December 31, 2007

Happy New year

"Photo highlights 2007"

SpeedZone Magazine.com

Bill Jeffery photography

2007 photo pages:

Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock (IHRA and NHRA), Top Alcohol, Pro Mod, Sportsman, People and specialty page.

Funny Car

(captions are up)

Edmonton

Local (Edmonton based) Funny Car competitor Randy Bykowsky made the field at Edmonton with a mid 5 second et. The team has all the parts just need more laps and a bit more experience to become a low five second performer

Paul Lee made his first and probable last trek to Edmonton in 07. He was out of the ride after the next race.

Bob Gilbertson had high expectations for the funny car in the IHRA but finished in 3rd place in the standing. Jason Deuchene has a lot of Force team info and running gear in his car. Unfortunately mechanical woes kept this Edmonton car from making the field at Edmonton.

 

Seattle

The Toyota driven by Scott Kalitta certainly is not the same look as the Dodge's, Chevy's or Fords. Tim Wilkerson had a solid season but being a single car team makes it awfully tough.

Cruz Pedregon did not have the season his team-mate and brother did. Stability in the crew chief departmant should help. Scelzi's earlier announced hiatus is put on hold as he will run the entire 2008 season.

Jim Dunn (Tony Bartone driver) will have new sponsorship for the 2008 season, and likely a new driver. Kenny Bernstein is not in the seat in 2008 either as Tommy Johnson Jr. will take over the reigns.

One of the most talked about crashes in 2008 was the Ashley Force guard rail t-bone, then consequent spin in the center of the track.

 

Las Vegas

Scelzi's chance for a title went away in round one at Vegas. Bob Gilbertson failed to qualifying for the tough final two races of 2007. He will have Nick Boninfante back in his crew chief corner in 2008

Three of the four Force cars (top and bottom) were hard to tell apart for the final two races in 2007 Mike Neff and Phil Burkart filled in for the final two events, with Neff becoming the fourth team member for 2008. Hight was the odd ball with an unpainted car for the last two events.

Ashley came ooh soo close, and had the most successful outing for a female Funny Car driver.

Cruz Pedregon took out one of the four contenders (Scelzi) in round one at Vegas, and went to the semi finals before losing to team mate and brother Tony.

Jerry Toliver made the field at Vegas and won the battle of the energy drinks.

Pomona

Mike Neff made his second consecutive field but lost again in round one. Don Schumacher's son in law James Day tried to make the very tough field at Pomona. He ran a 5.19 best. Will he be a new driver for the DSR stable?

Ashley Force had a career weekend at Vegas (R/U) and at Pomona she went to round two.

Cruzer failed to make the field at Pomona, so did Scott Kalitta.

Cruz. Gary Densham had a tough year as well, but had a number of strong qualifying efforts.

Bartone and Wilkerson

Bob Bode made a rare appearance and ran a 4.88 when a 4.84 was needed. Gilbertson dnq'ed as well.

Burkart went to the final against the guy on his right Robert Hight

Surprising champ Tony Pedregon led the points for three races all year. The ones that counted. Scelzi finished third in 07

Funny Car was tougher than Bernstein imagined. Jack Beckman finished fifth in the standings

Terry Haddock went to a Chevy body for Pomona but he still did not make the field. Bob Bode

Densham and Scelzi

Bernstein. Mike Ahsley had a solid first full year in the class. Brian Corradi is one of the young best tuners in the class.

Kalitta and T. Ped.

Tommy Johnson will have an entire new look with Bernstein racing in 2008. What will Robert's car look like in 2008. Hopefully it is not green.

Burkart and Densham

Bode and T. Ped.

Tony Bartone. Ashley Force. When will the win happen for her in 2008

Beckman and Bartone.

Wilkerson and Scelzi.

Bernstein's last lap in the flopper. Ron Capps has new vinyl for 2008. NAPA is the main sponsor.

We end with Robert Hight, because in a fair drag racing world, he would have been the champion in 2007

 

 

Photo pages: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock (IHRA and NHRA), Top Alcohol, Pro Mod, Sportsman, People and specialty page.

 

 

 

2006 Speedzone Photo Highlights

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Page three

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