EPPING, N.H. – Defending Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown claimed his first No.1 qualifier of the season on Saturday in front of a sold out crowd at the NHRA New England Nationals.

Ron Capps (Funny Car), and Jason Line (Pro Stock) will also lead their categories into eliminations at the ninth race of the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

Brown set an elapsed time track record piloting his Matco Tools dragster to a 3.701 second pass at 319.07 mph in the final round of qualifying to jump from the fifth spot at New England Dragway near Boston.

“We’re getting to where we want to be at and that’s a plus,” said Brown, a two time world champion, “We just want to make sure that we peak at the right time.”

Steve Torrence, who led qualifying until the final round, is second and will face Smax Smith. Already a two time winner this season, Brittany Force will line up against Todd Patton and nine-time world champion Tony Schumacher heads to the first round of eliminations against Australia native Richie Crampton. Top Fuel points leader Doug Kalitta sits in sixth and will face Terry McMillen in the first round.

Capps’ elapsed time track record pass of 3.865 pass at 325.92 in his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T from Friday held up through the final sessions to earn him his second No. 1 qualifier of the season, 19th of his career.

“The confidence is great and you feel like you’ve got a great race car and we’ve made four great runs and you just don’t want to mess up,” said Capps. “I’ve got to drive it like we’re David and not Goliath tomorrow.”

Capps, who won the season opener in Pomona, Calif., will face Dave Richards in round one of eliminations.

Matt Hagan, who has won the past two races, qualified second and will match up against John Hale. Tommy Johnson, Jr. is third and 16-time world champion John Force is in fourth.

JFR teammates Robert Hight and category points leader Courtney Force will face off in the first round as will Kalitta Motorsports teammates Del Worsham and Alexis DeJoria.

Line secured his fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season, 45th of his career and first at New England Dragway. His 6.567 pass at 211.13 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro from Friday held up against the two qualifying sessions and matches him against John Gaydosh for the first round.

“There’s a lot of fast cars right now,” said Line. “We’re going to have to dig deep tomorrow, that’s for sure.”

Line has qualified within the top two at every event this year, hasn’t missed a final round appearance, and claimed five victories. Ken Black Racing teammate Bo Butner held onto the No. 2 spot and will face Kenny Delco. Vincent Nobile is in third and matches up against Drew Skillman. Greg Anderson made a jump from the 12th spot to fourth in the final round of eliminations

Eliminations for the NHRA New England Nationals begin Sunday at 11 a.m.

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EPPING, N.H. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the Fourth annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway, the ninth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.  Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Top Fuel — 1. Antron Brown, 3.701 seconds, 319.07 mph  vs. Bye; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.710, 326.48  vs. 13. Smax Smith, 4.331, 265.33; 3. Brittany Force, 3.729, 327.19  vs. 12. Todd Paton, 3.935, 310.34; 4. Tony Schumacher, 3.743, 325.61  vs. 11. Richie Crampton, 3.846, 308.85; 5. Clay Millican, 3.744, 324.90  vs. 10. Leah Pritchett, 3.819, 320.20; 6. Doug Kalitta, 3.767, 328.30  vs. 9. Terry McMillen, 3.807, 320.97; 7. Shawn Langdon, 3.779, 322.88  vs. 8. J.R. Todd, 3.779, 323.58.

Funny Car — 1. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 3.865, 325.92  vs. 16. Dave Richards, Ford Mustang, 4.239, 299.86; 2. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.868, 329.75  vs. 15. John Hale, Charger, 4.100, 285.17; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.885, 326.95  vs. 14. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Solara, 4.074, 286.80; 4. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.886, 329.75  vs. 13. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.978, 318.77; 5. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.890, 330.63  vs. 12. Chad Head, Toyota Camry, 3.942, 320.20; 6. Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.895, 329.99  vs. 11. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 3.941, 314.09; 7. Del Worsham, Camry, 3.909, 324.90  vs. 10. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 3.928, 321.50; 8. Courtney Force, Camaro, 3.915, 327.27  vs. 9. Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.919, 329.26.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Mike Smith, 4.517, 213.74.

Pro Stock — 1. Jason Line, Chevy Camaro, 6.567, 211.13  vs. 14. John Gaydosh Jr, Chevrolet Camaro, broke; 2. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.568, 210.90  vs. 13. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.684, 207.69; 3. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.573, 210.11  vs. 12. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.676, 207.78; 4. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.584, 210.70  vs. 11. V. Gaines, Dodge Dart, 6.671, 208.68; 5. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.587, 209.82  vs. 10. Erica Enders, Dart, 6.631, 209.56; 6. Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.593, 209.46  vs. 9. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.622, 209.43; 7. Jeg Coughlin, Dart, 6.599, 208.94  vs. 8. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.605, 209.75.

Story and photos courtesy of the NHRA