Joseph Welch to Start U.S. Nationals as No. 1 Qualifier

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – For the first time this season Joseph Welch of Longboat Key, Florida, will start the Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown from the No. 1 qualifier position at the Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals from Lucas Oil Raceway. On Friday night Welch made the third quickest run lighting up the scoreboard with a 7.888 second, 175.21 mph pass. This morning in a rain shortened session he made the quickest run of the U.S. Nationals jumping to the top of the field with a 7.776 second, 119.95 mph run, the quickest No. 1 qualifier time of the 2021 season.

Last night David Barton, the Houston SpringNationals winner and two-time 2021 No. 1 qualifier, made a stellar 7.816 second run at 176.67 mph pass. He was at the top of the over twenty Factory Stock race cars attempting to qualify at the most prestigious drag race in the country after the first day.

Welch will receive a competition bye in the first round behind the wheel of his white and blue Dodge Challenger Drag Pak. Topeka winner John Cerbone will head into race day with the Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown $1,000 bounty on his head. Arthur Kohn of Richmond, Texas, will be the first competitor with a shot at collecting the bounty when eliminations get underway on Sunday.

Point leader and defending U.S. Nationals champion Stanfield is the No. 8 qualifier and will be racing for his second win of the season. Stanfield won the season opening Gatornationals and was the No. 1 qualifier at the Dodge Mile-High Nationals. Two-time consecutive runner-up Leah Pruett will be looking for her second U.S. Nationals title after finishing second in Denver and Topeka this season. She will race David H Davies in the first round in a No. 12 versus No. 13 match-up. Davies is also the Chief Operating Officer of Constant Aviation, the sponsor of the Factory Stock Showdown.