NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Three-time Gatornationals Funny Car winner Ron Capps grabbed the early qualifying lead with his NAPA Auto Parts Charger SRT Hellcat with a 4.017.

Behind Capps is another multi-time Gainesville champ, eight-time winner John Force, who clocked a 4.040 in his Peak Chevy. Force is gunning for career win No. 150 at this event; no other Mello Yello-class driver even has more than 100.

Kalitta Racing teammates J.R. Todd and Shawn Langdon ended up third and fourth with the reigning world champ’s DHL Toyota clocking a 4.088, a tenth better than teammate Langdon’s 4.187 in the Global Electronics Camry.  Only 11 cars made runs as breakage struck a few and others opted to wait for the second session.

Qualifying order after Q1: