CAPPS, S. TORRENCE. STANFIELD AND HINES TAKE PROVISIONAL NO. 1 SPOTS AT SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA NATIONALS

NORWALK, OH – Looking for his first victory of the 2021 season, Ron Capps got off to a strong start on Friday, powering to the provisional No. 1 spot in Funny Car at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also provisional No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the seventh race of the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.

Capps went 3.888-seconds at 329.34 mph in his 11,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, putting him in position to qualify in the top spot for the second time this season and 27th time in his career. Capps lost in the opening round in Epping, but he was confident his team could rebound in a big way in Norwalk.

“Just getting qualified is a big deal right now,” Capps said. “You want to take advantage of these conditions. After the disappointment of losing in the first round in Epping, you want to go out there and show what we’ve got. We’ve been qualifying well, we just haven’t had the breaks. It’s been a lot of fun and we just need to push a little further. Funny Car is as tough as it’s ever been. Trying to win a Funny Car race is tougher than ever.”

Robert Hight, who has advanced to two straight final rounds, went 3.895 at 327.59 to qualify in the second spot on Friday, while Capps’ Don Schumacher Racing teammate and defending world champ Matt Hagan rounded out the top three with his run of 3.899 at 327.82.

Top Fuel points leader Torrence jumped to the top in his 11,000-horsepower Capco Contractors dragster with a run of 3.705 at 324.83. If it holds, it would be the third No. 1 qualifier in 2021 of 30th of his career for the points leader and three-time defending world champion. Brittany Force, who is after her first victory of the 2021 campaign, is currently second thanks to her solid pass of 3.722 at 323.74. Torrence’s father, Billy, who won in Epping at the most recent event, followed in third after going 3.724 at 325.37.

After his Pro Stock victory in Epping, Stanfield kept up a strong pace, going 6.615 at 206.57 in his Janac Brothers Chevrolet Camaro to take over the No. 1 spot. If it holds, Stanfield would earn his first career No. 1 qualifier. His Elite Motorsports teammate, defending world champ and 2021 ESPY Best Driver Nominee Erica Enders, went 6.620 at 206.83 to sit in the second position, while points leader Greg Anderson is third after his run of 6.626 at 208.04.

Five-time Norwalk winner Hines again looked strong at the track in Pro Stock Motorcycle, taking the provisional No. 1 spot with a run of 6.855 at 200.68 on his Vance & Hines Buell. If it holds, it would be the first No. 1 qualifier of 2021 for Hines, the winningest rider in class history, and 45th in his remarkable career. Defending world champ and points leader Matt Smith was right behind after going 6.856 at 198.79 and Joey Gladstone rounded out the top three by going 6.863 at 197.91. Eddie Krawiec, who is currently fourth, set a track speed record with a run of 201.22.

Qualifying continues Saturday at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals 12:15 p.m. ET.

NORWALK, OH – Friday’s results after the first one of three rounds of qualifying for the 14th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, seventh of 22 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel — 1. Steve Torrence, 3.705 seconds, 324.83 mph; 2. Brittany Force, 3.722, 323.74; 3. Billy Torrence, 3.724, 325.37; 4. Mike Salinas, 3.776, 314.17; 5. Antron Brown, 3.790, 317.87; 6. Justin Ashley, 3.814, 312.93; 7. Leah Pruett, 3.835, 311.34; 8. Josh Hart, 3.840, 317.57; 9. Doug Foley, 3.866, 312.93; 10. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.967, 304.39; 11. Krista Baldwin, 4.024, 306.81; 12. Mike Bucher, 4.094, 280.19; 13. Clay Millican, 4.905, 136.58; 14. Shawn Langdon, 6.117, 170.41; 15. Joe Morrison, 11.961, 73.70; 16. Luigi Novelli, 14.541, 59.35.

Funny Car — 1. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 3.888, 329.34; 2. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.895, 327.59; 3. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.899, 327.82; 4. John Force, Camaro, 3.928, 326.71; 5. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.934, 323.74; 6. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camry, 3.936, 327.35; 7. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.959, 325.53; 8. Mike McIntire, Camry, 3.984, 316.45; 9. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.027, 316.82; 10. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.150, 275.06; 11. J.R. Todd, Camry, 4.575, 185.82; 12. Chad Green, Mustang, 7.494, 97.82; 13. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 8.368, 85.22; 14. Paul Lee, Charger, 8.577, 78.28; 15. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 10.264, 70.97; 16. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 12.558, 69.82.

Pro Stock — 1. Aaron Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, 6.615, 206.57; 2. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.620, 206.83; 3. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.626, 208.04; 4. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.632, 205.47; 5. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.633, 207.72; 6. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.638, 206.89; 7. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.639, 205.79; 8. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.649, 207.50; 9. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.669, 207.15; 10. Bruno Massel, Camaro, 6.673, 206.04; 11. Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.676, 208.36; 12. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.701, 205.44; 13. Fernando Cuadra, Mustang, 6.724, 207.11; 14. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.743, 201.82; 15. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.831, 202.09; 16. John Gaydosh Jr, Camaro, 6.834, 203.83. Not Qualified: 17. Fernando Cuadra Jr., 12.680, 69.23; 18. Richie Stevens, broke.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Andrew Hines, Buell, 6.855, 200.68; 2. Matt Smith, EBR, 6.856, 198.79; 3. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.863, 197.91; 4. Eddie Krawiec, Buell, 6.892, 201.22; 5. John Hall, Buell, 6.908, 195.90; 6. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.913, 198.61; 7. Scotty Pollacheck, EBR, 6.913, 194.44; 8. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.915, 193.07; 9. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.933, 196.19; 10. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.973, 193.18; 11. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.977, 194.44; 12. Jianna Salinas, Suzuki, 6.992, 191.38; 13. Marc Ingwersen, Buell, 7.021, 194.16; 14. Cory Reed, Suzuki, 7.058, 194.77; 15. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.117, 192.41; 16. Ron Tornow, Victory, 7.125, 189.36. Not Qualified: 17. Angelle Sampey, 7.129, 157.59; 18. Kelly Clontz, 7.281, 178.02; 19. David Barron, 8.280, 116.03.