John Force emerged as the dominant driver in Funny Car qualifying at the Flav-R-Pac NHRA Northwest Nationals, claiming the No. 1 spot for the first time this season. The Funny Car legend stole the show at Pacific Raceways with a blistering run of 3.915 at 327.35 in his 11,000-horsepower PEAK Antifreeze & Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS.

Force's impressive performance marked his 166th career No. 1 qualifier, further solidifying his status as a 16-time world champion. The racing veteran expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming race.

"We have a race to win tomorrow, our cars are good, some are a little bit off, some are hot," Force said. "I didn't think we'd be that fast. But like Danny [Hood, crew chief] said, 'Hang on.' So when he does that, I know he's pushing it. So I'm excited and I love Seattle."

Fellow competitors also made their mark in their respective categories, with Mike Salinas topping the Top Fuel leaderboard and Gaige Herrera leading the Pro Stock Motorcycle field.

Salinas showcased his prowess with a sensational Saturday performance, securing his second No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 13th of his career. Piloting his 11,000-horsepower Valley Services/Scrappers Racing dragster, he blazed across the track in 3.743 seconds at 329.02 mph. 

Salinas expressed satisfaction with his team's meticulous testing efforts.

"We tested a lot, we just didn't share it with anybody," Salinas said. "We just fell on our face and tried all kinds of different things. All the stuff we did learn, we're just applying it now, and the car seems to be responding exactly the way we want it to."

Meanwhile, Herrera continued his domination in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category. 

Herrera, the current points leader, earned his sixth No. 1 qualifier of the 2023 season. His Friday run of 6.767 seconds at 198.09 mph proved insurmountable for his rivals. Teammate Eddie Krawiec secured the second position with a time of 6.776 seconds at 198.82 mph, as A. Smith sealed third place with a run of 6.787 seconds at 200.29 mph. 

Notably, Herrera's impressive performance also marked the first time a Pro Stock Motorcycle exceeded 200 mph at the Seattle track.

The Flav-R-Pac NHRA Northwest Nationals will kick off at 10:30 a.m. PT at the scenic Pacific Raceways, promising a thrilling showcase of speed, skill, and determination.