NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Results| Notebook | Event news

Greg Anderson became just the fourth racer to secure 100 career No. 1 qualifiers Saturday. The four-time world champion reached the milestone on the back of his 6.674-second pass at 205.35 mph during his second pass Friday at the 18th annual Fitzgerald USA NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Anderson joined Warren Johnson, Bob Glidden and John Force in the elite club by snatching his seventh pole of the year. 

Clay Millican (Top Fuel) and Courtney Force (Funny Car) are also No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 11th of 24 events on the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

“Getting to 100 No. 1 qualifiers has taken a lot of hard work and late nights, but it’s a team award and we are definitely going to celebrate this milestone,” Anderson said. “We know it’s going to be hot and rough out there, so it’s going to come down to who can handle this track best on race day.”

Anderson will take on Wally Stroupe in the first round of eliminations.

Jeg Coughlin Jr. finds ended up qualifying second following his 6.683 at 205.22 in his JEGS.com/Elite Performance Chevrolet Camaro during the second session on Friday.

Millican’s success at Bristol Dragway continued as he locked in the Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier position in Bristol, Tenn. The defending event winner powered to the top spot with a run of 3.817-seconds at 322.88 mph in his Great Clips/Strutmasters dragster during his second qualifying pass on Friday. The defending event winner notched his fifth No. 1 qualifier on the season, as he sets his sights on his third event victory in the past four events.

“The way our car went down the track today with some of the other teams struggling is pretty incredible,” Millican said. “This has just been a great racecar for us right now, and our goal is to put four good runs in a row together for tomorrow.”

Millican matches up with Terry Totten in the first round of Sunday’s eliminations.

Tony Schumacher slotted into second in Top Fuel qualifying with a 3.830 at 323.66 in his U.S. Army dragster as he prepares for Terry McMillen in round one.

Force remained atop the Funny Car category lead with a pass of 3.993 at 325.92 in her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro recorded during her second qualifying run Friday, as she was the only driver in the class to run under the four-second mark during the two days of qualifying. The current points leader secured her seventh No. 1 qualifier of the year and fifth in the past six events.
 
“This has been a great start to the season for my team, we have a good thing going and we are really excited with the direction our season is headed,” Force said. “We have a few wins and are in a good spot with the points lead, but we know we have to stay focused one round at a time to keep this success going.”

Force will face off against Jonnie Lindberg in the first round.

J.R. Todd sits in second with a 4.072 at 313.15 in his DHL Toyota Camry during the second qualifying session on Friday, as he is slated to take on Del Worsham on Sunday.

Eliminations begin at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday at Bristol Dragway. 

Here are the ladders and first-round elimination pairings: