BRISTOL, Tenn. – Finally, Bob Tasca III had a Funny Car he could see out of.
With the track in full view, Tasca took the No. 1 qualifier spot after the first day of qualifying on Friday in the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.
"I don't know what it is here at Bristol, but I love running here at Thunder Valley," Tasca said. "We have been looking for that run, for the pole here, for the last couple of races."
Tasca ripped off a run of 4.063 seconds at 310.48 miles per hour, and that should be good enough to hold through the third and fourth rounds of qualifying on Saturday.
"This thing has been shaking for the last four or five races, where I couldn't even see for over 200 feet," Tasca said. "So, I am laughing at these guys when I got back. I said, 'Fellas, you finally gave me a race car that I could finally see out.' I could see the groove and keep the car dead nuts in the center."
If it stands up, it will be the second straight No. 1 qualifier for Tasca in Thunder Valley.
"I think it will hold," Tasca said. "Last year when I sat here, I think we went .10 and then ran .05 on Saturday. I don't think you will see that with the sun out the way it is gonna be. I think that .06 is pretty safe for the pole."
Robert Hight held the top spot after the first round of qualifying, and had a chance to better Tasca in the night session.
But the tires shook at half track and Hight had to shut it down. That kept his first run on the charts, which was good enough for ninth.
Don Schumacher Racing's Jack Beckman is third and Ron Capps is fourth, and they are sandwiched between JFR's Mike Neff in second and John Force in fifth.
In Top Fuel, it came down to the final run of the night between DSR teammates Antron Brown and Tony Schumacher.
After Terry McMillen made everyone take notice with a 3.823 second run at 315.27 mph, Brown knew exactly what he had to do to knock McMillen down a spot or two.
"It was definitely a great way to get it started," Brown said. "When we came in there, we saw everybody in front of us throwing down. Terry McMillen threw that run out there and that really opened some eyes."
Like Tasca, Brown's eyes were definitely open and his Top Fuel dragster was fast. In fact, he was just fast enough, running a 3.814 second pass at 323.12 mph, both track records, to give him the No. 1 qualifier spot going into Saturday's final rounds of qualifying.
Schumacher made his run at 3.822 seconds at 320.66 mph to put him second on the qualifying chart.
McMillen ended up third, while Doug Kalitta was fourth and Hillary Will was fifth.
"We (Brown and Schumacher) just both went down there and did some solid runs, and we snuck up in to those one and two spots," Brown said. "I feel real good. I feel like the lucky dog this week with Aaron's on board. It was a real good pass for us and hopefully it brings us some luck come Sunday."
The fans had to wait until the final pairing of the day to get the top qualifier in Pro Stock, and Allen Johnson didn't disappoint.
Johnson ran a 6.623-second pass, a new track record, at 207.75 mph in his second run of the day to take the top spot.
"This is such a blessing to be back here at Bristol," Johnson said. "The Mopar Dodge Avenger crew his hitting on all eight cylinders about now."
If Johnson can hold on during the heat of the day on Saturday, it will be his third straight No. 1 qualifier at Bristol.
"I didn't know it was three straight top qualifiers in a row, but that is just awesome to do that at home," Johnson said. "Track record, I didn't know that either. But everything we do here at home is just an awesome experience for our team."
FRIDAY'S RESULTS
Top Fuel -- 1. Antron Brown, 3.814 seconds, 323.12 mph; 2. Tony Schumacher, 3.822, 320.66; 3. Terry McMillen, 3.823, 315.27; 4. Doug Kalitta, 3.835, 321.81; 5. Hillary Will, 3.837, 308.35; 6. Steve Torrence, 3.840, 318.02; 7. Spencer Massey, 3.844, 321.58; 8. Bob Vandergriff, 3.855, 315.78; 9. Shawn Langdon, 3.855, 315.12; 10. Clay Millican, 3.870, 314.61; 11. David Grubnic, 3.870, 312.42; 12. Bruce Litton, 3.881, 309.34. Not Qualified: 13. Cory McClenathan, 3.893, 303.64; 14. Morgan Lucas, 3.900, 303.78; 15. Khalid alBalooshi, 3.907, 313.44; 16. Brandon Bernstein, 3.913, 298.93; 17. Scott Palmer, 3.954, 299.33; 18. Dom Lagana, 3.958, 302.28; 19. Pat Dakin, 4.013, 291.19; 20. Chris Karamesines, 4.173, 245.27; 21. Ike Maier, 4.612, 173.25.
Funny Car -- 1. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.063, 310.48; 2. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.072, 310.70; 3. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.077, 310.13; 4. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.091, 303.43; 5. John Force, Mustang, 4.094, 312.71; 6. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.096, 307.79; 7. Jeff Arend, Toyota Camry, 4.110, 309.63; 8. Johnny Gray, Charger, 4.120, 309.56; 9. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.124, 304.12; 10. Jim Head, Toyota Solara, 4.128, 305.49; 11. Tony Pedregon, Camry, 4.130, 306.26; 12. Courtney Force, Mustang, 4.162, 302.08. Not Qualified: 13. Bob Bode, 4.185, 290.76; 14. Alexis DeJoria, 4.193, 270.48; 15. Blake Alexander, 4.215, 257.92; 16. Tim Wilkerson, 4.257, 293.73; 17. Cruz Pedregon, 4.296, 223.69; 18. Todd Lesenko, 4.299, 282.78.
Pro Stock -- 1. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.623, 207.75; 2. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.641, 207.27; 3. Vincent Nobile, Avenger, 6.667, 207.02; 4. V. Gaines, Avenger, 6.673, 206.01; 5. Jason Line, GXP, 6.678, 206.04; 6. Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.678, 204.60; 7. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.680, 206.04; 8. Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.680, 205.88; 9. Jeg Coughlin, Avenger, 6.693, 206.16; 10. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.700, 204.85; 11. Ron Krisher, GXP, 6.703, 204.98; 12. Kurt Johnson, GXP, 6.708, 205.16. Not Qualified: 13. Erica Enders, 6.720, 203.58; 14. JR Carr, 6.722, 204.08; 15. Shane Gray, 6.725, 203.49; 16. Larry Morgan, 6.726, 204.82; 17. Grace Howell, 6.767, 203.31.
