MECHANICSBURG — The 63rd Annual Williams Grove National Open kicked off with a preliminary race Friday night.

One of the most competitive fields of sprint cars anywhere in the country this season assembled in the pit area with hopes of taking home a piece of the quarter-million in prize money up for grabs over the two nights.

The huge 56-car field was split into two flights for qualifying time trials. The top 40 qualifiers were locked into the four heat races, while the remaining cars had to run a non-qualifiers race with the top four finishers tagging the end of the heat races and the rest filling the C-main field.

World of Outlaws point leader David Gravel set quick time in Flight A at 16.409. Buddy Kofoid, Chase Dietz, Danny Dietrich and TJ Stutts completed the top five.

In Flight B, Lance Dewease was fastest at 16.760. Daison Pursley, Kerry Madsen, Justin Whittall and Bill Balog were in the top five.

Ryan Newton won the non-qualifiers race. Cory Eliason, Logan Rumsey and

Dylan Norris also transferred to the heat races.

Gravel won the opening heat race. Dietz, Daryn Pittman, TJ Stutts and Brock Zearfoss completed the top five.

Kofoid won the second heat race with Dietrich, Kody Hartlaub, Chad Trout and Ryan Timms in the top five.

The final two heats, dash, last chance races and the feature remained to be run Friday night.

Tonight’s 40-lap National Open pays $75,000 to win and $2,500 to start.