Cruz are the most for him against any FC opponent. This is Haddock's 18th race at this event: First was 2000. He has competed in both TF & FC at this event. Haddock go a nice starting line advantage and then had the tires shake loose about 60 feet out. Pedregon was strong from start to finish and will still give up lane choice to DeJoria in round two. Cruz Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.891 sec., 330ft-2.274, 660ft-3.205/278.58 mph.Terry Haddock's incremental times: 60ft-0.923 sec., 330ft-2.451, 660ft-4.124/129.03 mph.

Tasca III is 7 - 2 against Arend in prior events. This was Tasca's first national event (pro classes)2008. Tasca has 11 national event wins overall (9 in FC, 2 in TAFC). 3 wins in 2021. Last win: Pomona-2. This is his 12th race at this event. Jeff Arend is making his 226th start and his 1st at this event since 2015. He has 4 National event wins. Last win: Chicago, 2012. This is his 14th race at this event: First was 1996. This is his 249th race overall. Tasca was there for the pickings, as the engine goes silent about 500 feet out. Arend has a starting line advantage, but shook hard early and lifted. Bob Tasca III's incremental times: 60ft-0.864 sec., 330ft-2.246, 660ft-3.229/235.19 mph.Jeff Arend's incremental times: 60ft-0.911 sec., 330ft-2.344, 660ft-3.605/173.07 mph. Hagan will have lane choice in round two.

This is the first time Wilkerson and Jurado have faced each other in eliminations. Tim Wilkerson wins 64% of his 1st round races when starting from the top half of the field. This is Jurado's first race at this event. and his 5th race overall. First race in FC was at Sonoma, 2021. Best starting spot of his career: #10 (Las Vegas-2 & Pomona-2,2021). He starts the event with an overall record of 0 - 4 and has competed in the Hot Rod Heritage series in Nostalgia Funny Car. Dueling smokers! They leave just 0.003 apart and Wilkerson powers ahead initially, but shakes the tires hard before the 330 lights. Jurado drives on by and then has smoke problems of his own, but has the momentum to stay in front for the win. Wilkerson tried to pump the throttle to no avail. Hight will have lane choice next round.

This is the first time Wilkerson and Jurado have faced each other in eliminations. Tim Wilkerson wins 64% of his 1st round races when starting from the top half of the field. This is Jurado's first race at this event. and his 5th race overall. First race in FC was at Sonoma, 2021. Best starting spot of his career: #10 (Las Vegas-2 & Pomona-2,2021). He starts the event with an overall record of 0 - 4 and has competed in the Hot Rod Heritage series in Nostalgia Funny Car. Dueling smokers! They leave just 0.003 apart and Wilkerson powers ahead initially, but shakes the tires hard before the 330 lights. Jurado drives on by and then has smoke problems of his own, but has the momentum to stay in front for the win. Wilkerson tried to pump the throttle to no avail. Hight will have lane choice next round.