NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Weather conditions: air temperature 91 degrees, relative humidity 58 percent, barometer 29.86 inches, adjusted altitude 3,224 feet, track temperature 133 degrees. Josh Hart 3 -5 in Rd. 1 this year. Dan Mercier is making his 20th start. This is the first time Mercier and Hart have faced each other in eliminations. Hart with the starting line advantage and the power to hold on for the hole shot win. Mercier had a hole out or two.

Antron Brown starts the race in 8th place (tied for his lowest spot of the year). Billy Torrence is 6 - 2 in Rd. 1 this year. Brown is 10 - 4 against Torrence in prior events. Torrence with the starting line advantage, but Brown had the lead by the time they go by the Christmas tree and never trailed from there on for the win. Torrence was hazing the tires on the top end.

Coming into today Shawn Langdon has qualified #1 20 times and won the race 5 times (including Gainesville this year. Lex Joon is making his 16th start. Langdon with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Joon with his quickest pass of the weekend and starts to drift out of the groove and crossed the centerline after 1000 feet.

The #2 TF qualifier is 12 - 1 in Rd. 1 at this event. Doug Kalitta has made the final round 31 times when qualified #2. Ferre hurt the car in qualifying and coiuldn't make the calls. Kalitta is straight down the groove for the win and lane choice over Hart in the next round.

This is the best starting spot for Tony Stewart (and the 4th time he has been in the top half of the field). Clay Millican is 6 - 2 in Rd. 1 this year Millican with a great light and the lead until around half track when Stewart chases him down for the win. Stewart with his quickest pass of the weekend and quickest pass of round one for the win.

This (#4) is the best starting spot for Shawn Reed. Tony Schumacher is 3 - 5 in Rd. 1 this year. Schumacher is 2 - 1 against Reed in prior events. Reed with the starting line advantage, but started to haze the tires. Schumacher is mixing up cylinders, but holds on for the win. He will give up lane choice to Brown in the next round.

This is the 2nd time Jasmine Salinas has been in the top half of the field. Brittany Force has only won 2 rounds at the same race twice this year. Force with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. She will give up lane choice to Stewart in the next round.

Steve Torrence wins 79% of his Rd. 1 races when he has lane choice. Justin Ashley is 13 - 10 against Torrence. In their 23 meetings Justin has "left first" 18 times. Ashley with the starting line advantage and started hazing the tires, Torrence has the lead by 330 feet and never trails from there on for the win. Torrence wins his 500th round win. He will give up lane choice to Langdon in the next round.