Pritchett Qualifies Mopar Dodge Challenger SRT Demon Top Fuel Dragster No. 1 at NHRA New England Nationals

Epping, NH – Leah Pritchett qualified her Dodge Challenger SRT Demon Top Fuel dragster No. 1 for this weekend’s NHRA New England Nationals, further adding to the Demon’s dominance on the drag strip.

Sporting a special Demon livery celebrating the powerful new Dodge, Pritchett turned in a pass of 3.673 seconds at 328.86 mph in her Mopar HEMI®-powered machine during the third round of qualifying at New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire. Only a handful of Top Fuel cars were able to make qualifying attempts in the fourth and final session before a lengthy rain delay. Yet despite the cooling conditions when on-track action resumed, Pritchett was able to hang on and claim the top spot.

Pritchett’s lap represented a track elapsed-time record. It was also her third low E.T. of the 2017 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season and fourth of her career. Additionally, the No. 1 qualifying effort was the sixth for Mopar in the Top Fuel category out of nine events this year. The current Top Fuel points leader, Pritchett will be looking for her fourth Wally trophy since February on Sunday.

Her Mopar and Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) teammate, eight-time Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher, qualified his U.S. Army dragster in the third position. He and Pritchett are now tied for the 2017 series lead as each have qualified No. 1 on three occasions.

In the Funny Car category, Mopar Dodge Charger R/T machines from DSR were led by Ron Capps, who will begin the New England Nationals from the third qualified spot as he looks to win his fifth consecutive event. His Mopar stablemates all turned in solid efforts, with Matt Hagan qualifying fourth, Jack Beckman fifth and Tommy Johnson Jr. ninth.

For the second event in a row, cool weather and ideal atmospheric conditions helped drivers and teams turn in some extremely quick and fast laps throughout each qualifying session.