John Force leads Funny Car qualifying at NHRA Arizona Nationals

John Force leads Funny Car qualifying

CHANDLER, Ariz. — John Force raced to his first No. 1 qualifying position in more than two years, topping the Funny Car field Saturday with a 4.063-second run at 308.78 mph in the NHRA Arizona Nationals.

Coming off his NHRA-record 127th victory last week in the opener in Pomona, Calif., the 60-year-old Force claimed the 132nd No. 1 position of his career and seventh at Firebird International Raceway. The 14-time season champion, driving a Ford Mustang, will face Cruz Pedregon in the first round of eliminations.

Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) also topped their divisions in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event.

Due to rainy weather conditions throughout the day, NHRA officials were forced to cancel one of the day’s two scheduled qualifying sessions.

Schumacher powered his dragster to a 3.818 at 317.05 to earn the 59th No. 1 effort of his career and fourth at the event. The seven-time world champion grabbed the top spot away from Friday leader Doug Kalitta.

In Pro Stock, defending world champ Edwards took his second straight No. 1 of the season and 11th in a row. He earned the 24th No. 1 of his career and the third at FIR with his Friday performance of 6.609 at 209.46 in his Pontiac GXP.