Top Fuel driver Austin Prock emerged as the provisional No. 1 qualifier at the 35th annual Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals with a run of 3.704 seconds at 331.36 mph. 

Joining him atop their respective Camping World Drag Racing Series divisions were Alexis DeJoria (Funny Car) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle)

Currently fifth in points, Prock expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance.

“I haven’t been that quick in a while,” Prock said. “I love working with this team and I have not had much success on the Western Swing in my career. I was very proud of what we did tonight. We dropped a cylinder on the first run and I was pretty mad. But I knew we were going to go up there and make a good run, and it rebounded nicely. 

“The conditions are going to be totally different tomorrow, but you can’t take anything bad out of going No. 1. We’ll just roll into tomorrow and have a little bit more confidence than we had today.” 

Points leader Steve Torrence, who won last weekend in Seattle, is currently second after his run of 3.706 at 329.67 and Antron Brown is third with his run of 3.721 at 329.75.

Meanwhile, DeJoria piloted her Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra in the Funny Car category to a strong run of 3.942 seconds at 326.56 mph, setting her on track for her first No. 1 qualifier in 2023. 

“Consistent runs are always good," DeJoria said. "We were hoping to run a bit faster tonight, but we still made it down the track and I'm happy about that as well. Our team is just excellent. They've given me a great car this season and we've had the best start to a season yet. We're just missing that win.

"All the stuff we learned through the trials and tribulations from last year has really paid off. We've come so close (to a race win) so many times. On a good day when everything lines up, we're going to get that win. We're so close - right on the cusp of it."

Capps, the back-to-back world champ, is currently second with a run of 3.942 and points leader Matt Hagan is right behind in third after his pass of 3.951 at 333.49 during the opening session.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, point leader Herrera continued showcasing his dominance, grabbing the provisional No. 1 qualifier spot by clocking a time of 6.728 seconds at 199.94 mph. This performance puts Herrera, who has a chance to sweep the Western Swing, on track for his impressive seventh No. 1 qualifier of the season. 

Along with competing in the Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout on Saturday, Herrera has a chance to make history on Sunday and he is excited to be part of it.

“We made some changes on the second pass and were able to go to the top," Herrera said. "I would say I enjoy all this more. Being busy and running around, I like it, and hopefully I'm able to do well in the Callout. For me, it takes me back to where I came from when it comes to racing. It was always non-stop and I'm really looking forward to it. It's going to be exciting. I never expected to have a chance (to sweep the Western Swing). I just have to mentally prepare myself and do my job."

Defending world champ M. Smith is currently second after going 6.729 at 200.23, making the only 200-mph run of Friday. A. Smith is third thanks to her run of 6.818 at 199.64 in the opening session.

Qualifying will continue on Saturday at Sonoma Raceway, with the first round of the Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout set to commence at 12:30 p.m. PT.

Friday's results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 35th annual Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway, 12th of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Austin Prock, 3.704 seconds, 331.36 mph; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.706, 329.67; 3. Antron Brown, 3.721, 329.75; 4. Josh Hart, 3.737, 327.74; 5. Shawn Langdon, 3.740, 330.55; 6. Clay Millican, 3.745, 325.77; 7. Brittany Force, 3.771, 318.54; 8. Justin Ashley, 3.779, 326.63; 9. Leah Pruett, 3.781, 321.96; 10. Mike Salinas, 4.150, 202.15; 11. Doug Kalitta, 4.219, 205.16; 12. Tony Schumacher, 4.799, 150.18; 13. Ron August, 8.658, 72.11.

Funny Car -- 1. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Supra, 3.942, 326.56; 2. Ron Capps, Supra, 3.942, no speed; 3. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.951, 333.49; 4. J.R. Todd, Supra, 3.966, 324.90; 5. Blake Alexander, Ford Mustang, 3.967, 319.29; 6. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.973, 322.27; 7. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.974, 319.60; 8. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.983, 317.57; 9. Alex Laughlin, Charger, 4.141, 287.35; 10. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.648, 161.07; 11. Robert Hight, Camaro, 4.864, 90.66; 12. Tim Gibbons, Charger, 5.114, 148.28; 13. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 5.290, 48.79; 14. Jason Rupert, Mustang, 5.428, 131.57; 15. Paul Lee, Charger, 6.784, 92.13.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.728, 199.94; 2. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.729, 200.23; 3. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.818, 199.64; 4. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 6.821, 197.88; 5. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.829, 198.03; 6. Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.835, 198.70; 7. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.867, 195.79; 8. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.885, 190.65; 9. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.887, 194.32; 10. Chris Bostick, EBR, 6.909, 192.60; 11. Freddie Camarena, Suzuki, 6.947, 189.73; 12. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.955, 197.02; 13. John HallBuell, 7.026, 191.95; 14. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.196, 186.98; 15. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.331, 183.77; 16. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 9.512, 90.86. Not Qualified: 17. Scott Bottorff, broke.