The popular Friday night qualifying session at Pacific Raceways will return with added incentive this year as the Deecell After Dark Low Qualifier bonus is introduced at the NHRA Northwest Nationals, officials announced Tuesday.
The July 18 session will feature cash bonuses for the quickest runs under the lights in all four professional categories of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Top Fuel and Funny Car low qualifiers will each earn $4,000, while the Pro Stock leader will collect $2,500 and the Pro Stock Motorcycle leader $1,500.
Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will begin the session at 8:15 p.m. PT, with Top Fuel and Funny Car following at 9:15 p.m. The four Deecell After Dark Low Qualifiers will also participate in an autograph session Saturday morning at the Deecell display.
“Partnering with NHRA was a no-brainer for us,” said Andrew Moeck, founder of Deecell. “We wanted to give back to the racing community, and this award is one way we’re doing it. There’s nothing like watching the professional race teams under the lights in Seattle — it deserves recognition.”
Moeck noted Deecell’s products were developed to solve real-world challenges in racing and transportation, making the Friday night bonus an appropriate connection to racers and fans.
The Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals runs July 18–20 and includes three days of competition. Along with the Friday night session, fans will see three nitro qualifying rounds Saturday and eliminations Sunday.
FOX will air Sunday’s eliminations at 4:30 p.m. ET. Last year’s winners at Pacific Raceways were Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Chase Van Sant (Pro Stock Motorcycle), with No. 1 qualifiers including Torrence, Prock, Erica Enders and Gaige Herrera.
NHRA Vice President and Chief Development Officer Brad Gerber said the bonus adds to an already unique event. “Last year’s inaugural nighttime qualifying session was electric and now, with extra money on the line for the quickest run under the lights, we look forward to building on that energy,” Gerber said. “Deecell’s continued support of NHRA and our racers is very exciting to see and there’s no doubt Pacific Raceways is going to be the place to be on Friday and all weekend.”
