The AMSOIL Nitro Nationals season opening qualifying session was fierce among all of the professional classes.
The Nitro Motorcycle class saw 2015 IHRA World Champion Jay Turner return to the IHRA season with a new motorcycle and the top spot for the AMSOIL Nitro Nationals. Turner put down a 6.263 at 227.46 mph in the first round of qualifying. Rickey House placed his Harley in the second position running a 6.309 at 215.07 mph. The final six spots went to Randal Andras, Bob Malloy, Tii Tharpe, Mike Beland, Frank Capone and Jake Stordeur. Rob Brown and Tracy Kile did not advance into the elimination rounds.
Nitro Motorcycle – 1. J Turner 6.263, 227.46; 2. R House 6.309, 215.07; 3. R Andras 6.332, 222.03; 4. B Malloy 6.337, 202.79; 5. T Tharpe 6.457, 208.55; 6. M Beland 6.994 193.05, 7. F Capone 7.467, 160.42; 8. J Stordeur 7.974, 119.05; 9. R Brown 8.129, 161.87; 10. T Kile DNQ