Three-time NHRA defending Top Fuel world champion Steve Torrence powered his 11,000-horsepower Capco Contractors dragster to the provisional No. 1 qualifying spot on Friday at the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, April 16.
Robert Hight (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also provisional No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the second event of the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. The event marks the first four-wide drag racing event in nearly two years as the 2020 race was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hight, following up on his runner-up finish in Gainesville, went 3.922-seconds at 327.59 mph in his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car.
“I’m glad we’re back finally running a schedule that’s a little more normal,” Hight said. “A month off after a runner-up finish is not much fun because, honestly, I lost that as a driver in the final. J.R. (Todd) did a better job (in the final round at Gainesville), I’ve thought about it 1,000 times in my mind, and I’m ready to get back out there and start racing and redeem myself.”
In Pro Stock, rising star Aaron Stanfield led the way and looks to track down his first career No. 1 qualifier in the class. Stanfield, who picked up his first career win in Pro Stock late last year, went 6.671 at 205.66 in his Janac Brothers Racing Chevrolet Camaro to make the top run on Friday.
It was the Matt and Angie Smith show in Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying on Friday, as M. Smith took the top spot and his wife followed in second. The defending world champion started the year with a win in Gainesville and ran well on his Denso Auto Parts/Stockseth/Matt Smith Racing EBR, going 6.891 at 195.96. If it holds up, it would give M. Smith his first top qualifier of the year and the 44th in his standout career. A. Smith, who won in Vegas to close out the 2020 season, is currently second with a run of 6.909 at 195.51.
Qualifying continues Saturday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with Pro Stock sessions at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. PT and Nitro Qualifying sessions beginning at 1:45 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. Jet dragster exhibitions will take place immediately following Saturday qualifying. Nitro Eliminations begin at noon on Sunday.
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has sold all grandstand tickets for the April 16-18 DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. A limited number of suite deals remain for the weekend. For race weekend information, visit www.LVMS.com, call 800-644-4444 or follow on social media @LVMotorSpeedway.
Fans not able to attend the race in person can tune in to FS1 on Sunday beginning at 7 a.m. PT for qualifying coverage and final elimination coverage at 5 p.m. Fans can see every second of the racing action on NHRA.tv, featuring live coverage all three days.
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LAS VEGAS -- Results Friday after the first one of three rounds of qualifying for the 21st annual DENSO Spark Plug NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, second of 22 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Steve Torrence, 3.741 seconds, 328.94 mph; 2. Clay Millican, 3.788, 321.58; 3. Shawn Langdon, 3.796, 310.05; 4. Billy Torrence, 3.800, 323.04; 5. Justin Ashley, 3.821, 301.20; 6. Greg Carrillo, 3.827, 317.49; 7. Antron Brown, 3.840, 314.83; 8. Leah Pruett, 3.938, 260.51; 9. Jim Maroney, 4.014, 305.98; 10. Troy Buff, 4.667, 163.95; 11. Brittany Force, 5.067, 133.74; 12. Todd Paton, 5.272, 134.90; 13. Cameron Ferre, 6.305, 107.62. Not Qualified: 14. Doug Kalitta, DQ'ed.
Funny Car -- 1. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.922, 327.59; 2. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.946, 325.22; 3. John Force, Camaro, 3.954, 324.75; 4. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.960, 323.50; 5. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.963, 325.77; 6. J.R. Todd, Toyota Camry, 3.980, 325.14; 7. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.998, 314.24; 8. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 4.049, 273.33; 9. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.089, 264.49; 10. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.090, 305.49; 11. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.122, 300.86; 12. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.159, 299.06; 13. Chris Morel, Charger, 4.183, 270.21; 14. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.608, 178.50; 15. Jonnie Lindberg, Mustang, 5.147, 157.71; 16. Ron Capps, Charger, 6.844, 98.23. Not Qualified: 17. Alex Miladinovich, 7.732, 86.31; 18. Jeff Diehl, 9.574, 64.91; 19. Steven Densham, 18.483, 889.91.
Pro Stock -- 1. Aaron Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, 6.671, 205.66; 2. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.683, 205.01; 3. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.686, 205.41; 4. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.686, 205.22; 5. Aaron Strong, Camaro, 6.689, 204.79; 6. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.696, 204.39; 7. Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.705, 205.22; 8. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.705, 205.01; 9. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.707, 204.85; 10. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.712, 205.41; 11. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Ford Mustang, 6.735, 203.86; 12. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.740, 204.76; 13. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.756, 204.42; 14. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 7.180, 157.95; 15. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 15.942, 63.27; 16. Erica Enders, Camaro, 16.321, 79.69. Not Qualified: 17. Cristian Cuadra, 16.643, 48.28; 18. Fernando Cuadra, 23.024, 30.91.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Matt Smith, EBR, 6.891, 195.96; 2. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.909, 195.51; 3. Scotty Pollacheck, EBR, 6.939, 195.17; 4. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.953, 193.24; 5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.962, 192.77; 6. Chip Ellis, Harley-Davidson, 6.970, 193.54; 7. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.985, 192.74; 8. Cory Reed, Suzuki, 7.070, 191.81; 9. Freddie Camarena, Suzuki, 7.134, 189.68; 10. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 7.515, 178.24; 11. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 7.880, 187.86; 12. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 10.710, 96.35.
