NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Robert Hight collected his 63rd career No. 1 spot in Funny Car, wheeling his Auto Club Chevy to a 3.868 in the final session to reassert his dominance.

Hight and crew chiefs Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham earned bonus points in three of four sessions; their last session heroics stole the No. 1 spot from Tim Wilkerson, who had busted off an out-of-nowhere 3.875 after three previous four-second struggles.

The round concluded in dramatic fashion with Tommy Johnson Jr.’s Make A Wish Charger exploding before halftrack, sending the body sky high, while John Force, in the other lane, crossed the centerline behind him.

First-round matchups (lane choice first): Robert Hight vs. Terry Haddock; Tim Wilkerson vs. Dave Richards; Tommy Johnson Jr. vs. John Smith; John Force vs. Jim Campbell; Matt Hagan vs. Jonnie Lindberg; Jack Beckman vs. J.R. Todd; Cruz Pedregon vs. Shawn Langdon; Ron Capps vs. Bob Tasca III.

Final qualifying order

[Q3 recap]