Chicago Funny Car results: E1
Jeff Arend earned his first round win since the final race of the 2016 season. He did so in an absolutely wild round against Shawn Langdon as the driver of the Global Electronic Technology Funny Car drove through an explosion. Arend, driving the Jim Head Funny Car, will face off with Jack Beckman in the second round. That's one of four Don Schumacher Racing Funny Cars that advanced to the next round -- the start of a very good race day in Schumacher's hometown.
Tim Wilkerson also endured an eventful round. He was defeated by Cruz Pedregon and sent his Levi, Ray and Shoup Mustang into the wall right at the finish line, resulting in a disqualification. Pedregon will take on No. 1 qualifier Robert Hight, who squeaked by No. 16 qualifier Jim Campbell as the two had nearly identical elapsed times.
Second-round pairings (lane choice first): Robert Hight vs. Cruz Pedregon; Jack Beckman vs. Jeff Arend; Tommy Johnson Jr. vs. Matt Hagan; Ron Capps vs. John Force