BRISTOL, TN – June 19, 2022 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Mike Salinas rolled to the No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel on Saturday at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, moving a step closer to his third straight win in front of a huge crowd at Bristol Dragway.
Robert Hight (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also qualified No. 1 at the ninth of 22 races during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.
Salinas powered to the top spot in his 11,000-horsepower Valley Services/Scrappers Racing dragster during the final qualifying session, going 3.767-seconds at 327.59 mph to earn his second No. 1 position this year and 10th in his career. Looking for his fourth win this year, Salinas has won the last two races at Bristol and also advanced to the last three final rounds at the track. He has felt right at home in Thunder Valley in recent years and will open eliminations on Sunday against Cameron Ferre.
“I’ve won on Father’s Day here before (in 2019) and it would be very special to do it again,” Salinas said. “This place has a special place in my heart. I don’t know why it likes me so much, but it’s just beautiful here. (But) I think tomorrow you’ll be surprised with how fast these cars go. I think they’re going to be in the low 3.70s. The good thing is, we’ve shown we can win from any spot. There’s no egos on this team and that has been really cool to see this year.”
Steve Torrence, who was the provisional No. 1 qualifier on Friday, finished second after his 3.791 at 317.79 and Josh Hart is third with a 3.791 at 316.60. Points leader Brittany Force qualified in the fifth spot.
Hight stayed on top in Funny Car thanks to his 3.971 at 310.98 from Friday in his 11,000-horsepower Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS, handing him his 73rd career No. 1 spot. It’s also his second No. 1 qualifier in 2022, as he continues to battle with Matt Hagan for the points lead. Both drivers have three victories and Hight will try for a fourth this year on Sunday. He admitted the team still has work to do on raceday to get the car running well in Bristol, but performing in front of a packed house on Saturday left him plenty motivated heading into eliminations.
“I definitely did not think that run (from Friday) was going to be the top,” Hight said. “We went up there the last run trying to run better, but it put a cylinder out early. Being in the position we’re in is really good because going…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Motor Sports NewsWire…