NHRA: Torrence, C. Force, Laughlin, Hines lead into Denver eliminations

Defending Top Fuel winner Steve Torrence will try to defend his Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals victory from the No. 1 qualifying position Sunday at Bandimere Speedway. Courtney Force (Funny Car), Alex Laughlin (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also will lead their classes into Sunday's 11 a.m. eliminations at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event near Denver and the first of three consecutive weekends of racing known as the NHRA Western Swing.

Torrence claimed his seventh No. 1 of the season with a track record time of 3.776 seconds at 325.14 mph from Friday in his family-owned dragster. He will race legendary Chris Karamesines in the opening round of eliminations.

"The way the car has performed has been flawless all weekend," Torrence said. "It does give you a lot of confidence and we're trying to catch Doug (Kalitta) and Antron (Brown) [in the Top Fuel points standings]. This is a great way to start race day and you can't sweep the Swing unless you win the first one."

Force took her first No. 1 of the season and 10th of her career based on her Friday track record time of 3.917 at 318.39 in her Chevy Camaro.

In Pro Stock, second-year pro Laughlin raced to his first career No. 1 qualifying position with a performance of 6.926 at 199.02 in a Chevy Camaro.

Hines earned his first top qualifying effort of the season and 37th of his career in Pro Stock Motorcycle by clocking a 7.161 at 185.36 on a Harley-Davidson.