Tasca tops all qualifiers at NHRA Winternationals

POMONA, Calif. (AP) -- Bob Tasca raced to the provisional No. 1 qualifying position in Funny Car on Friday in the season-opening NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway.

Morgan Lucas led the Top Fuel field, and Mike Edwards topped the Pro Stock competition after the second round of qualifying.

Tasca had a 4.109-second pass at 309.34 mph on Friday in his Ford Mustang. Courtney Force, the 23-year-old daughter of 15-time NHRA champion John Force, was eighth in her first NHRA Funny Car event. John Force as sixth.

Defending Top Fuel event winner Lucas led the field Friday with a 3.835-second pass at 316.38 mph, but topped the standings with his Thursday run of 3.832 seconds at 320.28 mph.

Edwards' Thursday mark of 6.545 seconds at 211.86 mph also stood up.

There are two more rounds of qualifying Saturday and the final eliminations are Sunday.

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