NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Low qualifier Billy Torrence, whose last No. 1 start ended up with him in the winner’s circle in Brainerd last year, is halfway to repeating that feat after defeating Mike Salinas in round two with a strong-but-fiery 3.687 pass.

Rookie Jordan Vandergriff ended Winternationals winner Doug Kalitta’s five-round win streak in close battle and remained unbeaten in competition. Fellow rookie Austin Prock wasn’t as fortunate as his Rocky Brand dragster smoked the tires alongside similarly up-in-smoke Antron Brown, but the three-time champ was able to leg his way to the win stripe despite a wounded engine. 

Semifinal matchups (lane choice first): Billy Torrence vs. Jordan Vandergriff; Leah Pritchett vs. Antron Brown

[Round 1 recap]