NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Weather conditions: air temperature 61 degrees, relative humidity 60 percent, barometer 29.95 inches, adjusted altitude 1,218 feet, track temperature 94 degrees. This is the 5th time in his last 26 races that Josh Hart has been in the top half of the field. Clay Millican's first race in TF was at this event in 1998. Millican is 7 - 5 against Hart in prior events. Millican with the starting line advantage, but hart has the lead by the time they go by the Christmas tree and never trailed from there on in a close race. Josh Hart's MOV: 0.0069 seconds (approximately 3 feet). Hat with his quickest pass of the weekend for the win.

Shawn Reed vs. Daniel Mercier is the only pair in Rd.1 featuring 2 drivers who have not won a race. This is the first time Reed and Mercier have faced each other in eliminations. Reed with the starting line advantage and the power to hold on for the hole-shot win. Mercier with his quickest pass of the weekend in the losing effort.

Antron Brown wins 81% of his Rd. 1 races when he has lane choice. T.J. Zizzo's 7 losses to Antron are the most for him against any opponent. Brown is 7 - 2 against Zizzo in prior events. Zizzo with the starting line advantage, but is up in smoke as soon as he hit the throttle. Brown launched hard and kept it hooked up to make his quickest pass of the event.

Tony Stewart has been in the top half of the field at 15 of his 26 races. Terry Totten is making his 26th start. Totten and Stewart have faced each other in eliminations. Stewart with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. He makes another good looking pass for the win. He will have lane choice over Reed in the next round. Totten started mixing up cylinder and then pitched the blower belt.

Doug Kalitta is 53 - 8 in Rd. 1 when qualified #1. The #16 TF qualifier has won twice in the last 4 years here in Rd. 1 Kalitta is 2 - 0 against Joon in prior events. Joon with a slight starting line advantage, but Kalitta had the lead by the time they went by the Christmas tree. He never trailed from there on for the win. He will have lane choice over Hart in the next round. Joon is straight down the groove with his quickest pass of the weekend in the losing effort.

Shawn Langdon is 20 - 5 in Rd. 1 when qualified #3. Kyle Wurtzel is making his 33rd start. Langdon is 1 - 0 against Wurtzel in prior events. Langdon with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Wurtzel is straight down the groove with his quickest pass of the weekend in the losing effort.

Justin Ashley has "left first" in 9 of his 11 meetings with Brittany Force. Brittany Force is 169 - 83 (67%) in Rd. 1. Ashley is 8 - 3 against Force in prior events. Ashley with a great light and never trailed for the win. Force was up in smoke right at the hit.

Steve Torrence is 238 - 93 (72%) in Rd. 1. Spencer Massey is 3 - 3 against Torrence in Rd. 1 races. Massey and Torrence have each won 7 times against the other in prior events. Massey with the starting line advantage, but Torrence had the lead by 200 feet and never trailed from there on for the win. He will give up lane choice to Langdon by 0.002 seconds. Massey made a good clean pass in the losing effort.