A top candidate for the Auto Club Rookie of the Year award, Langdon did a slightly better job in qualifying sixth on the Top Fuel grid, posting a 3.857 at 309.20 mph in his Lucas Oil/Dixie Chopper dragster.

Langdon will open eliminations against six-time IHRA champion Clay Millican, who qualified 11th with a 3.908 at 310.48 mph. Langdon and Millican have raced each other twice this season with each driver winning one time.

"We're ready to go," Langdon said. "We've got Clay right out of the gate and he's always tough. He'll cut a good light most likely so I'll need to be on my game.

"The car is been real quick and there's been lots of rounds lately where we've been the quickest of everyone out there so hopefully we can get on a roll tomorrow and put ourselves in position to win a race."

Right behind Langdon in seventh place is his team owner and stablemate Lucas, who topped out at 3.868 at 309.91 mph in the GEICO Powersports/Lucas Oil dragster. A winner earlier this season in Atlanta, Lucas is looking for his seventh victory at this racetrack.

"It's really cool that both cars are in the top half," Lucas said. "But a stat I'd really like to improve is the number of times Shawn and me get out of the first round. So far we've both won at least one round at eight different races, way better than last year, and I know we have a pair of cars that can do it again tomorrow."

Lucas will begin race day against Doug Kalitta, who qualified 10th with a 3.906 at 307.44 mph. Lucas is 1-1 against Kalitta this year.

"To me, Doug is one of the best pure drivers in the NHRA so I'm kind of glad I have him first because that's going to force me to focus right from the start if I want to win," Lucas said. "I hope we can win this race. We sure didn't come here to finish second."

Eliminations begin at 11 a.m. PST.

Courtesy of Rob Geiger