FRIDAY SEATTLE QUALIFYING
Two-time NHRA Full Throttle Series champion Tony Pedregon delivered the run of the day, a 4.182-second pass at 289.63 mph, to assume the provisional No. 1 qualifying position in Funny Car at the 22nd annual NHRA Northwest Nationals Friday.
The other provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 14th race in the 24-race NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season were Larry Dixon (Top Fuel) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock).
TONY PEDREGON EARNS PROVISIONAL NO. 1 IN FUNNY CAR DURING DIFFICULT SESSION IN HOT CONDITIONS
Dixon, Edwards round out provisional No. 1s on Day 1 at NHRA Northwest Nationals
Two-time
NHRA Full Throttle Series champion Tony Pedregon delivered the run of
the day, a 4.182-second pass at 289.63 mph, to assume the provisional
No. 1 qualifying position in Funny Car at the 22nd annual NHRA
Northwest Nationals Friday.
The other provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 14th race in the 24-race
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season were Larry Dixon (Top
Fuel) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock).
Pedregon ran in the final pair of the second qualifying session with
Bob Tasca (4.228, 282.48) and each got down the track – they qualified
1-2 – but they were among the only Funny Cars to do so on what proved
to be a difficult track to solve for most of the Funny Car crew chiefs.
"We just took advantage of (the track). I’m glad we didn’t gauge by
what the other guys were doing," said Pedregon, who drives the Q
Horsepower Chevy Impala. "I think (crew chief) Dickie (Venables) stuck
to his game plan."
Pedregon currently sits third in the points this season, 54 behind co-leaders
Ashley Force Hood (No. 7, 4.320) and Ron Capps, the latter of whom
wasn’t able to get his car down the track in either qualifying pass on
Friday.
"I’m surprised (about Ron and) the other drivers (in the night
session). Maybe the first session had some issues, it usually takes one
run, the first run on Friday is usually a little temperamental (but) I
was surprised (so many cars had trouble with) the second session,"
Pedregon said.
In Top Fuel, second-place Larry Dixon and the Al-Anabi dragster team
was best in both rounds of qualifying, capping off the first day with a
Top Fuel-best 3.891 at 302.21 for what would be his fourth No. 1
qualifier this season.
"Me, I just like to be in the top three or four cars and know that you
have a good hot rod for Sunday," said Dixon, who’s qualified in the top
5 at 10 of the first 13 races. "Membership has its privileges. If you
can get in the top three or four, then you have a good drawing, you can
get a good pair, go later in the round after some rubber’s been put
down and you get lane choice obviously."
The
provisional No. 1 in Pro Stock is Mike Edwards, whose 6.606 at 208.94
in the first round of qualifying held up in the evening session. The
second place driver of the A.R.T. Pontiac is looking to add to his
NHRA-best seven No. 1 qualifying passes this season.
"It’s been an awesome season. It’s a joy to come out here and race this
season," Edwards said. "It’s by far my best season ever. My hat’s off
to all my guys."
Qualifying resumes Saturday with Rounds 3 and 4 before the fields are set for Sunday’s final eliminations.
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