Force takes provisional top spot in Top Fuel, while Matt Hagan, Angie Smith lead in Funny Car, Pro Stock Motorcycle.
- Five of the six track records were broken in first round of qualifying on Friday at the Virginia NHRA Nationals.
- If it holds, it would be the second top spot this year and 34th overall for Brittany Force, who now has nine of the 10 fastest runs in Top Fuel history.
- In Funny Car, Matt Hagan bested the previous track record by nearly 10 mph.
Top Fuel points leader Brittany Force powered to both ends of the track record at Virginia Motorsports Park, racing to the provisional No. 1 qualifier on Friday at the Virginia NHRA Nationals.
Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Angie Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers, as five of the six track records were broken on Friday at the seventh of 22 races during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.
In NHRA’s first appearance at the track in three years, Force went an impressive 3.710-seconds at 335.82 mph in her 11,000-horsepower Flav-R-Pac dragster, making the quickest and fastest run in Virginia Motorsports Park history. If it holds, it would be the second top spot this year and 34th overall for Force, who now has nine of the 10 fastest runs in Top Fuel history. The stellar run also gives Force, a two-time winner in 2022, track ET records at 11 different facilities.
“It cleared up and (crew chief, David) Grubnic had a goal set and we hit that mark,” Force said. “We’re excited about that. It was a good, solid run and we’re hoping for two more runs tomorrow. (I’m) pretty excited to make that run here in Virginia. It’s been since 2019 that we were here last, so to be able to come out here for the fans and make that run and put a show for them, that was great. We just want to keep improving and see what we can do on race day.”
Matt Hagan destroyed the track record in Funny Car on Friday.
NHRA/National Dragster
Hagan, the Funny Car points leader, also obliterated the track speed record, going to the top with a 3.914 at 335.82 in his 11,000-horsepower Smithfield Brand Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. The impressive pass bested the previous track record by nearly 10 mph, putting Hagan, who already has a pair of wins this season, on track for his second No. 1 qualifier this season. In his 300th career start, it would also be the 45th career No. 1 qualifier for the Virginia native.
“I’m so proud of everyone on this team,” Hagan said. “All of them do a great job and all in all, I’m pretty happy with that run. That 335 mph is a representation of the horsepower in this car. It’s my 300th career start and we’ve got a new look on the car, so it’s nice to be the provisional No. 1. I’m blessed to do what we do and it’s just cool to stick around for 300 races. There’s such a fine line in these cars and everything has to line up perfectly, but that’s just a testament to (crew chief) Dickie (Venables) and our guys.”
Angie Smith cracked the 200 mph barrier in Virginia.
NHRA/National Dragster
Smith closed out the day with a pair of track records in Pro Stock Motorcycle, making her own bit of history with a standout pass of 6.788 at 200.38 on her Denso Auto Parts Buell. It is the first 200-mph motorcycle run in track history and also gave Smith the quickest run at VMP. If it holds, it would be Smith’s second career No. 1 qualifier as she looks to pick up her first victory of the 2022 season.
“It was very exciting to go 200 mph,” Smith said. “I love this facility and we come test out here a lot, and it’s just a great track. I would say it’s my second home and that was a good run. Hopefully we can keep this momentum going. We got off the starting line well and that’s the key with these bikes. It’s a very consistent track for us and to see that 200 pop up on the scoreboard is exciting. You want to put on a good show for the fans.”
Virginia NHRA Nationals
Friday Qualifying
Friday’s results after the first one of three rounds of qualifying for the Third annual Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, seventh of 22 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.
Top Fuel — 1. Brittany Force, 3.710 seconds, 335.82 mph; 2. Justin Ashley, 3.725, 327.82; 3. Doug Foley, 3.733, 318.69; 4. Doug Kalitta, 3.740, 322.19; 5. Steve Torrence, 3.747, 324.90; 6. Leah Pruett, 3.754, 318.92; 7. Austin Prock, 3.780, 328.38; 8. Mike Salinas, 3.780, 321.81; 9. Clay Millican, 3.788, 311.05; 10. Antron Brown, 3.828, 324.90; 11. Shawn Langdon, 3.830, 315.05; 12. Scott Palmer, 3.870, 302.08; 13. Lex Joon, 4.161, 215.41; 14. Josh Hart, 4.181, 203.28; 15. Tony Schumacher, 5.392, 129.32.
Funny Car — 1. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.914, 335.82; 2. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 3.974, 319.07; 3. Blake Alexander, Ford Mustang, 4.007, 304.05; 4. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.099, 323.58; 5. J.R. Todd, Toyota Supra, 4.201, 231.24; 6. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 6.049, 150.30; 7. Phil Burkart, Chevy Monte Carlo, 6.543, 103.13; 8. Alexis DeJoria, Supra, 6.926, 100.52; 9. Ron Capps, Supra, 7.700, 90.86; 10. Jim Campbell, Charger, 7.949, 81.59; 11. Chad Green, Mustang, 7.997, 78.55; 12. Robert Hight, Camaro, 8.517, 84.37; 13. Mike McIntire, Toyota Camry, 9.936, 83.28; 14. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 14.830, 61.88.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.788, 200.38; 2. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.826, 198.12; 3. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.827, 199.32; 4. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.828, 197.28; 5. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 6.854, 197.36; 6. Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.868, 196.79; 7. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.871, 196.13; 8. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.875, 195.25; 9. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.897, 197.05; 10. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.932, 198.15; 11. Ron Tornow, Victory, 6.938, 191.57; 12. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 7.069, 189.58; 13. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.147, 187.44; 14. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 7.408, 153.65.
Keyword: Brittany Force Leads NHRA Records Assault in Friday Qualifying at Virginia Nationals