The two stars rekindle their rivalry with a Volusia thriller on night two of Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar NationalsBARBERVILLE, FL (February 6, 2025) – It’s the rivalry Sprint Car fans have missed for a long few years. Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson. But it came roaring back in a big way on Thursday night at Volusia Speedway Park.A heartbreaking spin for Emerson Axsom set up a three-lap duel to the finish for the dirt racers at heart that’ve become stars of the NASCAR Cup Series. And the two titans delivered.Bell led the way, and Larson threw everything at him. Bell kept the Kreitz Racing No. 69K glued to the bottom in Turns 1 and 2 while Larson ripped the Silva Motorsports No. 57 around the top. Bell slid himself in Turns 3 and 4 leaving Larson to try crossovers. It came down to the final corner of the last lap as Bell again drifted up in front of Larson. The Elk Grove, CA native ducked under Bell as they exited Turn 4. The two drag raced to the checkered flag, and it was Bell holding off Larson by .05 seconds for his first gator.The finish brought the entire crowd to their feet. Fans got a taste of the two battling on dirt last month when Bell held off Larson in similar fashion at the Tulsa Shootout. And the rivalry was rekindled even more as Bell bested him again for a Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals gator and $12,000.“It’s just absolutely incredible,” Bell said. “I’m just so thankful that my boss Joe Gibbs and everybody at Joe Gibbs Racing has allowed me to come out here and do this. It’s so much fun. Winning Outlaw races is my pride and joy. I don’t have many of them to my name, and I’m just so thankful to be in the 69K and get to add another one. It truly is a dream come true to be racing out here.”It was Bell’s first Sprint Car win in only his second race back since taking a hiatus from dirt in 2022. The victory was also his first with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars since October 13, 2019 at Haubstadt, IN’s Tri-State Speedway. The Norman, OK native is up to six wins with The Greatest Show on Dirt for five different teams – Fox Racing, Keith Kunz Motorsports, Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing, CB Industries, and Kreitz Racing.For team owner Don Kreitz Jr., it was the iconic No. 69K’s first Series triumph in the state of Florida, and Bell is the third different driver to win a World of Outlaws race in the car, joining Kreitz himself and Lance Dewease.“It’s a pleasure to drive, for sure,” Bell said. “He’s (Kreitz Jr.) a magician whenever it comes to working on this thing. It just rolls around the corner really, really good. I feel like the slicker it gets the better off this car is going to be. The cushion is a little bit tricky. I’ve got to figure out how to drive a little bit better when it starts to get thicker.”It was back-to-back podiums for Larson in the Silva Motorsports No. 57. He backed up Wednesday’s third with Thursday’s runner-up. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion continues to bang on the door on his first Volusia win. He did everything he could to make it happen, but he couldn’t quite sneak by.“I thought I did a pretty good job on that last restart of staying with him on the frontstretch and thought I was going to be able to build enough of a run,” Larson said. “But this place is so wide. To run the top is a long ways around. It was difficult, but I thought I could get enough grip and speed to the center of (Turns) 3 and 4 that maybe I could get lucky enough to catch some traction as I diamonded and get a little bit of a run to get by him into (Turn) 1. Just came up a little bit short.”Rounding out the podium was Logan Schuchart in the Shark Racing No. 1S. It was an encouraging run for the Hanover, PA native who had to wait until late June for his first top three in 2024. It makes Schuchart the de facto point leader as the two ahead of him won’t be competing full-time.“Tonight, I felt really good just moving around traffic at certain times,” Schuchart said. “Kyle is going to do a really good job and not make many mistakes. I just didn’t get around some lapped cars as quick as I needed to in (Turns) 3 and 4 and kind of lost a little bit of momentum. I went to get back to the top and try to diamond (Turns) 1 and 2, and by that time Kyle was on my left rear and got to the bottom before I did. That took me out of the fight there a little bit.”It was a devastating night for Emerson Axsom. The 20-year-old native of Indiana looked to be on his way to his first World of Outlaws checkered flag, but a slight mistake while leading resulted in a spin in Turn 4 with a only a few laps remaining.David Gravel and Brad Sweet completed the top five.Ryan Timms drove from 21st to 10th to earn the KSE Racing Hard Charger.Kyle Larson claimed Simpson Quick Time honors.NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Two, and Four went to Kyle Larson, Bill Balog, and Carson Macedo. WIX Filters Heat Three belonged to Christopher Bell.The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Christopher Bell.Bell also topped the Toyota Racing Dash.Ryan Timms won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Emerson Axsom.UP NEXT: The Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals roll on to night three on Friday, Feb. 7 at Volusia Speedway Park. It’s another $12,000 and a gator on the line for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. For tickets, CLICK HERE.If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap all season long on DIRTVision.For the entire 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.FEATURE RESULTS:NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 69K-Christopher Bell[1]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson[4]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart[2]; 4. 2-David Gravel[12]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet[9]; 6. 17B-Bill Balog[6]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz[13]; 8. 26-Justin Peck[11]; 9. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[10]; 10. 10-Ryan Timms[21]; 11. 83-Michael Kofoid[19]; 12. 41-Carson Macedo[7]; 13. 21-Brian Brown[5]; 14. 71-Parker Price Miller[22]; 15. 24D-Danny Sams III[8]; 16. 39M-Anthony Macri[15]; 17. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[17]; 18. 1A-Jacob Allen[23]; 19. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[25]; 20. 7S-Chris Windom[20]; 21. 27-Emerson Axsom[3]; 22. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[24]; 23. 2C-Cole Macedo[27]; 24. 23-Garet Williamson[16]; 25. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[14]; 26. 88-Austin McCarl[18]; 27. 6-Zach Hampton[26]; 28. 99-Skylar Gee[28]For complete results, CLICK HERE.ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/cbells-back-christopher-bell-fends-off-larson-for-first-world-of-outlaws-win-in-six-years/EVENT INFO: https://dirtcarnationals.com/ TRACK INFO: https://volusiaspeedwaypark.com/FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

