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It’s going to be a long, long day at the Northwest Nationals, with the first of two Pro sessions not scheduled until 3:30 p.m., followed almost five hours later by the event’s first nighttime session. In the late afternoon, the sun sets past the finish line, creating vision issues for the drivers, so there’s a mandatory downtime during that period.

Sportsman cars are getting a full day in early, but while we’re waiting for the Pros, here’s a few pre-race notes to keep you entertained.

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Pro Stock rookie bis making her debut with Elite Motorsports in a Cuadra-branded entry after running the first six races under the umbrella of the rival KB/Titan team. She qualified for just three of the six events, and she’s competing at Pacific Raceways for the first time.

“I have never raced in Seattle before,” she said. “I am excited to see another racetrack and see another state that I have never been to. There’s going to be a lot that is new this weekend. Luckily, I’ve had the chance to be in the Elite pits the last couple of races. I’ve loved watching their team dynamic, they all work so well together and really support each other”

Wildgust will have the Cuadra brand on the side of her car while the Cuadra family is away on business for the next two races. The brothers saw an opportunity to keep their brand represented at NHRA while also supporting their new teammate as she continues her Pro Stock career.

"I'm so grateful to the Cuadra family that they'd let me represent their brand out on the NHRA circuit while they take care of business overseas,” Wildgust said. “Everything has really just come together to make this transition seamless."

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Antron Brown has a lot of big history at the NHRA Northwest Nationals. He’s won the race four times in Top Fuel, and his first win in Seattle, in 2009, was the middle leg of a rare Western Swing sweep, preceded by a win in Denver the week before and followed a week later by a broom-wielding weekend in Sonoma. The 2009 season was also the first for Brown with crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald. The team had been put together by Mike Ashley that offseason before being absorbed by Don Schumacher Racing late in the year.

Until last year, when Gaige Herrera swept the Swing in Pro Stock Motorcycle, Brown’s western hat trick was the last time it had been accomplished,

It took Brown a while to get back to the Seattle winner’s circle, but when he did, it seemed like he’d never leave as he won three in a row, 2016 – 2018. That final victory, in 2018, was also Brown’s 50th Top Fuel win, when he became just the fourth driver in NHRA history to achieve that feat.

Brown also holds the Pacific Raceways track E.T. record of 3.685 seconds, which he set at the 2016 event. 

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He couldn't be further than home and still be on the NHRA tour, but Steve Torrence no doubt is welcoming his return to Seattle, some 1,778 miles from his home in Kilgore, Texas. It was at this race last year where Torrende and "them CAPCO boys" last visited the winner's circle after beating Doug Kalitta in the final round.

It's been 20 events since that last win, and he's been to three finals — all at the end of last season — and 12 semifinals without getting the W.

“We’ve had a car that can win,” Torrence said, “but we just haven’t been on the same page with the driver and the car.  We need to figure that out before the Countdown. We just have to keep putting ourselves in position (to win),” he said.  “These CAPCO boys have fought the fight.  They know what’s ahead and there’s no one I’d rather have with me.  Our goal right now is to move up (in points) and get a better starting spot for the Countdown.  If we win while we’re doing that, that’s just gravy.”

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Torrence's drought is nothing compared to Funny Car legend Jim Dunn, whose last winner's circle appearance came here in 2008 with driver Tony Bartone behind the wheel of the Canidie Pet Foods entry.

The team's new driver, Buddy Hull,  is confident that drought will end soon.

“I’ve been telling the team all week that there’s something in the air going into this race,” said Hull. “I have this gut feeling that this weekend will be our weekend. We’ve been consistently running well ever since Bristol, and with a couple of weeks off everyone is feeling good. We’re rested up after a busy first half of the season, and we’re ready to turn on some win lights in Seattle.”

Hull will be one of several drivers participating in the dunk-tank contest between today's sessions that will benefit the Drag Racing Association of Women (DRAW). DRAW is a non-profit organization that provides financial and emotional support to qualified individuals involved in drag racing accidents at a track. Austin Prock, Matt Hagan, Dave Richards, and Troy Coughlin Jr. will also be participating.

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Pro Stock Motorcycle Q1

Branden Little, an 18-year-old rookie rider from Louisburg, N.C., makes his first Pro Stock Motorcycle pass after previous no-bar experience. He's on one of Matt Smith's S&S-powered entries and acquits himself well with a 7.07. Eiji Kawakami is beside him but loses the handle and crosses the centerline, striking a timing block and invalidating his pass. Just 13 bikes are currently on the grounds.

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Steve Johnson, riding in new red and white colors, is competing in his 499th Pro Stock Motorcycle race and looking forward to the 500-race milestone next weekend in Sonoma. He rips off a 6.825 to take the lead; Chris stick runs 691 in the other lane for the provisional No. 2 spot that will likely end up midpack by the end of the session.

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Jianna Evaristo takes the No. 2 spot with a 6.835; in the other lane, Hector Arana Jr., one of the two riders with S&S Gen 1 power (Litten being the other) who got a 10-pound weight reduction between events, has a faltering 12-second pass.

