CLERMONT, Ind — As the lights come on, the speeds go up. With the temperatures rising over each day over the course of the upcoming weekend in Indianapolis, Friday’s NHRA Championship Drag Racing Series’ qualifying round at Indianapolis Raceway Park could very well determine the top half of the ladders for Monday’s final eliminations.

That’s good news for the four-time Top Fuel champion Steve Torrence. His ET of 3.708 (329.42 mph) was good enough to grand him the provisional top spot in that category. As the final run of the night, the 329 mph pass could turn into his 36th green hat of his career on Sunday.

Torrence won the 2021 Dodge Power Brokers U.S. Nationals and hopeful of a second Wally in 3 years here.

He just narrowly topped Brittany Force who went 3.709 ET (333.25 mph) which was good enough for P2 in her dragster. Force is the defending Top Fuel world champion halting Torrence’s four-year reign last Fall. She also has been the No. 1 qualifier here in each of the last two years too. However, she’s not won a Wally while doing so either.

2019 winner Doug Kalitta at 3.717 ET (328.54 mph) was P3. Mike Salinas (3.721 ET, 335.32 mph) and Leah Pruett (3.730 ET, 331.69 mph) rounded out the top five.

Results

1. Torrence 3.708
2. Force 3.709
3. Kalitta 3.717
4. Salinas 3.721
5. Pruett 3.730
6. Ashley 3.733
7. Zizzo 3.736
8. Hart 3.744
9. Langdon 3.750
10. Prock 3.781
11. Smith 3.822
12. Joon 3.902
13. Brown 4.399
14. Schumacher 5.118
15. Mercier 5.719
16. Massey 6.059
17. Millican 6.860
18. Hull 11.798

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Funny Car

In Funny Car, Bob Tasca III jumped to the top of the board in his Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang at 3.864 ET (324.90 mph). That should come to no surprise either. Tasca has four green hats this season and eyeing his fifth with this pass.

Robert Hight went 3.886 ET (327.43 mph) to end up P2 on a nice and calm Friday evening while Alexis DeJoria was an impressive third at 3.888 ET (331.77 mph).

The last time out, Hight scored his 99th career final round appearance in Brainerd. The next time he gets to the starting line with a win in sight, it will move him to the century mark. Maybe that happens on Monday.

Hight has made the final round in 7 of his 17 years of trying here. 3 of those were wins with the other 4 runner-ups. One of those second-place finishes came just last year to Ron Capps. Can he get redemption on Monday afternoon?

Hight sits third in points. He had 2 wins in the first 5 races but none in the last 9.

Defending champion and US Nationals winner, Ron Capss (3.917 ET) was fourth while Matt Hagan (3.928 ET) rounded out the top five.

John Force currently holds the final spot to the ladder at 4.862 ET. With 17 Funny Car’s here, only Paul Lee 6.170 ET is on the outside looking in.

Results

1. Tasca III 3.864
2. Hight 3.886
3. DeJoria 3.888
4. Capps 3.917
5. Hagan 3.928
6. Pedregon 3.931
7. Alexander 3.934
8. Todd 3.966
9. Creasy Jr. 3.977
10. Bode 4.072
11. Haddock 4.079
12. Richards 4.121
13. Laughlin 4.203
14. Wilkerson 4.282
15. Green 4.729
16. Force 4.862
17. Lee 6.170

Pro Stock

Matt Hartford has been quick this season. He has three No. 1 qualifier awards. With his time on Friday (6.659 ET, 209.23 mph), he’s in line for his fourth on Sunday. Hartford is eyeing his first U.S. Nationals Wally and being provisional P1 is a great start at doing so.

He bested Troy Coughlin Jr. (6.570 ET, 208.30 mph) and Aaron Stanfield (6.586 ET, 208.39 mph). Erica Enders (6.588 ET, 208.68 mph) was P4. She’s won 2 of the last 3 years here. Dallas Glenn (6.590 ET, 209.01 mph) rounded out the top five. Glenn has won 4 of the 14 races this season.

Results

1. Hartford 6.569
2. Coughlin Jr. 6.570
3. Stanfield 6.586
4. Enders 6.588
5. Glenn 6.590
6. Koretsky 6.599
7. Fernando Cuadra Jr. 6.603
8. Cristian Cuadra 6.604
9. Caruso 6.605
10. Anderson 6.676
11. Fernando Cuadra 6.794
12. Mason McGaha 6.979
13. Chris McGaha 7.660
14. Tucker 11.036
15. Butner III 11.268
16. Latino 13.548

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Pro Stock Motorcycle

Gaige Herrera and the rest of the Pro Stock Motorcycle drivers have had the month off. However, in the return, Herrera picked up right where he left off. The points leader went 6.746 ET (198.96 mph) to become the provisional No. 1 qualifier on Friday evening. He’s won 6 of the 8-race weekend’s so far this season and eyeing his 8th No. 1 qualifier in the 9th race of the year.

Chasing him is teammate Eddie Krawiec who went P2 (6.807 ET, 198.79 mph). Hector Arana Jr. (6.873 ET, 198.76 mph), Steve Johnson (6.881 ET, 197.16 mph) and Matt Smith (6.882 ET, 199.79 mph) rounded out the top five.

That’s the points leader and the last 2 US Nationals winner in th etop 5.

Results

1. Herrera 6.746
2. Krawiec 6.807
3. Arana Jr. 6.873
4. Johnson 6.881
5. Matt Smith 6.882
6. Van Sant 6.884
7. Evaristo 6.917
8. Tornow 6.934
9. Ingwersen 6.999
10. Oehler 7.003
11. Hall 7.048
12. Bostick 7.068
13. Yoder 7.123
14. Reed 7.226
15. Wells 7.226
16. Clontz 7.680
17. Angie Smith 9.531