IHRA: Rupert, Turner and Urlacher lead Rocky Mountain Nationals qualifying

With only one race left to decide the season champions in the IHRA Drag Racing Series after this weekend, Sunday's eliminations in the Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada are crucial.

And judging from the ultra-close qualifying Friday and Saturday, the races should be impossible to predict.

One certainty: Points leader Jason Rupert is, for the third straight event, the top qualifier in the AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car class. Rupert's best time was 5.5536 seconds at a blistering 269.30mph, about 14mph faster than the next-highest top speed. But Rupert hasn't won since April in San Antonio. Qualifying second was Edmonton's own Tim Boychuk at a 5.6236, at 251.54mph. Third was Mike McIntire at 5.6623 and 255.97mph. The most recent winner, Mark Sanders, qualified fourth.

In Nitro Motorcycle, the battle Sunday could well be between the top two qualifiers, Jay Turner, who qualified first at 6.3083 at 217.81mph, and Bob Malloy, second at 6.3199 at 215.11mph. Third was Tracy Kile at 6.6075, but Kile's top speed – 246.98 mph – will be a national record if he can back it up Sunday.

The 11-car field of Pro Mods were all from the Northwest, led by Gary Urlacher with a time of 6.0036 and 235.48 mph. Paul Glandon qualified second, not quite as quick as Urlacher at 6.0491, but faster at 241.16 mph.

Pro Stock has the weekend off – their championship will be decided at the next race, the Northern Nationals at U.S. 131 Speedway in Martin, Michigan August 12 and 13.