NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Friday night's final nitro qualifying rounds at Bristol Dragway also counted as round one from the rain-delayed NHRA New England Nationals. Originally slated to take place in Epping, N.H., at New England Dragway, the New England Nationals elimination rounds are being contested in full during qualifying for the Thunder Valley Nationals. 

From the Saturday preview (scroll for today's rounds, as they occur): 

In round one of Top Fuel under the Friday night lights at Bristol Dragway, Epping No. 1 qualifier Antron Brown rattled the tires on a bye run in his Matco Tools dragster and is preparing for a second-round meeting with CAPCO's Steve Torrence, who eliminated Austin Prock, 3.75 to 3.78. Brittany Force tied the track record for speed in her David Grubnic-tuned Monster Energy rail to defeat Josh Hart, and she will race Justin Ashley and his Phillips Connect entry in round two. Ashley advanced on a 3.75 to Dan Mercier's 3.76.

On the other side of the ladder, Tony Schumacher and his SCAG Power Equipment Top Fueler defeated Shawn Langdon, 3.79 to 3.84, to earn a bye run into the semis, and Leah Pruett scored a round win over Doug Kalitta in her Rush Truck Centers dragster while also nabbing the provisional pole on a stout 3.74. She'll race Scrappers Racing pilot Mike Salinas, who was tardy at the tree (.177) but overcame Clay Millican's pass with a strong 3.76.

In Funny Car, Epping No. 1 qualifier Chad Green took a single when Jim Campbell was unable to make the event, and the Bond-Coat Mustang driver will get the second-round bye run and a smooth path to the semifinals. Bob Tasca III and his PPG Ford defeated reigning world champion Ron Capps on a holeshot, 3.97 to 3.96, and AAA/Cornwell Tools-backed Robert Hight thundered to the Bristol pole while also powering past Alexis DeJoria, 3.93 to 3.99. 

Across the ladder, points leader Matt Hagan's 4.05 in his Dodge SRT Funny Car defeated Terry Haddock's troubled 9.97 to set him up for a second-round meeting with DHL Toyota driver J.R. Todd, who utilized a 4.02 to beat Cruz Pedregon's 5.48. Alex Laughlin had a single when Blake Alexander was a no-show, and he will have the honor of being the 150th different driver that John Force has raced in eliminations. Force was a psychic .006 at the tree to defeat Tim Wilkerson in round one, 4.06 to 4.00.

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The second round begins with Justin Ashley and Brittany Force in a tire-hazing battle. Ashley gets there first in the Phillips Connect dragster and advances to the semifinals for the Maynard Ashley Racing team, 4.09 to a 4.32. 

"This is not a normal, typical Saturday," said Ashley, who has bounced from first-round loss, to second round loss, then back to first-round loss over the last three races. "But we're going to keep doing what we do best, keep trying to turn on win lights and put on a good show." 

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Steve Torrence is a quick .056 at the tree in the CAPCO Top Fuel dragster, and his 3.89 is plenty to beat Antron Brown's 4.442. After a runner-up in Las Vegas, a semifinals appearance in Charlotte, and a first-round loss in Chicago, 'dem CAPCO boys appear to be righting the ship.

"Justin Ashley and Austin Prock have been making us look bad the last couple years but we have to win rounds, win races and establish that dominance we once had," said Torrence. "We let it slip, we let these guys catch their breath, but we're here to choke 'em now."

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Tony Schumacher takes a bye run, smokes the tires a bit, and puts a 4.48 on the scoreboard. With his first-round victory, he broke the streak of five consecutive opening-round losses and is off and running in his SCAG dragster. 

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After racing to the provisional pole on Saturday at Bristol Dragway, Leah Pruett made a run that would have bested every car of the round except her opponent. Mike Salinas makes a 3.84 pass in his Scrappers Racing rail to Pruett's 3.89 and will move ahead. This is the first time he's gotten out of round two since the season-opener in Gainesville, which he won.

