Anderson, Medlen Get Rolling

The runs got quicker, but the names at the top remained the same Friday after a picture-perfect day for drag racing as the National Hot Rod Assn. resumed its rain-postponed 44th annual K&N; Filters Winternationals at Pomona Raceway.

Greg Anderson, opening defense of his Powerade pro stock championship, drove his Pontiac Grand Am to a track-record 6.730 seconds at 204.57 mph, breaking his mark of 6.733 set in November at the Auto Club Finals.

“I expect all the guys to put up better numbers Saturday,� said the Monroesville, N.C., driver.

“The rain washed all the rubber off the track last week and we need more rubber down to get really fast times. Saturday should see better results.�

After watching 12-time champion John Force take over the No. 1 spot in funny cars with a pass of 4.834 seconds in his Castrol Mustang, rookie Eric Medlen came back to upstage his boss. In his first competition, the 30-year-old former calf roper went the quarter-mile in 4.792 seconds from a standing start to regain the No. 1 spot he’d claimed after last week’s first round.

“Give the credit to my dad,� Medlen said.

“I just got in the car and stomped on the throttle. My dad did the work.�

John Medlen, Eric’s father, is his crew chief and also was the car’s crew chief last year when Tony Pedregon won the championship.

Pedregon, who left Force to form a team with brother Cruz, is in 14th place in a Camaro. Cruz is 11th in a Firebird.

The lack of rubber on the strip apparently slowed the top-fuel cars.

None of the four leaders -- Tony Schumacher, Darrell Russell, Doug Kalitta and David Grubnic -- improved on speeds from the first round on Feb. 22.

Schumacher’s provisional No. 1 time is 4.514 seconds.

Brandon Bernstein, last year’s NHRA rookie of the year who is coming back after a suffering a broken back last May, improved his top-fuel position with a 4.604, but David Baca made the biggest move, jumping from 10th to seventh with a 4.603 run.

Two rounds today, at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., will set the 16-car fields for final eliminations Sunday, starting at 11 a.m.

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The Facts

NHRA K&N; Filters Winternationals

* When: Today, qualifying, 11:30 a.m. (ESPN2, 1:30 p.m.); Sunday, eliminations, 11 a.m. (ESPN2, 7 p.m.).

* Where: Pomona Raceway.

* 2003 winners: Last year: Larry Dixon (top fuel), Tony Pedregon (funny car) and Warren Johnson (pro stock).

* Fast fact: This event was postponed last weekend because of inclement weather.

* Next race: Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals, March 5, Phoenix.