ELGIN – Texan Kenny Bernstein covered Blaney Drag Strip in 6.88 seconds at 213.29 miles per hour Friday night to lead opening Funny Car trails for tonight’s NHRA Southeast Division points meet.

Other top first-round qualifiers included Columbia’s Bob Strauss in Top Fuel (7.32); Joe Satmary in Pro Stock (8.7); Willard Buff in Pro Comp (6.84); David Simmons in Pro Gas (10.01) and allen Gunter in Comp Eliminator (9.64). Qualifying in the $45,000 event continues today at 10 a.m., with finals scheduled tonight.