NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

11:26 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 62 degrees, relative humidity 30 percent, barometer 29.81 inches, adjusted altitude 2,851 feet, track temperature 88 degrees. Alexander is 3 - 0 against Richards in prior events. Blake Alexander is in 7th place despite missing 2 races this year. Alexander gets the holeshot, moved around a little late in the run, but stayed on the throttle and took the stripe for the win. Richards went down the groove with his quickest pass of the weekend but came up a little short.

This is the 11th time in his 15 races this year that Paul Lee has been in the top half of the field. His 3.845 in qualifying was a career best. Steven Densham is making his 17th start. This is the first time Lee and Densham have faced each other in eliminations. A coin flip off of the line, lee starts pulling away early. Densham was falling behind, gets about 600 feet out and strikes the tires ending his day.

Jack Beckman is 238 – 96 (71.2%) in Rd. 1 in his career. Jeff Diehl is making his 97th start. Beckman is 5 - 0 against Diehl in prior events. Beckman gets out of the gate first and extends his lead all the way through the run. Diehl was falling back, then looks like he pushed a head gasket out about 600 feet out. Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.864 sec., 330ft-2.218, 660ft-3.102/289.14 mph.

This is the first time Gibbons and Prock have faced each other in eliminations. Prock gets a great light and extends his lead all the way through the run. Gibbons drifted a little to the left, then back to the right, then was off of the throttle just a little early.

Bob Tasca is 5 – 4 in the Countdown this year. Jason Rupert’s 3.953 was his best qualifying run ever. Tasca is 2 - 0 against Rupert in prior events. Rupert did all he could do on this run. He gets the advantage off of the line, then goes down with a career best pass but came up a little short. Rupert was in front for about 600 feet, then Tasca was able to power by and pull away for the win. Bob Tasca's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.016), 330 ft(-0.010), 660ft(0.004). MOV: 0.0245 seconds (approximately 12 feet). Alexander will have lane choice over Tasca in the next round.

Hagan is 5 - 1 against Wilkerson in prior events. Matt Hagan wins 81% of his Rd. 1 races when he has lane choice. Daniel Wilkerson moved up to 6th place after Dallas, his highest spot of the year. Wilkerson gets out of the gate first and extends his lead all the way through the run with his quickest pass of the weekend. Hagan makes a clean pass but fell behind all the way through the run. Daniel Wilkerson's incremental margins: 60ft(0.005), 330 ft(0.020), 660ft(0.028). MOV: 0.0296 seconds (approximately 14 feet). Wilkerson will have lane choice over Lee in the next round.

The last year that Ron Capps didn't win a race was 2008. He has averaged 3.4 wins per year since 2008. Alexis DeJoria in 2 – 8 in Rd. 1 in her last 10 races. Capps is 26 - 5 against DeJoria in prior events. A coin flip off of the line, Capps starts pulling away at the 330 foot mark. DeJoria gets about 600 feet out, strikes the tires, then gives up on the run. Capps looked like he may have lost a cylinder or two near the end of the run but takes the stripe for the win. Ron Capps' incremental margins: 60ft(0.003), 330 ft(0.013), 660ft(0.047). MOV: 0.2946 seconds (approximately 96 feet). Beckman will have lane choice over Capps in the next round.

J.R. Todd is 1 – 4 in the Countdown this year. Pedregon beat Todd in Rd. 1 in Dallas. Todd is 19 - 6 against Pedregon in prior events. Todd gets the holeshot but gets about 200 feet out and has traction problems. He pedals but can't get traction and has to give up on the run. Pedregon goes down the groove with a clean, straight pass to take the win. Cruz Pedregon's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.035), 330 ft(0.100), 660ft(0.576). MOV: 1.3922 seconds (more than 100 feet). Prock will have lane choice over Pedregon in the next round.