NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Weather conditions: air temperature 72 degrees, relative humidity 82 percent, barometer 30.12 inches, adjusted altitude 1,472 feet, track temperature 87 degrees. Tony Stewart is 26 - 13 in Rd. 1 in his career. Clay Millican was 11 - 8 in Rd. 1 last year. Millican is 3 - 1 against Stewart in prior events. Stewart with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. He is just off his qualifying time. Millican lost traction right at the hit and then had some parts coming off the car. the chutes were out early.

Leah Pruett wins 71% of her Rd. 1 races when starting from the top half of the field. Jasmine Salinas is 9 - 15 in Rd. 1. This is the first time Pruett and Salinas have faced each other in eliminations. Pruett with the starting line advantage and was straight down the groove for the win. She makes her fastest pass of the event. Salinas is up in smoke right at the hit and clicked it off.

Shawn Langdon is 10 - 1 in Rd. 1 when starting #3. #15 TF qualifier has upset the #2 qualifier in 4 of the last 8 races here. Maddi Gordon is the 591st driver and 23rd woman to qualify for a TF field. Langdon is off the line first, but drives into tire smoke by 330 feet and clicked it off. Gordon has the lead just before half track and never trailed from there on for the win. Gordon with her quickest pass of the weekend.

Josh Hart is the 119th TF driver to qualify #1. The last time the #16 TF qualifier won in Rd. 1 here was 2016. (C. Karamesines) Hart is 1 - 0 against Mercier in prior events. Hart with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Mercier is up in smoke right off the starting line and clicked it off.

Antron Brown wins 80% of his Rd. 1 races when he has lane choice. Gary Pritchett is making his 2nd start in TF. This is the first time Pritchett and Brown have faced each other in eliminations. Brown with the starting line advantage and was straight down the groove for the win. Brown will give up lane choice to Stewart in the next round. Pritchett drove into tire smoke and clicked it off.

Doug Kalitta was 17 - 2 in Rd. 1 last year (89.5%) his best Rd. 1 record ever. Justin Ashley was 16 - 3 in Rd. 1 last year. Ashley with a great light and the starting line advantage. They both start to haze the tires around the same time. Ashley pedals it a couple times and can't get the car to hook up. Kalitta pedaled it, but let it settle down, he was back up in smoke. He kept his foot in ti and gets the win, trailing tire smoke across the finish line. Kalitta will give up lane choice to Pruett in the next round.

In his career Tony Schumacher has won 71.7% of his Rd. 1 races. Schumacher is 6 - 1 against Reed in prior events. Reed with the starting line advantage, but was up in smoke early. He pedaled, but was back up in smoke and pedaled it again. He banged the blower with a quick flash of flames. Schumacher lost traction around same time as Reed, he pedaled it and got it to hook up enough to get the win. He will give up lane choice to gordon in the next round.

Tripp Tatum is 8 - 11 in Rd. 1. Billy Torrence lost to Tatum in Rd. 2 at this race in 2022. Tatum and Torrence have each won 1 times against the other in prior events. Tatum with a great light, but they both lost traction around the same time. Torrence pedaled it and got real side ways and close to centerline. He then crossed the centerline after the finish line and before 1320, so that will cost him 10 points. Tatum pedaled it a couple times and got it to hook up enough to get the win. He will give up lane choice to Hart in the next round.