NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Texas NHRA FallNationals Sunday Preview

Records, both national and track fell by the wayside in front of a near-capacity crowd on Saturday at the 38th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals. Sunday’s final rounds promise to deliver more excitement and drama as Camping World NHRA series racer continue their pursuit of victories at the historic Texas Motorplex
15 Oct 2023
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Race coverage
Dallas

Records, both national and track fell by the wayside in front of a near-capacity crowd on Saturday at the 38th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals. Sunday’s final rounds promise to deliver more excitement and drama as Camping World NHRA series racer continue their pursuit of victories at the historic Texas Motorplex
 
Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Bob Tasca III (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herra (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also qualified No. 1 at the 19th of 21 races, and the fourth of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
 
Herrera rocketed to a run of 6.627-seconds at 204.16 mph on his Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki, shattering the previous national record. It was also the second-fastest run in Pro Stock Motorcycle history. Herrera, who has eight wins this year, earned his 12th No. 1 spot, setting the class record for the most No. 1 qualifiers in a single season. He’ll open eliminations against Blaine Hale, looking to close out yet another magical weekend this season.

Kelly Clontz made the best run of her career, going 6.705 at 201.99 to make a massive jump to second. Eddie Krawiec took third on the strength of his 6.714 at 203.92.
 
Steve Torrence hung on to the No. 1 position in a loaded Top Fuel field, as his track-record run of 3.636 at 336.62 in his 11,000-horsepower Capco Contractors/Toyota dragster was good enough to hold off an epic number of qualifying runs on Saturday. It’s the third No. 1 qualifier for the Texan and four-time world champion, and he’ll open eliminations against Buddy Hull on Sunday. He entered the weekend third in points behind Leah Pruett and leader Doug Kalitta and gathered plenty of momentum with three straight runs in the 3.60s over the final three qualifying sessions. He’ll try to finish off a special weekend with a third win at his home track in front of what’s expected to be another huge crowd.
 
Torrence kept all the stars at bay, but nearly everyone put up a challenge, as 12 cars dipped into the 3.60s in the second-quickest qualifying field in Top Fuel history. Points leader Kalitta held on to second thanks to his 3.642 at 334.70 on Friday and Mike Salinas jumped to third Saturday evening with a 3.655 at 333.73.
 
In Funny Car, Bob Tasca III closed out qualifying with a massive blast of 338.57 mph, giving him plenty of confidence heading into eliminations, but it was his track-record pass of 3.822 at 335.55 on Friday in his 11,000-horsepower Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang that handed the points leader his seventh No. 1 spot this season. Tasca will open eliminations against Jack Wyatt and he’s got plenty of momentum, making the quickest run in three of the four sessions, which helped add to his points lead. With ideal conditions expected for eliminations, Tasca is ready for an unbelievable championship Sunday in Dallas.
 
John Force made a career-best pass to close out qualifying, taking the second spot with a 3.823 at 328.56. Robert Hight, who was second in points entering the weekend, took third with a 3.832 at 327.75, with Ron Capps and Matt Hagan right behind with runs of 3.844 and 3.848, respectively.
 
On a historic day in Pro Stock, five-time world champion Greg Anderson jumped to the top on Saturday, claiming the No. 1 qualifier with a standout run of 6.480 at 211.76 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. It gives Anderson his second No. 1 spot this season and the 123rd in his career, doing so in Dallas against the quickest qualifying field in Pro Stock history. A total of nine cars ran in the 6.40s, with Chris McGaha taking the No. 16 spot with a 6.536. That will be Anderson’s first-round matchup on Sunday, as the veteran looks to win his third straight race in the Countdown to the Championship. Anderson enjoyed every bit of Saturday’s performance, making a pair of runs in the 6.40s and taking the top spot in an unbelievably quick field.
 
Troy Coughlin Jr. took the second spot with a 6.482 at 212.05 and points leader Erica Enders is right behind in third after a 6.483 at 211.82. Jerry Tucker, Dallas Glenn, Deric Kramer, Matt Hartford, Kyle Koretsky and Aaron Stanfield all ran in the 6.40s as well.
 

2022 EVENT WINNERS

Justin Ashley, Top Fuel; Ron Capps, Funny Car; Erica Enders, Pro Stock; Hector Arana Jr., Pro Stock Motorcycle

 MOST VICTORIES

Tony Schumacher, 6, Top Fuel; John Force 7, Funny Car; Greg Anderson, 6, Pro Stock; Eddie Krawiec, Jerry Savoie, 3, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

TRACK RECORDS

Top Fuel - 3.636 by Steve Trorrence, Oct. '23; 338.40 mph by Justin Ashley, Oct. ‘23

Funny Car - 3.822 seconds by Bob Tasca III, Oct. '23; 338.60 mph by Robert Hight, Oct. '17

Pro Stock - 6.457 seconds by Greg Anderson, Oct. '15; 214.59 mph by Greg Anderson, Oct. ’15.

Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.27 seconds by Gaige Herra, Oct. ‘23; 204.16 mph by Herra, Oct. 23.


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.


EVENT SCHEDULE (Eastern Time)

SUNDAY, October 15

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series eliminations at noon


TELEVISION SCHEDULE

SUNDAY, October 15, FS1 will televise two hours minutes of pro qualifying coverage at 1:00 p.m. ET

SUNDAY, October. 15, FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at3 p.m. ET

Watch all day on NHRA.tv