Four-time Top Fuel world champion Steve Torrence made the fastest run in Pacific Raceways history on Friday, powering to the provisional No. 1 position at the NHRA Northwest Nationals. Austin Prock (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers.
In the first-ever night session at Pacific Raceways, Torrence, the defending event winner in Seattle, went 3.688 seconds at 335.32 mph in his Capco Contractors/Toyota dragster under the lights. If that holds, Torrence, who is looking for his first win since his Seattle triumph last year, would earn his second top qualifier of the season and 39th in his career.
“To go out and run 335, that’s a stout run,” Torrence said. “Tonight’s a hero run for all of us, and not really going to be relevant for anything tomorrow or race day, but you kind of get to pound your chest a little bit and say, ‘Hey, we’re low E.T., we’re No. 1. I think that that’ll stay safe for the rest of the weekend so we’ll get ready for our race day tune up now.
“It was really cool. There were are a lot of fans here and to race in front of at night was special. The people here at Pacific Raceway did a great job trying to put on a good show for the fans, and that’s what it’s about.”
Justin Ashley is currently second after going 3.694 at 331.04 and Brittany Force is third with a 3.701 at 333.08.
Funny Car points leader Austin Prock continued his absolute domination in qualifying on Friday, making the best run of both sessions and just missing the track record under the lights, going 3.838 at 328.62 in his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS. It was an incredible run that easily put him atop the field, which could cement his eighth No. 1 qualifier in the first 11 races of the season. Prock was thrilled to put together a standout run in the first night session in Pacific Raceways history, putting him on track for what he hopes is another stellar weekend.
“It was another great day for this Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS. These guys are just animals,” Prock said. “I know I keep saying that, but they impress me every weekend. They were making adjustments up until we fired the race car in the water box, just fine tuning, reading the racetrack, reading the competition, and they obviously made a really good call. I believe it will hold [as No. 1] because it’s going to be pretty hot tomorrow.”
Ron Capps jumped to second with a 3.886 at 331.53 and Paul Lee sits third after going 3.917 at 327.03.
In Pro Stock, reigning world champion Erica Enders made the most of her run under the lights at Pacific Raceways, going 6.500 at 209.98 in her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/Elite Performance to take over the top spot in Seattle. Enders struggled during the first run of the day but came back with a vengeance as she looks to claim her fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 39th in her career. Pro Stock didn’t race at Pacific Raceways in 2023 and Enders would love to be in the winner’s circle as the category returns this weekend, as it would also mean her 50th national event win.
“Our first run, by no means was anything that we were proud of, and it was just super frustrating when something like that happens, but my team continues to prove over and over that really doesn’t matter,” Enders said. “When their backs are against the wall, when the pressure’s on them, they always seem to do really great, so I’m very proud of them. They gave me a good race car and we threw a really nice number out there. It would have been cool to go a thousandth faster and be in the .40s but we’re just super happy to turn it around.”
Eric Latino took the second spot after a run of 6.518 at 209.82, while Mason McGaha’s 6.520 at 209.85 puts him third.
Pro Stock Motorcycle debuted at Pacific Raceways a year ago and on Friday, Gaige Herrera continued to dominate at the facility, setting the track speed record and taking the provisional No. 1 spot with an impressive run of 6.734 at 201.22 on his RevZilla/Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki. Herrera has quickly taken a liking to the Pacific Northwest, making the quickest run of both sessions as he looks to pick up his fourth No. 1 qualifier in 2024 and 18th in his career.
Of course, Herrera is also undefeated in 2024 and his past 11 races, looking to continue his dominant run this weekend at Pacific Raceways.
“I feel like me and the bike are one at this point, so we came in there very confident on what we’re going to run,” Herrera said. “If we didn’t bog on the starting line in Q2, we probably would have run a .68. We just didn’t accommodate for the track tightening up that quick as the sun went down, the track dropped quite a bit on the temperature. and it hurt us. Hopefully, we’ll hold on to one spot, but there’s a lot of good bikes out there.”
Chase Van Sant is currently second after going 6.742 at 199.44 and Richard Gadson is third with a run of 6.756 at 199.35.
Qualifying continues at 1:30 p.m. PT on Saturday at the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways.