Saturday’s second round of qualifying for the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip in Las Vegas will have a lot to live up to after Friday’s first round of qualifying.
And we’ve got the videos below to prove it!
Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) had great runs as the fourth of the 24-race NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series kicked off.
Saturday will be the final round of qualifying, followed by Sunday’s final eliminations.
Recapping Friday’s events:
TOP FUEL: Torrence was the fastest in both qualifying sessions, including recording a field-best of 3.779 seconds at 310.91 mph.
“To go out and run low of each session was huge for us,” Torrence said. “We were back in the lanes and saw a couple of 3.79s roll up on the scoreboards, and we figured someone could go .77, .78. The run really surprised me; it left really good, but at about 900 feet, it knocked the panels out of the blower. It surprised me it still went that quick out of power.”
Torrence has been knocking on victory’s door, reaching the semifinals in each of the first three races of the 2014 season.
Here’s Toreence’s best run from Friday:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_3QPCU2dKg&w=560&h=315]
FUNNY CAR
Matt Hagan is tired of being No. 2 at Las Vegas. He’s twice been a runner-up there and on Friday made it clear he wants No. 1 on Sunday, with a best run of 4.063 seconds at 320.58 mph against Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps in both of Friday’s qualifying runs.
“I always try to put the extra effort in during qualifying but especially when we’re running a teammate,” Hagan said. “It is bragging rights when you go out and lay one on your teammate. That always puts a smile on my face.”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuickJ518Z8&w=560&h=315]
PRO STOCK
Jeg Coughlin Jr. looked as if he’s ready to defend last year’s season championship, running a best-of-field 6.625 seconds at 208.78 mph.
Coughlin is seeking a sixth career win at Las Vegas, which would put him one behind Greg Anderson’s record of seven. Anderson is still sidelined, recovering from offseason surgery.
“We’d like to carry this over into Saturday and the K&N Horsepower Challenge,” Coughlin said. “We’re putting our game face on now. There is $50,000 going to the winner, and one of the fans will win a Toyota Tacoma. It’s very fitting for the high-stakes race to take place here at The Strip.”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UU-rLujbvo&w=560&h=315]
Here’s Friday’s results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 15th annual SummitRacing.com NHRANationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
Top Fuel — 1. Steve Torrence, 3.779 seconds, 322.27 mph; 2. Antron Brown, 3.797, 322.96; 3. Doug Kalitta, 3.797, 319.75; 4. Richie Crampton, 3.798, 319.98; 5. Tony Schumacher, 3.816, 322.96; 6. Bob Vandergriff, 3.831, 319.52; 7. Brittany Force, 3.834, 311.34; 8. Spencer Massey, 3.837, 320.89; 9. Khalid alBalooshi, 3.847, 312.57; 10. Shawn Langdon, 3.848, 316.90; 11. Clay Millican, 3.874, 295.59; 12. Terry McMillen, 3.936, 309.77.
Not Qualified: 13. Troy Buff, 4.028, 237.88; 14. Steven Chrisman, 4.327, 206.64; 15. David Grubnic, 5.102, 134.70; 16. Mike Strasburg, 5.594, 115.82; 17. Steve Faria, 5.820, 112.62.
Funny Car — 1. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.063, 317.05; 2. Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 4.069, 311.99; 3. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.075, 314.61; 4. Chad Head, Camry, 4.076, 308.07; 5. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.084, 313.66; 6. Courtney Force, Mustang, 4.093, 315.19; 7. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.102, 308.64; 8. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.108, 310.63; 9. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.115, 310.13; 10. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.116, 305.98; 11. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.122, 293.03; 12. Paul Lee, Charger, 4.124, 306.81.
Not Qualified: 13. Bob Tasca III, 4.148, 307.30; 14. Tony Pedregon, 4.163, 295.92; 15. John Force, 4.172, 301.07; 16. Jon Capps, 4.223, 278.23; 17. Jeff Diehl, 4.297, 293.98; 18. Gary Densham, 4.444, 224.28; 19. Jeff Arend, 4.783, 169.93.
Pro Stock — 1. Jeg Coughlin, Dodge Dart, 6.625, 209.17; 2. Chris McGaha, Chevy Camaro, 6.625, 208.46; 3. Erica Enders-Stevens, Camaro, 6.627, 209.04; 4. Dave Connolly, Camaro, 6.627, 208.26; 5. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.630, 208.94; 6. Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.632, 208.94; 7. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.632, 209.17; 8. Jimmy Alund, Camaro, 6.639, 208.49; 9. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.647, 207.72; 10. V. Gaines, Dodge Avenger, 6.657, 209.07; 11. Steve Kent, Camaro, 6.657, 207.56; 12. Deric Kramer, Avenger, 6.686, 207.59.
Not Qualified: 13. Matt Hartford, 6.686, 207.34; 14. Mark Wolfe, 6.740, 205.76; 15. Larry Morgan, 6.765, 206.95; 16. Rodger Brogdon, 6.813, 206.67.
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