NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

FUNNY CAR Q1

We got three bikes into the first Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying session before it started to rain; two hours and change later, we're back and instead kicking off with Funny Car and Top Fuel, which will be followed by Pro Stock car, Pro Stock Motorcycle, then back into the nitro classes, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pro Stock car, Pro Mod, then the Summit Series, and finishing with Top Alcohol.

We've got 20 Funny Cars entered, so the battle for the quick 16 will be hot and heavy, especially among the many part-time West Coast cars that typically save up for this event. The adjusted altitude is about 2,000 feet thanks to the cool weather, but there's a lot of water grains in the air after the earlier rainfall, levels not seen here since 2018.

Alexis DeJoria's new silver and black Bandero Premium Tequila entry — unveiled with much pomp before the run by members of Las Vegas Raiders fan club as Bandero is now the football team's official tequila — poured out a 3.874 to lead the field.

"This is one of my favorite tracks," she said. "We've had really good success here. I've got two wins from here, just missing that diamond Wally from this year. So I'd love to triple up here in Vegas. We're off to a great start, No. 1 qualifier so far. We'll see. It's not over yet. I've been a huge fan of the Raiders my entire life, ever since I was a little girl when they were the LA Raiders and they were playing at the Coliseum."

Her John Force Racing teammate, Jack Beckman, was just a tick behind her with a 3.875 to lead a fleet of 10 cars that covered the strip in less than four seconds.

Spencer Hyde got the last bonus point with a 3.901, followed by J.R. Todd (3.922), Matt Hagan (3.945), Chad Green (3.948), Cruz Pedregon (3.966), Daniel Wilkerson (3.967), Dave Richards (3.979), and Paul Lee (3.999)

Richards, who ended up ninth, had a great run going and slowed to just 278, but still got a 3.97 time slip, making one wonder how much quicker he could have gone.

Hunter Green sits on the current bump spot with a 4.712.

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TOP FUEL Q1

Three drivers —Tony Stewart, Shawn Langdon, and Spencer Massey — ran matching 3.719 elapsed times, but Stewart got the provisional pole on speed with a run of 336.99, with Langdon next at 335.73, and Massey, the surprise runner-up earlier this year in Martin, third at 332.67.

"I'm just excited about the mile an hour," said Stewart. "It's a little windy today and it's kind of a headwind, so to be able to pull that kind of mile an hour I think it is really strong for our R+L team so far. It's a product of Mike Green and Joe Barlam again. They're the magicians with their fingers working up in the lounge trying to get this thing going fast."

Langdon's two session bonus points are important as it moved his lead over Doug Kaitta to 141 points (now seven rounds of racing) after the reignign two-time world champ failed to make it down the track under power..

Maddi Gordon clocked a speed of 340.56, the first 340-mph in track history, on a 3.724 pass. The always-reserved rookie racer took it in typical stride.

"Wait, that's the first?" she screamed. "That's so cool! I have no idea. That's awesome, man. That's that flying forklift power right there, man. Rob Flynn has this thing on rails. I'm so proud of my team, man. That was so awesome. I love this racetrack."

Mountain Motor Pro Stock racer Chris Powers made his nitro debut in Todd Paton's entry, the Powers Xtreme Motorsports machine, and ripped to a wiggly 3.885.