LAS VEGAS -- Larry Dixon continued his impressive early season performance in Top Fuel by taking the qualifying lead Friday at the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

John Force and Ron Krisher also were leaders at the $1.9 million race, the fourth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Dixon led the 16-car order with a 4.575 second run at 325.37 mph in his Miller Lite dragster.

"That was good, I was really happy," said Dixon, who will try for his third straight top qualifying effort tomorrow and third victory of the season on Sunday. "I'm glad the weather cooled down. That helped all the teams. Running at a high altitude is hard enough. The cool weather really helped our performance."

Force paced the Funny Car lineup with a 4.831 at 315.86 effort in his Ford Mustang. Force, who is going for his 100th career victory, will claim his 109th career top qualifying effort if his time holds tomorrow.

"My luck hasn't been too bad this season," Force said. "Sometimes you have to make your own luck. I like to get the (No. 1 qualifier) but sometimes that means you could be right on the edge. We were going for the top spot because we thought the weather was going to be best tonight. Now it looks like it might be cooler tomorrow and we could see a quicker time. Our time might not hold."

Krisher set the pace in Pro Stock, clocking a 6.954 at 198.23 in a Chevy Cavalier. Greg Anderson, who qualified 13th, posted a track record speed of 198.50 in a Cavalier.

Qualifying continues Saturday at 11 a.m.

LAS VEGAS -- Friday's qualifying results for the third annual NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, fourth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Larry Dixon, 4.575 seconds, 325.37 mph; 2. Cory McClenathan, 4.608, 320.89; 3. Kenny Bernstein, 4.692, 319.98; 4. Tony Schumacher, 4.714, 294.82; 5. Yuichi Oyama, 4.722, 314.75; 6. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 4.750, 276.01; 7. Melanie Troxel, 4.766, 302.62; 8. Andrew Cowin, 4.776, 286.56; 9. David Grubnic, 4.785, 307.02; 10. Doug Herbert, 4.798, 307.51; 11. Darrell Russell, 4.834, 289.07; 12. Scott Weis, 4.951, 291.38; 13. Chris Karamesines, 5.004, 304.67; 14. Mike Strasburg, 5.074, 259.56; 15. Gary Clapshaw, 5.084, 243.41; 16. Ken Zeal, 5.087, 220.12.

Funny Car -- 1. John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.831, 315.86; 2. Tim Wilkerson, Pontiac Firebird, 4.848, 314.90; 3. Whit Bazemore, Firebird, 4.857, 316.67; 4. Gary Densham, Mustang, 4.871, 319.29; 5. Scotty Cannon, Firebird, 4.875, 317.79; 6. Gary Scelzi, Toyota Celica, 4.925, 314.53; 7. Ron Capps, Chevy Camaro, 4.932, 304.80; 8. Del Worsham, Firebird, 4.937, 304.60; 9. Jerry Toliver, Firebird, 4.950, 308.92; 10. John Lawson, Firebird, 4.962, 301.87; 11. Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 4.963, 309.63; 12. Frank Pedregon, Firebird, 5.006, 303.09; 13. Tommy Johnson Jr., Camaro, 5.010, 305.01; 14. Bob Gilbertson, Firebird, 5.018, 305.91; 15. Dean Skuza, Dodge Stratus R/T, 5.024, 303.23; 16. Terry Haddock, Firebird, 5.074, 268.81.

Pro Stock -- 1. Ron Krisher, Chevy Cavalier, 6.954, 198.23; 2. George Marnell, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.957, 197.02; 3. Tom Martino, Grand Am, 6.964, 197.77; 4. Jim Yates, Grand Am, 6.974, 197.62; 5. Tom Hammonds, Cavalier, 6.974, 197.42; 6. Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 6.975, 198.12; 7. V. Gaines, Cavalier, 6.976, 198.17; 8. Troy Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.981, 197.05; 9. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier, 6.984, 197.48; 10. Mike Edwards, Cavalier, 6.987, 197.13; 11. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.993, 197.51; 12. Mark Pawuk, Grand Am, 6.994, 197.33; 13. Greg Anderson, Cavalier, 6.998, 198.50; 14. Darrell Alderman, Dodge Neon R/T, 7.002, 197.22; 15. John Geyer, Neon R/T, 7.009, 197.42; 16. Kurt Johnson, Cavalier, 7.019, 197.39.