Ashley Force set the pace in Funny Car qualifying on Friday at Infineon Raceway, taking the provisional pole at the 21st annual FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals.
Force (Castrol GTX Ford Mustang) covered the drag strip in 4.096 seconds (301.60 mph) and was followed Tony Pedregon (Prestone Monte Carlo) at 4.101 (299.80) and Cruz Pedregon (Advance Auto Parts Toyota) at 4.110 (300.53). John Force, a seven-time Funny Car winner in Sonoma and 14-time NHRA world champion, was fourth (4.119, 298.80) in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang.
Force is seeking her first-ever pole and it couldn't come at a better place than Infineon Raceway, which she considers one of her home tracks. It's also a drag strip with special meaning as the late Eric Medlen, her former teammate, won at Infineon Raceway in 2006, and John Force, her father, won here in 2007.
"The track is close to where I live (Yorba Linda), so we always came here every summer when we were kids," said Force, who made history earlier this year as the first woman to win an NHRA Funny Car race. "This place has a lot of special memories for us, with Eric winning and my dad winning last year, and all of Eric's family and friends here. It would mean all that much more for us to win here".
Force, who entered the weekend tied for fourth in Funny Car points, is seeking her first pole in her 36th career race -- John Force took 59 races to notch his first pole. Current Funny Car points leader Tim Wilkerson qualified eighth.
Antron Brown (Matco Tools) nabbed the No. 1 slot with a pass of 3.805 (316.45) in Top Fuel. Brown, who entered the weekend second in points, is seeking his third top-qualifying effort of the season. He was followed by Top Fuel points leader Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army) 3.813 (314.09) and Brandon Bernstein (Budweiser) at 3.821 (310.98).
Mike Edwards (Young Life Pontiac) took the provisional pole in Pro Stock with a pass of 6.609 (208.71). He was followed by Jason Line (Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac) at 6.619 (207.94) and Allen Johnson (Mopar/S&S Racing Dodge) at 6.620 (207.59). Warren Johnson, a three-time Pro Stock winner at Infineon Raceway, set new track record for speed (209.33), besting the prior mark of 208.59 set by Line in 2007. Johnson qualified fifth.
Chris Rivas (Drag Specialties S&S Buell) set the pace in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a run of 6.987 (188.65). Rivas is seeking his first-ever No. 1 qualifying spot. He was followed by Chip Ellis (Schumacher Electric Suzuki) at 7.000 (188.62) and Karen Stoffer (Geico Motorcycle Suzuki) at 7.003 (190.83).
Action continues on Saturday at Infineon Raceway with the final two rounds of professional qualifying, set to begin at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m., with final eliminations set for Sunday at 11 a.m. Gates open at 7 a.m. both days. For ticket information, visit www.infineonraceway.com or call 800-870-RACE.
AGATE
SONOMA, Calif. -- Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 21st annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway, 15th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations. For complete results, go to www.nhra.com.
Top Fuel -- 1. Antron Brown, 3.805 seconds, 316.45 mph; 2. Tony Schumacher, 3.813, 314.09; 3. Brandon Bernstein, 3.821, 310.98; 4. Doug Herbert, 3.839, 309.91; 5. David Grubnic, 3.844, 311.77; 6. Troy Buff, 3.845, 296.63; 7. Rod Fuller, 3.860, 311.20; 8. Bob Vandergriff, 3.863, 305.36; 9. Larry Dixon, 3.865, 309.56; 10. Morgan Lucas, 3.868, 307.93; 11. Steve Torrence, 3.888, 302.28; 12. Hillary Will, 3.898, 308.57. Not Qualified: 13. J.R. Todd, 3.912, 309.77; 14. Doug Kalitta, 3.940, 309.06; 15. Cory McClenathan, 3.950, 293.09; 16. Steven Chrisman, 4.544, 255.68.
Funny Car -- 1. Ashley Force, Ford Mustang, 4.096, 301.60; 2. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.101, 299.80; 3. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.110, 300.53; 4. John Force, Mustang, 4.119, 298.80; 5. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.121, 292.77; 6. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.132, 295.98; 7. Jerry Toliver, Charger, 4.136, 298.34; 8. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.146, 295.40; 9. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.152, 297.42; 10. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.156, 297.29; 11. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.194, 289.57; 12. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.205, 287.41. Not Qualified: 13. Jack Beckman, 4.218, 292.52; 14. Mike Neff, 4.229, 257.33; 15. Tony Bartone, 4.231, 293.09; 16. Tommy Johnson Jr., 4.234, 251.11; 17. Bob Tasca III, 4.620, 186.85.
Pro Stock -- 1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.609, 208.71; 2. Jason Line, GXP, 6.619, 207.94; 3. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.620, 207.59; 4. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.626, 208.55; 5. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.629, 209.33; 6. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.638, 208.59; 7. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.640, 207.53; 8. Vinnie Deceglie, Stratus, 6.643, 206.92; 9. Justin Humphreys, Stratus, 6.652, 206.89; 10. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.656, 207.27; 11. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 6.661, 206.92; 12. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.661, 206.57. Not Qualified: 13. Greg Stanfield, 6.687, 205.41; 14. Larry Morgan, 6.717, 205.04; 15. V. Gaines, 6.718, 204.57; 16. Ben Watson, 6.719, 204.39; 17. Max Naylor, 6.743, 205.44; 18. Lamar Swindoll Jr, 6.755, 203.34; 19. Gordie Rivera, 6.787, 203.09; 20. Dave Connolly, 9.734, 92.95.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Chris Rivas, Buell, 6.987, 188.65; 2. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 7.000, 190.27; 3. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.003, 190.83; 4. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 7.006, 188.44; 5. Matt Smith, Buell, 7.017, 188.41; 6. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.033, 191.10; 7. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.056, 187.23; 8. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.068, 186.90; 9. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.072, 186.69; 10. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.090, 189.23; 11. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.096, 187.65; 12. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.111, 189.52. Not Qualified: 13. Peggy Llewellyn, 7.127, 185.15; 14. Jim Underdahl, 7.223, 185.46; 15. Junior Pippin, 7.246, 182.62; 16. Freddie Camarena, 7.248, 183.34; 17. Ryan Schnitz, 7.406, 175.84.
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