NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Steve Torrence, Matt Hagan, and Dallas Glenn will look to hold on to the top qualifying spots as qualifying continues for the NHRA New England Nationals.

Rain on Friday subsided long enough for the lone scheduled professional qualifying session for the Camping World NHRA Drag Racing Series event at New England Dragway to be completed and Torrence, Hagan, and Glenn took full advantage to lead their respective fields in  Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock.

Torrence, winner of back-to-back Epping titles in 2018-19 didn’t just take the provisional pole in Top Fuel, he also shattered the existing track record with a 3.664, bettering Leah Pruett’s five-year old mark of 3.678. Torrence, in search of his first victory of the season, edged championship leader Brittany Force (3.687), and Mike Salinas (3.704).

Full runs were at a premium as drivers and crew chiefs searched for the proper combination. As a result, just seven drivers were in the three-second zone including Josh Hart (3.745), Tony Schumacher (3.745), Austin Prock (3.749), and Antron Brown (3.809).

Hagan, who is off to a fantastic start this season in his Dodge Power Brokers Charger, is once again the leader in the Funny Car class after a 3.878. 332.51 blast. Hagan is followed by Blake Alexander, who wheeled Jim Head’s Mustang to a 3.911, while Jim Campbell (3.965) and Tim Wilkerson (3.966) also made competitive runs.

Championship contenders Robert Hight, John Force, Ron Capps, and Bob Tasca III are among the drivers who will look to improve during Saturday’s final two qualifying runs.

The Pro Stock class made its first appearance in more than a month but there were few signs of rust as most of the leading contenders were solidly in the 6.5s including reigning rookie of the year Dallas Glenn, who powered to a 6.543 in his RAD Torque Systems Camaro to take the provisional pole.

Glenn is just a thousandth of a second ahead of Kyle Koretsky, who drove to a 6.544 in his Lucas Oil Products Camaro while Aaron Stanfield is also solidly in the field with a 6.545. Houston runner-up Camrie Caruso also continued to impress with a 6.547 that currently places the first-year phenom in the No. 4 spot.

After just one run, it takes a very strong 6.571 to make the top half of the Pro Stock field with Fernando Cuadra Jr. currently sitting No. 8.

In addition to the two professional qualifying rounds, Saturday’s packed schedule also includes the continuation of qualifying and eliminations for competitors in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

2021 EVENT WINNERS
Billy Torrence, Top Fuel; John Force, Funny Car; Aaron Stanfield, Pro Stock.

TRACK RECORDS
Top Fuel
3.664 seconds by Steve Torrence, June 2021; 331.69 mph by Doug Kalitta, June 2018.

Funny Car
3.822 seconds by Robert Hight, June 2017; 336.74 mph by Robert Hight, June 2017.

Pro Stock
6.485 seconds by Shane Gray, June 2014; 214.72 mph by Greg Anderson, June 2015.

EVENT SCHEDULE
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, June 4, at 1 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 5.

TV SCHEDULE
Saturday, June 4, Fox Sports 1 (FS1), will televise one and a half hours of qualifying coverage at 7 p.m. ET
Sunday, June 5, FOX Sports 1 (FS1) will televise three hours of finals coverage at 7 p.m. ET.