Jack Beckman. NHRA photo

Courtesy of the NHRA

CONCORD, N.C. – NHRA’s Friday Prime Time inspired Jack Beckman as he raced to the provisional No. 1 position on Friday at the 10th annual NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

Mike Salinas. NHRA photo

Mike Salinas (Top Fuel) and Karen Stoffer (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also provisional qualifying leaders in their respective categories at the sixth of 24 events of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

Beckman powered his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to the top of the Funny Car category with his run of 3.891-seconds at 321.42 mph during NHRA’s Friday Prime Time Night Of Fire, featuring pyrotechnics and special music for each driver.

“I forgot about the fire. And I found myself having a very ‘fan’ moment in the race car,” said Beckman. “This is just one of those moments. I thought, this is my job. I get strapped into a nitro Funny Car and they’re making a big deal out of this. They’re playing my song. They’re putting fireworks out there. And then we’re going to fire the car up. And you don’t want to go through all that and be lackluster. The icing on the cake was to have the car run as good as it did. I don’t know if the 3.89 will hold, but it gives the other teams something to shoot for. And more importantly, it gives us something to shoot for.”

Karen Stoffer. NHRA photo

Salinas, who won his first Wally in Top Fuel at the Four-Wide event in Las Vegas earlier this month, sits atop the Top Fuel category after setting the track E.T. record of 3.687 at a speed of 327.43 in his Scrappers Racing Dragster.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Stoffer ran a 6.864 at 195.17 to take the top spot in her Stoffer Enterprises Suzuki. She is in search of her first No. 1 qualifier since Atlanta 2015 and her first at zMAX Dragway.

NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying action will continue Saturday at 2:00 PM ET.

Media Center Interviews:

Mike Salinas –

Jack Beckman –

Karen Stoffer – Audio not available 

CONCORD, N.C. — Results Friday after Friday qualifying for the 10th annual NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, sixth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.  Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel — 1. Mike Salinas, 3.687 seconds, 327.43 mph; 2. Antron Brown, 3.725, 327.03; 3. Terry McMillen, 3.728, 320.36; 4. Doug Kalitta, 3.733, 324.36; 5. Austin Prock, 5.286, 133.72; 6. Audrey Worm, 7.420, 96.15; 7. Brittany Force, 7.460, 82.72; 8. Scott Palmer, 7.876, 95.54; 9. Leah Pritchett, 8.253, 84.65; 10. Spencer Massey, 8.271, 77.18; 11. Clay Millican, 8.275, 75.15; 12. Steve Torrence, 9.044, 81.13; 13. Cameron Ferre, 10.640, 42.54; 14. Dom Lagana, 12.849, 77.73; 15. Lex Joon, 12.850, 37.71; 16. Richie Crampton, 13.346, 80.04.

Funny Car — 1. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 3.891, 321.42; 2. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.935, 285.11; 3. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 4.426, 216.00; 4. Dave Richards, Ford Mustang, 5.202, 148.01; 5. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 6.564, 98.16; 6. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 7.520, 95.51; 7. Dale Creasy Jr., Dodge Stratus, 7.711, 86.30; 8. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 7.978, 89.94; 9. Matt Hagan, Charger, 8.233, 122.09; 10. John Force, Camaro, 8.714, 76.99; 11. Shawn Langdon, Camry, 8.950, 73.04; 12. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 8.966, 83.02; 13. Jonnie Lindberg, Mustang, 9.198, 68.19; 14. Jim Campbell, Charger, 10.064, 62.98; 15. J.R. Todd, Camry, 14.099, 70.50; 16. Ron Capps, Charger, 15.585, 62.61. Not Qualified: 17. Bob Bode, broke; 18. Bob Gilbertson, broke; 19. Terry Haddock, broke. 

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.864, 195.17; 2. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.867, 196.13; 3. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.894, 196.02; 4. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.902, 193.02; 5. Cory Reed, EBR, 6.931, 192.55; 6. Ryan Oehler, Buell, 6.946, 194.63; 7. Angelle Sampey, Harley-Davidson, 6.953, 194.58; 8. Scotty Pollacheck, EBR, 6.961, 189.92; 9. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.998, 194.24; 10. Joey Gladstone, EBR, 7.029, 192.47; 11. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 7.091, 160.81; 12. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.100, 169.87; 13. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 7.141, 188.83; 14. Jianna Salinas, Suzuki, 7.342, 177.86; 15. Marc Ingwersen, Buell, 7.400, 191.51; 16. Matt Smith, EBR, 7.416, 149.15. Not Qualified: 17. Hector Arana, 7.457, 189.98; 18. Steve Johnson, broke.