NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The track is fast, the crowd is epic, and U.S. 131 Motorsports Park is filled with true believers as NHRA races in Martin, Michigan, at the Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR.

Following Friday’s historic opening runs, teams return Saturday ready to attack a cool, carefully prepared racing surface. Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars will bring the thunder, while Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle teams continue their battle for Sunday starting positions.

The pits are alive fans are packed along the fences and grandstands. For many, this is more than another race; it is the long-awaited return of NHRA national-event racing to Michigan.

Top Fuel and Funny Car—Q3 

Kalitta Rockets to 3.660 in Top Fuel Q3; Safety Safari Tends to Track During Funny Car

Top Fuel points leader Doug Kalitta delivered a massive performance during Saturday’s third qualifying session at the Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR, powering to a 3.6606-second pass at 338.86 mph at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.

Kalitta’s run was the quickest of the session, with teammate Shawn Langdon also making a strong pass of 3.7005 at 336.32 mph.

Will Smith recorded a 3.7063 at 335.32 mph, followed by Spencer Massey’s 3.7367 at 330.15 mph. Kyle Wurtzel ran 3.7399 at 334.08 mph, while Antron Brown was close behind with a 3.7407 at 331.86 mph.

Tony Schumacher posted a 3.8052 at 331.86 mph, while Josh Hart went 3.8606 before slowing to 240.77 mph.

Funny Car followed Top Fuel onto the track, with Hunter Green opening the completed action with a 3.9704 at 325.14 mph. Joey Haas crossed the finish line in 4.0719 seconds at 307.80 mph.

Following Green’s run, racing was temporarily paused while the Ram truck-equipped NHRA Simpson Safety Safari returned to the track to inspect and clean the racing surface.

The Safety Safari is working to complete the cleanup and return the track to racing condition as quickly and safely as possible. Funny Car Q3 will resume when the racing surface is ready.

Funny Car Q3 Notes: It’s “Zero or Hero” Time at U.S. 131

The traction is available, but teams must determine how aggressively they can use it.

Jack Beckman delivered the hero run of the session so far, charging to a 3.8616-second pass at 332.10 mph. In the opposite lane, Ron Capps lost traction early and slowed to an 8.4909 at 88.32 mph.

Matt Hagan also successfully navigated the conditions, recording a strong 3.9349 at 329.91 mph. Chad Green struck the tires and coasted through with an 11.7401 at 79.83 mph.

Dave Richards made it farther downtrack before slowing to a 4.9398 at 156.74 mph, while Jordan Vandergriff lost traction and finished with an 8.4293 at 77.59 mph.

The early results demonstrate both sides of the tuning challenge. The racing surface can clearly hold an aggressive setup, but there is little margin for error. For crew chiefs willing and able to take advantage of the available traction, the reward could be a massive run and a major move in the qualifying order.

Pro Stock Q3 Preview: Greg Anderson Says First Priority Is Getting Down the Track

With Pro Stock preparing to make its first runs of Saturday at the Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR, the biggest question isn’t necessarily how quick the cars can go — it’s whether they can take advantage of a racing surface that has changed considerably throughout the day.

Greg Anderson stood near the starting line studying the track before Q3, and the six-time world champion believes the potential is there. But before anyone starts thinking about low elapsed time, they have to make a clean run.

“Let’s get the car to make it down,” Anderson said.

That will be especially important for the first few pairs, who will effectively provide the data that everyone behind them can use.

Anderson pointed to KB Titan Racing teammate Cody Anderson, who will be among the first cars to take a shot at the surface.  Cody Anderson shut off early during Friday qualifying, adding another layer of uncertainty as the team prepares for Q3.

“He’s a little nervous because he’s first pair, right?” Greg Anderson said. Cody shut off last night, so he knows how to handle the car if the conditions aren't up to the power.

For crew chiefs, those opening runs could reveal just how aggressive they can afford to be. The conditions appear capable of producing strong numbers, but after weather and track preparation changed the equation throughout Saturday, nobody knows exactly how much grip is available until a Pro Stock car puts power to it.

That makes the first pair particularly important. If the early cars hook up and accelerate cleanly, expect the crew chiefs behind them to start turning the knobs. If they struggle, the priority quickly becomes survival. Either way, Anderson’s approach is simple: Get one to the finish line first. Then find out just how fast this track is willing to let them go.

Pro Stock Q3 Preview: Glenn Happy to Have a Late Draw as Conditions Remain a Question

As Pro Stock prepares to take its first shot at the U.S. 131 Motorsports Park racing surface on Saturday, Dallas Glenn finds himself in exactly the position he wants to be: at the back of the pack.

With changing weather and uncertain track conditions creating plenty of questions ahead of Q3 at the Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR, Glenn will run in the final pair, giving the championship contender an opportunity to watch the class ahead of him reveal what the track will take.

“The first thing I think about is I’m glad that I’m the last pair, so I get a really good idea what the track’s going to be like,” Glenn said. “It gives you a little bit of nerves because it could be very interesting up there with the track conditions.”

There was no hiding the uncertainty. As the Pro Stock teams made their way toward the staging lanes, Glenn could actually feel moisture in the air.

“When we’re towing up to the lanes and you feel water hitting you in the face, it’s usually not ideal for a Pro Stocker,” Glenn said.

For the first pair, it will be a leap into the unknown. For Glenn, every car that runs before him becomes another piece of information.

“If I was first pair, I’d be pretty worried,” he said. “By the time it gets to me, it’s either going to be OK, or it’ll be bad enough that they’ll have done something about it.”

And Glenn isn’t simply looking to make a safe trip down the quarter-mile.

He sees an opportunity.

“I’m just hoping we can go up there and kind of shake the ladder up a little bit,” Glenn said. “I really want that No. 1 spot.”

While teammate Greg Anderson was stationed near the starting line studying the action, Glenn remained with his car preparing for the run. Asked why Anderson could afford to watch while Glenn was still working, Glenn delivered a perfect Pro Stock answer.

“Greg doesn’t have to button up his clutch,” Glenn said. “I do.”

Now the work is nearly finished.

The first Pro Stock cars will answer the biggest question: How much traction is really available?

Glenn gets to watch them all before taking his shot — and if the racing surface is ready, he intends to use that information to make a run at No. 1.