The Friday qualifying sessions at the Bakersfield March Meet showcased exciting performances from several racers, with Shane Westerfield leading the Funny Cars with a remarkable time of 5.539 seconds at 251.32 mph. Jeff Arend and Tony Jurado followed in second and third, respectively. Westerfield expressed optimism for a potential record-setting performance over the weekend, contingent on track conditions.

In Top Fuel, defending champion Tyler Hilton demonstrated strong form by topping the time sheets after a session during which he tested new components. He aims to secure the March Meet win, a title that has eluded him despite achieving success in other series events. Tyler Hester and Pete Kaiser rounded out the top three in this division, with Brad Thompson currently on the bubble for qualification.

In the Fuel Altered category, Pete Peterson claimed provisional No. 1 status with a 6.121 run, but his success came at a high cost; he experienced an engine explosion attributed to driver error when he failed to secure his chin strap, leading to a fire and significant damage. Peterson reflected on the mishap during what was intended to be his final race. Johnny West, Mark Whynaught, Kyle Hough, and Bill Windham completed the top five in the category. With more qualifying sessions scheduled, the event promises more action in the days ahead.



Source: competitionplus.com