The mission for Tanner Gray is to win NHRA’s Pro Stock world championship.

The ultra-talented second-year driver put himself in a great spot in the first race of the six-race Countdown to the Championship.

Gray, who pilots his family-owned Gray Motorsports Chevy Camaro, clocked a 6.542-second run at 210.47 mph Saturday in Q4 to capture the No. 1 qualifying spot at the Dodge Nationals at Reading, Pa.

“There really was a big difference (in the last pass),” Gray said. “It made it a little more aggressive down low in the first 60 feet. I just did the same thing I’ve been doing. I thought we just picked up and it traveled a little bit better through the center. We really have been making good runs (Friday and Saturday). That one (his last qualifying pass) had that little bit of an edge and was just a little bit better.”

This was Gray’s second No. 1 qualifier of the season as he also started in the top spot at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, the last event on tour, which he won. He has six No. 1 qualifiers and 10 victories in his short 43-race career, including a class-high five this season.

“This (No. 1 qualifier) definitely gives us some confidence, but at the same time everyone knows the sun will be out (Sunday) and it will be a little bit hotter and the track can get greasy. It will be different conditions all the way round with running right behind the fuel cars, so it will change the way crew chiefs have to run the car. It will make for an interesting Sunday. As far as I go, I’m not going to try and change too much. I just want to make sure I’m getting in shallow and hitting the tree the best I know how, which I feel like I have been doing a good job at and I’m excited for (Sunday).”

Gray knows his crew will play a big role in his success on race day.

“Dave (Connolly, his crew chief) and them will probably be switching stuff around on the car and thinking what calls they have to make conditions will be so much different,” Gray said. “This place is weird with its weather. I’m just trying to keep the same mindset.”