PROCK, BECKMAN GO 1-2 ON FIRST DAY AT BRADENTONBrittany Takes Monster Chevy to Provisional No. 2 Spot at PRO Superstar Shootout

BRADENTON, Fla. (Feb. 5, 2025) – Three months after winning the NHRA Mission Foods Championship in his first season in a nitro Funny Car, Austin Prock showed no signs of a sophomore swoon Thursday as he powered the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS to the provisional No. 1 qualifying position for Saturday’s second PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park. The 29-year-old son of Cornwell crew chief Jimmy Prock stopped the timers in 3.816 seconds at 332.84 miles per hour, just a couple of ticks off the track record-topping 3.805 he put on the board during testing on Wednesday.  Second best Thursday was JFR teammate “Fast Jack” Beckman, who coaxed the also brand-new PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevy to a time of 3.836 seconds at 329.99 mph. Not to be outdone, two-time Top Fuel World Champion Brittany Force also turned in a stellar opening day performance, qualifying her Monster Energy Chevrolet No. 2 behind only defending event champion Doug Kalitta.  Kalitta grabbed the top spot at 3.658 seconds, 332.84 mph with Brittany just a couple of clicks behind at 3.675, 334.15 mph. “Pretty solid start to qualifying,” said the second youngest of John Force’s racing daughters.  “Car went right down the racetrack and it did exactly what we wanted it to do.  So, we feel really good going into tomorrow.  Now we can really push and see what we can get away with going into race day.” Three rounds of qualifying Friday will set the eight-car lineups for Saturday eliminations in the biggest drag race outside of the Mission Series. “We backed it down a little,” Prock said of a run that was quickest at every increment.  “It’s tough to say that when you run 3.81, but we just wanted to make sure it went down the racetrack and it was a nice, safe run to get us locked in the show.  That way we can have three opportunities to learn tomorrow.  “We have a morning session, an afternoon session and an evening session, so a lot to be learned and we’re in a good place to do that,” said the man who won the inaugural Superstar Shootout in his very first race as a Funny Car driver.  “Really proud of this team,” he continued.  “That was quite the hectic run. When we closed the body for the burnout, the windshield was completely fogged over.  I couldn’t see on the burnout (but) they wiped it off and it was about fifty or sixty percent cleared up when I was staging.  I was going to stand on the gas regardless.  It’s not the first time I’ve driven with a fogged windshield. “This racetrack has a lot of grip, and if you do a little hack-sawing on the wheel, it can take it most of the time. So, I got it down there.  It wasn’t the prettiest, but definitely locked us in at No. 1.” Beckman, making his first competitive appearance in the Shootout after serving as the color commentator at last year’s event, also was pleased with the first few runs he has made in the PEAK Chevy as he prepares to chase the championship over the course of an entire season for the first time since 2020. “So cool,” said the 2012 NHRA Funny Car champ.  “Thursday. Night session.  Last pair of Funny Cars, the No. 1 and 2 cars in the country last year and we go to No. 1 and 2 in qualifying. Our PEAK Chevy SS was awesome. It did everything we wanted it to do and there’s more in it for tomorrow night.” For Brittany, Thursday’s performance was particularly important.  A year ago, she posted a quick time in testing, just as she did this year, but in 2024 she wasn’t able to repeat during qualifying and ultimately failed to make the starting lineup.  She and crew chiefs David Grubnic and John Collins were determined not to follow that same path this time around.   “We want to obviously redeem ourselves from last year,” Grubnic said.  “We want to keep the momentum going on how we finished the season.  So, for right now, we just have to make sure we keep crossing our T’s and dotting our I’s.”

