4-time High Gasoline world champion Steve Torrence powered to the provisional No. 1 place on pace at Brainerd Worldwide Raceway, taking the highest spot over Tony Stewart on Friday on the forty second annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.
Blake Alexander (Humorous Automotive) and Greg Anderson (Professional Inventory) are additionally the provisional No. 1 qualifiers on the thirteenth of 20 races in the course of the 2024 NHRA Mission Meals Drag Racing Sequence season.
Torrence and Stewart each went a blistering 3.688s in the course of the second qualifying session at Brainerd, however Torrence had the sooner run, going a powerful 335.32mph in his Capco Contractors dragster. If that holds, it might be Torrence’s third high spot of the season and the fortieth in his profession. After successful in Seattle, issues are persevering with to come back round for Torrence, who’s presently third in High Gasoline factors.
“We’ve been engaged on making an attempt to make energy,” Torrence stated. “On the finish of the day, energy is pace, and the excessive mile an hour is simply an exhibition of energy and with the ability to get it down. These situations listed here are completely different than numerous locations we go, so it’s quite troublesome to make energy right here. I used to be a bit shocked to see 0.68s being low.
“The observe is sweet, every little thing is sweet, however individuals are struggling to make the ability they need. We have been desirous to run faster than 0.68s, and that’s simply what it gave us. We have been just a bit nearer to it than all people else, solely a bit higher than Smoke. Fairly cool to see him come out and do in addition to he’s finished proper right here. We acquired fortunate and it’s been a superb day.”
Stewart went a career-best 3.688s at 332.18mph to take a seat within the second spot, whereas factors chief and reigning world champ Doug Kalitta is third with a run of three.703s at 335.40mph.
Humorous Automotive’s Blake Alexander made a giant transfer to shut out qualifying on Friday in Brainerd, leaping to the No. 1 place in his Head Racing Ford Mustang after a robust run of three.874s at 331.61mph. It might be Alexander’s first profession No. 1 qualifier ought to it maintain. It was a standout efficiency by Alexander, who has loved some robust moments in the course of the 2024 marketing campaign, together with a pair of semifinal finishes during the last 4 occasions. Including his first profession No. 1 qualifier would definitely add that checklist if Alexander can grasp on.
“Given the circumstances of the earlier race, that was very candy – but in addition, I feel we’re able to doing that, and it wasn’t precisely stunning,” Alexander stated. “It’s repetitive – that’s the second time we’ve run 3.87s, and that’s whenever you begin turning into an issue for these guys out right here who’re, fairly frankly, greater outfits than us. It feels fairly good to have the ability to run with them.
“We’re having the perfect season we’ve ever had, to be sincere. We simply haven’t gained a race but. I feel that will get misplaced within the nature of this enterprise is you’re solely nearly as good as your final run. That can occur tomorrow, and that may occur on Sunday, however proper now we’re pleased with the place we’re at.”
Alexis DeJoria took the second spot after going 3.882s at 332.84mph and Bob Tasca III, who gained the latest race in Sonoma, is third because of a run 3.884s at 332.59mph.
In Professional Inventory, Duluth native Greg Anderson put collectively a traditional efficiency on the observe the place he grew up racing, taking the provisional No. 1 place with a run of 6.641s at 207.08mph in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. That places Anderson in place to choose up his fifth No. 1 qualifier of the yr and the third previously 4 races. Anderson hasn’t gained in Brainerd since 2011, one thing the five-time world champion would love to alter because the Countdown to the Championship approaches. He closed out qualifying with a standout run and can look to proceed that on Saturday when Professional Inventory will make three qualifying runs.
“I hoped we may have run a bit bit faster, however the backside line is that we did all we may do at this time. We acquired all of the factors that they needed to give, and we gained Friday,” Anderson stated. “So, we’ll transfer into tomorrow as a brand new day, and we’ll use that as tuning information. There’s positively numerous room left in it, we all know we will run higher which is nice information.
“I really like racing right here at Brainerd. When it’s cloudy and funky like this, the racetrack is nice. The underside line is that the racetrack is healthier than we went up there ready for. That’s a superb drawback. You go dwelling and discover some braveness, come again tomorrow and be higher. That’s what we’ll do. We’ll come again like a lion tomorrow and hopefully run higher and take No. 1 dwelling with us.”
Aaron Stanfield, who has gained three of the previous 4 races, is presently second with a 6.642s at 206.26mph and Matt Hartford is true behind after going 6.643s at 204.66mph.
Qualifying continues at 12 p.m. CT on Saturday on the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd Worldwide Raceway.
