NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Shawn Langdon made the only 3-second run in the first Funny Car qualifying session at the Arby’s NHRA Southern Nationals. That earned the most recent winner in the category three bonus points and the added bonus of getting to go last in the second qualifying session, which is coming up at 8 p.m. Eastern. 

He is followed by Bob Tasca III, who had an adventurous ride down the track. The True Car Funny Car racer landed in the sand when his parachutes failed to deploy. His car was (it appears) undamaged, but there will be a little extra work for the team between sessions. Tommy Johnson Jr. earned the final bonus point in the session. 

John Force, who is celebrating a birthday this weekend, did not make it to the other end of the race track because of an explosion before he made it to the Christmas Tree. He was unhurt, but his Chevy Camaro had to be towed to the other end of the strip. 

FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING ORDER: Q1
1    Shawn Langdon    3.987
2    Bob Tasca III    4.027
3    Tommy Johnson Jr.    4.04
4    Blake Alexander    4.101
5    Tim Wilkerson    4.383
6    Dave Richards    4.442
7    Matt Hagan    4.483
8    Jack Beckman    5.126
9    J.R. Todd    5.648
10    Ron Capps    5.73
11    Paul Lee    5.792
12    Robert Hight    6.535
13    Cruz Pedregon    11.154
14    John Force    DNF