EPPING, N.H. — Reigning Humorous Automobile world champion Austin Prock led the way in which on Friday at New England Dragway, taking the provisional No. 1 spot for John Drive Racing on the twelfth annual NHRA New England Nationals.
Doug Kalitta (Prime Gas) and Cody Coughlin (Professional Inventory) are additionally the provisional No. 1 qualifiers on the seventh of 20 races through the 2025 NHRA Mission Meals Drag Racing Collection season.
Friday’s second session additionally included the “No. 1 Clawifier Award introduced by NAPA.” A particular chair fabricated from lobster pots awaited drivers on the highest finish, with the night’s No. 1 qualifier sitting within the chair till they have been changed by a brand new No. 1 “Clawifier” or declare the award. The highest staff in every class have been awarded lobster dinners.
No one changed Prock as he kicked off the session, whereas Kalitta bumped Antron Brown out of the chair. A handful of Professional Inventory drivers have been on prime on Friday earlier than Coughlin grabbed management.
After struggling through the opening session on Friday, Prock and his staff greater than made up for it to shut out the day, going 3.860-seconds at 331.69 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Instruments Chevrolet SS. It places the Humorous Automobile factors chief on monitor for his second No. 1 qualifier of the season and twentieth in his profession. Prock was the runner-up on the occasion a 12 months in the past to legendary Humorous Automobile driver John Drive, and likewise superior to the finals at the newest occasion in Chicago.
“It took lots to get this factor tamed down, however the guys did a fantastic job diagnosing it and we laid down a very nice lap,” Prock stated. “John Drive Racing has had a variety of success right here. Final 12 months was a extremely particular second in my life and all I’ve ever needed to do is drive a Humorous Automobile.
“I at all times attempt to do the most effective I can each time I get on this automobile. That’s what these guys deserve, what our staff deserve and what our companions deserve. I’m simply making an attempt to get in there and drive to the most effective of my potential.”
Racing at his residence monitor, Bob Tasca III is at present second with a 3.891 at 335.40 and Paul Lee’s 3.891 at 329.18 places him third.
In Prime Gas, Doug Kalitta was the one driver to dip into the three.60s and continued to roll in qualifying, going to the highest spot with a run of three.697 at 331.36 in his 12,000-horsepower Mac Instruments dragster. If it holds, it could be the veteran’s fourth straight prime qualifier of 2025, which might proceed an unimaginable streak.
It might even be the previous world champion’s fifth No. 1 qualifier within the first seven races of the season and New England Dragway continues to be superb to Kalitta. Brown made a powerful run to open the session, however Kalitta bumped him for a seat within the lobster pot chair as he goals to win in Epping for a second consecutive 12 months.
“The automobile shook just a little bit originally, acquired cleaned up after which it set sail,” Kalitta stated. “It was undoubtedly what we have been in search of. We have been all gunning for the lobster and the way in which the staff has this automobile working, I hoped it could make it and it did.
“We’re very lucky after the primary day and Epping is a cool space. I’ve had a fantastic working automobile all 12 months (however) haven’t gotten the win but, so I’m actual hungry for that. This might be a fantastic place to do it. We acquired it executed final 12 months, which was cool. We’re simply making an attempt to go rounds, maintain our heads down and hope like heck it goes our method Sunday.”
Shawn Reed is at present second because of a go of three.702 at 334.24 and Brittany Drive went 3.713 at 334.48 as she sits within the third place.
After a standout run through the second session, Professional Inventory rookie Cody Coughlin is in place to assert his first profession No. 1 qualifier because of a run of 6.537 at 210.28 in his Cody Coughlin Building Chevrolet Camaro. In a area loaded with quick automobiles, Coughlin made the a lot of the cool situations within the second session for KB Titan Racing, sitting on prime heading into Saturday.
It’s been an up and down debut season for Coughlin, however Friday’s run actually provides him momentum and marks the excessive level of his 12 months to date.
“It felt so seamless that I assumed it was going to be sluggish,” Coughlin stated. “However as they are saying, sluggish is clean and clean is quick. Greg and Dallas have been quick — everyone has been quick right here with KB Titan energy — so I figured they’d edge me out as a result of they know all of the tips of the commerce.
“I spoke to Greg through the low season to congratulate him on his championship and we simply meshed. I’ve at all times been a fan of the Hendrick [Motorsports] staff, and when Greg invited me out to a check, I used to be hooked.”
Coughlin squeezed previous Anderson on pace for the present No. 1 spot because the reigning world champion went an an identical 6.537 at a barely slower 209.95. Factors chief Dallas Glenn is third following his run of 6.539 at 210.28.
