Gray tops Funny Car field

By foxsports
Published

Johnny Gray took the No. 1 spot in Funny Car qualifying Saturday in the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.

Shawn Langdon led the Top Fuel field and Mike Edwards topped the Pro Stock class in the second of 23 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season.

Gray powered his Dodge Charger to a 4.074-second pass, the quickest of the weekend, at 298.93 mph Friday night and held on to the top spot through Saturday qualifying to take his second career No. 1.

Gray will face Grant Downing in the first round of eliminations Sunday. Winternationals winner John Force qualified fifth, while defending event winner Jack Beckman was sixth. Rookie Courtney Force raced to the 12th qualifying spot, while Alexis DeJoria failed to qualify for the eliminations.

After setting the track record Friday night, Langdon kept his dragster in the top spot in Top Fuel through Saturday qualifying. He had a Friday night pass of 3.754 at 323.12.

Langdon will face Troy Buff in the first round Sunday. Three-time Firebird winner Tony Schumacher secured the second spot in the field, and Antron Brown was fifth.

In Pro Stock, Edwards took the top spot away from Friday qualifying leader Jason Line when he powered his Pontiac GXP to a 6.536 at 210.80. The pass not only set the track record for time, but also secured Edwards his 40th career No. 1 qualifier, fourth consecutive at Firebird International and fifth overall at the track.

Edwards will face NHRA legend Warren Johnson in the first round. Line qualified second.