(Photos by Big Bob Snyder, Sandra Alberti, Jeff and Mike Burghardt) – More cold, freezing temperatures met the Professional classes at the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Phoenix. Brittany Force is the current No. 1 qualifier for Top Fuel after only one qualifying session due to lousy weather.
Brittany Force powered her Advance Auto Parts dragster to an off-pace 4.976-second pass at 185.28 mph during the lone qualifying session of the weather delayed day. DSR’s Matt Hagan (Funny Car) was also provisional No. 1 qualifier while most funny cars had a very difficult time grabbing traction, right off the starting line with a surface temperature in the low 80’s.
“We battled the rain all day but we at least got one pass in,” B. Force stated. “It wasn’t what we wanted, it blew the tires off it at maybe about 100 feet out. I pedaled it and it hooked up and went down there so it was good practice. Tomorrow the sun is supposed to be out and hopefully we’ll get in two more.”
Jim Maroney is second after his American Flowtech dragster while Scott Palmer is third in his Magic Dry Organic Absorbent dragster.
Hagan leads qualifying with his run of 3.942 at 321.50 in his Sandvik Coromant Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. Hagan’s lap was the fastest pass of the day. He is seeking his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and second of his career at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
John Force and the PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS are second and Tommy Johnson Jr. is third in his Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.
For ticket holders, the Box Office will open on Saturday at 7:00 am. The face value of tickets from today will be redeemable for a Saturday or Sunday ticket or toward a purchase in 2020. Customers are responsible for any difference due to price increases, account fees, etc.
Qualifying will resume on Saturday at 1:30 PM.Television coverage of the event with Brian Lohnes and Tony Pedregon is scheduled to air Saturday on FOX Sports 1 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
the grand stands look as empty as they do on race day