Elon Werner  Images Phil Hutchison and Creative Experts

This is the first No. 1 qualifier of Hyde’s Funny Con ar career. Hyde understands entering race day in the top position sets him and the Head Racing team up for best possible success. He is looking to turn four win lights on tomorrow, getting his first Funny Car win and making it a perfect weekend of Provisional No. 1 qualifier, No. 1 qualifier and Wally winner.

“Anything can happen in drag racing, so I know this No. 1 position is no guarantee for how things will go tomorrow,” said Hyde. “But it certainly doesn’t hurt. I’m going to focus on doing my job as a driver, not make any mistakes and keep us going far into the day. I want to be standing in that Winner’s Circle tomorrow more than anything.”

If Hyde wins tomorrow, he will be the first Canadian driver to win a national event in a nitro class since Jeff Arend won the Spring Nationals in Houston in May of 2011. Looking back on even more history, Hyde is trying to mimic Robert Hight’s rise from No. 10 in points at the beginning of the Countdown to World Champion in 2009. Coming into Reading, he was No. 9 in points, but picking up that first win would be the momentum he needs to keep moving up.

“It’s a good time of year to get hot,” said Hyde. “Jim [Head] fixed the car up even more since Indy, and he thinks he found something that’s been biting us all year, and he’s motivated. The whole team is motivated. This is just going to help that. We’re hungry. We’re here to race. And if we can go deep into the rounds tomorrow, we’re right back in it.”

The stands were packed on Saturday at Maple Grove Raceway, with the NHRA boasting a sold-out crowd for the fourth year in a row. Hyde is hopeful that the same energy level from the fans will carry over to Sunday.

“Nothing makes us drivers happier than to race in front of a whole bunch of fans,” said Hyde. “And obviously Team Chaos does a heck of a job filling this place, which is awesome. It’s my first time here and I love it. I hope to be back next year, and I hope to be standing here holding a Wally tomorrow.”

Hyde and Head Racing will face off against No. 16 qualifier Phil Burkart Jr. in the first round of eliminations tomorrow, September 14. He’ll get to experience his first driver intro ceremony as a No. 1 qualifier at 9:45 a.m. ET and then eliminations will kick off for Top Fuel at 11 a.m. ET. Fans can watch the race on FS1 from 12-5 p.m. ET or all day on NHRA.tv.