Steve Torrence, Dallas Glenn hold onto No. 1 qualifying sports at Epping.
Funny Car points leader Matt Hagan secured the No. 1 position for Tony Stewart Racing at the NHRA New England Nationals.
Steve Torrence (Top Fuel) and Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) also qualified No. 1 at the eighth of 22 races during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.
Hagan’s run of 3.878-seconds at 332.51 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat from Friday stood up during Saturday’s final two sessions, giving him a second straight No. 1 qualifier and third this season for the first-year TSR team. Hagan, who also has 46 career top spots, will aim for his fourth win at New England Dragway in the past five events, feeling good about what his team has in store for Sunday.
“We’ve had an amazing season, and this Power Brokers Dodge is running strong. Tony gives us the parts and pieces, and he expects results, so we’re trying to give it to him,” Hagan said. “It was really cool to turn the corner and not be able to get down the midway because of all the people. I love seeing that.”
John Force made a huge jump in the final qualifying session, moving to second with his run of 3.881 at 330.31. Teammate Robert Hight, who is second in points this year and has three wins, also made a big move, going up to third thanks to his run of 3.889 at 329.34.
Steve Torrence held on to the No. 1 spot after Saturday qualifying.
NHRA/National Dragster
In Top Fuel, Torrence’s track-record run of 3.664 at 329.50 from Friday in his 11,000-horsepower Capco Contractors dragster gave him his second No. 1 this season. It’s also the 33rd career No. 1 qualifier for the four-time defending world champ and he will open eliminations against Scott Farley seeking his first win of the 2022 season. It’s been a longer drought that Torrence has been used to in recent seasons, but his team has been outstanding this weekend at New England Dragway, closing out qualifying with a run of 3.720 at 329.10. It was a perfect capper to qualifying and now Torrence will try to carry it over to race day and grab a second career Epping win.
“It does feel good. We’re definitely making steps in the right direction, and that’s what we’ve been looking for all year,” Torrence said. “We’re getting a little better and a little better, and when that consistency card comes around, it’s great.”
Brittany Force was just as impressive in qualifying, setting the track speed record during the first session on Saturday with a blast of 334.32. Her run of 3.687 at 329.50 from Friday kept her second, as the points leader will aim for her fourth win of the season. Mike Salinas stayed third thanks to his 3.705 at 328.06.
Dallas Glenn notched his second career N0. 1 qualifying spot.
NHRA/National Dragster
Glenn picked up his first No. 1 qualifier of the Pro Stock season and second in his career as his run of 6.543 at 209.33 in his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro held up from Friday. The reigning Rookie of the Year made a solid run to close out Saturday as well and will open eliminations against Alan Prusiensky. He’ll be looking for his second win of the season and Glenn was equally pleased with how his team returned in Pro Stock’s first race since late-April.
“I made my best run when I needed it – the air wasn’t as good today, and we kind of missed it on both runs overcompensating for it, but I think we’ll be good for tomorrow,” Glenn said. “After my first No. 1 qualifier last year, I was talking with Matt Hartford, and he said, ‘All the years I’ve been racing, I’ve never been No. 1 before. There are guys out here who’ve been racing a very long time and don’t have one yet, and I already have another one. It’s pretty cool. Tomorrow, we just need to be better than the guy next to us. We don’t have to be the fastest car out there, just the best every run.”
New England Nationals
Qualifying, Sunday elimination pairings
Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the ninth annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway, the eighth of 22 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. Steve Torrence, 3.664 seconds, 329.50 mph vs. 16. Scott Farley, 8.098, 81.22; 2. Brittany Force, 3.687, 329.50 vs. 15. Clay Millican, 8.065, 77.34; 3. Mike Salinas, 3.705, 328.06 vs. 14. Joe Morrison, 5.988, 109.79; 4. Doug Kalitta, 3.728, 329.50 vs. 13. Cameron Ferre, 3.931, 314.75; 5. Josh Hart, 3.731, 328.94 vs. 12. Shawn Langdon, 3.783, 325.45; 6. Tony Schumacher, 3.745, 307.44 vs. 11. Leah Pruett, 3.780, 323.50; 7. Austin Prock, 3.749, 293.22 vs. 10. Antron Brown, 3.777, 327.59; 8. Justin Ashley, 3.768, 326.08 vs. 9. Dan Mercier, 3.775, 314.68.
Funny Car — 1. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.878, 332.51 vs. 14. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 9.791, 89.91; 2. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.881, 330.31 vs. 13. Terry Haddock, Ford Mustang, 5.491, 136.08; 3. Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.889, 329.34 vs. 12. Cory Lee, Mustang, 4.547, 227.31; 4. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.901, 324.28 vs. 11. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.343, 208.88; 5. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.911, 325.22 vs. 10. J.R. Todd, Toyota Supra, 4.288, 221.85; 6. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.923, 328.30 vs. 9. Alexis DeJoria, Supra, 3.970, 324.83; 7. Ron Capps, Supra, 3.929, 327.59 vs. 8. Jim Campbell, Charger, 3.950, 319.67.
Pro Stock — 1. Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.543, 209.33 vs. 16. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.621, 209.04; 2. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.544, 209.95 vs. 15. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.620, 209.79; 3. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.544, 209.79 vs. 14. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.595, 210.60; 4. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.544, 209.10 vs. 13. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.593, 208.20; 5. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.545, 211.00 vs. 12. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.590, 209.62; 6. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.547, 209.59 vs. 11. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.590, 209.79; 7. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.561, 209.52 vs. 10. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.582, 210.31; 8. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Ford Mustang, 6.571, 209.49 vs. 9. Fernando Cuadra, Mustang, 6.578, 209.30. Did Not Qualify: 17. Cristian Cuadra, 6.629, 208.94.
Keyword: NHRA New England Nationals Qualifying, Sunday Pairings: Matt Hagan on Top for Tony Stewart