OCALA, FL (February 6, 2025) – Jonathan Davenport secured his second consecutive Wieland Winter Nationals feature on Thursday night at Ocala Speedway, as the three-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion fended off Brandon Overton to capture the $10,000 victory. The final results will show that Davenport led all 40 laps, but Overton caught up to Davenport as they approached the white flag. However, he could never pass him to steal the win from his fellow Georgian, who triumphed by 0.538 seconds at the finish line. Kyle Bronson achieved his best series finish of the year, taking third, followed by Brandon Sheppard and Devin Moran, who rounded out the top five drivers. In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 85th time in his career, Davenport also was victorious at Ocala for the fifth time in his career, the most all-time for any late model driver during Speedweeks at the egg-shaped track. “He (Overton) made me more worried than I should have been. I didn’t know he was coming like that at the very end. It was kind of slimy around the bottom, so he just kept chasing it down and blowing it out. That was why I didn’t think we could move, and since I was in the front, I couldn’t tell what everyone else was doing. Once I got to the lapped cars, I didn’t think I could pass any on the outside. I think they finally rolled in a little of that slime through one and two. It was a little better through the middle, but it was kind of bumpy. As long as your car wouldn’t bounce too badly, I guess that was why he got that good run. Other than that, I was just blocking.” Overton, in his return to the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in 2025, was the third different driver to run second during the 40-lap race, joining Sheppard and Bronson in that category. “I I felt like I was doing everything I could. I almost made a move on him there, but I just got my right rear quarter-panel in the wall and couldn’t get low enough to take the lead. It was an awesome race. If the fans didn’t enjoy that, they might as well stop coming. The wins are on the way. I feel like I have the best crew in the business. I just want to win one; I mean, we’re really close to winning one.” Bronson, looking for his first series win since taking the Silver Dollar Nationals in 2021, regained the third position on lap 33 to round out the Big River Steel Podium.               “It definitely feels good to get a good finish. I have been down on myself a little bit. We’ve got everything we need to win; we just need to put the right pieces in the right places and go after it.” The winner’s Double L Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Nutrien Ag Solutions, Dyna-Gro Seed, ASC Warranty, Mark Martin Automotive, and Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas. Completing the top ten were Spencer Hughes, Ross Robinson, Tyler Bruening, Tanner English, and Dillon McCowan. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Wieland Winter Nationals | Night 3Thursday, February 6, 2025Ocala Speedway – Ocala, FL Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Jonathan Davenport | 14.246 seconds Fast Time Group B: Ricky Thornton, Jr. | 14.181 seconds (overall) Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 2. 19M-Spencer Hughes[2]; 3. 22*-Drake Troutman[3]; 4. 96-Tanner English[4]; 5. 5-Mark Whitener[6]; 6. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[7]; 7. 18D-Daulton Wilson[5]; 8. 93-Carson Ferguson[11]; 9. 60-Dan Ebert[9]; 10. 55C-Chad Mahder[12]; 11. 28B-Carson Brown[8]; 12. 81-Jason Riggs[10] Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[2]; 2. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 3. 58-Garrett Alberson[1]; 4. 7-Ross Robinson[4]; 5. 16-Tyler Bruening[7]; 6. 11-Austin Smith[5]; 7. 17SS-Brenden Smith[9]; 8. 15K-Wil Herrington[8]; 9. 24-Tyler Wyant[11]; 10. C4-Freddie Carpenter[10]; 11. 18-Chase Junghans[6] Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 40B-Kyle Bronson[2]; 2. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[1]; 3. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[3]; 4. 9-Tim McCreadie[6]; 5. 79-Donald McIntosh[4]; 6. 99B-Boom Briggs[5]; 7. 1T-Tyler Erb[7]; 8. 81J-Jack Riggs[8]; 9. 57-Matt Tifft[10]; 10. 09-Michael Leach[9]; 11. 000-Matt Nailor[11] Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[2]; 2. 3S-Brian Shirley[1]; 3. 8-Dillon McCowan[4]; 4. 71-Hudson O’Neal[5]; 5. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[3]; 6. 111-Max Blair[7]; 7. 6-Clay Harris[8]; 8. 20-Jimmy Owens[6]; 9. 93L-Cory Lawler[9]; 10. 32J-Jason Jack[10]; 11. (DNS) 17Z-Seth Zacharias Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 5-Mark Whitener[1]; 2. 16-Tyler Bruening[2]; 3. 15K-Wil Herrington[8]; 4. 60-Dan Ebert[9]; 5. 11-Austin Smith[4]; 6. C4-Freddie Carpenter[12]; 7. 55C-Chad Mahder[11]; 8. 18-Chase Junghans[14]; 9. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[3]; 10. 18D-Daulton Wilson[5]; 11. 17SS-Brenden Smith[6]; 12. 93-Carson Ferguson[7]; 13. 24-Tyler Wyant[10]; 14. (DNS) 28B-Carson Brown; 15. (DNS) 81-Jason Riggs UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[2]; 2. 79-Donald McIntosh[1]; 3. 1T-Tyler Erb[5]; 4. 99B-Boom Briggs[3]; 5. 111-Max Blair[4]; 6. 6-Clay Harris[6]; 7. 93L-Cory Lawler[10]; 8. 20-Jimmy Owens[8]; 9. 57-Matt Tifft[9]; 10. 17Z-Seth Zacharias[14]; 11. 32J-Jason Jack[12]; 12. 000-Matt Nailor[13]; 13. 