Ashley Force reached another milestone in her young career on Saturday, taking the top qualifying spot in Funny Car at the 21st annual FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway.

Force made history earlier this year when she became the first woman to win an NHRA Funny Car national event in Atlanta. She reached another milestone on Saturday under warm conditions in Sonoma, taking the pole with a time of 4.096 seconds (301.60 mph).

Karen Stoffer also earned the No. 1 slot in Pro Stock Motorcycle, marking the second time in history two women will start on the pole position at an NHRA national event. The first time came in 2006 with Melanie Troxel (Top Fuel) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) in Topeka (Kan.).

Force entered the weekend tied for fourth place in Funny Car points and appears poised for a good run in Sunday's final eliminations, which begin at 11 a.m. It would be an emotional victory for Force, as her father, John Force, won in Sonoma in 2007. The late Eric Medlen, her former teammate, won at Infineon Raceway in 2006. This marked the 200th career No. 1 qualifying spot for John Force Racing.

"It's pretty neat. It just goes to show that in NHRA there are some gal drivers who are doing well and keeping up with the boys," said Force, 25, who notched her first pole in her 36th career race. "I just wanted to finish the fourth round and celebrate and be done for today.  We want to wait and really celebrate in the Winner's Circle tomorrow night."

The Pedregon brothers, Tony and Cruz, will challenge Force on Sunday. Tony Pedregon (Prestone Monte Carlo) was second-fast at 4.101 (299.80), with Cruz Pedregon (Advance Auto Parts Toyota) third at 4.110 (300.53). John Force, a seven-time winner in Sonoma and 14-time NHRA Funny Car world champion, was fourth (4.119, 298.80) in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang.

Stoffer (Geico Motorcycle Suzuki) ran a 6.962 (191.21) to take top honors in Pro Stock Motorcycle - it was the first pole of her career. She was followed by Chris Rivas (Drag Specialties S&S Buell) at 6.964 (190.62) and Matt Smith (Nitro Fish Buell) at 6.977 (189.12). Smith is the defending champion of the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals.

"I started as a bracket racer in Division 7, and this is a Division 7 track, so this is one of my home tracks," Stoffer said. "It's really neat, (drag strip manager) Georgia Seipel and the whole track have been so good to us over the years, and this is such a great facility. This is really exciting, but tomorrow is really the day that matters, so hopefully we can carry this through."

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).

If Schumacher wins, he would be come the sixth driver in history to sweep the Western Swing. He won two weeks ago in Denver and last week in Seattle.

Mike Edwards (Young Life Pontiac) took the pole in Pro Stock with a pass of 6.609 (208.71). He was followed by Kurt Johnson (ACDelco Chevrolet) at 6.618 (208.55) and Jason Line (Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac) at 6.619 (207.94). Warren Johnson, a three-time Pro Stock winner at Infineon Raceway, set a new track record for speed (209.33) on Friday, besting the prior mark of 208.59 set by Line in 2007. Johnson qualified fifth.

Action concludes on Sunday at Infineon Raceway with final eliminations set to begin at 11 a.m. As part of the pre-race festivities, Top Fuel driver Doug Kalitta, a five-time winner at Infineon Raceway, will be inducted into the Infineon Raceway Wall of Fame. For ticket information, visit www.infineonraceway.com or call 800-870-RACE. 

AGATE 

SONOMA, Calif. -- First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 21st annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway, the 15th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.  For complete results, visit www.nhra.com.

Top Fuel -- 1. Antron Brown, 3.805 seconds, 316.45 mph vs. 16. Steven Chrisman, 4.287, 273.83; 2. Tony Schumacher, 3.813, 314.09 vs. 15. Doug Kalitta, 4.154, 309.06; 3. Brandon Bernstein, 3.821, 310.98 vs. 14. J.R. Todd, 4.046, 309.77; 4. Doug Herbert, 3.839, 309.91 vs. 13. Cory McClenathan, 3.988, 301.67; 5. David Grubnic, 3.844, 311.77 vs. 12. Hillary Will, 3.898, 308.57; 6. Troy Buff, 3.845, 296.63 vs. 11. Steve Torrence, 3.888, 302.28; 7. Rod Fuller, 3.860, 311.20 vs. 10. Morgan Lucas, 3.868, 307.93; 8. Bob Vandergriff, 3.863, 305.36 vs. 9. Larry Dixon, 3.865, 309.56.

Funny Car -- 1. Ashley Force, Ford Mustang, 4.096, 301.60 vs. 16. Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 4.327, 286.38; 2. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.101, 299.80 vs. 15. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.276, 282.72; 3. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.110, 300.53 vs. 14. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.238, 290.51; 4. John Force, Mustang, 4.119, 298.80 vs. 13. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.220, 292.52; 5. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.121, 292.77 vs. 12. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.205, 287.41; 6. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.132, 295.98 vs. 11. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.194, 289.57; 7. Jerry Toliver, Charger, 4.136, 298.34 vs. 10. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.156, 297.29; 8. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.146, 295.40 vs. 9. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.152, 297.42. Did Not Qualify: 17. Tony Bartone, 4.500, 293.09.

Pro Stock -- 1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.609, 208.71 vs. 16. Larry Morgan, Dodge Stratus, 6.692, 205.94; 2. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.618, 208.55 vs. 15. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.688, 206.10; 3. Jason Line, GXP, 6.619, 207.94 vs. 14. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.668, 207.11; 4. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.620, 207.62 vs. 13. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.661, 206.57; 5. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.629, 209.33 vs. 12. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 6.661, 206.92; 6. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.636, 207.53 vs. 11. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.656, 207.27; 7. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.638, 208.59 vs. 10. Justin Humphreys, Stratus, 6.652, 207.18; 8. Vinnie Deceglie, Stratus, 6.643, 206.92 vs. 9. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.647, 207.53. Did Not Qualify: 17. Ben Watson, 6.721, 204.39; 18. Max Naylor, 6.731, 205.44; 19. Gordie Rivera, 6.805, 203.09; 20. Lamar Swindoll Jr, 6.839, 203.34.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.962, 191.21 vs. 16. Freddie Camarena, Suzuki, 7.274, 183.34; 2. Chris Rivas, Buell, 6.964, 190.62 vs. 15. Angie McBride, Buell, 7.240, 182.58; 3. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.977, 189.12 vs. 14. Junior Pippin, Buell, 7.154, 182.75; 4. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 6.980, 190.48 vs. 13. Peggy Llewellyn, Buell, 7.128, 186.38; 5. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 7.000, 188.44 vs. 12. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.111, 190.40; 6. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.033, 191.10 vs. 11. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.068, 188.62; 7. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.036, 188.99 vs. 10. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.061, 189.60; 8. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.040, 187.05 vs. 9. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.048, 189.04. Did Not Qualify: 17. Ryan Schnitz, 7.376, 176.58; 18. Jim Underdahl, 7.394, 186.05.

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