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Angie Smith sets a new track speed record at 200.62 mph on a 6.82 pass (old mark: 200.56 by Hector Arana Jr. last year) but it's Chase Van Sant with the real headline in the other lane with a 6.781 to take the No. 1 spot.

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Gaige Herrera, still unbeaten this season and riding a 43-round, 11-event winning streak, grabs the No. 1 spot with a 6.739, a hundredth shy of the track record he set here last year. Matt Smith, meanwhile, adds another 200-mph pass with a 6.822 pass at 200.56 mph.

PRO STOCK Q1

Former Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Cory Reed, in his first race back after a nasty crash on his bike a few years ago in Charlotte, has doubled the wheels for his Pro Stock debut in the J&A Services Camaro, but he doesn't get far as the car snakes to the right after the launch, forcing him to lift.

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Val Smeland is here with a new Jerry Haas-built Mustang (still unlettered and unstickered) in place of his usual Camaro. He clocks a 6.61 at 209 mph, so an impressive first pass. Behind Reed, Joey Grose also doesn't make it down the right lane either.

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Sienna Wildgust's first run under the Elite umbrella is a decent 6.609. Alongside her, Kenny Delco takes over the No. 1 spot with a 6.573. Behind them, the McGahas — father Chris and son Mason — get a rare side-by-side qualifier. the kid drills the old man on the Tree and runs 6.577 to Dad's 6.585.

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It's 6.54s a pair for Eric Latino and Matt Hartford, with Latino's 6.541 grabbing the No. 1 slot just ahead of Hartford's 6.545.  Jerry Tucker, who picked up his first No. 1 qualifying position earlier this year in Las Vegas, also can't make it down the right lane alongside Deric Kramer, who posts a 6.585.

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It's another family affair, this time with the Coughlins, with Jeg Coughlin Jr. alongside nephew Troy Jr. Both have won here before, Jeg in 2002 and Troy Jr. 20 years later, in 2022, the last time that Pro Stock ran here. The kid straps a .007 light on his distracted (.413) uncle and races to a 6.577 for the No. 3 spot. 

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The right lane claims another victim in Erica Enders, who coasts through with a 10-second e.t., Well ahead of her, Elite teammate Aaron Stanfield zips to a 6.564 for the new No. 3 spot.

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Points leader Dallas Glenn, who grew up one exit down Highway 18 from Pacific Raceways, runs 6.556 for the No. 4 spot while teammate Greg Anderson goes to No. 2 with a 6.543. Erix Latino currently holds the No. 1 spot with a 6.541.

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FUNNY CAR Q1

Veteran Gary Densham, making his first start since the 2021 Finals, makes a 5.111 pass. His son, Steven, has driven the car since 2022, including two events earlier this season.

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"The Surfer," Jeff Diehl, rides back into Funny Car competition for the first time since the Las Vegas event earlier this season. but wipes out early with tire smoke and shake so bad that he doesn't;t even make it all the way to the finish line.

Dave Richards and the Versatran team are in the other lane, still working to find the right combination in their first full season, The team's decision to front half the car before the Richmond event has been showing signs of success with the team making clean passes down the track.

“We’re optimistic, we have to be, but our optimism is being backed by improved performance,” Richards said. “If we can get some momentum, I think we could really start to turn things around. It starts with that first run Friday afternoon.”

Not much success here though as he clocks a 7.392 on a troubled pass.

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Cruz Pedregon and Buddy Hull also fail to make it down the track and suddenly Gary Densham's 5.11 is looking pretty sporty. Paul Lee finally tips him from the top with a 4.71 that's not much to write home about but has him No. 1 halfway through the session.

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Chad Green gives the fans their first three-second Funny Car pass of the weekend with a 3.975 that should open the floodgates for the quality lineup of machines behind him.

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Ron Capps shows that the right lane ain't bad either with a 3.99 for the No. 2 spot. Capps is sponsored this weekend by the local Muckleshoot Hotel/Casino, which also serves as the NHRA headquarters hotel.

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Austin Prock, who has been the No. 1 qualifier at seven of the season’s first 10 races, gets back into a familiar spot with a 3.95 alongside Bob Tasca III, who drops the cylinder and darts left towards the wall, but he's able to gather it in for a 4.11.

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TOP FUEL Q1

Jasmine Salinas makes it partway down the track before losing traction and smokes to a 4.31. Word is that we'll see her father, Mike, sidelined with medical problems since earlier this season, in attendance (but not racing) next weekend in Sonoma.

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Shawn Reed, who hails from just about a half-hour south of Pacific Raceways in Lake Tapps, makes his triumphant return to his neighborhood after embarking on his first full season, sputters at the top end to a 4.13 while Josh Hart takes the No. 1 spot with a 3.814. Between races, the  R+L Carriers team added veteran wrench John Stewart to assist with the clutch, and it looks like it's paid off quickly.

