The NHRA's Southwest Division 4 kicked off its season at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, La., under chamber of commerce weather for the weekend, and with car counts and performances equally impressive.

Brad Brewer annihilated the B/Altered index to lead first-day qualifying with a 6.898, at -.762 under. He was nearly a tenth quicker than No. 2 Rick Brown, whose truck was -.640 under the B/Truck Automatic standard. Sportsman veteran Jeff Taylor holds down the third spot with a 6.972, -.638 under the index. Currently, there are 26 entries on the qualifying list.

The Top Alcohol divisions are in competition this weekend, and both divisions completed qualifying on Friday. Julie Nataas drove to the top spot behind the wheel of the Randy Meyer Racing dragster with a 5.231 elapsed time at 281.11 miles per hour. Kansas-based Aaron Cooper, the early leader, stepped up with a 5.251 but dropped to second  Cody Krohn was third with a 5.320, 269.15. 

Kyle Smith led the Funny Car portion of the Top Alcohol contingent. His 5.508 edged out Bob McCosh.

Homestate favorite Brett Candies leads the 44-car Super Stock field with a .976 under performance against the FSS/GT index with a 9.274. Right on his heels was Pete Peery, whose FGT/E was -.945 under the index with a 9.055. Stan Holt was third GT/K with a 9.811, -.939.

Robert Vogel's 1981 Malibu was at the head of the class in Stock Eliminator as he ran an 11.576, -1.074 under the K/Stock Automatic index. Sheilamae Holt's stick-shift 1966 Chevy II was second with a -1.034 under the E/Stock index. Donnie Hough completed the Chevrolet logjam as he went 11.200, -.950 under the H/Stock Automatic standard. There are 65 Stock entries on the sheet after Day One.

Holden Laris ran a 6.115 elapsed time to set the standard for Top Dragster, just .003 ahead of Robert May. Ross Laris is third with a 6.123.

Darren Boesch leads the Top Sportsman qualifying with a 6.163. Chris Arnold and Cole Prejean round out the top three.