Saturday, May 17

On Saturday, it was rain and cold temperatures for most of the day, bringing qualifying to an early end, but not before a couple of record runs were made.

Doug Kalitta set Top Fuel track records in E.T. and speed with his Mac Tools dragster’s 3.732 run at 328.86 during the third session. With the run, Kalitta secured the third No. 1 qualifying effort of the season and 39th of his career. (Michael Fischbeck photo)

Erica Enders-Stevens laid down a Pro Stock E.T. track record 6.493 pass at 212.69 to secure the No. 1 qualifier. The run bested Enders-Stevens’ track record pass from Friday night. Her Elite Motorsports Chevy Camaro was the fastest car during all four qualifying sessions.

(Michael Fischbeck photo)

An explosion before the finish line blew the top of Jack Beckman’s Valvoline MaxLife Dodge Charger R/T carbon-fiber body skyward on his last run Saturday, but it was his best of four tries.

"It's scary, can I say that? This is what we get paid to do and I drive race cars and I love race cars," Beckman said moments after getting out of the Dodge. "You go swimming with sharks and bad things can happen once in a while, and the Great White just bit us.”

A weird start to the weekend for Lucas Oil/MAVTV Pro Stock driver Larry Morgan wasn't enough to slow him down after qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals concluded at Atlanta Dragway.

As Morgan approached the starting line to make his Q1 pass, officials alerted him that he would be unable to run due to liquid in the water box that they thought was dripping from Morgan's Mustang. However, it was later discovered that the leak was from another competitor, not Morgan.