18-year-old Gray tops qualifying, looks to claim 2nd straight victory
Tanner Gray made history last week by becoming the youngest winner of a professional drag race in NHRA history in Sonoma, California.
And he’s looking to back that up Sunday with another victory at the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Kent.
Gray, 18, who took over for his father, Shane, at the outset of this season, grabbed the No. 1 qualifying spot in Pro Stock on Saturday with a run of 6.565 seconds.
Gray’s run came in the third qualifying session of the weekend. He overtook overnight leader Bo Butner for the top spot.
Defending Top Fuel race champion Tanner Gray also rallied to grab the top qualifying time, going 3.735 ET in the final session late Saturday afternoon. It is Brown’s second No. 1 qualifying mark this season.
Robert Hight’s run of 3.883 ET from Friday stood up as the weekend’s top qualifying time in Funny Car. He is the only driver to go under 3.9 seconds in the blistering heat at Pacific Raceways.
Eliminations start at
11 a.m. Sunday.
Qualifying results
Top Fuel -- 1. Antron Brown, 3.735 seconds, 329.10 mph vs. 16. Ron Smith, 5.502, 140.65; 2. Doug Kalitta, 3.744, 326.48 vs. 15. Terry Haddock, 3.999, 283.67; 3. Leah Pritchett, 3.755, 325.30 vs. 14. Shawn Reed, 3.925, 314.97; 4. Clay Millican, 3.766, 318.39 vs. 13. Scott Palmer, 3.864, 322.73; 5. Brittany Force, 3.780, 324.05 vs. 12. Troy Buff, 3.862, 309.98; 6. Tony Schumacher, 3.783, 324.12 vs. 11. Troy Coughlin Jr., 3.854, 320.43; 7. Steve Torrence, 3.791, 324.75 vs. 10. Terry McMillen, 3.835, 313.37; 8. Shawn Langdon, 3.797, 322.81 vs. 9. Mike Salinas, 3.826, 319.29.
Funny Car -- 1. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.883, 329.42 vs. 16. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Solara, 5.998, 120.28; 2. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.930, 328.54 vs. 15. Gary Densham, Ford Mustang, 4.238, 286.92; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.930, 324.05 vs. 14. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.064, 305.08; 4. Courtney Force, Camaro, 3.943, 325.14 vs. 13. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Camry, 4.006, 311.49; 5. Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.943, 323.35 vs. 12. Del Worsham, Camry, 3.995, 318.84; 6. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.956, 319.37 vs. 11. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.990, 322.04; 7. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 3.963, 324.05 vs. 10. Jonnie Lindberg, Camry, 3.988, 318.32; 8. John Force, Camaro, 3.973, 307.23 vs. 9. J.R. Todd, Camry, 3.981, 325.22.
Pro Stock -- 1. Tanner Gray, Chevy Camaro, 6.565, 210.24 vs. Bye; 2. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.568, 209.75 vs. 13. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.680, 207.30; 3. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.570, 210.28 vs. 12. Steve Graham, Camaro, 6.647, 208.46; 4. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.575, 210.31 vs. 11. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.643, 207.46; 5. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.576, 210.67 vs. 10. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.619, 208.75; 6. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.599, 208.78 vs. 9. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.611, 209.49; 7. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.600, 209.69 vs. 8. Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.601, 209.52.
This story was originally published August 5, 2017 at 8:21 PM with the headline "18-year-old Gray tops qualifying, looks to claim 2nd straight victory."