NHRA adds incentives for Friday’s second qualifying at Rockingham. Low qualifiers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle receive ASUS ROG Flow Z13 Nebula laptops.

Round two begins at 3:30 p.m. ET. Top Fuel and Funny Car low qualifiers also collect a $1,000 bonus and Idaho Spud cases, with IGTG and Perimeter.One founders presenting awards.

The featured Flow Z13 uses AMD’s Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 with 16 cores and RDNA graphics, offering robust on-site data analysis potential for tuners balancing performance, weather, and track evolution.

Beyond prizes, IGTG and Perimeter.One will assist winning teams with complete IT setup and follow-up management, aiming to elevate cybersecurity, infrastructure, and AI adoption at-track and back at base.

The targeted incentive reshapes Friday strategy. Teams may push aggressive early maps to bank the session-two reward, accepting narrower margins on clutch setup and cylinder-to-cylinder balance.

Rockingham marks race 16 of 20 and the second Countdown round. FS1 carries live qualifying at 11 a.m. ET and eliminations at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Shawn Langdon leads Top Fuel after record-setting form, with Kalitta Motorsports’ depth evident alongside Doug Kalitta. Tony Stewart and Antron Brown remain threats as conditions cool in the evening sessions.

Funny Car newcomer Jordan Vandergriff opened the playoffs with a win. He faces Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, J.R. Todd, and reigning champion Austin Prock in a tightly bunched field.

Matt Hartford leads Pro Stock after a chaotic Countdown opener. Dallas Glenn, Greg Anderson, Greg Stanfield, and Erica Enders keep the pressure on through improving track conditions at The Rock.

Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Richard Gadson holds a slim advantage over John Hall. Matt and Angie Smith, Gaige Herrera, and Chase Van Sant remain poised to capitalize on any misstep.

Form after the season’s Cornwell NHRA Nationals underlines a narrow performance window, where incremental clutch and blower timing gains often dictate lane choice on polished concrete starts.

Qualifying is Friday at 1 and 3:30 p.m. ET, then Saturday at noon and 2:30 p.m. Eliminations begin 11 a.m. Sunday, plus pit access, ceremonies, and the SealMaster Track Walk.

With bonuses and post-event IT support on offer, marginal operational gains could convert into crucial Countdown points. Expect teams to treat Friday afternoon like a pressure test for Sunday.

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Nicholas Rivera

Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.