Top Fuel Eliminations
The Top Fuel finals began with Clay Millican taking on Dan Mercier. Mercier encountered difficulties midway down the track, allowing Millican to secure victory with a time of 3.81 seconds at 331 mph.
Brittany Force and Lex Joon
Next up, Brittany Force faced Lex Joon. Both cars launched well, but Force lost traction at 330 feet. Joon looked poised for a win before he also experienced tire issues, allowing Force to take the lead and finish with a 4.291 at 292 mph.
Tony Stewart vs. Kyle Wurtzel
Tony Stewart competed against Kyle Wurtzel, winning despite blowing his Dodge Direct Connection dragster for the third time that weekend. Stewart recorded a run of 3.89 seconds at just 270 mph.
Major Matchup: Antron Brown vs. Doug Kalitta
A highlight of round one featured Antron Brown against Doug Kalitta, who made a late entry into the competition. Kalitta triumphed with a time of 3.81 seconds, beating Brown’s 3.90, and earned the lane choice for the next round against Millican.
Round One Results
Top qualifier Justin Ashley swiftly defeated Scott Farley with a time of 3.880 at 318 mph, while Farley managed only a 4.87 at 190 mph. Steve Torrence and Josh Hart also won their opening-round races.
Funny Car Highlights
The Funny Car segment kicked off with Matt Hagan triumphing over J.R. Todd, who faced tire issues. Jack Beckman followed suit, driving past Chad Green for a win. Top qualifier Cruz Pedregon advanced after Buddy Hull experienced tire problems, finishing with a 4.057 at 318 mph.
Pro Stock Round Up
Pro Stock commenced with a dramatic match between teammates Erica Enders and Aaron Stanfield, with Stanfield clinching the win. Cody Coughlin triumphed over uncle Jeg Jr., while Cory Reed delivered the lowest elapsed time of the weekend at 6.591 seconds.
