"Alan [Johnson, crew chief] came in here with a bit of a chip on his shoulder," Schumacher said. "I don't think he's ever won here with [Gary] Scelzi or Blaine [Johnson] and I know that's something he wants to change. You know, we have A.J. because of this place. We didn't qualify here in 2003 and that's when Dad went out and hired him. We've been on a pretty good roll since then.

"It's cowboy-up time. I was fishing with Dad the other day and I told him this was the perfect time to go on a run. We've got six races in six weeks and if we get a streak going we could really make a move in a short amount of time."

Current points leader "Hot Rod" Fuller is quick again, running a second-best 4.479 at 330.39 mph in his plain, white dragster. Clay Millican has the Ratt -- Back for More dragster in third place with a 4.487 at 330.39 mph, which was the final 4.4-second pass.

Longtime racer Cory McClenathan of Team Fram is fifth overall after a 4.516 that ended with a giant fireball at the top end. McClenathan avoided hitting anything as he fought to get his car stopped but the fire damage was extensive.

Tommy Johnson Jr.

Johnson Jr.'s miserable year in Funny Car got considerably brighter Friday as he led both qualifying sessions, finishing with a 4.729 at 321.96 mph. With only two elimination-round wins this season, Johnson and his Skoal Chevrolet Impala teammates are a distant 12th in the current points standing, but he's less than four rounds out of the Countdown to the Championship field.

The Forces, John and Ashley, are second and third in their Castrol GTX Ford Mustangs. Dad led daughter with a 4.747 at 325.37 mph to her 4.760 at 321.19 mph.

The provisional list of drivers who have failed to qualify include Topeka winner Mike Ashley and multi-time NHRA champions Kenny Bernstein and Gary Scelzi. They'll need to run better than bump-rider Jerry Toliver's 4.987 at 289.20 mph during Saturday's action to race on Sunday.

Richie Stevens Jr.

Pro Stock leader Stevens continues his love affair with Old Bridge Township Raceway Park as the two-time E-town winner is the surprise qualifying leader here. Stevens, who won this race in 1999 and 2001, accounting for a third of his career wins, posted a career-best 6.598 at 209.20 mph in his Mopar Dodge Stratus R/T to secure the provisional pole.

"The night session is very important, especially for the Pro Stock cars," Stevens said. "We run carburetors, (they're) naturally-aspirated, and whenever the session is the coolest is probably going to be our best. The night session is always the best for us. It's hard to make it work sometimes because you only get one good night session in. You kind of got to take advantage of it. Luckily, we did. We ran a .59, which is awesome for us. And it put us on top. So hopefully it will stick for tomorrow and hopefully it won't get too cool in the morning and we can hold on to it.

"We missed the 6.50s last year in Virginia; we went 6.600 (there). We just missed the 6.50 mark, so it's good to get it here and be the only one in the field that's got it right now. It felt really good. It was perfect from A to B. (Engine builder) Roy Johnson, Allen's dad, has been working real hard at the shop and to get that for him feels real good and I'm proud to do it."

POWERade points leader Greg Anderson knocked three thousandths of a second off his opening-round pass of 6.609, but he still dropped a spot on the grid to second overall with a 6.606 at 209.33 mph in his Summit Racing Pontiac GTO.

Chicago winner Jeg Coughlin is third with a 6.612 in the JEGS.com Chevy, while defending series and event champion Jason Line is fourth with a 6.615 in his Summit GTO.

Andrew Hines

Chicago winner Hines hasn't lost a step with his Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson V-Rod Pro Stock Motorcycle, running a 6.910 at 193.57 mph to take the top spot on Friday night for the second race in a row. Hines' run was the second quickest in class history. He also posted a 6.932 earlier in the day.

"E-town is such a great place to race," Hines said. "It's like a playground out there for Pro Stock. You're at sea level and the air is good; when Mother Nature decides to give us good weather here you can fly. I think we got lucky because Eddie [Krawiec, teammate] lives up here and he's said it's been miserable hot the past few weeks.

"It feels so great to go out there and run that fast. I know I have a great bike under me again and that just allows you to relax, have fun, and concentrate more on your riding position and tuck."

Angelle Sampey was next on her U.S. Army Suzuki but she was a good bit behind Hines with a clocking of 6.949 at 192.41 mph. Chip Ellis followed on his Torco Buell V-Twin with 6.950, while Karen Stoffer was fourth overall with a 6.960 at 193.24 mph on the Geico Motorcycle Suzuki.

Connie Cohen suffered abrasions to her right hand but was alert and conscious after driving through the top-end sand trap and catch nets on her Suzuki. She was transported by ambulance to Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge.

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