Brittany Force entered the Route 66 Nationals searching for her first No. 1 NHRA Mello Drag Racing Series qualifier of the season.

Judging from Friday’s performance, Force is on a fast track to reaching that goal.

During her second pass of the day, Force delivered a run of 3.711 seconds at 323.04 mph to establish quick time and fast speed in her Monster Energy dragster.

“Our second run was pretty awesome, since it was clean and the conditions were perfect,” said Force, who is vying for the seventh top qualifying spot of her career.

Force said she has reason for optimism throughout the weekend.

“Every run feels different, but I could tell from this second run that we would be shooting up the standings, and that we have a time that we are going to try and improve upon Saturday,” Force said.

Eight-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher, a native of Chicago, ranks second based off his trademark steady run of 3.758 at 325.37 in the U.S. Army dragster.

"It was nice to come see family and friends and be at an incredible racetrack," Schumacher said. “The atmosphere here is great. We've been working really hard and made a couple of good runs today."

Shawn Langdon, drive of the Global Electronics dragster is third with a run of 3.759 at 319.37.

Force will celebrate her birthday today, but her immediate concern is vanquishing 16 other drivers over the weekend.

“All I care about is winning the race,” Force said. “That would be the best gift I could have, standing in the winner’s circle with my Monster Energy team. It’s been awhile since we were in winner’s circle at Epping, so we’re ready to do it again.”

 Antron Brown and Leah Pritchett are also among the top five provisional qualifiers.

There was a somber mood to the day following the Tuesday afternoon death of popular Terry Chandler from brain cancer in Florida. Chandler, 65, was a vital part of the Don Schumacher Racing team through her personal funding of the Infinite Hero Top Fuel dragster driven by Jack Beckman and the Make-A-Wish Funny Car driven by Tommy Johnson Jr.

Chandler was a constant presence near the starting line to support her cars and teams.

"Terry is such a beautiful person,” Don Schumacher said Friday.  “She was so much more than a friend and partner. She is family. We will always see that wonderful smile of hers at the starting line."

Chandler, a native of New Mexico, was forced to miss the April Las Vegas event after feeling ill and later undergoing surgery to partially remove one of three tumors located in the front lobe of her brain. Chandler was the sister of former DSR Funny Car driver, Johnny Gray.

Chandler’s Make-A-Wish and Infinite Hero teams are racing for her this weekend.

"Terry is just an incredible lady, and we'll never know how many lives she impacted," Don Schumacher said. "We'll miss her every day, but we'll never forget her smile and her big heart."