Courtesy of the NHRA

ENNIS, Texas — Texas native Steve Torrence piloted his Top Fuel dragster to the top of the leaderboard Friday at the 32nd annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex.

Steve Torrence. NHRA photo

Ron Capps (Funny Car), Bo Butner (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also provisional No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the fourth of six events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship.

Torrence, the Top Fuel points leader, raced a 3.682-second pass at 327.51 mph in the final qualifying session. The Kilgore, Texas resident is chasing his first No. 1 qualifier and victory at his home track.

“Going into tomorrow, and ultimately Sunday, confidence is for sure at t all-time high,” Torrence said. “It’s always good to win at your home track. We’ve just not been able to do it. It’s been elusive. But ultimately, at the end of the day, what we need to do is get points. I’ve said before I think this championship could be decided by just a few points. To win here would be cool but we just need to go rounds and get points however we need to do it.”

Ron Capps. NHRA photo

The winningest Top Fuel driver in NHRA history, Tony Schumacher, is in second with his 3.692 pass at 327.66 in his U.S. Army dragster. Three-time and defending world champion Antron Brown currently holds the third spot.

Capps powered his Napa Auto Parts Dodger Charger R/T to a 3.872 pass at 329.58 to take the preliminary lead in the Funny Car field.

 “For us to go up there and not go down (the track) on that first run and not gain points on Robert, and to have Courtney (Force) get three points on us who’s third in points I mean yes, we are counting those little points,” Capps said. “We’re just trying to get our little points, and get that Mello Yello hat for No. 1 qualifier we haven’t had one of those in a long time. It’s going to be fun.”

Bo Butner. NHRA photo

Capps’ Don Schumacher Racing teammate, Jack Beckman, sits behind him in second after racing his Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T to a 3.873 pass at 332.34. Rookie Jonnie Lindberg currently holds the third position.

Butner raced a 6.588 pass 208.94 in his Jim Butner’s Auto Chevrolet Camaro during Friday’s final qualifying round to sit atop of the Pro Stock ladder.

“We have to get through tomorrow and try to make two good runs,” Butner said. “It’s almost like showing up to a new track on Sunday, if the weather forecast is correct. Tomorrow is going to be a lot similar to today so we want to learn and get better. We made a fairly good run. We need to stay ahead of the pack.”

Eddie Krawiec. NHRA photo

Butner is trailed by KB Racing teammate Greg Anderson who ran a 6.626 at 207.27 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro. Erica Enders, the two-time world champion, is in the third slot.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Krawiec, the defending event winner, currently leads the pack with a 6.860 pass at 196.53 on his Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson from the first round.

“I made a really clean, very good run off the truck,” Krawiec said. “We had the bike, obviously the tune-up, Andrew (Hines) and Matt (Hines), had the tune-up really right on, the chassis set-up was right. I’ve got to maintain, that’s key. Get those little (qualifying) points and just keep moving forward.”

Defending world champion Jerry Saovie is in the No. 2 spot with is 6.873 pass at 194.35 on his White Alligator Racing Suzuki and Scotty Pollacheck rounds out the top three.

Qualifying at the 32nd annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals continues Saturday at 1:15 p.m.

Media Center Interviews:

Steve Torrence – 

Ron Capps – 

Bo Butner – 

Eddie Krawiec – 

ENNIS, Texas — Friday’s results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 32nd annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex, 22nd of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel — 1. Steve Torrence, 3.682 seconds, 327.51 mph; 2. Tony Schumacher, 3.692, 327.66; 3. Antron Brown, 3.696, 329.91; 4. Doug Kalitta, 3.704, 330.07; 5. Brittany Force, 3.747, 322.19; 6. Shawn Langdon, 3.748, 320.13; 7. Richie Crampton, 3.749, 499.81; 8. Leah Pritchett, 3.767, 323.89; 9. Billy Torrence, 3.771, 319.82; 10. Clay Millican, 3.773, 321.42; 11. Terry McMillen, 3.813, 311.85; 12. Shawn Reed, 3.816, 324.67; 13. Scott Palmer, 3.824, 324.90; 14. Kebin Kinsley, 3.926, 247.52; 15. Terry Haddock, 4.012, 277.54; 16. Blake Alexander, 4.520, 187.44. Not Qualified: 17. Troy Buff, 4.594, 168.05.

Funny Car — 1. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 3.872, 329.58; 2. Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.873, 332.34; 3. Jonnie Lindberg, Toyota Camry, 3.873, 328.14; 4. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.909, 326.00; 5. Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.928, 331.94; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.930, 327.59; 7. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.941, 322.50; 8. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 3.947, 319.67; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.987, 311.13; 10. Del Worsham, Camry, 4.118, 252.05; 11. John Force, Camaro, 4.215, 221.31; 12. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.255, 216.69; 13. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.283, 211.03; 14. Robert Hight, Camaro, 4.471, 191.00; 15. Jim Campbell, Charger, 5.311, 136.77; 16. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Solara, 7.137, 90.38. Not Qualified: 17. Todd Simpson, 8.829, 56.42; 18. J.R. Todd, 9.019, 72.79.

Pro Stock — 1. Bo Butner, Chevy Camaro, 6.588, 208.94; 2. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.626, 207.27; 3. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.634, 208.49; 4. Brian Self, Camaro, 6.635, 208.10; 5. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.636, 209.04; 6. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.636, 208.78; 7. Tanner Gray, Camaro, 6.637, 208.04; 8. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.638, 207.78; 9. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.639, 208.17; 10. Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.658, 207.24; 11. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.665, 207.59; 12. Larry Morgan, Camaro, 6.679, 206.67; 13. Deric Kramer, Dart, 6.682, 205.79; 14. Alan Prusiensky, Dart, 6.691, 206.86; 15. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 6.730, 204.35; 16. Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.826, 201.85. Not Qualified: 17. Chris McGaha, 13.506, 63.99.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.860, 196.53; 2. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.873, 194.35; 3. Scotty Pollacheck, Suzuki, 6.879, 195.53; 4. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.900, 193.57; 5. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.901, 195.19; 6. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.901, 193.54; 7. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.914, 193.02; 8. Matt Smith, Victory, 6.941, 194.55; 9. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.957, 191.76; 10. Melissa Surber, Buell, 6.982, 191.16; 11. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.999, 190.38; 12. Mike Berry, Buell, 7.007, 189.47; 13. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.011, 191.59; 14. Gunner Courtney, Suzuki, 7.120, 185.31; 15. David Hope, Buell, 7.207, 185.74; 16. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.211, 185.74.