LAS VEGAS — Humorous Automotive factors chief Austin Prock closed out qualifying with the quickest run of the weekend on Saturday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, incomes his seventh No. 1 qualifier of the season on the twenty fifth annual Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection.
Brittany Pressure (High Gas), Greg Anderson (Professional Inventory) and Gaige Herrera (Professional Inventory Motorbike) additionally certified No. 1 on the nineteenth of 20 races through the 2025 NHRA Mission Meals Drag Racing Collection season and the fifth of six races within the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Prock lowered his time within the last session, going 3.885 seconds at 335.23 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Instruments Chevrolet SS, taking his twenty second prime spot since becoming a member of the Humorous Automotive ranks initially of 2024.
Only a pair earlier, Jack Beckman went to the highest spot together with his second sturdy run of the day. However Prock and his staff adopted in spectacular style, giving the reigning world champ an outdoor probability to clinch the world championship on Sunday. Prock opens eliminations towards Jason Rupert as he appears to select up a 3rd straight victory in Las Vegas.
“Hanging out on the beginning line with my dad, brother and Nate Hildahl, I knew that the observe was in fine condition,” Prock stated. “I knew that we have been able to working properly.
“NHRA drag racing is essentially the most unpredictable sport on the earth. You by no means know what’s going to occur. There’s so many transferring elements and all the things has to go proper whenever you activate 4 win lights on a Sunday, or eight runs in a row from qualifying. However we by no means let up. We try to go up there and do the identical job each time and never get caught up in focusing elsewhere aside from the locations that you have to be. Every one in every of us on this race staff to execute and do the job like we’ve got been.”
Beckman jumped to second with a run of three.892 at 331.61 on Saturday, bumping Matt Hagan to 3rd together with his 3.897 at 329.75.
Pressure saved the No. 1 place in High Gas because of Friday’s run of three.697 at 338.85 in her 12,000-horsepower Chevrolet Equipment dragster, giving the two-time world champion her sixth No. 1 qualifier this season and the 58th in her profession. The defending occasion winner will look to win once more in her last look at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, bringing loads of momentum into eliminations.
She set the observe pace report on Friday and can look to shut out the weekend with one other victory in Las Vegas.
“I by no means would have imagined I’d have 58 No. 1 qualifiers. That simply seems like an not possible quantity, however I’ve been out right here for a few years, and I’ve been teamed up with many wonderful crew chiefs and sponsors who’ve supported me to get us to that time,” Pressure stated. “There’s two races left, and I’m proud to hold the No. 1 spot, and we’re hoping for a robust day tomorrow.
“On that Q3 run as we speak, we have been pushing to see what we are able to get away with them. Effectively, we discovered it. We didn’t get down the racetrack. The second spherical, I assumed I broke a belt or one thing. It was happening. It was clean. We have been virtually there.”
Factors chief Doug Kalitta certified second with a 3.711 at 337.24 and teammate Shawn Langdon took third with a 3.715 at 336.57.
In Professional Inventory, Greg Anderson made an emphatic assertion on Saturday, making the quickest run in each periods and taking on the No. 1 spot with a run of 6.572 at 206.76 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro.
Within the means of bumping Cory Reed – who was in search of his first profession No. 1 qualifier – from the provisional prime spot, Anderson earned his eighth prime spot of the season and the a hundred and fortieth in his unbelievable profession. The added bonus factors have been useful as he tries to take down teammate and factors chief Dallas Glenn, however the veteran and reigning world champion is targeted on a victory on Sunday.
Anderson’s first-round opponent can be Troy Coughlin Jr., as he hopes to copy Saturday’s efficiency on race day.
“Yesterday we have been just a bit bit off. We had so much occurring, clearly with the Black household on my thoughts and I used to be perhaps somewhat distracted,” Anderson stated. “I didn’t do an incredible job yesterday, however as we speak it was picture-perfect for me. I made two very good runs in my automotive, and, yeah, sorry to Cory.
“The underside line is he’s bought a quick race automotive. The entire KB Titan camp this weekend appears actually good, so it’s going to be enjoyable tomorrow, and I’m completely happy that my automotive runs prefer it runs as a result of for me, proper now, this race is all the things. I’ve to do properly right here. I’ve to realize floor on Dallas right here, or Pomona simply can be one other race for me. It’s actually so simple as that.”
Defending occasion winner Aaron Stanfield moved to the second spot with a 6.593 at 207.91 and Reed took third with a 6.594 at 207.30.
Professional Inventory Motorbike’s Gaige Herrera saved the No. 1 spot, getting his eighth prime qualifier this season because of Friday’s 6.800 at 199.17 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki. It places the back-to-back world champion in a great place as he tries to get nearer to factors chief and teammate Richard Gadson within the championship race.
Herrera is after his third straight Las Vegas win and can open eliminations towards Karen Stoffer.
“I don’t really matter factors. I simply take a look at it now and again,” Herrera stated. “Each time I’ve been in any form of scenario championship-wise or points-wise, or if I say, ‘I want to do that or want to try this,’ it at all times bites me within the butt. I simply go up there and let the playing cards play out nevertheless they’re going to play out.”
“Actually, it’s only a matter of getting the job completed tomorrow and making an attempt to win as many rounds as potential. I’d love to realize extra floor tomorrow and one of the best ways to try this can be successful the race.”