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Top Fuel semifinal pairings: Steve Torrence vs. Justin Ashley; Tony Schumacher vs. Mike Salinas

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Robert Hight gets way out of shape in the AAA/Cornwell Tools Chevrolet, wags the tail hard, and tags a timing block. Bob Tasca III swoops around in his PPG Mustang for a 4.41 to 4.44 win. Tasca will move ahead to the semifinals for the first time since the Winternationals.

"It happens," said Hight, of kicking the block. "You're out here racing and it's greasy, but man this thing turned in a hurry. Usually you catch it pretty quick, but that one got me. Sorry to the fans – I wish we coulda got another round here." 

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Chad Green has a bye run and legs out a slightly troubled 4.08 in the Bond-Coat Ford. He will advance to semifinals for the fifth time this season and seventh time in his still-young career. 

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Matt Hagan is off the starting line first with his Operation Healing Forces Dodge, but J.R. Todd catches him in the DHL Toyota by the 330-foot marker and continues to surge ahead for his fifth round win of the year on a 4.11 to his opponent's 4.60. Todd's most recent round win was in the semifinals at the season-opener in Gainesville.

"The thing is, this place has a lot of character – especially when you get down track," said Todd. "We've been living on the lucky side so far this weekend in the DHL Toyota; hopefully we can keep it going." 

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John Force lines up next to the 150th different opponent of his career, and although Alex Laughlin and his DiPinto-branded machine are right there as they leave the starting line, he gets close to the wall and slows, and Force pulls steadily ahead in his Peak Chevrolet to win on a 4.09 to 5.20. Force will be racing in his fourth consecutive round of the season. 

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Funny Car semifinal pairings: Chad Green vs. Bob Tasca III; J.R. Todd vs. John Force

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Justin Ashley, in true Justin Ashley fashion, leaves the starting line first in his Phillips Connect dragster. Although Steve Torrence and the CAPCO rail are giving him a good race, this one goes to Ashley, 3.89 to 3.91. Ashley, who was the runner-up in Epping last year, is going to the 14th Top Fuel final of his career. He is a seven-time winner, and two of those have come this season. 

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Set to be inducted as a Legend of Thunder Valley this weekend in Bristol, Schumacher is on target for a legendary weekend. He and Mike Salinas leave the starting line nearly in sync, but Salinas's Scrappers Racing dragster goes silent after surging ahead, and the most winning Top Fuel driver in history is heading to the 157th final of his career. Schumacher has two previous New England Nationals wins. His most recent win was in Seattle last year. 

"I'd like to raise two trophies here," said Schumacher, who is also eying the Thunder Valley Nationals Wally. "We've had a lot of success here, and this is a really special place for me. Getting my name up there with all those legends – it's hard to believe." 

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Top Fuel final round: Justin Ashley vs. Tony Schumacher

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Epping No. 1 qualifier Chad Green clocks a stellar .019 reaction time in his Bond-Coat Funny Car, but Bob Tasca III is all caught up real quick. Tasca, who showed up in a back-up PPG Funny Car body after a big pop in the last round caused damage, wheels his way to a winning 4.06 to defeat a 4.25. Although Tasca calls New England Dragway his home track, this will be his first New England Nationals final round. He's going after his 13th win in the category. 

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J.R. Todd and John Force put on a great drag race here. Force leaves first on a .049 light to Todd's .066 and keeps the lead as they fly side-by-side down the track. Two-time Epping winner Force will have another shot as he gets the win light on a holeshot, 4.10 to a 4.09.

"I'm learning how to drive all over again," said Force, who will be racing in the 264th final round of his career. "I know that sounds like a buncha bull, but it's a fact. I'm really struggling. My daughter Brittany is helping me, Jimmy Prock is helping, Robert Hight is always helping. I'm loving life and what I'm doing, I just don't want to be bad like I was at Epping. I want to be great again."

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Funny Car final round: Bob Tasca III vs. John Force