Pritchett, who set the record at Phoenix in the second event of the year at 3.658 seconds, blasted to a time of 3.669 at a slowing speed of 304.80 mph that still set the track's elapsed time record.
"In these Q2 sessions you have to hang it out all on the line from a crew chief standpoint to a driver standpoint and stick with it because things are going to get funky out there," she said of her dragster Powered by Pennzoil and led by crew chief Todd Okuhara and assistant Joe Barlam. "It got with it sooner than it ever had before and we didn't even make it to the finish line."
Within about 100 feet of the finish line, the engine lost the blower belt that virtually stalled the engine.
"We really could have popped out a (3.63) if the belt didn't give out," said Pritchett, who has three event titles this year and has advanced to five final rounds including last week at Denver after she won her fourth pole of the year.
"It feels incredible. I'm overwhelming impressed with my team. I knew we were going after it. We talked about it all week and all day, and prepared for it. I can't thank Papa John's enough and Don Schumacher enough for supplying me with the greatest people and the greatest organization to work for."
She earned the Denver pole in the last qualifying session and also was quickest to start Friday in the NHRA Sonoma Nationals, which is the second stop on the three-week Western Swing. She was joined in her pit area by "Papa John Schnatter before she opened with a time of 3.729 (328.38).
Joining Pritchett in the top-five are teammates Antron Brown (Matco Tools/U.S. Army/Toyota) in fourth and Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army) in fifth.
In Funny Car, Jack Beckman and Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Powered by Pennzoil recorded a remarkable time of 3.854 at 328.70, but not many in the near capacity crowd at Sonoma Raceway near San Francisco seemed to notice.
In the other lane with nighttime temperatures in the mid-60s, Robert Hight of John Force Racing set a world record with a speed of 339.87 mph that took the mark from Beckman's Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan, whose previous record was 338.85 set earlier this year at Topeka, Kan.
Hagan, who is seeded fifth, had set the track record at 330.39 in the opening session.
The most frightening run in the first session was with Terry Chandler's Make-A-Wish Dodge but driver Tommy Johnson Jr. used his veteran experience to save what could have been a disastrous run. Just passed half-track at about 270 mph, the right-side rear axle broke that allowed the wheel to separate from the car and Johnson backed out of the throttle almost instantly before the right rear quarter-panel was damaged when it smacked guardwall.
"It could have been a lot worse. An interesting ride," said Johnson, whose team led by crew chief John Collins and assistant Rip Reynolds have advanced to championship rounds at the last two events.
"I can't remember the last time I saw a rear axle shear off like that. When it happened, the left tire was still going and it instantly powered the car toward the wall. I was able to catch it quickly and steer it away. Then I saw the right tire passing me."
The Make-A-Wish crew replaced the body and rear end for the next session when Johnson responded with a 3.908 (327.43) to settle for the No. 6 spot going into Saturday's final two sessions before Sunday eliminations are scheduled to start at 11 a.m. (MDT).
DSR TOP FUEL DRAGSTERS
Provisional No. 1 qualifier: Leah Pritchett (Don Schumacher Racing), 3.669 sec.-track record, 304.80 mph
LEAH PRITCHETT, Papa John's Pizza/Mopar Top Fuel dragster
Crew chief: Todd Okuhara; Assistant: Joe Barlam
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Provisional qualifying position: No. 1
FRIDAY: 3.729 sec., 328.38 mph, (Session 1); 3.669-track record, 304.80, (Session 2)
SONOMA BY THE NUMBERS
Career best time, speed: 3.658 sec.-world record (2017, Phoenix); 330.23 mph (2017, Topeka)
Last event (July 23), Denver: Qualified: No. 1, lost in championship round to teammate Antron Brown
A year ago at Sonoma: Qualified No. 9, lost in first round to teammate Tony Schumacher
Career at Sonoma: Wins 0; Runner-up 0; Poles 0
TONY SCHUMACHER, U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster
Crew chief: Mike Green; Assistant: Phil Shuler
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Provisional qualifying position: No.
FRIDAY: 3.769 sec., 326.79 mph, (Session 1); 3.709, 328.30, (Session 2)
SONOMA BY THE NUMBERS
Career best time, speed: 3.660 sec. (2017, Topeka); 332.51 mph (2016, Brainerd)
Last event (July 23), Denver: Qualified: No. 4, lost in second round to Terry Haddock
A year ago at Sonoma: Qualified No. 8, lost in second round to Steve Torrence
Career at Sonoma: Wins 2 (2007, 2008); Runner-up 4 (1999, 2006, 2010, 2011); Poles 3 (2005, 2006, 2011)
ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools/U.S. Army/Toyota Top Fuel dragster
Crew chiefs: Brian Corradi, Mark Oswald; Assistant: Brad Mason
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Provisional qualifying position: No.
