KENT – Fast continued to be fast on Friday at Pacific Raceways.
After two rounds of Full Throttle Series qualifying on Friday, Mike Edwards, Tony Pedregon and (Larry Dixon) led their respective categories on the first day of the NHRA Northwest Nationals.
Edwards, who leads all Pro Stock drivers this season with six No. 1 qualifying spots, earned the provisional pole with a pass of 6.606 at 208.94 mph.
“It’s been awesome, really, first and foremost it’s all about the guys working on the car,” Edwards said of his string of earning top qualifying spots. “The bottom line is we’re making awesome runs, That’s the guys.”
Edwards was followed by Allen Johnson (6.611, 209.59), Jason Line (6.627, 208.84), Greg Anderson (6.633, 209.43) and Johnny Gray (6.645, 207.82).
Current Pro Stock points leader Jeg Coughlin, who along with Edwards has already secured a spot in the NHRA’s Countdown to 1 playoff, was 16th and unqualified after shutting down early during both passes.
The top 12 drivers in each category were considered qualified after Friday’s two sessions. Because all three Full Throttle categories were at 16 cars – maximum field size for Sunday’s final eliminations – the remainder will be able to qualify on Saturday.
Pedregon, who has qualified No. 1 twice this season, topped the Funny Car field with a 4.182-second pass at 289.63 mph on his second run. He credited his crew chief Dickie Venables with correctly anticipating that the track would be cooler – and faster – in the second session, something that other teams didn’t.
“I don’t think guys like (Funny Car co-points leader Ron) Capps will miss it (Saturday),” Pedregon said. “So we’ll have to get at it.”
The two-time former champion was followed by Bob Tasca III (4.228, 282.48), Tim Wilkerson (4.260, 285.65), Cruz Pedregon (4.292, 279.04) and Matt Hagan (4.312, 276.18).
Ashley Force Hood (4.32, 249.26), who is tied with Capps atop the Funny Car season standings, was seventh. Capps and 14-time champion John Force were unqualified.
In Top Fuel, Dixon made a pass of 3.891 at 302.21 to earn the provisional No. 1. The two-time champion is second in poles earned this season with three, two behind current points leader Antron Brown.
“If you can get in the top three or four, you can draw a good pair on the first round on Sunday,” said DIxon when asked about qualifying fast. “And you get lane choice, obviously, if there is a preferred lane. Those perks help you.”
Morgan Lucas made a pass of 3.909 at 299.33 on the second qualifying run to earn the second spot, followed by Spencer Massey (3.914, 303.64), Cory McClenathan (3.915, 297.16) and J.R. Todd (3.921, 294.56). Brown (3.952, 305.84) recorded the top speed during Friday’s qualifying session, but was ninth.
Several Snohomish County drag racers also made passes on Friday, either for qualifying or practice based on the category.
Despite making a slower pass on his second run, Ray Hadford of Everett held at 11th after both rounds of qualifying for Competition Eliminator. His first run was 6.998 seconds at 188.89 mph and his second was 7.096, 187.76.
Rodney Stults of Marysville was 14th after two rounds of qualifying in the Super Stock category. Steve Cozakos of Marysville dropped two spots after the first round to finish 5th after both rounds of qualifying in the Stock Eliminator category.
In the Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street categories, drivers – including
Lloyd Flatum of Marysville, and Chris and Nikki Cannon of Bothell – made runs during two practice sessions to gather data that will be used to dial-in their cars for Saturday’s eliminations.
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