Four-time Top Fuel world champion Steve Torrence secured the provisional No. 1 qualifier on Friday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the 25th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals. Joining him at the top of their categories are Paul Lee in Funny Car and Greg Anderson in Pro Stock at the fourth of 20 races that comprise the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
Torrence clocked a time of 3.840 seconds at 320.81 mph in his Capco Contractors dragster, one of only two drivers to break into the 3.80s on a warm day in Las Vegas. If he maintains this position, it would mark his 41st career No. 1 qualifier and fifth win at Las Vegas.
“When you come to Vegas, you come here with expectations and it could be like this, or it could be cold. It could be Candy Land, or it could be tricky and tough to navigate, and this is what we got today,” Torrence said. “It looks like we’ll have that for the rest of the weekend. We had a little bit of luck on the first run, but it went 900 of the 1,000 feet on seven cylinders and it went down through there pretty quick.”
Justin Ashley also broke into the 3.80s, securing second place with a 3.892, 315.27. Tony Stewart rounded out the top three with a time of 3.904, 319.45.
In Funny Car, Lee demonstrated his team’s capability with a strong run of 3.940 at 326.08 mph in his McLeod/FTI Performance Dodge Charger SRT. Lee is in contention for his second career No. 1 qualifier, just two races after winning his first career Funny Car race in Phoenix.
“I mean, it’s 135 degrees (on the track) and we were hoping to run like a 3.97 or 3.98 because we saw that it was out there,” Lee said. “Jonnie (Lindberg, crew chief), he’s an aggressive guy and he thought it could hold a little bit more, so he put some extra nuts on the clutch and I went and it held.
“That was close to the limit. It chattered pretty good and tried to break the tires loose, but I just kept going and it held.”
Rookie Spencer Hyde is currently second with a time of 3.965 at 320.20, while J.R. Todd follows closely behind with a 3.970, 323.66.
Anderson took the No. 1 position in Pro Stock with a 6.637 at 205.32 mph in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. Anderson aims for his third No. 1 qualifier in four races, building on his recent success with two consecutive race wins.
“This is Las Vegas, and being the four-wide event we know anything can happen,” Anderson said. “We went over the edge a little bit on the second run. It teaches them – hopefully – where the line is, where the limit is.”
Matt Hartford currently holds second with a 6.646, 204.08, while Cory Reed is third, running a 6.655, 205.32 mph.
Qualifying resumes Saturday at noon PDT.
Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 25th annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, fourth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.
Top Fuel — 1. Steve Torrence, 3.840 seconds, 320.81 mph; 2. Justin Ashley, 3.892, 315.27; 3. Tony Stewart, 3.904, 319.45; 4. Antron Brown, 3.916, 312.35; 5. Josh Hart, 3.918, 310.20; 6. Shawn Reed, 3.953, 309.77; 7. Doug Kalitta, 4.084, 243.94; 8. Jasmine Salinas, 4.372, 190.94; 9. Clay Millican, 4.692, 163.61; 10. Rob Passey, 4.800, 237.13; 11. Shawn Langdon, 4.846, 152.26; 12. Scott Palmer, 5.410, 115.49; 13. Brittany Force, 6.725, 89.46.
Funny Car — 1. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 3.940, 326.08; 2. Spencer Hyde, Ford Mustang, 3.965, 320.20; 3. J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 3.970, 323.66; 4. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.972, 325.22; 5. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.972, 321.50; 6. Hunter Green, Charger, 3.980, 322.42; 7. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.011, 324.51; 8. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.023, 315.05; 9. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.034, 316.08; 10. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.071, 315.19; 11. Bobby Bode, GR Supra, 4.102, 305.84; 12. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.118, 279.15; 13. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.173, 278.00; 14. Dylan Winefsky, Charger, 4.271, 284.15; 15. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.518, 192.08; 16. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 4.620, 190.78. Not Qualified: 17. Jason Rupert, 4.674, 188.94; 18. Alexis DeJoria, 4.920, 163.39; 19. Ron Capps, 7.018, 102.31.
Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.637, 205.32; 2. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.646, 206.16; 3. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.655, 205.32; 4. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.659, 206.07; 5. Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.671, 205.79; 6. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.671, 206.16; 7. Brandon Foster, Camaro, 6.671, 205.04; 8. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.677, 205.54; 9. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.696, 205.44; 10. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.702, 204.54; 11. Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.705, 203.40; 12. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.714, 204.39; 13. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.716, 205.13; 14. Stephen Bell, Camaro, 6.724, 204.54; 15. David Cuadra, Camaro, 6.724, 203.68; 16. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.726, 204.32. Not Qualified: 17. Eric Latino, 6.730, 203.68; 18. Erica Enders, 6.736, 205.88; 19. Fernando Cuadra Jr., 6.748, 204.35; 20. Kenny Delco, 6.754, 204.45; 21. Troy Coughlin Jr., 6.808, 180.86; 22. Joey Grose, 12.851, 121.16.