FRIDAY: 5.052, 138.77 mph, (Session 1); 3.705, 329.42, (Session 2)
SONOMA BY THE NUMBERS
Career best time, speed: 3.667 (2017, Phoenix); 333.16 mph (2017, Topeka)
Last event (July 23), Denver: Qualified: No. 7, won in championship round over teammate Leah Pritchett
A year ago at Sonoma: Qualified No. 2, lost in second round to eventual event winner J.R. Todd
Career at Sonoma: Wins 4 (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015); Runner-up 2 (2004, 2006); Poles 2 (2008, 2015)
DSR FUNNY CARS
Provisional No. 1 qualifier: Robert Hight (John Force Racing), 3.807 sec., 339.87 mph-world record
MATT HAGAN, 80th Anniversary Mopar/Express Lane 2017 Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chief: Dickie Venables; Assistant: Michael Knudsen
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Provisional qualifying position: No. 5
FRIDAY: 3.904 sec., 330.39 mph-track record, (Session 1); 10.105, 82.71, (Session 2)
SONOMA BY THE NUMBERS
Career best time, speed: 3.802 sec.-world record, (2017,Topeka); 338.85 mph-world record (2017, Topeka)
Last event (July 23), Denver: Qualified: No. 15, lost in second round to Cruz Pedregon
A year ago at Sonoma: Qualified No. 4, lost in second round to teammate Ron Capps
Career at Sonoma: Wins 0; Runner-up 1 (2012); Poles 2 (2009, 2013)
JACK BECKMAN, Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation 2017 Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Provisional qualifying position: No. 2
FRIDAY: 8.640 sec., 80.39 mph, (Session 1); 3.854,m 328.70, (Session 2)
Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)
SONOMA BY THE NUMBERS
Last event (July 23), Denver: Qualified: No. 6, lost in second round to eventual event winner Robert Hight
A year ago at Sonoma: Qualified No.9, lost in second to Del Worsham
Career at Sonoma: Wins 1 (2015); Runner-up 1 (2010); Poles 2 (2010, 2015)
TOMMY JOHNSON JR., Terry Chandler's Make-A-Wish 2017 Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chief: John Collins; Assistant: Rip Reynolds
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Provisional qualifying position: No. 6
FRIDAY: no time, (Session 1); 3.908, 327.43, (Session 2)
SONOMA BY THE NUMBERS
Career best time, speed: 3.837 sec. (Phoenix 2017); 330.80 mph (Seattle, 2016)
Last event (July 23), Denver: Qualified: No. 12, lost in championship round to teammate Ron Capps
A year ago at Sonoma: Qualified No. 8, lost in first round to teammate Jack Beckman
Career at Sonoma: 0 Wins; Runners-up 1 (2015); Poles 1 (1994)
RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS 2017 Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chief: Rahn Tobler; Assistant: Eric Lane
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Provisional qualifying position: No. 13
FRIDAY: 4.032 sec., 306.12 mph, (Session 1); 7.001, 96.47, (Session 2)
SONOMA BY THE NUMBERS
Career best time, speed: 3.839 sec. (2017, Phoenix); 333.58 mph (2017, Phoenix)
Last event (July 23), Denver: Qualified: No. 5, lost in first round to teammate Tommy Johnson Jr.
A year ago at Sonoma: Qualified No. 5, lost in championship round to John Force
Career at Sonoma: Wins 4 (1997, 2010, 2011, 2013); Runner-up 3 (2002, 2005, 2016); Poles 1 (1998)
About Don Schumacher Racing
Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., fields seven professional NHRA teams. In Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the Matco Tools dragster driven by three-time world champion Antron Brown and the Papa John's Pizza/Mopar Top Fuel dragster driven by Leah Pritchett; and in Funny Car, 2016 world champion Ron Capps in the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T; 2011 and 2014 world champion Matt Hagan in the 80th anniversary Mopar/ Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T, and 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge and the Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr., both of which are funded by the late Terry Chandler.
DSR has won 312 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Jeff Wolf (wolfj@shoeracing.com), 702.524.1368
Leah Vaughn (vaughnl@shoeracing.com), 618.516.1988
