The NHRA opened their 73rd season on Thursday at the NHRA Gainesville, Fla., running sportsman qualifying to completion. A round of Top Alcohol qualifying was completed.

Monty Bogan Jr. started his 2024 season exactly how he wanted: on top of Competition Eliminator. The Jonesville, SC-based driver, who has won in all three NHRA class racing eliminators, got the party started by qualifying No. 1 behind the wheel of Lee Sharp's 2007 Pontiac G5.

Thursday's effort marked the first time Bogan has qualified No. 1 in Competition Eliminator. 

"This feels good," Bogan said. "We have a fast hot rod and this Tim Freeman engine is getting the job done. Qualifying is done, so now we are focused on winning."

Bogan, running in H/Altered Automatic, was -.762 under the index with an 8.458 elapsed time. 

Rounding out the top three was Peter Hanratty (K/Altered, -.706, 8.458), and Jarrod Granier (C/Super Modified, -.678, 8.1420. There are 20 cars on the property this weekend. 

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Jay Storey had the car to beat in Super Stock as he drove his Factory Super Stock/D 2022 Camaro to the No. 1 spot, running 1.132 seconds under the index with an 8.768.

Stan Holt's stick-shifted 1966 Chevy II post car was second running -1.041 under the Super Stock/K standard. Richard Bierie's Factory Super Stock/B Camaro was third.

The Chevrolet dominance in Stock Eliminator was on full display as Ralph Porpora drove his E/Stock Automatic 1969 Camaro to the top spot with a -1.104 under run, a 10.596.
  
Other low qualifiers included Joy Maynard (Top Alcohol Dragster), Sean Bellemeur (Top Alcohol Funny Car),  Kamron Wright (Top Sportsman, 6.128) and Larry Strickland (Top Dragster, 6.106).

QUALIFYING RESULTS