Doug Kalitta set the zMAX Dragway elapsed-time record Friday, taking the provisional No. 1 spot for the 15th annual American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals with a run of 3.646 seconds at 333.74 mph.
Brittany Force did Kalitta one better, logging the fastest run in Top Fuel history at 341.58 mph. She was an eyelash behind Kalitta’s time at 3.667 seconds in the HendrickCars.com dragster, but third overall behind the 3.665 recorded by Kalitta’s teammate, Shawn Langdon.
“The track is in incredible shape,” Kalitta said of Friday’s night-time qualifying session.
“It was the opportunity of the weekend, really, for all of us, with the 1,000th race, it’s cool and then there’s a cool trophy. Right now, my car is running incredibly well. Shawn Langdon, ended up second, so both our cars are running really well. Alan (Johnson) and Brian (Husen, crew chiefs) and all our guys, and Connie (Kalitta, team owner) is definitely giving us everything we need, and we’ve got some momentum going on our side here right now.”
Kalitta’s impressive performance allows him to aim for his third No. 1 qualifier this season and potentially the 61st of his career.
In Funny Car, Paul Lee secured the No. 1 spot with a standout run of 3.829 seconds at 328.54 mph in his Dodge Charger SRT. “It left the line hard, and I knew it was on a good run,” Lee said. “If the conditions stay the same tomorrow, a lot of cars could go faster.”
Austin Prock qualified second in Funny Car with a run of 3.844 seconds at 336.49 mph, while Daniel Wilkerson’s career-best run of 3.855 seconds put him third.
In Pro Stock, Dallas Glenn and Greg Anderson recorded identical runs of 6.502 seconds, but Glenn secured the No. 1 spot with a higher speed of 211.10 mph. “This shows how hard they work at KB Titan,” Glenn said. “We’re making quality runs.”
Matt Hartford claimed third with a time of 6.510 seconds at 209.43 mph.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, two-time reigning NHRA champion Gaige Herrera took the provisional No. 1 spot with a time of 6.680 seconds at 201.64 mph. “That run felt the same as last year when we set the record in Dallas,” Herrera said.
Richard Gadson moved into second place with a run of 6.759 seconds at 200.77 mph, while Matt Smith followed in third at 6.773 seconds.
Qualifying continues Saturday at 12:30 p.m. EDT at zMAX Dragway.
Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 15th annual American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, fifth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.
Top Fuel — 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.646 seconds, 333.74 mph; 2. Shawn Langdon, 3.665, 333.33; 3. Brittany Force, 3.667, 341.59; 4. Shawn Reed, 3.703, 329.75; 5. Antron Brown, 3.703, 328.62; 6. Justin Ashley, 3.708, 336.23; 7. Josh Hart, 3.709, 323.12; 8. Tony Stewart, 3.711, 324.05; 9. Steve Torrence, 3.715, 330.63; 10. Ida Zetterstrom, 3.744, 329.67; 11. Spencer Massey, 3.759, 304.94; 12. Clay Millican, 3.769, 328.70; 13. Doug Foley, 3.811, 302.69; 14. Todd Paton, 3.997, 303.23; 15. Cameron Ferre, 8.813, 84.14; 16. Scott Farley, 14.397, 29.25.
Funny Car — 1. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 3.829, 328.54; 2. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.844, 336.49; 3. Daniel Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.855, 330.07; 4. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 3.863, 329.83; 5. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.865, 331.61; 6. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.867, 336.65; 7. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.867, 320.05; 8. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.873, 330.39; 9. Bobby Bode, GR Supra, 3.904, 306.33; 10. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.916, 331.36; 11. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.924, 325.37; 12. Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 3.925, 324.51; 13. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.926, 317.34; 14. Hunter Green, Charger, 3.931, 321.12; 15. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.010, 320.97; 16. Dave Richards, Mustang, 7.262, 150.70. Not Qualified: 17. John Smith, 8.725, 79.36; 18. Dale Creasy Jr., 10.349, 80.18.
Pro Stock — 1. Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.502, 211.10; 2. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.502, 210.93; 3. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.510, 210.21; 4. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.526, 210.83; 5. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.531, 209.79; 6. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.544, 209.88; 7. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.545, 210.73; 8. Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.554, 210.28; 9. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.557, 209.52; 10. Brandon Foster, Camaro, 6.558, 209.26; 11. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.558, 209.17; 12. Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.559, 209.62; 13. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.559, 210.08; 14. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.561, 209.56; 15. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.571, 208.42; 16. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.574, 209.30. Not Qualified: 17. David Cuadra, 6.576, 207.40; 18. Fernando Cuadra Jr., 6.579, 208.62; 19. Stephen Bell, 6.592, 209.07; 20. Aaron Stanfield, 6.609, 209.56; 21. Brandon Miller, 6.622, 206.92; 22. Jerry Tucker, 7.227, 151.85; 23. Cristian Cuadra, 10.231, 89.67.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.680, 201.64; 2. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.759, 200.77; 3. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.773, 201.34; 4. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.799, 197.80; 5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.805, 196.79; 6. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.816, 198.52; 7. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.817, 198.47; 8. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.824, 199.88; 9. John Hall, Beull, 6.833, 198.58; 10. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.854, 196.10; 11. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.895, 197.91; 12. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.902, 194.38; 13. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.911, 194.94; 14. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 7.144, 189.87. Not Qualified: 15. Brandon Litten, Suzuki, DQ.
