Worsham holds top spot after first day of the Northwest Nationals

Seattle, Wash. (Aug 5, 2016) – Del Worsham, driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, was simply the car to beat in the first day of qualifying of the Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways.

Worsham’s tuning duo, Jon Oberhofer and Nicky Boninfante, with the assistance of Toyota and Toyota Racing Development, had a great hold on the Pacific Raceways surface. The next-to-last pair to see the track in the first Funny Car session, Worsham laid down the best time of round one with a 3.922 second, 321.88 MPH pass.

However, Worsham would not stop there. The DHL Toyota Camry earned the right to go last in the second session of qualifying, and Worsham did not disappoint running a track-record 3.886 second pass at 327.98 MPH, which is also a track record. Worsham swept the six bonus points and is provisionally on the pole for second consecutive race. If Worsham holds on to the top spot, it would be the first time in his career to earn consecutive Funny Car no. 1 qualifiers. It would be Worsham’s third no.1 qualifier in the last five events.

“What is the best about this is we are doing it in conditions that we will see on raceday. That is what I am most excited about,” said Worsham. “The track here in Seattle is great. It has always been great. The surface is everything you can expect. We are making runs on a 120 degree track that twelve months ago no one would expect. I am proud of the efforts and the work of the DHL Toyota Camry team. We have Cameron from Red Line Oil here too, so it is cool to do well in front of him.”

The Team Kalitta Top Fuel dragsters driven by Doug Kalitta and J.R. Todd currently rank fifth and 11th, respectively. Worsham’s Funny Car teammate, Alexis DeJoria, driver of the Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry, is not entered at the Northwest Nationals due to her injury suffered at the Sonoma Raceway one week ago.