NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

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Deric Kramer made 65 career NHRA Pro Stock starts before switching to K.B. Racing power following the 2017 season. He never qualified No. 1 prior to the switch to a Chevy Camaro and K.B. power. It took the Colorado native just two races with K.B. power to secure the first No. 1 qualifier of his career at the NHRA Arizona Nationals, the second of 24 events on the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Schedule..

“It feels great. We definitely try really hard every weekend, and over the past few years we’ve felt like we’ve made great run,” said Kramer. Teaming up with K.B. power along with the rest of our partners, American Ethanol, Novozymes, Poet, we were able to put a good package together and go to the top.”

Kramer made a pass of 6.522 seconds at 210.8 mph, both his best in the EFI era, to move to the top of the field.

"We went back and looked at the (Q3) run and saw, basically, how much I screwed up, and so figured we would go ahead and fix those issues, tuned a little bit on the car, and saw where it took us and got to the top,” Kramer said.

Kramer matches up against Alan Prusiensky in the first round of eliminations. Erica Enders is second in the qualifying order after a 6.527 at 209.98, while Alex Laughlin sits in the third spot.

Force took over the top spot in Funny Car with a record run of 3.826 seconds at 335.98 mph during her second pass of the day. After recording seven No. 1 qualifiers in 2017, she is aiming for her first event victory since Houston 2016.

“That last pass today was pretty incredible, we have run well here in the past and I’m excited to be back in that top spot,” Force said. “We are hoping to turn this consistency into a win, we just have to keep being consistent on race day.”

Force is set to face off against Del Worsham in round one of eliminations on Sunday. Ron Capps sits second after a 3.844 at 330.80 in his Napa Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T during the final pass of qualifying on Saturday. The defending Funny Car champion Robert Hight qualified 11th after a 3.927 at 329.26.

Tony Schumacher led Top Fuel with a run of 3.649 at 334.65 posted during the first qualifying session on Friday. Schumacher also set the Top Fuel national speed record at 336.57 with a time of 3.667 seconds during his second pass on Friday. After securing four No. 1 qualifiers in the 2017 season, Schumacher locked in his first of the year in day two of qualifying.

“We earned our three points and kept the top spot so it’s been a great weekend for us so far,” Schumacher said. “The car continues to be great and [crew chief] Mike Neff is comfortable and knows what the car is doing, so I think tomorrow is going to be great day.”

He will go head-to-head against Greg Carrillo in round one of eliminations on Sunday. Steve Torrence qualified second after a 3.665 at 331.45 in his Capco Contractors dragster, while the defending world champion Brittany Force qualified in the 14th spot.

Eliminations begin at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday.

Here are the brackets and first round pairings for Sunday's professional action.