09-Michael Leach[11]; 14. (DNS) 81J-Jack Riggs Wieland Winter Nationals | Night 3 Feature Finish (40 Laps): Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 1 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – $10,0002 – 4 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $5,5003 – 2 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $3,5004 – 3 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $2,7005 – 7 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $2,5006 – 5 – 19M – Spencer Hughes – Meridian, MS – $2,3007 – 15 – 7 – Ross Robinson – Georgetown, DE – $2,2008 – 18 – 16 – Tyler Bruening – Decorah, IA – $2,1009 – 13 – 96 – Tanner English – Benton, KY – $2,05010 – 12 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $2,00011 – 23 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $1,60012 – 10 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $1,40013 – 21 – 1T – Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – $1,20014 – 6 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $1,00015 – 17 – 76N – Blair Nothdurft – Renner, SD – $95016 – 25 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $92517 – 19 – 79 – Donald McIntosh – Dawsonville, GA – $90018 – 27 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $17519 – 22 – 18D – Daulton Wilson – Fayetteville, NC – $85020 – 11 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $82521 – 20 – 15K – Wil Herrington – Hawkinsville, GA – $80022 – 8 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $80023 – 16 – 5 – Mark Whitener – Middleburg, FL – $80024 – 24 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $10025 – 9 – 22* – Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – $80026 – 14 – 9 – Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY – $80027 – 26 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $100 Race Statistics  Entrants: 45Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Jonathan DavenportMD3 Lap Leaders: Jonathan Davenport (Laps 1-40)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Jonathan DavenportWieland Feature Winner: Jonathan DavenportMargin of Victory: 0.538 secondsColtman Farms Racing Cautions: Drake Troutman (Lap 2); Brenden Smith (Lap 12); Dan Ebert (Lap 17); Tim McCreadie (Lap 18); Mark Whitener, Dan Ebert, Daulton Wilson, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Brian Shirley, Garrett Alberson (Lap 32)Series Provisionals: Daulton Wilson; Max BlairFast Time Provisional: n/aEmergency Provisional: Brenden Smith; Carson Ferguson; Dan EbertTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Overton, Kyle BronsonPenske Shocks Top 5: Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Overton, Kyle Bronson, Brandon Sheppard, Devin MoranPEM 4th Place Feature: Brandon SheppardDMI Rearends 5th Place Feature: Devin MoranWilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Ross RobinsonWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Max BlairDeatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Tyler ErbMD3 24th Place Feature: Dan EbertHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Max Blair (Advanced 12 Positions) MD3 Most Laps Led: Jonathan Davenport (40 Laps)Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Brandon SheppardMidwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Devin Moran Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Jonathan Davenport (Lap 3 | 14.676 seconds)Slicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: Brandon OvertonHard Luck Award: Daulton WilsonOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Cory FostvedtARP Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Racing EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Brian Shirley (14.324 seconds)Time of Race: 25 minutes 38 seconds Big River Steel Chase for the Championship Presented by ARP Point Standings:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings1 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 1090 – $34,8002 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 1045 – $37,6003 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 980 – $19,2504 – 18D – Daulton Wilson – Fayetteville, NC – 965 – $18,1755 – 1T – Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – 965 – $14,9006 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 945 – $12,4507 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 940 – $29,2008 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 935 – $15,9509 – 16 – Tyler Bruening – Decorah, IA – 895 – $19,10010 – 19M – Spencer Hughes – Meridian, MS – 870 – $9,60011 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 860 – $12,65012 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 825 – $9,60013 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 790 – $11,92514 – 9 – Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY – 780 – $12,55015 – 20 – Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN – 770 – $9,45016 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 765 – $8,97517 – 79 – Donald McIntosh – Dawsonville, GA – 745 – $4,80018 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 710 – $4,70019 – 22* – Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 705 – $11,15020 – 7 – Ross Robinson – Georgetown, DE – 700 – $8,30021 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 680 – $5,42522 – 76N – Blair Nothdurft – Renner, SD – 645 – $3,17523 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 600 – $4,72524 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 595 – $2,45025 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 595 – $3,07526 – 28 – Dennis Erb Jr – Carpentersville, IL – 585 – $3,55027 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 570 – $3,300

