(Photos by Kim Fuller) • Robert Hight claimed the provisional No. 1 position at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, making the quickest run in both qualifying sessions on Friday at the 23rd annual NHRA Nevada Nationals.
Bob Tasca III, who entered the weekend second in points, went 3.853 at 335.73 to go to second, while points leader Matt Hagan is right behind after a 3.871 at 322.58. Hagan has won the last two playoff races.
Hight powered to a run of 3.851-seconds at 327.51 in his 11,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS to take the top spot. If it holds, the multi-time world champion would earn his sixth No. 1 qualifier this season and 83rd in his career.
In Top Fuel, Mike Salinas rocketed to the top thanks to his run of 3.699 at 332.75 in his 11,000-horsepower Valley Services/Scrappers Racing dragster. He’s seeking his fourth No. 1 spot this season and the 15th in his career and is also after a strong finish to his season. Salinas, who started the weekend sixth in points and 131 points out of first, started the year with a victory in Gainesville and would love a second victory in 2023.
Austin Prock went to second with his run of 3.701 at 329.99 and points leader Leah Pruett is right behind thanks to her run of 3.707 at 331.53.
Nobody has more wins at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway than defending Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders and her success continued on Friday, securing the No. 1 spot in her Johnson’s Horsepower Garage/Melling Performance Chevrolet Camaro with a 6.595 at 207.66 during opening session. Her second qualifying run on Friday was disallowed due to a technical violation.
Kyle Koretsky’s 6.603 at 206.07 put him in the second spot and Matt Hartford took third after his run of 6.608 at 206.26.
On a weekend where he has a chance to clinch his first NHRA world championship, Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Gaige Herrera got off to a flying start on his Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki, shattering the track record with a run of 6.760 at 199.82. The points leader entered the weekend with a 156-point lead over teammate Eddie Krawiec and he opened the event by making the quickest run in each of the first two sessions.
After two qualifying rounds in Legends Nostalgia Funny Car presented by Modern Warriors at the 23rd annual NHRA Nevada Nationals, Bobby Cottrell’s 4.740 in the Northwest Hitter Camaro carded the #1 slot and will race Tim Boychuk in Eliminations on Saturday.
Qualifying continues at 12:00 p.m. PT on Saturday at the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Take a look at our first Gallery of Qualifying for the 23rd annual NHRA Nevada Nationals!
