Two-time High Gasoline world champion Brittany Pressure clinched her fiftieth profession No. 1 qualifier on Saturday at Texas Motorplex, hanging on to the highest place on the thirty ninth annual Texas NHRA FallNationals.
Austin Prock (Humorous Automobile), Greg Anderson (Professional Inventory) and Gaige Herrera (Professional Inventory Motorbike) additionally certified No. 1 on the 18th of 20 races in the course of the 2024 NHRA Mission Meals Drag Racing Sequence season and the fourth of six races within the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Pressure’s run of three.667s at 338.19mph from Friday in her HendrickCars.com/Chevrolet dragster wasn’t challenged on Saturday, handing the 16-time occasion winner her fourth No. 1 qualifier of the yr. She is going to open eliminations towards Spencer Hyde, trying to choose up her first victory because the 2022 season. Pressure was thrilled to earn a fiftieth profession No. 1 qualifier, however her focus stays on going 4 rounds on Sunday.
“Simply to listen to ‘50,’ that’s such an enormous achievement,” Pressure mentioned. “It’s an enormous achievement by all of John Pressure Racing. It’s one thing I’m very pleased with. It looks as if an unattainable quantity and to have that in my profession, to have the ability to accomplish that’s large and one thing I’m very pleased with. The cool factor is, it was a collective factor. It was performed with so many alternative groups and crew chiefs that I’ll at all times look as much as. All of them taught me issues alongside the best way that I nonetheless use to at the present time. I’m very grateful to them that they’re a part of my profession and getting that fifty.
“To see three [No. 1s] within the final [five] races, it exhibits that this crew is gaining momentum and that we’re shifting in the correct course. We’re beginning to transfer on to one thing constructive. However finally, we wish to carry out effectively on Sunday.”
Shawn Reed certified second with a 3.676s at 330.71mph and Texan Steve Torrence took third because of his move of three.721s at 332.03mph. Factors chief Antron Brown certified fifth and can face off with Justin Ashley, who’s 34 factors behind in second, in a must-see opening spherical.
In Humorous Automobile, Prock matched his boss and legendary Humorous Automobile driver John Pressure for probably the most No. 1 qualifiers in a single season at school historical past, incomes his thirteenth No. 1 spot of the 2024 season when Friday’s track-record run of three.813s at 333.09mph in his AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS wasn’t challenged on Saturday, guaranteeing a John Pressure Racing sweep in qualifying.
Friday’s run was additionally the eighth-quickest in Humorous Automobile historical past for the dominant factors chief, who will look to increase his lead on Sunday. He’ll begin raceday towards Terry Haddock as he seeks an eighth victory in 2024.
“It’s fairly particular. I had no concept that there was a report till just a few weeks in the past and we’ve knocked off just a few extra, and we finally tied them at this time,” Prock mentioned. “It’s fairly particular to be added to that listing, and to do it in 18 races is fairly unimaginable. It speaks volumes about this crew, my dad, my brother, Nate Hildahl, everybody that’s on this AAA/Cornwall Instruments automotive. I’m actually pleased with this crew and completely satisfied to be driving this race automotive.
“I did speak to John final evening and he was he was so ecstatic to see our race automotive and his daughter’s race automotive go No. 1 qualifier. He was watching all night lengthy, and he was actually proud. It was good to listen to his voice and know that he was watching and he’s proud, and hopefully we are able to make them proud the remainder of the season.”
Defending occasion winner and reigning world champion Matt Hagan took second after Friday’s 3.823s at 335.20mph and Jack Beckman, who’s second in factors, completed third with a 3.825s at 331.49mph.
Professional Inventory’s Greg Anderson heads into race day with loads of momentum after his 6.524s at 208.99mph in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro from Friday was sufficient at hand the five-time world champion his sixth No. 1 spot of the season and the one hundred and thirtieth in his standout profession. Anderson, who’s at the moment fourth in factors, made a pair of strong runs on Saturday as effectively. To remain within the title hunt, Anderson is aware of he’ll want an enormous day on Dallas.
Enders certified second because of Friday’s 6.526s at 209.09mph and David Cuadra took third with a 6.532s at 208.60mph. Aaron Stanfield and chief Dallas Glenn – are fourth and fifth, respectively. The highest two in factors may meet within the second spherical, with a possible matchup with Anderson looming within the semifinals.
“Three of us are one aspect. Erica occurred to finish up on the opposite aspect and I’m undecided if that’s a superb factor or a nasty factor for her. We’ll see the way it performs out tomorrow,” Anderson mentioned. “There’s solely going to be one of many three left within the semifinal on our aspect of the ladder. With out one thing like that occuring at certainly one of these races I most likely wouldn’t have an opportunity to make up floor as a result of if all of us 4 maintain making the semifinals, you’re not going to make up a lot floor. It’s actually the one probability I’ve bought.
“We’ll see how the playing cards fall tomorrow, however it’s a chance. I like that. We’re going to be quick. I’m excited to race, and it might be a turning level of the season. It’s time to both get it performed or go dwelling.”
Herrera was the one provisional No. 1 qualifier to enhance on Saturday, delivering a run of 6.749s at 202.52mph in Professional Inventory Motorbike on his RevZilla/Mission Meals/Vance & Hines Suzuki. It arms the factors chief his eighth No. 1 qualifier in 2024 and the twenty second in his profession, and Herrera will look to win in Dallas for a second straight yr. Herrera was impressed along with his crew’s capability to enhance on Friday’s run as he appears to increase his factors lead on Sunday.
“The one factor that made it attainable was tail wind,” Herrera mentioned. “You simply needed to catch it on the proper time. It was a cross tail so I didn’t suppose being in the correct lane would have an effect on us as a lot because it did, however it did. That was a superb move. Tomorrow we’re going to be racing in this sort of climate. I feel it’s going to be a direct, straight tail wind as a substitute of throughout. In all probability see a fairly good mile an hour tomorrow and it’ll be a superb day of racing.
“The most important factor I give attention to is the right here and now. You may’t predict what’s going to occur. You may’t attempt to make stuff occur. You simply need to go on the market and do what you need to do and it’s going to prove the way it’s going to be.”
Matt Smith jumped as much as second within the closing session after going 6.756s at 201.77mph and Jianna Evaristo took third because of Friday’s 6.777s at 201.81mph.
Eliminations for the thirty ninth annual Texas NHRA FallNationals start at 12 p.m. CT on Sunday at Texas Motorplex.
