NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Pro Stock Motorcycle Q1

It is unseasonably warm for Maple Grove Raceway out there, and crew chiefs were guessing low elapsed time this session would probably be somewhere in the mid- 6.70s. The later session, though, is said to be what everyone is licking their chops for.

Matt Smith is best of the round with a 6.801, 199.49 on his Denso-backed V-Twin – an impressive pass for the warmth on the racing surface. Hector Arana Jr. is No. 2 on the sheet with his strong 6.825, 198, and at the top end he's emotional as he says, "My dad [Hector Arana Sr.] gave me one hell of a machine."

Richard Gadson represents Vance & Hines well with a 6.841, 197.28 that has him sitting third with the RevZilla Mission Foods Suzuki. Incoming points leader Gaige Herrera is No. 4 on a 6.850, 195.68.

Three bonus points for Smith has put a smile on his face as he eyes a seventh Pro Stock Motorcycle championship, something that has never been accomplished before.

"We were 20 points back, now we're 17. Every point counts," he said. "We came out of here last year with the points lead, and we're going to try to do it again. This Denso bike is mean; we'll see what happens."

Pro Stock Q1

Just in time for the Countdown, Matt Hartford is back in the car that won this race last year. He and crew chief Eddie Guarnaccia are hoping this is what it takes to right the ship as they enter the Countdown in the No. 12 spot without having had much luck on their side so far this year. They made a good run this session with the GETTRX/Total Seal/Rottler Chevrolet and are No. 5 when it's said and done on a 6.555, 208.91.

Brainerd low qualifier Jerry Tucker and his Outlaw Mile-Hi Light Beer Camaro also makes a good run here; he's No. 4 after clocking a 6.554, 210.14.

"Hey, that's a good run," said Tucker. "Mark [Ingersoll, crew chief] and all the guys have been working real hard to make this thing go good. They've all been doing their part, and if I can do mine, we'll win one of these things before it's over."

The stars of the show this round are the ones who get to pick up the bonus points – and three of those marks are going to defending Pro Stock champion Erica Enders and her JHG/Melling Performance Chevrolet. She clocked a quick 6.535, 210.34 for the top spot, followed by JHG counterpart Aaron Stanfield, still fresh off the U.S. Nationals double-up win, and his 6.543, 208.55. Incoming points leader Dallas Glenn and his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet are third-quickest of the round for a bonus point credited to his swift 6.550, 209.26.

Derrick Reese made a decent run that wasn't quite enough, and Cory Reed got loose and had to lift. They're both on the outside looking in. Alan Prusiensky is on the property with his Mopar, but he did not make this run.

Funny Car Q1

Mike Smith gobbled up a pair of timing blocks early in the session, and that meant a brief downtime as they were replaced. We were soon back in action, though, and two-time Reading winner Cruz Pedregon is the first to bust into the threes driving his Snap-On Tools entry. His 3.996, 316.52 was bettered by Alexis DeJoria in the next pair, and her Bandero Tequila Toyota's  3.915, 330.80 held low of the session right to the end.

Crew chief Del Worsham was pleased.

"That was a great run," he said. "We made a bunch of good runs in Indy, and we weren't sure if they were going to transfer over – but they obviously did."

After a big explosion at the U.S. Nationals in the Scag Power Equipment Funny Car, Daniel Wilkerson is back on the horse and wheels his way to a 3.955, 326.48. Dad/crew chief Tim Wilkerson is steady yet pleased seeing it.

"That does a little bit for our morale, no doubt about it," said Tim Wilkerson. "We had a lot of good people that helped me with what we were having problems with at Indy – they know who they are – and I appreciate it. God bless every fuel team out here for having my back. That was a good start for the Scag team; that Mustang trumped right down through there [to] about what it should have run."

Points leader and U.S. Nationals winner Austin Prock and his Cornwell Tools/AAA Chevrolet are No. 2 on a 3.920, 329.58 for two bonus points, and Jack Beckman, driving the Peak Chevrolet for John Force and collecting marks on his behalf, claimed a point for his third-best of the session 3.951, 327.11.

Top Fuel Q1

The racing surface is not very welcoming this time around and many of the Top Fuel cars are challenged. Dan Mercier makes a good, clean run and a 3.887, 311.56 is on the board in the top spot for a spell.

"I'm very happy with this weather," said French-Canadian Mercier. "We have two weekends in a row, and it's step by step. This year we ran very good A to B, not very fast, but every run we run a bit faster, a bit faster. That was good for qualifying, now it's [time] to go fast."

Billy Torrence and his Capco Contractors rail throw down a great 3.806 next to Brittany Force's solid 3.816, and Torrence finds it rejuvenating.

"It's a really big deal to get off on the right foot," said Billy Torrence. "Heck, I've let myself down, and just frustration sets in, but the guys have all worked really hard. It's a tough go, but this is a good way to get started. It'll give the boys in the back of us something to shoot at."

Crew chief Jason McCulloch is happy but not over the moon.

"There's a lot more than that out there," said McCulloch. "We'll take what it gave us and come back tonight."

