Las Vegas: Friday's NHRA SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals

LAS VEGAS - Kenny Bernstein led all Top Fuel competitors Friday after the first day of qualifying at the second annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Bruce Sarver, Darrell Alderman and Bob Panella also were leaders in their respective categories at the $1.9 million race, the fifth of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series Bernstein blasted his Budweiser dragster down the quarter-mile in a track record 4.524 seconds at 325.57 mph to lead the Top Fuel order. Bernstein was the winner and top qualifier of this event last year. "Last year I didn't dominate the field, but I got some breaks," said Bernstein, a five-time Winston champ. "This time we've put together two great qualifying runs, which doesn't mean we are going to win but we have a lot more confidence. I'm the same driver I was one month ago, (the team) has just given me a different horse to ride. (Crew chief) Tim Richards has given the team a lot of direction. There is a lot of dedication on this team they have put in some serious hours to get to this place." Sarver sped his e-moola.com Pontiac Firebird to a career-best pass of 4.822 at 318.02 to lead the Funny Car lineup. "We were way soft on the first qualifying run and we knew this Firebird had a lot left in it," said Sarver of his Alan Johnson Tuned vehicle. "It didn't feel like it ran that good of a speed and I was surprised when they told me it ran that. I didn't think that elapsed time would hold up either. I thought (John) Force would throw up a big number of his own. We were crossing our fingers." Alderman covered the distance in his Dodge R/T in a track record 6.976 at 197.42 to lead the Pro Stock category. Chevy S-10 driver Panella used a track record elapsed time of 7.597 at 178.59 to lead the Pro Stock Truck field. Qualifying continues Saturday at 11 a.m.

LAS VEGAS - Friday's qualifying results for the second annual NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the fifth of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL 1. Kenny Bernstein, 4.524 seconds, 325.61 mph; 2. Gary Scelzi, 4.551, 291.26; 3. Doug Kalitta, 4.553, 320.66; 4. Mike Dunn, 4.554, 318.99; 5. Doug Herbert, 4.582, 319.14; 6. Tony Schumacher, 4.595, 321.81; 7. Andrew Cowin, 4.616, 323.50; 8. Larry Dixon, 4.683, 310.91; 9. David Grubnic, 4.683, 310.63; 10. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.684, 307.72; 11. Darrell Russell, 4.711, 306.33; 12. Tim Gibson, 4.725, 264.96; 13. Gary Clapshaw, 4.816, 262.03; 14. Robert Reehl, 4.831, 256.99; 15. Garth Widdison, 5.148, 219.22; 16. Rob Passey, 5.732, 223.88.

FUNNY CAR 1. Bruce Sarver, Pontiac Firebird, 4.822, 318.02; 2. John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.835, 321.04; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr., Chevy Camaro, 4.838, 318.24; 4. Frank Pedregon, Firebird, 4.841, 317.94; 5. Ron Capps, Camaro, 4.841, 316.52; 6. Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 4.853, 318.54; 7. Scotty Cannon, Firebird, 4.866, 317.05; 8. Dean Skuza, Dodge R/T, 4.875, 308.35; 9. Gary Densham, Mustang, 4.878, 305.22; 10. Del Worsham, Firebird, 4.921, 314.90; 11. Tony Bartone, Firebird, 4.934, 303.71; 12. Whit Bazemore, Firebird, 4.938, 303.16; 13. Bob Gilbertson, Camaro, 4.948, 308.21; 14. Jim Epler, Camaro, 4.954, 315.42; 15. John Lawson, Firebird, 4.984, 301.67; 16. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird, 5.037, 303.78.

PRO STOCK 1. Darrell Alderman, Dodge R/T, 6.976, 197.42; 2. Jim Yates, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.982, 197.83; 3. Ron Krisher, Chevy Cavalier, 6.985, 198.03; 4. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.987, 197.57; 5. Richie Stevens, Grand Am, 6.989, 197.02; 6. Mark Pawuk, Grand Am, 6.991, 196.73; 7. Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 6.998, 197.45; 8. Brad Klein, Pontiac Firebird, 7.009, 196.67; 9. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 7.017, 197.71; 10. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 7.017, 196.79; 11. Rickie Smith, Chev Camaro, 7.020, 196.79; 12. Mike Edwards, Cavalier, 7.021, 197.05; 13. Tom Martino, Grand Am, 7.025, 196.79; 14. Larry Morgan, R/T, 7.029, 197.10; 15. Troy Coughlin, Cavalier, 7.029, 197.65; 16. Greg Anderson, Firebird, 7.034, 196.79.

PRO STOCK TRUCK 1. Bob Panella Jr, Chevy S-10, 7.597, 178.59; 2. Greg Stanfield, S-10, 7.604, 178.87; 3. Randy Daniels, S-10, 7.612, 178.14; 4. Jeff Gracia, GMC Sonoma, 7.635, 178.02; 5. Mike Corvo Jr, Sonoma, 7.640, 176.81; 6. Don Smith, S-10, 7.644, 175.98; 7. Jeff Naiser, S-10, 7.655, 176.35; 8. John Coughlin, S-10, 7.657, 176.24; 9. Scott Perin, S-10, 7.663, 176.77; 10. Matt Rhoades, S-10, 7.665, 176.93; 11. Larry Kopp, S-10, 7.667, 176.49; 12. John Lingenfelter, Sonoma, 7.667, 176.44; 13. Mike Coughlin, S-10, 7.670, 176.65; 14. Mark Whisnant, S-10, 7.672, 176.53; 15. Lou Ficco, S-10, 7.673, 175.98; 16. Brian Self, S-10, 7.679, 176.63.

-NHRA-