( Words and also Video by NHRA )LAS VEGAS (Oct. 29, 2022)– Funny Car factors leader Robert Hight hung on to the top place at the 22nd annual NHRA Nevada Nationals on Saturday, claiming the No. 1 qualifier to guarantee a nitro sweep from John Force Racing at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also certified No. 1 at the 21st event in the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season as well as the fifth of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Hight’s outstanding run of 3.857-seconds at 331.77 miles per hour in his 11,000-horsepower Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS from Friday handed the champion confident his sixth No. 1 qualifier of 2022 as well as the 77th in his occupation. He’ll open removals against Terry Haddock, taking a 21-point lead over safeguarding world champ Ron Capps right into raceday. Hight got 11 factors on Capps during qualifying, a nod to his success over the initial two days of the race weekend break in Las Vegas. That consisted of a solid 3.3865 to liquidate the day, providing the team plenty of momentum heading right into Sunday.
“Well, I would state that it was objective accomplished in certifying, because we was available in here with a 10-point lead and also currently we’re 21 factors, which’s 2 rounds,” Hight claimed. “So that’s a huge deal. We collected a great deal of factors in certifying. Tonight, we were pressing, we were trying to run much better than the (3.85) that we ran, yet we ran a 3.86 to complete. If we can go 3.85 or 3.86 four times tomorrow, I assume we’re going to go to the top at the end of the day.”
Matt Hagan made a top quality transfer to close out the day, going 3.862 at 330.23 to certify second. He goes into Sunday 83 points behind Hight. That bumped Bob Tasca III and his run of 3.865 at 330.80 to third.
Pressure’s standout run of 3.665 at 337.24 from Friday in her 11,000-horsepower Flav-R-Pac dragster held up, offering the former world champ her 9th top area in 2022 and the 41st in her career. She also made 2 high quality works on Saturday, which adds to the team’s momentum on a weekend break where Force knows she requires a prominent outcome. Getting in eliminations, Force routes Justin Ashley by 73 points and also will certainly go for a Las Vegas move on Sunday, along with her initial success because Sonoma in July.
“Looking at our general qualifying, we’re in a great setting, making 4 solid passes as well as all in the high -.60 s and a. 71,” Force claimed. “It’s great for our team, it’s 4 good go to set up entering into race day as well as offers all of us a great deal of self-confidence. I feel like we’re back on track and also I’m feeling favorable. We’re in a great headspace as well as we wished to attack and also be hostile. For us, we can’t play it risk-free. That doesn’t help us.”
The 2nd place altered hands numerous times during a thrilling last certifying session on Saturday, with Force’s colleague, Austin Prock, ending up there with his run of 3.685 at 334.32. Ashley took third after he made a huge enhancement after a pass of 3.686 at 333.08.
Erica Enders moved a step more detailed to her fifth globe champion in Pro Stock, as the factors leader took the No. 1 area on Saturday with her run of 6.579 at 208.75 in her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro. It gave the four-time globe champ her 6th No. 1 qualifier this period as well as the 29th in her occupation, and she’ll take a 164-point lead over colleague Aaron Stanfield into raceday. Enders, who will certainly open removals versus Kenny Delco, is looking for a Las Vegas sweep this year, yet she’s additionally trying to grab her 10th triumph of the period as well as perhaps a 5th globe champion if every little thing goes her method on Sunday.
“The rest of the area is nipping at our heels so it’s time to get hectic as well as most likely to function,” Enders claimed. “All these young guns in the course have pushed me all season long and also we need to ride to the celebration.
“I understand we’re in an excellent setting to be in, yet it’s not over yet. My goal is to do an excellent task. I know I’m in a great setting, but I still feel the stress. It’s difficult that feeling in your digestive tract. Aside from that champion, I would certainly still like to win 10 races and also I’ve got two shots to do it.”
Stanfield obtained bumped to second, but still impressed with a run of 6.580 at 208.07 and also Deric Kramer leapt to third with his solid pass of 6.585 at 207.69.
Matt Smith made an additional strong declaration on Saturday in Pro Stock Motorcycle, improving from Friday’s provisional No. 1 and also taking the top qualifier– while likewise breaking both ends of the performance history– by going 6.785 at 202.27 on his Denso Auto Parts Buell. It provides the factors leader his fifth No. 1 qualifier of the year and 52nd in his occupation, and he’ll open up raceday versus Katie Justice. His factors lead currently stands at 64 over Joey Gladstone and Smith, that is aiming for a sixth world title, understands he can stretch that even more if he has a desirable day on Sunday.
“We were quickest in Q2, Q3, as well as Q4. I’ve obtained a shot at a sixth title, but we still have a great deal of job to do tomorrow,” Smith stated. “If I just do my task, I recognize we’ll be simply fine. (But) most of us know just how rapidly points can transform right here. There are still a great deal of actually good bikes out right here. There are seven or 8 great bikes out right here that can win the race. We obtained fortunate and also went to No. 1, but that does not indicate excessive tomorrow. We still require to activate four win lights.”
Angelle Sampey took the second spot after her run of 6.807 at 198.64 on Friday, while Angie Smith boosted to 3rd thanks to her 6.816 at 200.77.
Making his NHRA auto racing debut, legendary chauffeur as well as team owner Tony Stewart won the very first 2 rounds in removals in Top Alcohol Dragster. He will certainly continue in semifinal action on Sunday.
Removals for the NHRA Nevada Nationals begin at 11 a.m. PT on Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
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LAS VEGAS– Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 22nd yearly NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the 21st of 22 occasions in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Pairings based upon cause certifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.
