CONCORD, N.C. – Brittany Force reset the elapsed time and speed track records in the Top Fuel class during the opening evening of qualifying for the NGK NTK NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Friday at zMAX Dragway.
Force, at the wheel of her John Force Racing dragster, roared to a 3.662-second pass at 333.08 mph to take ownership of both ends of the zMAX Dragway Top Fuel track record as well as the provisional No. 1 spot after one round of qualifying.
“This is four-wide, this is tough. It’s tricky sitting up there at the starting line,” Force said. “David Grubnic, Max Savage and the Flav-R-Pac team, so proud of those boys. My dad (John Force) was standing up there with me (at the starting line) and he always gives me a little chat, that time he left me alone. Thanks to my dad, I know where he stands.”
Defending and three-time Top Fuel champion Steve Torrence qualified second with a 3.683-second pass at 316.97 mph in his Torrence Racing dragster. Leah Pruett followed in third following a 3.718-second run at 324.59 mph.
Other top qualifiers on the opening day of the Four-Wide Nationals included Alexis DeJoria (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Joey Gladstone (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
DeJoria was one of only two Funny Car competitors to complete a fast pass during the opening round of qualifying, with her 3.930-second pass at 301.74 mph giving her the provisional No. 1 spot for the Four-Wide Nationals.
Despite leading the class after one session, DeJoria’s car shut off shortly before the finish line, potentially costing her some valuable speed.
Mike McIntire Jr. was the only other racer to get down the track in Funny Car as he completed a 4.019-second run at 313.35 mph. Dave Richards is currently third after his car shut off early and he coasted to a 6.857-second pass at 90.88 mph.
Anderson continued his hot start to the NHRA Pro Stock season by taking the top spot after one round of qualifying Friday. Wheeling a HendrickCars.com-sponsored Camaro, Anderson’s 6.524-second run at 210.50 mph put him at the top of the board.
Anderson has won two of the three Pro Stock races held so far this season and sits atop the class point standings.
Aaron Stanfield sits second thanks to a 6.533-second run at 210.67 mph. Kyle Koretsky finds himself third following his. 6.535-second pass.
Gladstone put together the best run of his NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle career to claim the early No. 1 position in that class early Friday evening. He fell a touch short of the 200 mph mark at 198.58 mph, but his 6.763-second pass was the best of his career as well as a track record.
Defending and four-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Matt Smith qualified second with a track record speed of 201.10 mph and a 6.778-second elapsed time. Eddie Krawiec qualified third with a 6.828-second run.