Racing
Drag Racing's Elite Showcase Thrilling Performances in Sin City
2024-11-01
The Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway witnessed a remarkable display of power and precision as some of the sport's biggest names secured provisional No. 1 positions in their respective divisions. Brittany Force and Austin Prock emerged as the top qualifiers in Top Fuel and Funny Car, while Greg Anderson and Matt Smith also led the way in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, respectively.
Drag Racing's Elite Shine Bright in Sin City
Brittany Force Aims for Fifth No. 1 Qualifier of the Season
Brittany Force, the reigning Top Fuel champion, powered her Chevrolet Accessories dragster to a blistering time of 3.675 seconds at 336.74 mph, putting her in position to claim her fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 51st of her illustrious career. Force's impressive performance came on the same day that her father, the legendary John Force, returned to racing for the first time since his crash in June, adding an extra layer of significance to the event."Coming into this weekend, we knew it was going to be special because my dad had planned to come out, and I think everyone was really looking forward to seeing him, especially me," B. Force said. "I'm so excited for him. I think it's great for him. This is just the best medicine for him." The younger Force expressed her enthusiasm for returning to Las Vegas, a track where the team has enjoyed tremendous success in the past, and her determination to close out the season strong and secure a victory for their sponsors.Shawn Langdon and reigning world champion Doug Kalitta currently rank second and third, respectively, in the Top Fuel standings, with times of 3.706 and 3.707 seconds.Austin Prock Aims to Break Single-Season Record
In the Funny Car division, Austin Prock recorded a pace-setting time of 3.843 seconds at 333.33 mph in his Camaro SS, putting him in position to potentially break the single-season record for most No. 1 qualifiers. Prock, who holds a commanding 147-point lead over teammate Jack Beckman, was thrilled to welcome back John Force, the team's patriarch, to the racetrack."That was a great way to welcome him back," Prock said. "All three John Force Racing cars made tremendous runs, and it was a good way to say, 'Welcome back, boss.' It's just nice to have John back at the racetrack for the first time since Richmond. I'm glad that he's back. I wanted to cry when I saw him this morning."Prock acknowledged that his initial run was "really stout" and that he believes the 3.84-second time will not hold, as conditions are expected to improve on Saturday, allowing for even faster times.Beckman and Ron Capps secured the second and third positions in Funny Car, respectively, with times of 3.859 and 3.860 seconds.Greg Anderson Aims to Keep Championship Hopes Alive
In the Pro Stock division, Greg Anderson claimed the provisional No. 1 position with a run of 6.597 seconds at 207.02 mph in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. Anderson, who is currently third in the overall points standings, emphasized the importance of winning this race to stay competitive in the championship chase."Without a doubt, I need to win this race," Anderson said. "That's all I can do at this point. Even if I do win the last two races, that might not be enough to get [the championship] done. Our plan is to set the ladder up so it's favorable, but there is no happy spot on a Pro Stock ladder. At least I still have a shot, and that's all you can ask for."Anderson acknowledged that his pole position is not secure, as the conditions are expected to improve on Saturday, potentially allowing other drivers to challenge his time. He also expressed his willingness to support his teammate, Dallas Glenn, in the championship battle if he were to falter.David Cuadra, Aaron Stanfield, and Dallas Glenn currently occupy the second, third, and fourth positions in Pro Stock, respectively.Matt Smith Seeks Must-Win Situation in Pro Stock Motorcycle
In the Pro Stock Motorcycle division, Matt Smith achieved the best time in both qualifying sessions, clocking in at 6.822 seconds at 198.70 mph on his Denso Auto Parts/Matt Smith Racing Buell. Smith, who currently trails leader Gaige Herrera by 58 points, described the weekend as a must-win situation for his championship aspirations."Our mindset this weekend is to just have no bad luck because we've had a lot of it lately," Smith said. "In Reading, I had a bad fuel pump, and then in St. Louis, we lost a crank trigger, and in Dallas, the bike wouldn't shift. Those are three races we should have won, and that would have been 60 points. We should be leading right now, so I'm not asking for good luck. I just don't want any more bad luck."Despite the challenges he has faced, Smith remains determined to keep his championship hopes alive, acknowledging that he has the second-best bike in the field. He is confident that he can overcome the deficit and catch Herrera, provided he can avoid any further setbacks.Herrera and Angie Smith currently occupy the second and third positions in Pro Stock Motorcycle, respectively.Qualifying will continue on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PT, as the competitors look to solidify their positions and set the stage for an exciting conclusion to the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals.