Edwards tops Pro Stock qualifying in Texas, earns maximum 12 points

Edwards tops qualifying in Texas

ENNIS, Texas — Pro Stock racer Mike Edwards took advantage of NHRA’s new qualifying bonus point system and earned the maximum 12 points during two days of qualifying at the O’Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals.

For his efforts, the Oklahoma racer earned his category-leading 12th No. 1 qualifying position of the season Saturday at the Texas Motorplex.

Edwards was quickest in both sessions for the day in his Pontiac GXP, but it was his 6.597 second run at 209.88 mph from Friday that gave him the top spot. He will face V. Gaines on the Sunday in the eliminations.

Per the new rule, the top three qualifiers in each pro category earn three, two and one points during each qualifying session. Edwards’ total increased his series lead over defending champ Jeg Coughlin, who earned five qualifying bonus points.

Larry Dixon, Robert Hight and Eddie Krawiec also claimed No. 1 qualifying positions in their categories at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event. The race is the second of six events in the Countdown to 1, NHRA’s championship playoffs.

Dixon earned his sixth No. 1 of the season, 37th of his career and second consecutive in the playoffs, with his 3.833 at 312.93 mph performance from Friday. Brandon Bernstein and Spencer Massey were quickest in Saturday’s sessions.

Hight took his third No. 1 position of the season and 31st of his career in Funny Car with his Friday run of 4.109 at 305.56 in his Ford Mustang. Ashley Force Hood and Bob Tasca III posted the quickest runs of the day.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Krawiec claimed his second top qualifying position of the season with his Friday performance of 6.908 at 192.55 on a Harley-Davidson. Krawiec earned eight qualifying bonus points for the day, but Saturday’s quickest riders were Krawiec teammate Andrew Hines and series leader Hector Arana.