Two-time Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous world champion Tommy Franklin showcased his dominance on Friday night, securing the first No. 1 qualifier award of the season at the PDRA ProFabrication DragWars held at GALOT Motorsports Park. Piloting his Musi-powered "Jungle Rat" '69 Camaro, Franklin blazed through the track, clocking a stunning 3.644-second pass at 205.63 MPH, securing his spot atop the leaderboard as he aims for his third consecutive season title.

Other professional leaders included Jason Harris (Pro Boost) and provisionally Elijah Morton (Extreme Pro Stock). Pro Stock will finalize their qualifying on Saturday morning when a crash by Pro Street No. 1 qualifier Nick Agostino delayed qualifying late into the night. 
Agostino miraculously escaped unscathed after his twin-turbocharged '69 Camaro collided with both walls. While Agostino fortunately suffered no injuries, he did experience some soreness. The incident occurred mere minutes before the 11 p.m. noise curfew, prompting series officials to finalize the fields in most classes. 

The Pro Nitrous division has featured a back-and-forth battle between Franklin and Jim Halsey. This time, it was Franklin's turn. 

"All we've got to do is worry about our lane and turn on win lights," Franklin said. "But [Halsey] is a tough team, so they're going to be good. We know they're going to be there. But some way between here and Virginia, we've got to win one more round than them. We came in here with the idea that to go No. 1 would be good, but we didn't want to cost a bunch of parts to do it. We're a little bit conservative but wanted to make good laps when we did."

Harris emerged as the top qualifier in the Pro Boost category. He made solid passes in the first two qualifying sessions, then went for it in the final session. 
 
“Truthfully, it's a killer game out here,” said Harris, who thanked partners like Hoosier Racing Tires, M&M Transmissions, and Pro Line Racing. “You gotta do what you gotta do to win, and I knew that we didn't really have anything to lose. We were already in the field. We weren't gonna get bumped out. It was either go or blow for it and just try to get No. 1. Me and Brandon [Stroud, tuner] talked about it. We put in there what we thought we could run and it ran a little bit quicker than what we thought. We were hoping for a low .62 to high .61. Everything's been killer all week, all year, and all weekend right now. Let's hope I can keep it up for tomorrow.”

Morton jumped straight to the top of the qualifying sheet in the first session of Extreme Pro Stock when he recorded a 4.068 at 176.93 in his Allen-powered Morton Brothers Motorsports ’19 Mustang. He followed that up with a 4.08 in the second session. With a season-high 18 cars on the property, the class will get to run the final session on Saturday morning to solidify the 16-car field. 

Daryl Stewart claimed the No. 1 spot in the M&M Transmission Pro 632 class. Meshal Al-Saber dominated the Drag 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle category, securing the top qualifying position. Finally, Derek Mota showcased his skills in the Afco Racing Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports, topping the class as the provisional No. 1 qualifier. Elijah Morton currently holds the provisional No. 1 spot in Extreme Pro Stock, pending the final session.

The sportsman classes completed all three scheduled qualifying sessions, resulting in several remarkable performances. Bryan LaFlam emerged as the top qualifier in the MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines. Frank Falter IV showcased his talents in the Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster class, securing the No. 1 qualifier award. Tim Lawrence reigned supreme in the MagnaFuel Top Sportsman presented by Corbin's RV category. Finally, Brian Maine left his mark in the Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster competition, earning the No. 1 qualifier title.

Additionally, in the Coolshirt Systems Pro Jr. Dragster presented by PRP, Spencer McGee put on an impressive display, securing the provisional No. 1 spot with a time of 7.900, meeting the 7.90 index requirements. The Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster presented by PRP class, which determined positions based on reaction times, saw McKenna Halas deliver a perfect .000 light, positioning her as the current No. 1 qualifier leading into Saturday's final session.