David Barton was the leader of the pack after two sessions as he cranked out an 8.101 elapsed time at 169.91 miles per hour with his COPO Camaro. A very close second was the Michigan-based Mustang of Chris Holbrook,  stopping the timers at 8.109 seconds at 167.97.

Two of the Factory Stock Showdown's titans lead qualifying for the sportsman factory hot rods after two sessions during first-day qualifying at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. 

Stephen Bell (8.148), Peter Gasko Jr, (8.167),  Pro Stock superstar Erica Enders (8.170),  Geoffrey Turk (8.204) and Todd Patterson (8.220) were in the field with one session remaining.   

Chuck Watson stands on the bubble with an 8.238.

Much of Thursday's Lucas Oil Sportsman Super Stock and Stock action was comprised of class eliminations. Super Stock racer Rick Brown, (GT/QA, 10.509, -1.241) and Stock racer Kevin Skinner  (FS/XX, 8.248, -1.652) ended up top qualifiers. First round is scheduled for Friday morning. 

Anthony Bertozzi made the most of his lone Comp Eliminator session qualifying No. 1 by running -.803 under the F/Super Modified Automatic index with an 8.457 elapsed time. 

Lester Johnson, of Cynthiana, Ky., jumped to the front of Top Sportsman qualifying with a 6.012, 232.91 behind the wheel of his '55 Chevy.