Courtesy of the NHRA
SEATTLE – Robert Hight powered to the Funny Car No. 1 qualifying position Saturday at the 30th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways.
Antron Brown (Top Fuel) and Tanner Gray (Pro Stock) are also No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 16th of 24 events on the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.
Hight secured his second consecutive No. 1 qualifier after a 3.883-second pass at 329.34 mph in his Auto Club of Southern California Chevy Camaro SS during the fourth and final qualifying session on Saturday. He locked down his fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season and 53rd of his career. He will match-up against Jeff Diehl in the first round of eliminations on Sunday.
“This is definitely the best qualifying effort we have had all year long,” Hight said. “We have a lot of confidence with three strong runs consecutively, and we think that if things continue to go our way we can move up to the top spot in the Countdown standings by the end of the season.”
Matt Hagan landed second in Funny Car qualifying with a 3.930 at 328.54 in his Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T. Tommy Johnson Jr. rounded out the top three after a 3.930 pass at 324.05 in his Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T.
Brown piloted his Matco Tools dragster to the Top Fuel No. 1 with a 3.735 pass at 329.10 during the second qualifying session on Saturday. He now has two No. 1 qualifiers this season as he chases his fourth consecutive final round appearance. Brown will take on Ron Smith in the first round of eliminations.
“I feel really good going into tomorrow despite the hot temperatures,” Brown said. “When you go in number one that is a confidence booster and builds up the morale for the whole team, so we just need to continue pushing for a championship and working hard.”
Doug Kalitta is second in the Top Fuel category with a run of 3.744 at 326.48 in his Mac Tools dragster during his second pass on Saturday. Leah Pritchett sits third after a 3.755 at 325.30 in her Papa John’s dragster.
In Pro Stock, Gray took over the top spot after driving to a 6.565 at 210.24 in his Gray Motorsports Valvoline Chevy Camaro during his first pass on Saturday. He has now secured his second No. 1 qualifier of the season as he chases back-to-back event wins after a victory in Sonoma.
“I feel really confident with the race car my team has given me, my whole group has done an awesome job,” Gray said. “Today’s two runs have been pretty consistent, and my confidence is definitely up after the win in Sonoma last week so we are going to try and keep that up tomorrow.”
Drew Skillman is second in qualifying with a run of 6.568 at 209.75 in his Ray Skillman Chevrolet Camaro and Bo Butner is in the third spot with a 6.570 at 210.28 in his Jim Butner’s Auto Chevrolet Camaro.
Eliminations at the 30th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals begin at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday. Catch the action live on FOX at 4 p.m. ET.
Media Center Interviews:
Robert Hight –
Antron Brown –
Tanner Gray –
KENT, Wash. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 30th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways, the 16th 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, 3.735 seconds, 329.10 mph vs. 16. Ron Smith, 5.502, 140.65; 2. Doug Kalitta, 3.744, 326.48 vs. 15. Terry Haddock, 3.999, 283.67; 3. Leah Pritchett, 3.755, 325.30 vs. 14. Shawn Reed, 3.925, 314.97; 4. Clay Millican, 3.766, 318.39 vs. 13. Scott Palmer, 3.864, 322.73; 5. Brittany Force, 3.780, 324.05 vs. 12. Troy Buff, 3.862, 309.98; 6. Tony Schumacher, 3.783, 324.12 vs. 11. Troy Coughlin Jr., 3.854, 320.43; 7. Steve Torrence, 3.791, 324.75 vs. 10. Terry McMillen, 3.835, 313.37; 8. Shawn Langdon, 3.797, 322.81 vs. 9. Mike Salinas, 3.826, 319.29.
Funny Car — 1. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.883, 329.42 vs. 16. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Solara, 5.998, 120.28; 2. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.930, 328.54 vs. 15. Gary Densham, Ford Mustang, 4.238, 286.92; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.930, 324.05 vs. 14. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.064, 305.08; 4. Courtney Force, Camaro, 3.943, 325.14 vs. 13. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Camry, 4.006, 311.49; 5. Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.943, 323.35 vs. 12. Del Worsham, Camry, 3.995, 318.84; 6. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.956, 319.37 vs. 11. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.990, 322.04; 7. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 3.963, 324.05 vs. 10. Jonnie Lindberg, Camry, 3.988, 318.32; 8. John Force, Camaro, 3.973, 307.23 vs. 9. J.R. Todd, Camry, 3.981, 325.22.
Pro Stock — 1. Tanner Gray, Chevy Camaro, 6.565, 210.24 vs. Bye; 2. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.568, 209.75 vs. 13. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.680, 207.30; 3. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.570, 210.28 vs. 12. Steve Graham, Camaro, 6.647, 208.46; 4. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.575, 210.31 vs. 11. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.643, 207.46; 5. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.576, 210.67 vs. 10. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.619, 208.75; 6. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.599, 208.78 vs. 9. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.611, 209.49; 7. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.600, 209.69 vs. 8. Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.601, 209.52.