U.S. Nationals winner Clay Millican answers back with a 3.762, 331.36 that takes him right to the top in the Parts Plus/Rick Ware Racing dragster, and Doug Kalitta and his Mac Tools Toyota are just behind with a crisp 3.784, 330.31. Justin Ashley claims a bonus point as the third-quickest for the session; he goes 3.799, 327.11.

Pro Stock Motorcycle Q2

It was a quick turnaround, but the air is cooling, the sun is dipping lower in the sky, and we could very well see some picking up as the evening wears on.

Tough break for Jianna Evaristo and her Scrappers Buell here; she's shut off as debris comes out of her motorcycle as soon as she fires it up. She will lose the run but be back tomorrow for two more shots.

A few riders pick up the pace this run and three riders touch 6.80: Matt Smith clocks a 6.801 at 199.29 mph for low of the round and three more bonus points, Gaige Herrera is 6.804, 198.55 for a pair of points, and Richard Gadson is 6.807, 197.45 for one bonus mark.

Reports are that Smith's motorcycle would not shift into high gear, but he still manages to keep the top spot. Herrera is pleased with his own run that moves him up from the No. 5 spot.

"That was a step in the right direction, for sure," said Herrera. "We have two more tomorrow, let's see if we can get a little bit closer to Matt. It should be a good day."

Pro Stock Q2

Crew chiefs are saying the air is about what it was last session as we enter this round, but minute-by-minute it's shifting for the better, and we see lots of improvement here. There's some bump-bump-bumping going on as those at the bottom are climbing their way up and knocking others out along the way.

They've had their fair share of turmoil and trouble this season, but the Harlow Sammons Racing team makes a good pair of runs, dad Chris McGaha goes 6.570, 209.69, son Mason is 6.585, 208.97, and that's a boost at this first race of the Countdown.

"That was a pretty good run," said Chris at the top end. "I'm not going to complain, that's for sure."

By the conclusion of this session, Cory Reed and Brandon Miller are locked out until tomorrow, and Erica Enders remains at the top in her JHG/Melling Performance Chevrolet, although she did not improve. Top bonus points are awarded to Greg Anderson and the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet for his 6.537, 209.23, Dallas Glenn claims two in his RAD Torque Systems Camaro for his 6.540, 208.91, and JHG/Melling Performance-backed Aaron Stanfield reels in one with his 6.541, 209.88.

Funny Car Q2

Blake Alexander and his Pronto Ford Mustang let us know that this session has a lot of potential as he flies down the dragstrip to a 3.934, 326.56. In the next pair, it's Ron Capps and the NAPA Toyota GR Supra making a bunch of noise. Capps rockets to a 3.890 with a large 336.65 mph speed that is top speed of the season.

"That was good speed, but we don't qualify with speed. It's kind of just a cherry on top," said crew chief Dean "Guido" Antonelli.

Capps, chuckling at the top end, says, "Don Prudhomme is home watching religiously. He texted earlier, 'Tell Guido pick up the pace' and I'm like, I'm not telling Guido that! But that was a great call on a great racetrack. It's going to get faster out there."

Dave Richards isn't able to make a run as his air bottle is cracked, so Bob Tasca III takes a solo in his Dark Horse Ford Mustang. With the 336 mph pass that Capps threw down a short while before, all eyes are on Tasca at the moment – he's been the loudest about wanting to get that 340 officially in the NHRA books. An impressive 3.878 pops up on the scoreboard with a 329.67.

"Fast" Jack Beckman earned his nickname on his run with a 3.869, 330.80 that sent him up to the No. 1 spot for a moment, but then it's his John Force Racing teammate Austin Prock and the first session's low qualifier, Alexis DeJoria, at the line. The two best runs of the round pop up on the scoreboard, Prock with a stunning 3.849, 338.43 (his career-best speed), DeJoria with a 3.867, 336.40.

Prock's crew chief and dad, Jimmy Prock, is smiling largely in completely uncharacteristic fashion at the starting line.

"That was exciting," he said. "We need these points, and that was good speed; we haven't run that in a while. It was a good run, it was coming to us, and I was making a lot of changes."

Prock takes over the top spot and gets three bonus points, DeJoria is No. 2 with two extra marks, and Beckman is No. 3 with an additional point.

Top Fuel Q2

The sun has completely left the property, and we are left with an exhilarating (read: very fun) session of Top Fuel. Those 3.7-second runs were handed out like candy, and the top spot changed hands nearly every pair.

Overall, there were 12 drivers that ran 3.7's, and Justin Ashley's 3.173 was the best. The driver of the Scag Power Equipment dragster gets three bonus points, while Tony Schumacher's stellar 3.733 in the Leatherwood Distillery dragster gets two marks. Reigning world champ Doug Kalitta and his Mac Tools dragster are again laying out a story at Maple Grove Raceway; he's No. 3 with his 3.736 and scooped up a bonus point while also recording the quickest speed of the day, 335.73 mph.

Smax Smith and Rit Pustari are on the outside looking in, while Shawn Reed is on the bump with his 5.339.