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Morgan Lucas take No. 1 spot in Top Fuel

In this photo provided by NHRA, top qualifier Morgan Lucas powers his GEICO/Lucas to the top qualifying time in the Top Fuel division at the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals drag races, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, in Pomona, Calif. (AP Photo/NHRA)

In this photo provided by NHRA, Funny Car driver Robert Hight raced to the No. 1 qualifying time in the Funny Car division at the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals drag races, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, in Pomona, Calif. (AP Photo/NHRA)

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The Associated Press Updated 11:31 PM Saturday, February 11, 2012

POMONA, Calif. — Morgan Lucas raced to the No. 1 qualifying spot in Top Fuel on Saturday in a rain-shortened session in the NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Robert Hight topped the Funny Car field, and Jason Line took the No. 1 spot in Pro Stock in the season-opening event.

Lucas powered his dragster to a 3.783-second run at 325.06 mph to take the top spot in the field as teams took advantage of cooler track and air temperatures. It was Lucas' fifth No. 1 qualifier of his career and first in the Winternationals, where he raced to the Top Fuel win last year.

Lucas will face Rod Fuller in the first round of eliminations Sunday. Six-time Pomona winner Tony Schumacher qualified sixth, while Spencer Massey qualified second.

In Funny Car Hight, took advantage of the cool conditions Saturday and drove his Ford Mustang to the top of the field with a run of 4.060 seconds at 316.52 mph.

Hight will line up against Todd Lesenko in the first round of eliminations on Sunday. Hight's teammate Courtney Force, who is making her Funny Car debut this week, qualified 12th. Defending Funny Car champion Matt Hagan qualified ninth, while 14-time Auto Club Raceway winner John Force was sixth.

Pro Stock champion Line had a 6.535-second run at 212.23 mph.

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February 12, 2012 04:24 AM EST

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