CONCORD, N.C. — Other than a few brief sprinkles of rain, the NHRA Mission Food Drag Racing Series’ first qualifying day at zMAX Dragway went off without a hitch.
The highlight of the night was John Force breaking the track record at the facility by laying down a 3.820-second run under the lights in his PEAK-sponsored Funny Car.
Here are a few other notes from Friday’s sessions.
Anderson’s ECU Troubles
Greg Anderson isn’t a fan of computers.
That displeasure grew twofold on Friday night when he had an issue with his race car’s internal computer prior to the second Pro Stock qualifying session. His HendrickCars.com entry simply refused to start.
Though he was able to remain the provisional No. 1 qualifier due to his quick run earlier in the day, the session-two stumble wasn’t a welcome experience for the five-time class champion.
“I’m not sure exactly what it was, but something happened with the computer program. It lost spark. Car started for me at first and then shut itself off and never sparked again. We came back and changed the ECU out, put a new program in and fired her up,” Anderson said. “I think we’re good to go tomorrow.”
Prock’s Weekend Potential
Funny Car points leader Austin Prock is in a bit of a strange situation this weekend.
He’s the defending winner at the Four-Wide Nationals, but in Top Fuel — not Funny Car.
Last year, Prock triumphed in the Top Fuel division, picking up his sole victory of the season during the four-wide event at zMAX Dragway. Meanwhile, his John Force Racing teammate Robert Hight won in the Funny Car division.
As Hight has since relinquished driving duties for his Funny Car to the young gun, Prock will be racing for a second-consecutive victory at the Four-Wide Nationals in a different category on Sunday.
“I doubled up with my dad here last year in the spring, so this car’s obviously very quick here,” said Prock, whose father, Jimmy Prock, was the lead tuner on Hight’s Funny Car last year. “It’d be pretty cool to go back-to-back at a race in two different categories. I don’t know how often or even if that’s been done.”
Considering how strong his record has been thus far, with one win and three No. 1 qualifiers to his credit, there’s a good chance the “Prock Rocket” will leave zMAX Dragway with some hardware in hand.
Salinas’ Speeds
Jasmine Salinas recorded her career-best speed during the first round of qualifying on Friday afternoon, making a 331.610 mph run in the Scrappers Racing dragster.
The Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway marks her third round as the substitute driver for her father, Mike Salinas, who has temporarily stepped away from racing to tend to health issues.
Thus far, the 32-year-old has yet to make it past the first round of eliminations.
But in between the four-wide round at Las Vegas and this weekend’s race in Concord, N.C., the team took the dragster back to the shop and make a few changes.
“It was so good to get into the shop and spend more time with the car,” Salinas said. “We didn’t really get a chance to fit me properly (in the race car seat) for Pomona and then I was stuck like that for Phoenix and Las Vegas. So, we made it a little more comfortable for Charlotte. I’m excited to see how those adjustments will impact my performance behind the wheel.”
She was seventh fastest in Friday’s qualifying session.