NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Weather conditions: air temperature 86 degrees, relative humidity 68 percent, barometer 30.17 inches, adjusted altitude 2,594 feet, track temperature 122 degrees. This is the 14th time in his 84 races that Doug Foley has had lane choice in Rd. 1. Justin Ashley is 0 - 7 in Rd. 1 when qualified #9. Ashley is 4 - 2 against Foley in prior events. Ashley with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Foley was dropping cylinders early, but stayed with it.

Shawn Langdon wins 72% of his Rd. 1 races when he has lane choice. Cameron Ferre is making his 43rd start. This is the first time Langdon and Ferre have faced each other in eliminations. Langdon with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Ferre repeats his one qualifying pass from yester on a good clean pass. When he let the chutes , it lost one of them. He got the car stopped with no problems.

Shawn Reed is 3 - 5 in Rd. 1 this year. This is the only pair in Rd. 1 between 2 drivers who have not won a race. Reed is 1 - 0 against Mercier in prior events. Mercier with the starting line advantage and holds on for the hole shot win. He was dropping cylinders on the top end, but still makes his his quickest pass of the weekend for the win. He will give up lane choice to Langdon in the next round.

Brittany Force wins 73.7% of her Rd. 1 races when she has lane choice. Tony Stewart is the only nitro driver who hasn't lost in Rd. 1 this year. Stewart is 3 - 2 against Force in prior events. Stewart with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. He makes his quickest pass of the weekend and the quickest pass of race day. He will have a bye in the next round.

This is his best starting spot for Clay Millican this year. Smax Smith is making his 1st start since Reading last year. This is the first time Millican and Smith have faced each other in eliminations. Smith left before the tree was activated to give Millican the freebie. Millican started to drop cylinders around half track and clicked it off.

Steve Torrence has won at least 1 race for 11 consecutive years. Josh Hart is 0 - 4 against Torrence in Rd. 1. Torrence is 7 - 1 against Hart in prior events. Hart with the starting line advantage, but had a cylinder out early. torrence has the lead by 400 feet and never trailed from there on for the win. Torrence will have lane choice over Ashley in the next round.

Doug Kalitta is 9 - 13 against Brown in Rd. 1. This is the 77th meeting between these two and that is the 4th most between any two TF drivers. Brown is 43 - 33 against Kalitta in prior events. Brown with the starting line advantage, but Kalitta chased him down in the lights for the win. Doug Kalitta's MOV: 0.0320 seconds (approximately 14 feet). Kalitta has the second quickest pass of the round and will have lane choice over Millican in the next round.