NHRA: Todd, Hagan, Enders-Stevens, Hines lead record-setting day in Las Vegas

Matt Hagan took another step toward a second Funny Car world championship when he qualified No. 1 with the sixth quickest time in NHRA Funny Car history at the NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday.

Hagan powered his Dodge Charger to a career-best performance and a track record 3.983-second pass at 322.42 mph to claim the top spot, taking away the No. 1 qualifier from his rival John Force, who sits second in points. The run was the first three-second Funny Car pass at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"I'm glad we were able to do the three-second run for the fans out there," said Hagan, who secured his second No. 1 qualifying position of the season and 17th of his career. "They wanted to see a three-second run. Heck when we were coming back, there were a lot John Force fans were cheering for it. Just great for my guys."

J.R. Todd (Top Fuel), Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were top qualifiers at the penultimate playoff event in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship.

Todd, a winner at Denver earlier this season, raced to the No. 1 position in Top Fuel with his track record run of 3.732 at 327.43 in his Kalitta Motorsports dragster. Todd, whose first race of the season was here in the spring, has three No. 1 qualifiers this season and six in his career. He will face T.J. Zizzo in the opening round.

Enders-Stevens ran a Pro Stock track record 6.576 at 209.75 to claim her third straight No. 1 qualifying position in a Chevy Camaro. Enders-Stevens, who now has six No. 1 qualifiers this season and 12 in her career, set the track speed run during her first qualifying session of the day at 209.88 mph. With her qualifying effort both days she trimmed series leader Jason Line's advantage from 35 entering the race to 23 points entering eliminations. She will pair up against Jeff Isbell in the first round.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Hines, who entered Las Vegas with a 25-point advantage over Harley-Davidson teammate Eddie Krawiec, posted a track record 6.946 at 192.55 on a Suzuki to claim his first top qualifying position of the season and 35th of his career. He will face John Hall in the first round.