Clay Millican powered to the top of Top Fuel qualifying Friday at Maple Grove Raceway, earning the provisional No. 1 position to open the Countdown to the Championship at the 40th annual NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish.
Joining Millican as leaders after the first day of qualifying were Spencer Hyde (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle). The event is the 15th of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and the first of six playoff races.
Millican went 3.704 seconds at 336.32 mph in his PowerEdge dragster for Rick Ware Racing. If it holds, it would be his first No. 1 qualifier this season and the 27th of his career. The veteran entered the Countdown seventh in points after a final-round appearance at Brainerd. He said his focus is on consistency and picking up a second win this season.
“It’s always fun coming here,” Millican said. “It’s only the provisional No. 1, but it was a good one. In qualifying, the only thing the driver can do is screw it up. I was pretty excited when it stayed No. 1 because we need these points.
“The biggest thing is consistency. Home-run hitters can go on streaks, but consistency usually wins. We’ve been putting solid runs together lately. At Brainerd, we went to the final, then had a parts failure. At Indy, we beat Shawn Langdon first round, then had an electrical failure second round. But the car is going rounds, and I like our chances.”
Justin Ashley sits second with a 3.738 at 331.69, while Doug Kalitta is third at 3.756 at 335.40.
In Funny Car, rookie Hyde posted a 3.868 at 330.07 in his Head Contractors & Engineers Ford Mustang. That run gave the Canadian driver the provisional top spot in his first appearance at Maple Grove. Hyde, who is making his first Countdown appearance, entered ninth in points with two final rounds and one Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory this year.
“We’ve known all year that we’ve had a pretty fast car when conditions are good, and Jim’s (Head) known for swinging for the fences when the track will take it,” Hyde said. “Tonight, we left the tune-up alone, let the racetrack come to us, and it went right down through there with an .86. That was pretty cool, and hopefully it holds through tomorrow.”
Hyde said his focus remains on race wins despite Rookie of the Year attention. “Being in the Rookie of the Year conversation is awesome, and a No. 1 qualifier would be a big box to check. But what I really want is to win one of these races,” he said.
Austin Prock is second at 3.882 at 333.74, with Paul Lee third at 3.895 at 290.57.
Pro Stock points leader Dallas Glenn put his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro on top with a 6.502 at 210.50. It was enough to edge Aaron Stanfield and position Glenn for his fifth No. 1 qualifier this season and the 11th of his career.
“That was a back-up engine, but it’s running fantastic right now,” Glenn said. “I’m really pleased with it, and the car is starting to come around. Going into the Countdown, I’m feeling really good. I feel like we have the car to beat for the championship.”
Stanfield is second at 6.505 at 211.59, while Erica Enders is third at 6.506 at 211.36.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, defending champion Gaige Herrera went 6.745 at 200.20 aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki to take the provisional top spot. The 26-time event winner is chasing his fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season.
Herrera said he is focused on turning Maple Grove into a winning stop after struggles in past years.
“Reading has definitely defeated me the last two seasons,” Herrera said. “My best here is a semifinal, so my main goal this weekend is to go one round further and hopefully not leave here second in points like I have the last two years. To leave here with a win and check that box would mean a lot.”
Herrera was followed by Matt Smith at 6.753 at 200.95 and Richard Gadson at 6.763 at 200.92.
Qualifying continues Saturday at 12:30 p.m. EDT at Maple Grove Raceway.
Friday’s results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 40th annual NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish at Maple Grove Raceway, 15th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.
Top Fuel — 1. Clay Millican, 3.704 seconds, 336.32 mph; 2. Justin Ashley, 3.738, 331.69; 3. Doug Kalitta, 3.756, 335.40; 4. Shawn Reed, 3.758, 328.46; 5. Shawn Langdon, 3.762, 333.49; 6. Steve Torrence, 3.778, 332.34; 7. Tony Schumacher, 3.779, 334.24; 8. Dan Mercier, 3.796, 316.67; 9. Josh Hart, 3.811, 332.26; 10. Brittany Force, 3.816, 334.32; 11. Tony Stewart, 3.819, 329.10; 12. Kyle Satenstein, 3.917, 281.25; 13. Scott Farley, 4.136, 233.76; 14. Doug Foley, 4.831, 153.53; 15. Antron Brown, 5.010, 145.80.
Funny Car — 1. Spencer Hyde, Ford Mustang, 3.868, 330.07; 2. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.882, 333.74; 3. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 3.895, 290.57; 4. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.901, 330.72; 5. J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 3.911, 334.24; 6. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.912, 329.34; 7. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.912, 323.50; 8. Blake Alexander, Charger, 3.924, 328.38; 9. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.932, 330.80; 10. Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 3.948, 329.26; 11. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.962, 327.82; 12. Joe Morrison, Charger, 4.065, 310.41; 13. Phil Burkart, Mustang, 4.074, 309.63; 14. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.138, 300.73; 15. Alex Laughlin, Charger, 4.255, 292.90; 16. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 5.062, 151.44.
Not Qualified: 17. Dave Richards, 5.180, 182.13; 18. Chad Green, 6.698, 95.23.
Pro Stock — 1. Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.502, 210.83; 2. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.505, 211.59; 3. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.506, 211.36; 4. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.519, 210.11; 5. Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.520, 209.33; 6. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.525, 208.17; 7. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.526, 210.24; 8. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.532, 210.37; 9. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.532, 209.33; 10. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.543, 210.41; 11. Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.546, 209.98; 12. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.550, 209.62; 13. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.585, 208.46; 14. Brandon Miller, Dodge Dart, 6.613, 207.18; 15. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 6.623, 207.50; 16. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.981, 200.50. Not Qualified: 17. Alan Prusiensky, 7.436, 124.38.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.745, 200.20; 2. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.753, 200.98; 3. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.763, 201.46; 4. Brayden Davis, Suzuki, 6.780, 201.49; 5. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.806, 198.41; 6. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.807, 197.13; 7. Ron Tornow, Victory, 6.843, 198.58; 8. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.853, 194.10; 9. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.857, 198.26; 10. John Hall, Beull, 6.868, 199.17; 11. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.870, 194.55; 12. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.871, 195.76; 13. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.905, 195.25; 14. Brandon Litten, Suzuki, 6.922, 193.24; 15. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 14.394, 52.09.
