NHRA: Capps sets track record at Englishtown

Ron Capps set a track record and raced to the qualifying lead in Funny Car on Friday at the NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Jason Line (Pro Stock), and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were qualifying leaders in their respective categories at the 10th event of 24 on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

Capps, a two-time winner this season, powered his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T to a Raceway Park elapsed time record with a 3.870-second pass at 318.62 mph in the first session of qualifying. Capps will be racing for his third No. 1 qualifier of the season on Saturday.

"The first run was stout for the conditions," said Capps, who won on Monday in Epping, New Hampshire. "You never know what can happen. I hope it holds up tomorrow. It would be nice to have another green hat."

Matt Hagan, who posted two consecutive wins earlier this season in Atlanta and Topeka, is in second in his Mopar Express Lane / Rocky Boots Dodge Charger with a 3.901 at a track record speed of 326.71. Robert Hight is third with a 3.915 at 323.74 and reigning world champion Del Worsham sits in fourth with a 3.931 at 318.17.

Torrence raced his Capco Contractors / Torrence Racing dragster to a 3.735 at 325.06 to take the qualifying lead in Top Fuel. Torrence, who won the season opener in Pomona, Calif., and raced to a runner-up finish last weekend in Epping, is in pursuit of his fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season and 10th of his career.

"It feels good," said Torrence. "The car has been running well all year and to come into Englishtown with some momentum from Epping and the car continuing to do well, it's a huge boost of confidence for myself and for the guys."

Two-time and reigning world champion Antron Brown sits in the No. 2 spot after piloting his Matco Tools dragster to a 3.742 pass at 317.94 mph. Brown, a fan favorite as a local from Chesterfield, N.J., won this event last year and is riding momentum from his win last weekend in Epping. Shawn Langdon powered his Red Fuel / Sandvik Coromat dragster to the third spot while Brittany Force, who won in Gainesville, Fla., and Charlotte, N.C., is fourth in her Monster Energy dragster.

Line raced to the quickest time of the year in Pro Stock to lead the category with a 6.519 pass at 212.56 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro. Line, the Pro Stock points leader, has four No. 1 qualifiers this year and has raced to five victories in eight final round appearances.

"My car is great right now," said Line. "It feels very good but the other teams are gaining on us, there's no doubt about it, so we have to step it up."

Line's Ken Black Racing teammates, Greg Anderson and Bo Butner, follow him in second and third, respectively. Anderson ran a 6.533 at 212.93 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro and posted the category's fastest time of the year.

Three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Eddie Krawiec powered his Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to the qualifying lead with a 6.783 pass at 195.53. Krawiec, a former Raceway Park track manager, leads the Pro Stock Motorcycle points with two wins in three final rounds this year.

"Anytime you can go low ET the first session coming out it definitely helps build momentum," said Krawiec. "We made a good clean run."

Jerry Savoie is in the No. 2 spot and raced to a 6.788 at 197.80 on his Savoie's Alligator Farm Suzuki and Hector Arana Jr. is third on his Lucas Oil Buell. Reigning world champ Andrew Hines is fourth.

Qualifying continues Saturday at 1:45 p.m. at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.