NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The opening day of qualifying at the season-ending In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals was epic with incredible performances from all four professional classes, and a noticeable increase in the drama surrounding the Camping World NHRA Series championships that are still up for grabs.

The Top Fuel dragster class put on a show for the ages with a slew of 3.6-second runs including a 3.64 by Steve Torrence, who is seeking his fifth world title. Torrence was one of eight drivers to run in the 3.6s including fellow title contenders Doug Kalitta (3.671), Leah Pruett (3.676).

Billy Torrence also made an impressive run with a 3.682 in his Capco dragster while Justin Ashley, Brittany Force, Antron Brown, and defending event winner Austin Prock round out the quick half of the field.

Matt Hagan, one of the contenders for the Funny Car title, put his Mopar Dodge into the top spot following a 3.869 run under the lights on Friday evening. Hagan leads fellow title contenders Bob Tasca III who is third with a 3.880 and Robert Hight, who finished the day in the No. 4 spot after a 3.898 in his Auto Club Camaro.

The surprise of the day in Funny Car came from Paul Lee, who recorded the quickest run of his career with a 3.785 to land in the No. 2 spot. J.R. Todd, Ron Capps, Steven Densham, and Cruz Pedregon round out the top eight in Funny Car.

Among those not qualified are Alexis DeJoria, Alex Laughlin, and Chad Green.

Greg Anderson admits that his chances of overtaking Erica Enders to win the Pro Stock title are slim but he’s not about to give up until the title is officially out of reach. Anderson helped his cause with a 6.495 that has his HendrickCars.com Camaro in the provisional No. 1 spot.

Enders is close behind in second place and likely needs to win just one round on Sunday in order to put the wraps on her sixth title. The Elite driver has the chance to join exclusive company as Bob Glidden (10) and Warren Johnson (6) are the only other Pro Stock drivers to win six titles.

The entire Pro Stock field is separated by just five hundredths of a second and surprisingly, Dallas Glenn currently rests on the bump spot after a 6.55? run in his RAD Torque Systems Camaro.

To the surprise of no one, Gaige Herrera sits atop the Pro Stock Motorcycle field after running a 6.721 on his Vance & Hines Mission Foods Suzuki. Herrera slowed on the first qualifying run when he damaged an engine but quickly recovered. Should he hang on to the top spot, Herrera will have qualified No. 1 at 14 of 15 events this season. His only miss was Denver, where he was third-quickest.

Herrera’s lead is slim as Hector Arana Jr. is second with a 6.729 on his GETTRX Buell while Eddie Krawiec is third-quickest after a 6.742. Herrera will officially clinch the title at the end of Saturday’s qualifying runs.

2022 EVENT WINNERS

Austin Prock, Top Fuel; Cruz Pedregon, Funny Car; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock; Angie Smith, Pro Stock Motorcycle

 MOST VICTORIES

Don Garlits, Doug Kalitta, Tony Schumacher, 6, TF; John Force, 16, FC; Greg Anderson, 14, PS; John Myers, Matt Smith, 5, PSM.

TRACK RECORDS

Top Fuel - 3.628 seconds by Clay Millican, Feb. '18; 338.94 mph by Brittany Force, Nov. ‘22

Funny Car - 3.822 seconds by Matt Hagan, Feb. '17; 337.33 mph byRon Capps, Nov. '22

Pro Stock - 6.480 seconds by Erica Enders, Nov. '14; 213.84 mph by Drew Skillman, Nov. '15

Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.703 seconds by Angelle Sampey, Nov. 22; 202.94 by Angie Smith, Nov. 22.

NATIONAL RECORDS

Top Fuel - 3.623 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. '19, Reading, Pa.; 338.94 mph by Brittany Force, Nov. ‘22, Pomona, Calif.

Funny Car - 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. '17, Brainerd; 339.87 mph by Robert Hight, July ’17, Sonoma, Calif.

Pro Stock - 6.450 sec. by Erica Enders, March '22, Gainesville, Fla.; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May '14, Englishtown, N.J.

Pros Stock Motorcycle – 6.627 sec. by Gaige Herrera, Oct. 23, Dallas; 205.04 mph by Matt Smith, July ’21, Sonoma, Calif.

EVENT SCHEDULE (Pacific Time)

SATURDAY, Nov. 11

Lucas Oil Series Drag Racing Series eliminations at 8:30 a.m.
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying at noon and 3 p.m.

SUNDAY, Nov. 12

Pre-Race ceremonies begin at 9:30 a.m.
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series eliminations begin at 10:30 a.m.

TELEVISION SCHEDULE

SUNDAY, Nov. 12, FS1 will televise two hour of qualifying coverage at 2:00 p.m. ET

SUNDAY, Nov. 12, FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at 4:00 p.m. ET

SUNDAY, Nov. 12, FS1 will televise a 30-minute post-race show at 7 p.m. ET.

Watch all day on NHRA.tv