NHRA: Brown, Pedregon, Skillman and Ellis lead into eliminations at Route 66

Antron Brown (pictured) will start No. 1 in Top Fuel at the Lucas Oil Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by General Tire after persistent rain cut short the second day of qualifying at Route 66 Raceway. Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), Drew Skillman (Pro Stock) and Chip Ellis (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also claimed No .1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 13th of 24 events in the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

Brown powered his Matco Tools dragster to a track record 3.729-second pass at 323.58 mph Friday night that went uncontested during Saturday's lone qualifying session. Brown, the 2012 world champ and current Top Fuel points leader, earned his 41st career No. 1 qualifier and fourth of the season. He will face Luigi Novelli on Sunday.

"Our focus is to go out there and do a nice, good lap," said Brown, the defending winner of this event. "We have to do our job going down the race track. These competitors and these teams are doing their homework and that's what makes you wake up in the morning and want to go out there and compete because you know how tough it is. We wouldn't have it any other way."

Tony Schumacher, Brown's Don Schumacher Racing teammate, drove his U.S. Army dragster to the No. 2 qualifier with a 3.732 at 324.67. The eight-time and defending world champ will face local favorite T.J. Zizzo in the first round. Brittany Force qualified third with a 3.734 at 324.51 in her Monster Energy dragster and will match up with Pat Dakin. Steve Torrence and three-time world champ Larry Dixon qualified fourth and fifth, respectively.

In Funny Car, Pedregon pushed his Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry to a track record 3.966 at 315.64 during Friday night's second qualifying session. The run is the fastest Funny Car pass of the season and gives Pedregon, a two-time world champ, his fourth top starting spot of the season and 61st of his career. Pedregon, who is pursuing his first Chicago victory, will race John Hale in the first round.

"We were looking to run quicker to try to get that national record and we were on pace but we smoked the tires," Pedregon said. "We'll pull it back tomorrow. It's going to be warmer – different conditions. One of these days we'll get that national record. It's eluded us I can't remember how many times now, but for now we're just looking to make a move."

Tim Wilkerson qualified second in his Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang with a 3.982 at 314.75. Wilkerson will face Bob Bode in Sunday's first round. Chad Head will start as the No. 3 seed with a 3.991 at 318.17 in his Head Racing Toyota Camry and will battle Tony Pedregon to open eliminations. Tommy Johnson Jr. powered to the fourth spot while Courtney Force qualified fifth. Two-time and defending world champ and defending race winner Matt Hagan qualified 11th.

In Pro Stock, Skillman drove to his first career No. 1 qualifier with a track record 6.528 at 201.97 in his Ray Skillman Chevrolet Chevy Camaro on Friday. Skillman, a contender for the Auto Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award, has made it to two final round appearances this year and is closing in on his first career victory. He will face Mark Hogan in the first round.

"(In the second session) we turned the earth there," Skillman said. "The car has a lot of potential so we are very happy. It's just another round of eliminations. We'll be fine. We'll go up there, do our thing and go round by round."

Chris McGaha sprinted to the No. 2 starting spot in his Harlow Sammons of Odessa Chevrolet Camaro with a 6.533 at 211.59. McGaha will face Kevin Lawrence in the first round of eliminations. Pro Stock points leader and four-time world champ Greg Anderson qualified third with a 6.533 at 211.30 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro and will go up against David River. Reigning world champ Erica Enders enters Sunday as the fourth seed while two-time champion Jason Line is the fifth seed.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Chip Ellis grabbed the top spot on Friday night with a 6.856 at 195.68 on his Junior Pippen Trucking Company Buell. Ellis earned his third career top qualifying effort and second of the season. He will open eliminations against Angie Smith.

"To be as good as we are right now is pretty awesome," Ellis said. "As a team, we're gaining on it. Now we're just trying to get consistent with the bike and improve on each run and get better each run. As a driver, I'm doing the same thing."

Four-time and defending Pro Stock Motorcycle world champ Andrew Hines rode his Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to the No. 2 seed with a 6.882 at 193.99, giving him a first round pairing with Eddie Reed. Louisiana alligator farmer and Englishtown winner Jerry Savoie qualified third with a 6.883 at 195.11 and will find Steve Johnson in the other lane on Sunday. Three-time world champ Eddie Krawiec and two-time world champ Matt Smith qualified fourth and fifth, respectively.

Eliminations for the Lucas Oil Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by General Tire will begin at 11 a.m.