CONCORD, NC – September 24, 2022 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Top Fuel points leader Justin Ashley made a career-best run to close out qualifying at the 14th annual Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals, picking up the No. 1 qualifier on Saturday and clinching his second straight top spot at zMAX Dragway this season.
John Force (Funny Car) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) also qualified No. 1 at the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.
Ashley rolled to the top with an impressive run of 3.668-seconds at 335.65 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Phillips Connect dragster, picking up his second career No. 1 qualifier. Ashley and Brittany Force also put on a show during their thrilling side-by-side pairing, making the two fastest runs in track history. Force’s 336.91 set the track record, while Ashley nearly matched it as he went to the top. The young standout advanced to the final round to open the Countdown to the Championship to move into the points lead and he’ll open raceday on Sunday against Alex Laughlin, looking for his third victory this season.
“There’s something about zMAX Dragway and something about this team, too,” Ashley said. “We’re just along for the ride when it’s running like that, and it’s such a blast. Our team has been working so hard. We’ve got a big job to do tomorrow, and we want to be out here for a long time. The competition is tough, but we’ve got to continue to put our best foot forward. We’ve got a long way to go. It’s really important to be consistent and put yourself in the best position to win on Sunday, but the way the Top Fuel field is, it’s going to be a difficult first round.”
Force finished in the second position with her run of 3.685 as she tries to jump back in the Top Fuel points lead. Clay Millican took the third spot with a 3.687 at 331.20, while Mike Salinas, Doug Kalitta and Josh Hart all went in the 3.60s as well to take the next three positions.
In Funny Car, John Force held onto the No. 1 position with his run of 3.854 at 330.47 from Friday in his 11,000-horsepower PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS. That gives the 16-time world champion his second straight top qualifier at the Bellagio of dragstrips and also his second this season. It’s the 165th top qualifier for the Funny Car icon, who is after a big day on Sunday as he looks to make a big jump in the points standings. He’ll open eliminations fourth in points…
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