Uber might have taken the market share of the hired transportation market on the street, but the taxi is the king on the strip. Or at least in first day qualifying at the NHRA Winternationals, it is.

McNeal Freeman drove his 262-inch, V-6 powered 1987 Caprice to a 14.246 elapsed time, -1.254 under the V/Stock Automatic standard. The taxi was in a league of its own, outdistancing No. 2 Joe Sorensen, whose Oregon-based 1969 Camaro was 11.626, -1.074. Evan Kowalski was third with his late-model Camaro, putting down a 9.950, -1.000 under the Factory Stock/E index.

Over in Super Stock, Rodger Comstock set the pace in his Factory Super Stock/C Cobra Jet, charging to an 8.646 elapsed time, -1.004 under the standard. He was able to edge out veteran Justin Lamb, who ran -.996 under the Factory Super Stock/B index. Larry McLanahan was third, also in FSS/B at -0.980.

Competition Eliminator only had one session on Thursday, and it was Andrew Moeck's AA/Altered Methanol late model GTO stopping the clocks at 6.328 seconds, -.708 under.

John Richardson set the pace in Top Dragster with a 6.105, 217.70, while Mike Proctor was tops amongst the Top Sportsman entries with a 6.347, 218.62.

Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series qualifying and eliminations resume on Friday at 11 PM, PST.