Top Fuel– 1. Brittany Force, 3.665 seconds, 337.24 mph vs. Bye; 2. Austin Prock, 3.685, 334.32 vs. 15. Cameron Ferre, 12.655, 57.36; 3. Justin Ashley, 3.686, 333.08 vs. 14. Clay Millican, 4.272, 198.17; 4. Tony Schumacher, 3.692, 327.43 vs. 13. Rob Passey, 4.032, 297.48; 5. Shawn Langdon, 3.696, 327.11 vs. 12. Krista Baldwin, 3.864, 319.90; 6. Mike Salinas, 3.697, 334.73 vs. 11. Leah Pruett, 3.716, 331.69; 7. Steve Torrence, 3.698, 332.92 vs. 10. Josh Hart, 3.714, 332.34; 8. Doug Kalitta, 3.708, 324.51 vs. 9. Antron Brown, 3.710, 330.47.
Funny Car– 1. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.857, 331.77 vs. 16. Terry Haddock, Ford Mustang, 4.126, 266.16; 2. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.862, 330.23 vs. 15. Steven Densham, Mustang, 4.040, 306.60; 3. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.865, 330.80 vs. 14. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 3.948, 306.88; 4. J.R. Todd, Toyota Supra, 3.870, 333.33 vs. 13. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.945, 318.77; 5. John Force, Camaro, 3.873, 324.28 vs. 12. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.944, 288.89; 6. Ron Capps, Supra, 3.889, 332.59 vs. 11. Jim Campbell, Charger, 3.944, 298.54; 7. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.912, 326.08 vs. 10. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.941, 321.19; 8. Alexis DeJoria, Supra, 3.917, 327.03 vs. 9. Paul Lee,
Charger, 3.933, 321.35.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Jeff Arend, 4.137, 310.77; 18. Jason Rupert, 4.192, 297.09; 19. Jeff Diehl, 4.553, 194.83.
Pro Stock– 1. Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.579, 208.75 vs. 16. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.654, 207.08; 2. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.580, 208.07 vs. 15. Fernando Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.649, 206.61; 3. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.585, 207.69 vs. 14. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.643, 206.13; 4. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.595, 205.98 vs. 13. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.639, 207.88; 5. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.599, 208.14 vs. 12. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Mustang, 6.625, 206.73; 6. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.600, 207.40 vs. 11. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.613, 207.69; 7. Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.605, 207.30 vs. 10. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.611, 206.80; 8. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.606, 207.50 vs. 9. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.610, 207.85.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Shane Tucker, 6.680, 205.69; 18. Alan Prusiensky, 6.680, 205.29.
Pro Stock Motorcycle– 1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.785, 202.27 vs. 16. Katie Sullivan, Suzuki, 6.957, 193.52; 2. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 6.807, 198.64 vs. 15. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.937, 196.87; 3. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.816, 200.77 vs. 14. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 6.929, 194.86; 4. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.819, 196.73 vs. 13. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.929, 194.86; 5. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.829, 198.00 vs. 12. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.908, 193.49; 6. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.836, 197.48 vs. 11. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.902, 195.82; 7. Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.846, 197.02 vs. 10. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.890, 194.49; 8. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.847, 196.39 vs. 9. Chip Ellis, EBR, 6.849, 197.68.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Freddie Camarena, 6.973, 193.96; 18. Kelly Clontz, 6.999, 193.57; 19. Michael Phillips, 7.166, 189.10; 20. Rick Newport, 11.553, 142.34.
Highlight Videos:
Tony Stewart
Mobil 1 Top Alcohol Dragster
5.293 secs, 271.95 mph
KEEP IN MIND: After making his NHRA competitors debut in Las Vegas, motorsports tale Tony Stewart accumulated his preliminary win on Saturday when he clocked a 5.293-second pass at 271.95 miles per hour to beat competitor James Stevens in the opening round of eliminations of the NHRA Nevada Nationals. Stewart additionally won in the 2nd round and also will race in the semifinals on Sunday.
Brittany Force Leading Fuel No. 1 Qualifier Flav-R-Pac/ Monster Energy Top Fuel Dragster 3.665 secs, 337.24 mph KEEP IN MIND: Brittany Force declared her nine No. 1 qualifier
of the season at the
NHRA Nevada Nationals when her 3.665-second pass
at 337.24 miles per hour stayed atop the Top Fuel area.< iframe loading=”careless” title= “Brittany Force rockets to the
top at NHRA Nevada Nationals
“size =”960 “height=”540 “src= “https://www.youtube.com/embed/IWu7NAeFPI4?feature=oembed”frameborder =”0″permit=” accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture”allowfullscreen > Robert Hight Funny Car No. 1 Qualifier Car Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS 3.857 seconds, 331.77 mph KEEP IN MIND: Funny Car’s Robert Hight extended his factors lead on Saturday when his 3.857-second pass at 331.77 mph stayed solid for the No. 1 qualifier area at the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Erica Enders
Pro Stock No. 1 Qualifier
Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro
6.579 seconds, 208.75 miles per hour
KEEP IN MIND: Erica Enders expanded her Pro Stock points lead when she accumulated her sixth No. 1 qualifier of the season. Her 6.579-second pass at 208.75 was great enough for finest of the category at the NHRA Nevada Nationals.
Matt Smith Pro Stock Motorcycle No. 1 Qualifier Denso Auto Parts Buell 6.785 secs, 202.27 miles per hour NOTE: Pro Stock Motorcycle cyclist Matt Smith safeguarded his fifth No. 1 qualifier of the year when he clocked a 6.785-second lap at 202.27 mph to close out qualifying at the 22nd annual NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. That run damaged both ends of the performance history.
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