CLERMONT, Ind. (AP) - Defending Pro Stock season champion Mike Edwards raced to the No. 1 qualifying position Sunday in the NHRA's playoff-opening the U.S. Nationals with a track-record time of 6.579 seconds at 209.26 mph.
Edwards topped qualifying for the 12th time this season and 34th overall.
Larry Dixon, Matt Hagan and Andrew Hines also led their divisions in the first of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
In Top Fuel, Dixon's track record time of 3.776 at 324.36 from Saturday stood as the quickest of the weekend, giving the three-time Indy winner his sixth No. 1 effort of the season, 46th of his career and third at the event.
Hagan claimed his third top qualifying position of the season and fifth of his career with a track-record time of 4.039 at 299.86 in a Dodge Charger.
Hines led all five Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying sessions on his Harley-Davidson and earned his second No. 1 of the season and 28th of his career with his national-record run of 6.185 seconds at a track-record speed of 196.76 mph.