 

Pro Stock
Dallas Glenn, 6.515 sec at 210.28 mph

Pro Stock Provisional No. 1 Qualifier Dallas Glenn, photo for media use only Krista Zivcic

“These guys have been wearing out the dyno over there in the engine shop, and I’ve been driving all over the country, picking up trailers and testing and getting new people licensed. So that feels really good. After a long week of testing, we thought we had something good. We were just kind of babying everything. We learned a few things through testing and tried to go out there and lay a great one down. I don’t know if it’ll hold up for tomorrow, but it’s going to make it tough. And I’d rather be on top, looking down than looking up.”

“We work all winter long, and this event is the perfect opportunity to see what we worked on, see how it works against everybody else. It’s kind of like that first test for Formula One. Everybody kind of gets to see what their hard work is and what they need to make tweaks on. Pro Stock is so competitive, we want to come out swinging at every moment, because if you don’t, then you’re just going to end up with a big mountain to climb.” 

“We see some new fans here that we don’t normally see because we are a little farther south here from Gainesville, where we start the NHRA season in March. We had an autograph session earlier and I got to meet a lot of nice people. We signed some autographs and it was a lot of fun.” 

Funny Car
Austin Prock, 3.816 sec at 332.84 mph

Funny Car Provisional No. 1 Austin Prock, photo for media use only by Krista Zivcic

“We’ve been making some really good runs here in testing the last few days and you want to make sure you’re solidified in the show on that first qualifying run. That way you can try some things tomorrow when it’s cool out in the middle of the day and then in the evening. Really proud of the team. It was definitely a hectic run. They dropped the body for the burnout, and it was completely fogged over. I needed a defrost button in the Chevrolet SS, but those don’t exist in nitro racing. My guys have the windshield a quick wipe, and it definitely helped. It got about half of it off. Staging was a little interesting. At about 150 feet out, it cleared right up. It got a little inside down at the finish line, which is uncharacteristic of me, but it was good enough for number one qualifier. I definitely had my hands full.”

“Last year, we tested for two days prior to Thursday and never once made it past the Christmas tree and Thursday morning, you know, all the stars lined up in this Cornwall Tools pit and made a full pull on five or six cylinders. I think we ended up number three on Thursday night here. So we are two spots better this year, and definitely a lot more confidence in my driving.”
“A lot of the fans that came out last year are here again. Some of them have been saying, ‘Man, last year, you’re signing Robert Hight’s hero cards. Some of are coming up and saying, “Nice to see ya champ. We called it from the get go.’ After they saw us win the Shootout, they were like, ‘That kid’s going all the way.’ So it’s been cool to meet up with the fans again, and it’s been a long three months being away from the racetrack, being away from the fans, this is definitely my happy place. I know this place is gonna be packed.”

Top Fuel
Doug Kalitta, 3.658 sec at 332.84 mph

Top Fuel Provisional No. 1 Qualifier Doug Kalitta, photo for media use only by Krista Zivcic

“We’re hungry to try to win this race again. It was fun last year. We had Applied Innovations on our race car last year, and they’re back with us all weekend again. Crew Chief Alan (Johnson) and Mac (Savage), and all these guys working on my car they’re all hungry to do the same. We’ve been working real hard all the winter long.” 

“We finished in second last year and we battled to the end. It was all we could do. We’re hungry again, for sure, this year. This is a great opportunity with these guys and this Applied Innovations team. I’m really excited.” 

“Today was good. SCAG hosted an autograph session we had a great turnout for that. There were quite a few people here tonight. For the first night of the SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout I’m pretty happy. We appreciate everyone coming out on a Thursday and we expect big crowds the next two days.”