Austin Prock, the lone driver representing John Force Racing this weekend, understood the magnitude of the situation. And when Friday qualifying was complete at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, he delivered a performance of epic proportions.

Prock drove his way to the No. 1 qualifying position at the tenth event on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series tour. He was joined atop the Friday leaderboard in Norwalk by Doug kalitta (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

Prock, also the NHRA Funny Car points leader, scored the best run in Friday’s qualifying by turning in a new track record. His 3.863 seconds at 327.51 mph under the lights put him in line for his seventh No. 1 qualifier in 10 races.
“That was a heck of a lick right there tonight and two great runs for us today,” Prock said. “I’m thinking of Brittany and John, and the whole Force family. I miss all of them out here – it’s just not the same. But the race car is running (well) and that always helps a little bit.

“It’s just how hard this team works. My dad (Jimmy), Thomas, and Nate have been doing a really good job analyzing the racetrack and making the right decisions. How this car is running, it’s really shortening my learning curve because I’ve had so many attempts up there. We’ve made a lot of runs already this year. I’m really proud to be behind the wheel. We had a great day today, got to get our minds off the world for a little bit and just go to work and try to make John Force Racing proud.”

J.R. Todd jumped was second with a 3.865 at 332.02, while Bob Tasca III is currently third with a run of 3.894 at 323.74.

The reigning Top Fuel world champ Kalitta made the most of his run under the lights in Norwalk, vaulting to the top spot with a 3.692 at 332.92 in his Applied Innovation/Toyota dragster. He was in exclusive company as he delivered the only run in the 3.60s in the category for the first day. If it holds he now has a chance to earn his fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season. After winning two of the last three races, Kalitta also continued his strong momentum and put on a show at the home track for Kalitta Motorsports.

“That 3.69 was a solid run. The conditions were great, the track – they have this place in very good condition -- and once again, the hospitality the Baders have for the fans is outstanding,” Kalitta said. “It just ended up being a really good night for us. The Kalitta Motorsports effort was good tonight, and hopefully our main man John Force is proud of us—best wishes for him. 

“For Alan and the guys tuning, they went up there to throw down, and it stuck. It was really an incredible run for us.”

Antron Brown was second with a 3.722 at 330.72, while Tripp Tatum is third with a 3.739 at 324.36.

In Pro Stock, Greg Anderson was the only driver to dip into the 6.50s, making a strong run right off the trailer and taking the No. 1 spot with a pass of 6.592 at 207.69 in his Summit Racing Equipment/HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. Sporting a special Summit Racing Equipment wrap for this weekend’s race in Norwalk, Anderson delivered a strong run that could give the five-time world champion his third No. 1 qualifier of the year and the 127th in his career. This event has always meant a great deal for the winningest driver in Pro Stock, and Anderson would love nothing more than to pick up his fourth career victory at “America’s Racetrack.”

“(The first session) went great. It was perfect, actually,” Anderson said. “In Q2, I should have just stayed at the trailer. We had a five-dollar part fail, a relay that fires the ignition coils. I had no spark, so the car started up, and it killed the ignition. It shut right off after two seconds of running, and I was dead in the water.

“No matter what, I have to call today a success. I ran great the first run, but I feel like I could have run even better on the second run. I think it’s there, it’s ready to run well, and the car looks and runs great. It just feels like home racing here at Summit Motorsports Park.”

Erica Enders ran her best in the second session and is No. 2 with a 6.601 at 207.15. Deric Kramer’s 6.605 at 208.17 puts him third.

Qualifying continues to go well for six-time Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Matt Smith, going a track-record 6.748 at 201.31 on his Denso Auto Parts/Matt Smith Racing Buell. It puts Smith in line for his third No. 1 qualifier in the past four races as the bike continues to impress in qualifying. He ended Gaige Herrera’s string of No. 1 qualifiers in Chicago and has controlled that area recently, but Smith is focused on getting the job done on Sunday. Friday’s run gives him a good start on the weekend, but Herrera has been unbeatable for the past ten races, something Smith hopes to change this weekend.

“Qualifying doesn’t mean anything if you can’t back it up on Sunday, and that’s what I’ve learned so far this year,” Smith said. “We’ve had a good bike in qualifying a couple races, and we haven’t closed the deal. But we’re right where we should be here, and all in all, I’m happy with our Denso/Outlaw Beer bike. We’ve got a great team right now – Angie (Smith) is second, Jianna (Evaristo) is fourth. We have three bikes in the top four right now, (and) we just have to keep digging.”

Angie Smith is currently second with a 6.798 at 200.26, while Herrera is right behind after going 6.799 at 198.88.

Qualifying at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals continues at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at Summit Motorsports Park.