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Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Saturday preview

Brittany Force, Ron Capps, Erica Enders, and Angelle Sampey lead their respective pro fields into the final day of qualifying at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk.
25 Jun 2022
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
Norwalk

Brittany Force, Ron Capps, Erica Enders, and Angelle Sampey lead their respective pro fields into the final day of qualifying at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk.

Capps is coming off a big Funny Car win in Bristol last week, while Enders and Sampey were finalists in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle respectively. Force is also off to the best start of her career so all four have momentum on their side as qualifying concludes for the annual event at America’s Racetrack.

Force thrilled the Norwalk  crowd last night with a 3.666 from her Monster Energy Dragster, the only 3.6 second run of the event so far. Force already has three wins this season and entered the Norwalk event with a 25 point lead over Mike Salinas in the Camping World standings.

Force is followed by Justin Ashley, Salinas, and Josh Hart. At the other end of the field, Dan Mercier, Mike Bucher, Krista Baldwin, Joe Morrison and Scott Farley, are currently not part of the 16-car field and they’re facing a competitive 3.900 bump spot.

Capps, who ran 3.901, is one of nine Funny Car drivers who ran in the threes yesterday including John Force, Robert Hight, and Bob Tasca III, who occupy the top four spots. There are 16 Funny Cars on the grounds so everyone will race but some drivers, including Bristol runner-up Tim Wilkerson, will look to move out of the bottom half of the field.

Enders made what might be the run of the season in Pro Stock when she wheeled her Melling/Elite Camaro to a 6.537 which is more than three-hundredths ahead of No. 2 qualifier Kyle Koretsky’s 6.570. Bristol winner Aaron Stanfield and reigning champ Greg Anderson are also in the top four. Currently, Bo Butner, Chris Sweeny, and Shane Tucker are not qualified.

Sampey, who dropped a tough final round to Jerry Savoie last week, is intent to make amends with her Vance & Hines Suzuki and is off to a great start with a 6.801 that leads the field. Angie Smith, Steve Johnson, and Karen Stoffer round out the top four in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

In addition to the Camping World NHRA Series pros, the Summit  Nationals will also feature the FuelTech Pro Mod Series, Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown and a solid roster of Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series action.

You can catch the action all weekend on FOX Sports 1 and NHRA.tv.

You can follow NHRA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to get a closer look at the action.

2021 EVENT WINNERS

Steve Torrence, Top Fuel; Cruz Pedregon, Funny Car; Erica Enders, Pro Stock; Matt Smith, Pro Stock Motorcycle.  

TRACK RECORDS:

TOP FUEL
3.696 seconds by Brittany Force, June 2021; 332.67 mph by Clay Millican, June 2018
FUNNY CAR
3.865 seconds by Matt Hagan, June 2017; 334.65 mph by Robert Hight, June 2017.
PRO STOCK
6.523 seconds by Erica Enders, July 2014; 2012.63 mph by Enders, July 2014
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
6.782 seconds by Matt Smith, June 2021; 201.58 by Matt Smith, June 2021.

SCHEDULE:

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, June 25 at 12:30 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 26.

TV SCHEDULE

SATURDAY June 25, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 1:30 p.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, June 26, FOX network television will televise 3 hours of finals coverage at 3 p.m. (ET)