Competition Eliminator racer Frank Aragona paced first day qualifying at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. Other No. 1 qualifiers included David Barton (Super Stock) and George Wright (Stock).

Aragona put plenty of distance between himself and No. 2 qualifier Bruno Massel. His '32 Bantam ran -.751 under the J/Altered Automatic index with a 7.379. Massel was a distant second with a -.646, 7.184 under the CC/Altered Turbocharged index. Brian Browell's D/Dragster was third with a -.624, 7.136 performance.

Barton, running a Factory Stock Showdown/D 2014 Mustang, was the top runner in three Super Stock qualifying sessions with a -1.116, 8.784 performance. Jeff Eastburn's GT/JA Cobalt was solidly in second with a -1.029, 9.771. Robbie Brewer's GT/NA Cutlass was third.

Wright was the top Stocker, as he drove his Factory Stock/G Mustang to a -1.106, 10.244 package. Don Belles (FS/B), Rachelle Thibert (K/Stock Automatic), Jim Marshall (H/SA), and Ken Whitcher (H/SA) rounded out the top five.

Glenn Butcher ran a 6.348, 216.55 to set the pace in Top Sportsman, while Al Peavler's Chevy-powered rail was the quickest in Top Dragster with a 6.131 elapsed time at 226.47.