Rick Hord raced to the No. 1 qualifying position on Saturday at the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service portion of the NHRA Carolina Nationals presented by WIX Filters. This weekend’s Pro Mod event, presented by Mr. Race Oil, is the 11th of 12 races during the 2018 season.

Hord’s 5.681 at 258.67 mph in his turbocharged ’16 Corvette is the second-quickest pass in the history of the class, giving him his second career No. 1 qualifier. Hord, who is also seeking his first E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series victory, will open eliminations against Bob Rahaim in what ended up as the quickest qualifying field in class history.

“Turbo cars are always going to be a little better when it’s cooler and our intention was only to get in the field because we were not in the field,” Hord said. “Our mission was just to get in the field and when it went a little better than that, we were extra happy. It felt like a good run.”

Jeremy Ray, who won the most recent race in Dallas and was the provisional No. 1 qualifier on Friday, is second after his run of 5.683 at 251.91 in his ’63 Corvette, making it the third-quickest run in the history of the class. He will meet Chip King in the opening round of eliminations, while points leader Mike Janis qualified 7th in his ’69 Camaro with a pass of 5.715 at 249.03 to set up a first-round matchup with Stevie Jackson.

E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series eliminations begin at 1:45 p.m. on Sunday at zMAX Dragway.

Sunday's first-round pairings for eliminations for the 11th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals presented by WIX Filters at zMax Dragway, the 11th of 12 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Pro Modified -- 1. Rick Hord, Chevy Corvette, 5.681, 258.67 vs. 16. Bob Rahaim, Chevy Camaro, 5.769, 249.49; 2. Jeremy Ray, Corvette, 5.683, 251.91 vs. 15. Chip King, Dodge Daytona, 5.762, 251.20; 3. Sidnei Frigo, Camaro, 5.701, 258.07 vs. 14. Khalid alBalooshi, Camaro, 5.759, 251.91; 4. Steven Whiteley, Camaro, 5.708, 255.58 vs. 13. Todd Tutterow, Camaro, 5.757, 249.58; 5. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.708, 252.61 vs. 12. Michael Biehle, Ford Mustang, 5.757, 257.78; 6. Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.711, 251.77 vs. 11. Danny Rowe, Camaro, 5.750, 253.99; 7. Mike Janis, Camaro, 5.715, 249.03 vs. 10. Steve Jackson, Camaro, 5.738, 247.84; 8. Justin Bond, Pontiac firebird, 5.718, 258.52 vs. 9. Chad Green, Corvette, 5.728, 250.64.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Brandon Snider, 5.772, 247.84; 18. Doug Winters, 5.798, 242.98; 19. Steve Matusek, 5.803, 251.72; 20. Jader Krolow, 5.825, 255.05; 21. Clint Satterfield, 5.859, 250.92; 22. Pete Farber, 5.924, 244.56.