Don Schumacher Racing’s Leah Pritchett said the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, near Denver, “is a huge weekend for us. You might as well put it up there with the U.S. Nationals.”

So to start the weekend of her sponsor’s race in the Top Fuel class’ catbird seat, “this vibe is like none other,” she said after roaring from seventh place to first Friday night with a 3.806-second elapsed time at 317.19 mph on the 1,000-foot Morrison, Colo., course.

She had challenged early leader Clay Millican with a 3.970-second run at 310.34 mph for the No. 2 position but had fallen down the list by the time she pulled to the starting line for the final pro run of the day.

Pritchett said her dragster dropped a cylinder in her first chance Friday, but she said the Todd Okuhara- and Joe Barlam-led crew “kept picking at it. I felt real confident. It goes back to strategy. We were able to run late at night. They made last-minute changes, and we went for it. That’s what this team is about. That’s what I love about Todd and Joe. When it’s time, they can put it down and they’re not afraid. That’s the vibe of our team.

“It’s these small moments that keep us going, and we live off of them,” she said. Then referring to her car, she said, “Overall, that angry beast, she stuck. That run felt amazing. Getting to the finish line, it was hunting for some more juice, for sure. There’s more to be had for tomorrow night, and I’m excited for that.”

Pritchett said she feels like she’s breaking out of a slump and said, “The crew doesn’t let that get to them. And I’m not letting it get to me. I’m working away at it just like they are. I feel good.”

Millican slipped to third place in the provisional order, as Steve Torrence slid in ahead of him by one-thousandth of a second in the night session. Mike Salinas is fourth overnight and Scott Palmer fifth.

Terry McMillen, who experienced an engine explosion, is 15th and last in the lineup with two qualifying opportunities Saturday.