DINWIDDIE, Va. (AP) -Cruz Pedregon bolstered his flickering championship aspirations Saturday at the Virginia NHRA Nationals, taking the No. 1 qualifying position in Funny Car with a 4.041-second run at 306.88 mph.
Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) also topped their divisions in the 22nd of 24 NHRA POWERade Series races this season and the fourth race in the six-race NHRA Playoff, the Countdown to 1.
Pedregon is sixth in the season standings, 109 points behind first-place Tim Wilkerson.
``It sends a message that we're hanging in there for this championship. The Advance Auto Parts car is flying,'' said Pedregon, on the pole for the third time this year and 36th time in his career.
Pedregon will face Tony Bartone (4.157) in one of several compelling first-round Funny Car matchups; others to watch include fourth-place Robert Hight vs. teammate and team owner John Force, and points leader Tim Wilkerson vs. fifth-place Ashley Force.
Schumacher's 3.771-second run at 317.05 from Friday night held up Saturday. He'll start from the pole for the seventh time this season. He's seeking his 14th win of 2008, 55th of his career, but just his first at Virginia Motorsports Park.
Pro Stock's Anderson delivered the top qualifying pass Saturday when he matched Jeg Coughlin's 6.554 but earned the pole with his track-record speed of 210.21 mph.
