Sellout crowd at the 38th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals, the first race in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs. NHRA photo

Courtesy of the NHRA

READING, Pa. – Bob Tasca III ended Funny Car qualifying in style on Saturday at Maple Grove Raceway, powering to the No. 1 position in front of a sellout crowd at the 38th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals, the first race in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Bob Tasca III. NHRA photo

Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also qualified No. 1 at the 16th of 21 races during the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season, and the first of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. It was the seventh sellout crowd of the 2023 season. Sunday’s eliminations were also moved up to 9:30 a.m. ET at Maple Grove Raceway.

Tasca, who entered the weekend fourth in points, raced to his fifth No. 1 spot this season with a standout run of 3.866-seconds at 328.30 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Motorcraft/Quick Ford Mustang. It’s the 14th career top spot for the veteran, who is seeking his second career win at Maple Grove Raceway and third this season.

He impressed in every qualifying session, making the quickest run in the last three sessions, including both on Saturday. That netted him 11 bonus points, giving him plenty of momentum going into raceday, where he’ll take on Cory Lee in the first round.

“The car performed flawlessly,” Tasca said. “As a driver/team owner, that’s what you ask for from your team. They give you a car that can go out there and compete, and you put yourself in a position to win. We have a lot of unfinished business here this weekend, and tomorrow is a big day.

“I think it’s going to be a very challenging day early in the rounds. We’re going to be here at 9:30 (a.m.), and the track is estimated to be somewhere around 75 degrees. You can shake really easy. You could see some big-time upsets, but we just want to go up there and do the best we can. We’ll manage the conditions as they go. As the day progresses, I think you’re going to fall into the conditions that we’ve run really well in. That gives you a lot of confidence going into Sunday.”

Defending world champion and points leader Ron Capps jumped up to the second spot in the final session, going 3.879 at 333.99. That bumped Robert Hight, who went 3.879 at 329.34 on Friday, to third.

Justin Ashley. NHRA photo

Justin Ashley, a New York native, stayed on top in front of a capacity crowd at his home track, with his run of 3.687-seconds at 335.57 mph from Friday in his 11,000-horsepower Phillips Connect Toyota dragster handing him the No. 1 spot for third time in what has been a banner 2023 season. It’s also the fifth career top qualifier for the Top Fuel points leader, who has already picked up six victories this season. He made another strong run to close out qualifying and Ashley will open eliminations against Scott Farley.

He’s also had plenty of success at Maple Grove Raceway in his young Top Fuel career, advancing to the final round last year. Ashley would love to set the tone for the Countdown to the Championship with a victory on Sunday and he remains confident in the mentality of the team.

“We feel great. You’re trying to put yourself in the best position to win the race on Sunday and I feel like we accomplished that,” Ashley said. “We went down the track three out of four times, and we had that .68 in the quickest session, but tomorrow is going to be different in a lot of ways. It’s going to be faster than what we’ve seen.

“Inherently, there’s more pressure because the playoffs are on, but it doesn’t change our approach. Our mentality is to continue to do the same thing that we’ve been doing since the start of the year. There’s a reason we’re in the position that we’re in now. I think it’s easy to get wrapped up in it being the playoffs and changing what you’re doing or focusing more intently. But we take every race the same way, playoffs or regular season. There is more pressure, but as a group, we’ve stuck to our guns that we’re to have fun, we’re here to have a good time, we’re here to win. I feel confident in the group that we have and I feel confident that we’re not going to let the pressure get to us.”

Defending world champion Brittany Force stayed second with her 3.689 at 336.57 from Friday and Doug Kalitta took third with his 3.696 at 331.45.

Erica Enders. NHRA photo

Defending Pro Stock world champ Erica Enders seems poised to defend her event victory from Maple Grove Raceway, qualifying No. 1 for the third time this season thanks to Friday’s 6.494 at 211.13 in her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance Chevrolet Camaro. It’s the 32nd career No. 1 spot for the six-time world champion who moved up to second in points standings on Saturday on the strength of her qualifying performances in Reading. After making the quickest run of 2023 in Pro Stock on Friday, Enders had two strong showing on Saturday, including the quickest run in the final qualifying session.

She’ll open eliminations against Val Smeland, aiming for her third win of the season. A victory on Sunday would also make her the winningest female in NHRA history as she looks to open the Countdown to the Championship in style.

“It was definitely cool to follow up today with two really great runs,” Enders said. “Super proud of my team, we made some changes this morning to try to pick up a little bit and it went in the opposite direction, so we fixed it and were able to outrun the field. It was pretty substantial, but it’s a challenging raceday ahead of us tomorrow and we have to make sure everything goes right. I’m excited and proud of my guys. We’ve really turned this season around. I’m stoked and ready to go.

“We were waiting for that pendulum to swing back in our direction after our really sorry to start for the year, but we knew with hard work and determination. My guys have this awesome never-quit attitude and just amazing tenacity. I’m proud of them. It’s not something that’s easy to go through as a team. We’ve been through the trenches before, but this was a tough one. We rallied together and we’re doing well. A lot can change in the next six Sundays, but we’re going to ride this wave as long as we can.”

