Austin Prock showed once again why he’s been the benchmark in NHRA Funny Car competition this season. The championship leader closed out qualifying at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday with his quickest pass of the weekend, securing his seventh No. 1 qualifier of the season at the 25th annual Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection.
Prock’s 3.885-second, 335.23-mph run in his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS gave him his 22nd career No. 1 spot. He’ll open eliminations Sunday against Jason Rupert as he chases his third straight Las Vegas win — and a chance to lock up a second consecutive Funny Car title.
“Hanging out on the starting line with my dad, brother and Nate Hildahl, I knew that the track was in good shape,” Prock said. “NHRA drag racing is the most unpredictable sport in the world. You never know what’s going to happen. We try to go up there and do the same job every time and not get caught up in focusing elsewhere. Each one of us on this race team has to execute and do the job like we have been.”
Jack Beckman made a strong push of his own, climbing to second with a 3.892 at 331.61, while Matt Hagan ended up third at 3.897, 329.75. Prock’s effort, however, underscored a weekend of control and consistency that keeps his championship destiny in reach heading into Sunday.
In Top Fuel, Brittany Force kept her hold on the top spot from Friday’s run of 3.697 seconds at a track-record 338.85 mph in her Chevrolet Accessories dragster. The two-time champion claimed her sixth No. 1 of the season and the 58th of her career — and she did it in her final full-time appearance at The Strip before stepping away at season’s end.
“I never would have imagined I’d have 58 No. 1 qualifiers,” Force said. “That just sounds like an impossible number. But I’ve been out here for many years and I’ve been teamed up with amazing crew chiefs and sponsors who helped get us to this point. There are two races left, and I’m proud to carry the No. 1 spot.”
Force will aim to close her Las Vegas career with another event win. Doug Kalitta, the championship points leader, qualified second with a 3.711 at 337.24, and his teammate Shawn Langdon followed in third with a 3.715 at 336.57.
Greg Anderson took top honors in Pro Stock, surging to the No. 1 spot after a 6.572-second, 206.76-mph pass in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. The five-time champion’s performance bumped Cory Reed from the top spot and gave Anderson his eighth No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 140th of his career.
“Yesterday we were just a little bit off,” Anderson said. “We had a lot going on, obviously with the [family of late team owner Ken Black] on my mind, and I was maybe a little distracted. I didn’t do a great job yesterday, but today was picture perfect. The whole KB Titan camp looks really good, so it’s going to be fun tomorrow. For me, this race is everything. I have to gain ground on Dallas Glenn here or Pomona just will be another race.”
Anderson will face Troy Coughlin Jr. in the opening round. Defending event winner Aaron Stanfield qualified second at 6.593, 207.91, and Reed settled for third at 6.594, 207.30.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Gaige Herrera stayed on top of the field with his Friday effort of 6.800 seconds at 199.17 mph aboard the RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki. It marked Herrera’s eighth No. 1 qualifier of the season as he looks to tighten the gap to points leader and teammate Richard Gadson.
“I don’t really count points,” Herrera said. “Every time I say I need to do something, it bites me in the butt. I just go up there and let the cards play out. It’s about getting the job done tomorrow and trying to win as many rounds as possible.”
Herrera will face Karen Stoffer in round one, with Angie Smith qualifying second at 6.824, 198.82 and Brayden Davis third with a 6.826, 199.14.
Eliminations for all professional categories begin at 11 a.m. PST Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
