Four No. 1 qualifiers from Friday keep top spots after Saturday's runs

Updated: September 13, 2008, 6:54 PM ET

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Associated Press

CONCORD, N.C. -- Larry Dixon took the No. 1 Top Fuel qualifying position Saturday in the NHRA Carolinas Nationals, while Funny Car icon John Force failed to qualify in his debut at the zMAX Dragway.

Dixon remained atop the Top Fuel starting order based on his performance from Friday, a 3.846-second run at 311.63 mph in his Don Prudhomme-owned dragster. It was his third top qualifier of the season and 30th of his career.

Force, 14-time champion and Countdown contender, failed to qualify for the second consecutive race and fourth time this season, and put his hopes of winning a 15th season title in jeopardy. It is only the 16th time Force has DNQ'd in 513 career races.

Frank Hawley, Kurt Johnson and Matt Smith held on to their quick performances from Friday and also will lead their respective categories into Sunday's eliminations at the first of six races in the POWERade Drag Racing Series Countdown to 1.

Two-time NHRA champion Hawley claimed his first No. 1 qualifying performance in Funny Car in more than two decades, driving his Dodge Charger to a 4.072 at 307.16. Hawley, who posted a runner-up finish last month in Reading, Pa., is competing on a limited schedule this season.

Johnson earned his second top qualifying effort of the season and 29th of his career by powering to a 6.680 at 206.95 in a Chevy Cobalt.

Local favorite Smith raced to his fourth No. 1 this season and 11th of his career, covering the distance with a 6.952 at 192.08 on a Buell.