Troy Coughlin stayed second but improved his performance with a 6.497 at 211.23. Aaron Stanfield also bettered his qualifying mark, going 6.500 at 211.13, to qualify third. Points leader Dallas Glenn qualified ninth.

Gaige Herrera. NHRA photo

Gaige Herrera ended qualifying on another massive note in Pro Stock Motorcycle, tying his mark for the quickest run of the year with a strong 6.672 at 202.94 on his Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki. That lowered the track E.T. record he set on Friday and the points leader also set the track speed record with a pass of 203.00 earlier in the day. Not only did Herrera, who is making his first appearance in the Countdown to the Championship, claim his ninth No. 1 qualifier in 10 races this year, he also picked up the most possible points in qualifying.

Herrera made the quickest run in all four sessions, giving him plenty of confidence heading into the first of six playoff races on Sunday.

“I’m very confident. I have to give all the credit to the whole Vance & Hines Mission Suzuki team and Andrew (Hines, crew chief) and all the guys back at the shop,” Herrera said. “We’re basically just showing off their hard work and to go out there and run that, I’m very happy with it, Andrew is very happy with it. We’re definitely happy with it and I’m going into tomorrow with all the confidence in the world. I’m glad to get as much points as I can so far going into the Countdown. My whole goal is to try to get as many as I can again. That was my goal, and Andrew is always shooting to be No. 1 so he was all for it.”

Chip Ellis made a big jump to qualify second thanks to his run of 6.741 at 200.17 and Hector Arana Jr. took third with his 6.747 at 201.85.

Eliminations for the 38th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals begin at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday at Maple Grove Raceway.

MOHNTON, Pa. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 38th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, the 16th of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Top Fuel — 1. Justin Ashley, 3.687 seconds, 335.57 mph vs. 16. Scott Farley, 4.137, 284.51; 2. Brittany Force, 3.689, 336.57 vs. 15. Jacob Opatrny, 3.972, 282.84; 3. Doug Kalitta, 3.696, 331.45 vs. 14. Josh Hart, 3.798, 327.90; 4. Steve Torrence, 3.698, 332.43 vs. 13. Mike Salinas, 3.795, 319.60; 5. Antron Brown, 3.716, 329.50 vs. 12. Doug Foley, 3.755, 322.11; 6. Shawn Langdon, 3.719, 329.02 vs. 11. Dan Mercier, 3.743, 325.77; 7. Clay Millican, 3.720, 334.24 vs. 10. Leah Pruett, 3.743, 327.90; 8. Austin Prock, 3.728, 329.83 vs. 9. Tony Schumacher, 3.737, 328.54.

Funny Car — 1. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.866, 328.30 vs. 16. Cory Lee, Mustang, 5.022, 191.62; 2. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.879, 333.99 vs. 15. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.140, 278.17; 3. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.879, 329.34 vs. 14. Jim Campbell, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.087, 299.66; 4. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.881, 329.91 vs. 13. Alex Laughlin, Dodge Charger, 4.058, 295.59; 5. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.887, 330.07 vs. 12. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.004, 309.20; 6. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.891, 333.49 vs. 11. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.923, 327.90; 7. John Force, Camaro, 3.898, 334.32 vs. 10. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.921, 328.86; 8. Alexis DeJoria, GR Supra, 3.915, 331.04 vs. 9. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.915, 327.03.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Mike Smith, 13.747, 53.46.

Pro Stock — 1. Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.494, 211.13 vs. 16. Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.576, 210.37; 2. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.497, 211.23 vs. 15. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.572, 210.34; 3. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.500, 211.13 vs. 14. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.558, 210.93; 4. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.510, 209.65 vs. 13. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.548, 209.69; 5. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.515, 209.49 vs. 12. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.538, 209.88; 6. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.518, 210.28 vs. 11. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.535, 210.14; 7. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.518, 210.14 vs. 10. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Ford Mustang, 6.526, 211.66; 8. Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.521, 210.47 vs. 9. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.523, 210.24.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Fernando Cuadra, 6.581, 209.82; 18. Kenny Delco, 6.620, 210.50; 19. Alan Prusiensky, 6.620, 207.46; 20. Brandon Miller, 6.655, 207.50; 21. Larry Morgan, 6.662, 207.66; 22. Mason McGaha, 6.671, 207.15.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.672, 202.94 vs. Bye; 2. Chip Ellis, EBR, 6.741, 200.17 vs. 15. Cory Reed, Suzuki, 7.044, 192.69; 3. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.747, 201.85 vs. 14. Ron Tornow, Victory, 6.896, 195.11; 4. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.751, 201.28 vs. 13. Chris Bostick, EBR, 6.885, 193.82; 5. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.754, 200.02 vs. 12. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.873, 196.42; 6. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.773, 201.70 vs. 11. John Hall, EBR, 6.834, 198.09; 7. Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.777, 200.32 vs. 10. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.824, 196.44; 8. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.786, 196.96 vs. 9. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 6.795, 20.