NHRA’s fuel Funny Car division was certainly on a record pace during the Protect the Harvest Northwest Nationals near Seattle before some untimely rain storms ended the event prematurely.

After enduring multiple rain delays NHRA officials announced the Funny Car final round between Del Worsham and Ron Capps will be completed during the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, MN.

(Del Worsham clobbered the NHRA national ET record at Seattle)

Worsham, the defending NHRA Funny Car world champion and new national elapsed time record holder, raced passed Tim Gibbons, Robert Hight and Matt Hagan to reach the finals. Capps, a four-time winner this season, faced Brandon Welch, Tommy Johnson Jr. and Jeff Diehl en route to his eighth final round of the season.

Del Worsham, driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, continued his qualifying hot streak breaking the national elapsed time record by three hundredths – he now holds the two quickest runs in NHRA Funny Car history.

Worsham was the provisional number one qualifier coming into the second day of Northwest Nationals qualifying. However, weather gave the Funny Car ideal conditions leading to record-breaking passes. Worsham was a part of the last pair of Funny Cars to see the racetrack, and his 3.886 second pass from Friday had been bumped to fifth. Courtney Force had just ran two pairs before and broke the national record with a 3.855 second pass.

Worsham, Jon Oberhofer, Nicky Boninfante and the DHL team were not to be outdone. Worsham ran a blistering 3.841 second pass outrunning the previous national record by over two hundredths. The previous record was a 3.862 second pass ran by Matt Hagan earlier this season in Topeka.

However, the DHL team saved the best for last. After watching Ron Capps nearly match their pace a pair prior, the DHL leaders Boninfante and Oberhofer made adjustments to the DHL Toyota Camry and it stuck. Worsham scorched the Pacific Raceways surface, reaching the 1,000 ft line in 3.832 seconds at over 330MPH.

(Ron Capps will appear in his 8th final round of the season)

Funny Car eliminations was also highlighted by three different 3.8 secs side-by-side pairings – the first ever in NHRA FC racing. In round two Del Worsham beat Robert Hight (3.881 secs to 3.894 secs) and the in round three Del defeated Matt Hagan 3.864 secs to 3.887 secs while Ron Capps defeated Tommy Johnson Jr., 3.881 secs to 3.894 secs.

(A great effort by Jeff Diehl who had a career best 4.021 secs and two rounds wins at Seattle!)

Courtney to Sidelines after Incident

Courtney Force produced a harrowing event moment but escaped serious injury after a ncident in the first round of eliminations. Force’s Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car made contact with the left guard wall.

Force exited the vehicle on her own power and was checked by NHRA emergency services personnel before heading to Valley Medical Center in Renton, Wash., where she was evaluated for head, neck, knee, elbow and shoulder injuries.

“I am beat up pretty good. My arm, my shoulder, and my right knee are banged up. I am really thankful that the second I got out of the race car there was already a Safety Safari person right there to help me get down. I couldn’t put any weight on my right knee. I want to say thanks to everyone that was at the track who helped me. I got right to the ER and the doctor checked me out. I am extremely relieved nothing is broken,” said Force.

(Courtney Force crashed in round #1 at Seattle)

Doctors released Force from the hospital later that evening. X-rays of her right knee, left elbow and left shoulder along with a CT scan of her head and cervical spine were negative. The tendon on the knee was intact but there was a contusion from contact with the steering wheel. Force will see a sports orthopedist in Lake Tahoe, Nev., where the family has a summer home for continued evaluation and to make sure there is not a partial tendon tear in the knee.

“I have to thank everyone at Simpson Racing and their Stilo helmet for protecting me. To hit a concrete guard wall and move it two feet and not break any bones is a testament to their equipment and NHRA safety requirements,” said Force.

“I am going to see a physical therapist in Tahoe. Thankfully we have a weekend off. My goal is to get healed up as soon as possible. I want to say sorry to my team to have to witness that. We were planning on making a lot of changes to my car after this race and my dad joked that I gave them a head start,” explained Force. “I definitely feel bad we ruined the body and the chassis. Luckily we have some time and can get the car fixed up and my own body fixed up. I am looking forward to getting back as fast as I can. I want to thank all the fans for all their support.”

Force, the No. 3 qualifier, was racing Jeff Diehl in the first round when her Traxxas Funny Car smoked the tires. Force attempted to pedal her 10,000 hp race car before it made hard contact with the guard wall.

“I am really bummed out about the run. I am disappointed because I really wanted that win. I pedaled the car repeatedly hoping to just run him down but I got a little too aggressive. I think I hit the wall right where Ashley crashed a few years ago. I definitely have a love/hate relationship with this track since I have won here twice and have had two incidents but happy to be safe,” joked Force.

Force will focus on her rehabilitation with the goal being to race at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minnesota in two weeks.

(John Hale had his career best run (and first ‘3″) – 3.953 secs- racing for Jim Dunn at the event)

(Season class newcomer Tim Gibbons entered his Chevy Monte Carlo at the event)

Posted with files by Bruce Biegler, NHRA Communications, Cody Poor and Elon Werner
Photos by Gerry Frechette