ENNIS, Texas (AP) — Courtney Force topped Funny Car qualifying Friday in the Texas NHRA FallNationals with a track-record run.
Force, a two-time event winner this season, set both ends of the Texas Motorplex record in her Ford Mustang with a 4.039-second pass at 314.90 mph. She has three No. 1 qualifying positions this year and six in her 65-race career.
“Going into this race I was confident that we had a good car,” Force said. “To go out there and go to the No. 1 spot with our Traxxas team and run a number like that, is a good weekend so far. We still have tomorrow and it is going to down since we are running later in the day but I’m excited and proud of my team.”
J.R. Todd led in Top Fuel, Shane Gray in Pro Stock and Hector Arana Jr. in Pro Stock Motorcycle in the second event of the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Todd had a track-record time of 3.761 at 317.87 in his Kalitta Motorsports dragster. If the time holds, it will be Todd’s second consecutive No. 1 position in the Countdown playoffs.
Gray finished in 6.577 at 209.88 in his Chevy Camaro. Gray will meet Erica Enders-Stevens in the second round of eliminations for the delayed NHRA Carolina Nationals, which will be completed Saturday.
Arana had a 6.855 at 194.63 on a Buell. He also won his first round of eliminations for the Carolina event.
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