NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Plentiful rain clouds spent the day moving across Brainerd International Raceway, and while some of the Lucas Oil Series racers were able to make their first-round runs, much of racing was put on hold as rain pelted the drag strip. It moved out just in time for the Funny Cars, and Jack Wyatt takes to the stage first on a solo.

Funny Car Q1

With a cylinder out and with a flash of fire, Wyatt's Funny Car rubs against the wall and we are on pause for a moment. Bobby Bode is up next on a solo and makes a decent run, a 3.975 at 298 mph.

The first pair features Dave Richards in the vibrant Bluebird/Versatran entry and Buddy Hull in his Blaze-backed Dodge. Neither driver is able to go A-to-B efficiently, and the next three pairs follow suit. The much anticipated first run for Jack Beckman in John Force's Peak Anti-Freeze Chevrolet is up next, with Ron Capps and the NAPA Dodge in the other lane. Capps smokes the tires and Beckman flies to a 3.920, 318.09 as if he never left.

"That first one was everything," said crew chief Chris Cunningham. "We were in Norwalk a couple weeks ago and got everything sorted out, and to come here and hit the ground running is great. It's the momentum we need."

Beckman is breathless and smiling at the top end.

"That felt like a Funny Car should feel," he said. "I'm starting to feel a little bit better. I'm way behind the car in a lot of things, but a few more runs and I can get caught up. It feels great."

Later, Brittany Force spoke about what it was like seeing Beckman in her dad's livery.

"It's definitely weird; that Peak fire suit, Peak car, and Peak team – I've always seen my dad in that, but I think the fans agree that there's no better person to put in that car than Jack Beckman. He's doing a great job. We're proud to take him into John Force Racing and team up with him. I think he's doing a really great job, and I'm excited to see how this weekend will go."

Austin Prock, who flew to the No. 1 spot on a 3.916, 330.15 in his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet, also had a bit to say about Beckman's inclusion in the John Force Racing brigade.

"This is the most normal it's felt since Richmond," said Prock. "It's great to have a teammate out here – a great teammate in Jack Beckman. That guy is dialed in, he's a machine, and he's going to be great for the Peak Auto team."

J.R. Todd also stood out with a solid run in his DHL Toyota; his full pull nets a 3.938, 325.22. He is No. 3 on the board, and Beckman is No. 2. Daniel Wilkerson is on the bump.

Top Fuel Q1

European FIA Top Fuel champion Ida Zetterström's dream of NHRA racing is coming true today as she makes her long-awaited debut. Zetterström and Jasmine Salinas are the first pair of Top Fuelers, and they race smoothly side-by-side downtrack. Zetterström clocks a strong 3.809, 326.87 in her JCM Racing/VP Racing Fuels/Edelbrock/Comp Cams dragster next to Salinas' 3.944, 262.95.

Crew chief Jon Schaffer is pleased with Zetterström's first run in NHRA competition, particularly as it is only the second full pull for the team after a few early planned shutoffs and some battles with tire smoke in testing.

"We're happy with that, we just wanted to go A to B," said Schaffer. "The biggest thing is just collecting data, so that's what we're trying to do."

"This feels incredible," said a beaming Zetterström at the top end.

Brittany Force takes her Monster Energy rail to a 3.791, 334.24 to the No. 1 spot, but then Billy Torrence snatches it with a 3.730, 332.75. Shawn Langdon throws down a large 3.705, 330.07 in the Kalitta Air dragster. Doug Kalitta's 335.40 mph pass will stand for the moment as top speed of the meet.

"We come into every new year with high hopes, but Brian Husen is something special," said Langdon. "He's given me such a great race car, and the team chemistry over here is awesome. Everyone is having a great time. We have a great group and great partners, it's just been missing the little things. I think they've almost got it all put together – we're almost Countdown-ready now."

Langdon is No. 1 on the sheet, Billy Torrence is No. 2, and Doug Kalitta sits third.

Pro Stock Q1

The first pair out shows us a pair of class-newcomers in Derrick Reese (who made his debut in Sonoma) and Cory Reed (who made the switch from Pro Stock Motorcycle to Pro Stock car one race prior, in Seattle). Both put a solid 6.69 pass on the board.

Older brother Fernando Cuadra Jr. and David Cuadra are back in action this weekend after taking a couple of weeks off to attend to business, and they run matching 6.66-second passes. David's twin, Cristian Cuadra, makes a strong 6.650, 206.23 pass a couple runs later.

Matt Hartford and his GETTRX Chevrolet showed an inkling of promise in Sonoma – he was the provisional No. 1 qualifier on Friday – and here again he's quick. A 6.643 sends him up to the top spot for a moment. Eric Latino runs just off his number with a 6.64, and Jerry Tucker and his Outlaw Beers branded Chevy are also 6.64.

More matching numbers hit the scoreboards when Troy Coughlin Jr. and uncle Jeg Coughlin Jr. race side-by-side to 6.66s, and then the two JHG Camaros, driven by championship hopeful Aaron Stanfield and reigning champ Erica Enders line up to throw down a pair of 6.64s. Another set of 6.64s pop up for HendrickCars.com campaigner Greg Anderson and points leader Dallas Glenn in the last pair – Anderson gets the top spot with a 6.641.

Anderson is No. 1, Stanfield is No. 2, Hartford is No. 3. Deric Kramer is the odd-man-out and will be looking to break in on Saturday, as Pro Stock's second session was moved to tomorrow due to weather delays that pushed later than expected at a racing facility that is not equipped for night racing.

Funny Car Q2

Blake Alexander's blazing 3.874, 331.61 was the highlight of the round, and he rockets to the top spot in Jim Head's Pronto Auto Service Centers Funny Car.

In the next pair, Alexis DeJoria and Bob Tasca III put up matching and impressive 3.88s, but the big speed target of 340 that Tasca was itching for is not there. Cruz Pedregon and his Snap-On entry aren't far off with a 3.89, and Paul Lee is right there with a 3.91.

J.R. Todd's DHL Toyota goes bang, and with a big blossom of flame, his run comes quickly to a halt. He's rightfully agitated as he exits the car.

Alexander stays No. 1, DeJoria is second, and Tasca is No. 3. Buddy Hull holds down the bump spot.

Top Fuel Q2

The first pair out features Tony Stewart and his Mahindra tractors rail vs. JCM Racing's Ida Zetterström. The European champ smokes the tires, while Stewart sails away to his quickest and fastest career pass, a 3.688, 332.18.

"We have tested a lot, and the work is paying off," said Stewart. "We had a good weekend at Sonoma, a miserable test at Indy, and then came here with a plan. I'm glad to see this run. We finally got into the 3.60s, and we're solidly in the 330s now."

A short while later, Steve Torrence and his CAPCO Contractors rail lay down a 3.688, 335.32 to take the top spot on speed.

Torrence gets three bonus points as quickest of the round, Stewart gets two, and Doug Kalitta claims one for his 3.703. With 14 cars on the property, Clay Millican is the guy looking to climb the highest on Saturday – his 4.341 has him at the bottom of the stack for now.