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Brittany Force is back after a one-race absence to be with her injured father, 16-time world champ John. She's sporting the familiar Flav-R-Pac colors in tribute to its late owner Frank Tiegs. In the other lane is Tony Stewart, who won last weekend in a return to the Top Alcohol Dragster ranks at the North Central Region event at National Trail Raceway in Ohio. No such luck for Stewart here as he smokes 'em right at the hit while Force runs 3.866 for the current No. 2 spot.

"It feels really good to be back with the team and the car," said Force. "They have supported us through this entire time, and it's been tough."

***

Billy Torrence is off like a shot but tails off to a 3.87 at the top end as he goes to No. 3. Clay Millican drops some cylinders and shuts off to a 4.03. behind him, son Steve also has a good-looking run early and his 286-mph trap speed on a No. 2-ranked 3.846 shows he could have gone to No. 1. Alongside him, Tony Schumacher, a five-time Seattle winner, lifts early to a 4.38.

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Antron Brown, who's won this race four times in Top Fuel, and Shawn Langdon, whose first-ever national event win came here in Super Comp in 2002, square off in the penultimate pair. Brown, hot off of his victory in Norwalk three weeks ago, races to a 3.843 while Langdon clocks an early-off 6.73.

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Justin Ashley runs 3.867 and Doug Kalitta 3.869 as both fail to knock Josh Hart from the top spot it's quite a turnaround for Hart who suffered his first career DNQ in Norwalk.

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PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE Q2

As Eiji Kawakami pulls up to kick off the session, it's not hard to notice the Smith Racing team of Matt and AngieSmith, Jianna Evaristo, and company watching from behind the starting line, none of them in their leathers. Kawakami keeps it in his lane this time and goes 7.12. behind him, Hector Arana Jr also gets in a full pass with a 6.872 as does Chris Bostick, who goes 6.812. Steve Johnson follows with a solid 6.804.

***

Gaige Herrera resets his No. 1 spot with a 6,734 and breaks the track speed record with a 201.22. That was a pretty quick session.

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PRO STOCK Q2

Cory Reed takes a second swing on four wheels and storms to an impressive 6.53 to take the provisional No. 1 spot from Eric Latino.

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With 17 cars on the grounds, oddly it's Erica Enders in the 17th spot after having to abort her first run, but she races her way into the setting sun and not just into the field but all the way to the top with a 6.500. Behind her, teammates Jerry Tucker (6.532) and Sieanna Wildgust (6.583) also improve.

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As expected, the cool air is giving everyone a boost of some degree as Deric Kramer picks up five-hundredths to a 6.53 and Val Smeland picks up just .009-second with his new Mustang.

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Chris McGaha rockets to a 6.532 to jump all the way up to No. 2 with a run of 211.13 mph. Right behind him, son Mason runs 6.520 to take that spot from Dad. The Harlow Sammons team has found something.

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First-session leader Eric Latino and second-ranked Greg Anderson have been bumped all the way to Nos. 10 and 11 by the time they pull to the line in the final pair. Latino gets back to just No. 2 with a 6.518 while Anderson's 6.521 slots him fourth.

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FUNNY CAR Q2

Dave Richards kicks everything off with an improved 4.072 and Buddy Hull goes 4.076 behind him, but it's Paul Lee who steals the early show under the lights with a 3.917 to take over the No. 1 spot.

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Neither Bob Tasca III nor Matt Hagan don't get all of their runs with respective passes of 4.40 and 4.29, and neither has made it into the threes in their first two shots.

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The pace begins to really pick up in the final two pairs as Ron Capps is first in the 3.80s with a 3.88 alongside J.R. Todd's strong 3.910, but once again Austin Prock reclaims the top spot with a dynamic 3.838 in the Cornwell Tools Camaro,

TOP FUEL Q2

Ron Smith makes his annual lone NHRA national event appearance in his own backyard and chugs to a 5.184.

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Tony Stewart, who didn't make it but a few feet under power in Q1, goes the full 1,000 feet this time with a stout 3.778 to take over the No. 1 spot. With these prime conditions, it's extremely doubtful it will survive the session atop the pack. "The chances are 0%," he agrees from the top end.

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After both Shawn Langdon and Tony Stewart fail to make it down the track, Jasmine Salinas and Shawn Reed are locked in side by side for respective passes of 3.734 and 3.736 to go to the No. 1 and 2 spots. Salinas' speed of 332.43 is a career-best for the second-generation racer.

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Clay Millican takes a serious shot at unseating Salinas but falls short with a 3.768 that carries him to No. 3, but Justin Ashley gets it done with a 3.694 and Doug Kalitta also passes Salinas with a 3.710. Ashley's crew chief Mike Green doesn't think the number will stick for No. 1.

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Steve Torrence and Brittany Force are up next and Torrence not only takes over No. 1 with a 3.688 but also resets the track speed record at 335.32 mph, breaking Force's mark of 334.73. His run is just a few thousandths shy of Antron Brown's track e.t. mark of 3.685, but it's still a nice birthday present for his wife, Natalie. Brittany, meanwhile, goes to third with a 3.701.

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Antron Brown and Josh Hart will close the night trying to get past Torrence but neither can as both run 3.74.