NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

After a summer break of sorts, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series roars back to life at Brainerd International Raceway—a place where world-class competition meets the unmistakably fun spirit of summer camp.

The Zoo campground is alive. The grandstands are filling. Everywhere you look, there is passion, anticipation and the pure joy that comes from spending a summer weekend surrounded by fast cars and passionate race fans. Brainerd retains a character all its own: part national event, part race-fan reunion and part summer camp at speed.

Now, it is time to fire up the race cars.

As Pro Stock, Funny Car and Top Fuel thunder into the opening qualifying sessions, the energy changes. Conversations stop. Engines fire. The sound rolls across the property, and the ground begins to shake beneath thousands of fans who have waited all day for this moment. The summer sun may be beginning to set, but the action at Brainerd is just getting started.

Get ready to go fast.

Pro Stock Qualifying Session 1

Greg Stanfield Leads Opening Pro Stock Qualifying Session

Greg Stanfield opened Pro Stock qualifying at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals with a strong 6.590-second pass at 208.14 mph, earning the provisional No. 1 position after Friday’s first session.

Deric Kramer secured the No. 2 spot with a 6.599 at 206.89 mph, while Jerry Tucker’s 6.604 at 205.94 placed him third. Erica Enders and Chris Vang recorded identical 6.605-second elapsed times, with Enders taking the fourth position based on her faster 207.21-mph speed.

Aaron Stanfield followed with a 6.617, and Troy Coughlin Jr. ran 6.621. Mason McGaha and Dallas Glenn each posted 6.622-second runs, with McGaha’s 207.53-mph speed giving him the higher position.

Greg Anderson completed the provisional top 10 with a 6.626 at 206.57 mph.

Provisional Q1 order:

1. Greg Stanfield — 6.590, 208.14 mph
2. Deric Kramer — 6.599, 206.89 mph
3. Jerry Tucker — 6.604, 205.94 mph
4. Erica Enders — 6.605, 207.21 mph
5. Chris Vang — 6.605, 206.95 mph
6. Aaron Stanfield — 6.617, 205.85 mph
7. Troy Coughlin Jr. — 6.621, 207.69 mph
8. Mason McGaha — 6.622, 207.53 mph
9. Dallas Glenn — 6.622, 206.29 mph
10. Greg Anderson — 6.626, 206.57 mph
11. Eric Latino — 6.631, 206.73 mph
12. Jeg Coughlin Jr. — 6.632, 206.61 mph
13. Cody Anderson — 6.638, 205.44 mph
14. Kenny Delco — 6.642, 206.48 mph

Matt Latino, Matt Hartford, Alan Prusiensky and Joseph Wilczek did not record elapsed times during the opening session.

Funny Car Qualifying Session 1

Beckman leads opening Funny Car qualifying in Brainerd

The session began when Cruz Pedregon made a solo run and the car launched and engaged the clutch immediately, requiring him to masterfully control the car on the aborted launch and will return for Q2. 

Jack Beckman delivered the quickest run of Friday’s opening Funny Car qualifying session at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, powering to a 3.903-second pass at 324.67 mph to take the provisional No. 1 position.

Beckman’s clean run came alongside Ron Capps, whose car lost traction and slowed to a 5.184 at 146.54 mph.

Daniel Wilkerson was second quickest with a strong 3.942 at 319.52 mph, while Alexis DeJoria demonstrated her driving prowess during one of the session’s most dramatic runs. Racing alongside reigning world champion Austin Prock, DeJoria had to dirt-track steer her Funny Car to keep it under control, yet still reached the finish line in 3.969 seconds at a session-best 325.92 mph.

After three weekends away from the cockpit, DeJoria was thrilled to be back behind the wheel at a track where she won in 2017.

“I couldn’t wait to get back in the car,” DeJoria said. “The whole run felt like slow motion. Man, am I glad to be back here. I won in 2017.”

Prock was nearly alongside her throughout the run, recording a 3.971 at 322.42 mph.

Chad Green made a solo pass after Matt Hagan’s car was withdrawn from Q1 because of a fire-bottle issue discovered after it had been towed toward the staging lanes. Green’s early incremental numbers were as strong as anything seen during the session, and he completed the run with a 3.972 at 318.99 mph.

J.R. Todd also opened the weekend with a three-second pass, running 3.976 at 321.88 mph alongside Jordan Vandergriff. Vandergriff was on a competitive run before slowing slightly near the finish, recording a 4.035 at 265.38 mph.

Bobby Bode posted a 4.066 at 314.17 mph on a solo run after Jim Campbell was unable to make a pass. Spencer Hyde slowed to a 4.876 at 160.00 mph alongside Wilkerson, while Cruz Pedregon lost traction early and coasted to a 12.456.

Provisional Funny Car qualifying order after Q1

1. Jack Beckman — 3.903 seconds, 324.67 mph
2. Daniel Wilkerson — 3.942, 319.52
3. Alexis DeJoria — 3.969, 325.92
4. Austin Prock — 3.971, 322.42
5. Chad Green — 3.972, 318.99
6. J.R. Todd — 3.976, 321.88
7. Jordan Vandergriff — 4.035, 265.38
8. Bobby Bode — 4.066, 314.17
9. Spencer Hyde — 4.876, 160.00
10. Ron Capps — 5.184, 146.54
11. Cruz Pedregon — 12.456, 82.89
12. Jim Campbell — No time
13. Matt Hagan — No time; withdrew from Q1 due to a fire-bottle issue

Funny Car Qualifying Session 1

Kalitta closes Q1 with a 3.764 to lead Top Fuel in Brainerd

Doug Kalitta saved the best run for last during Friday’s opening Top Fuel qualifying session at Brainerd International Raceway, powering to a 3.764-second pass at 326.40 mph to claim the provisional No. 1 position.

Kalitta and teammate Shawn Langdon formed the final pair of the session, and both Kalitta Motorsports dragsters made powerful, clean runs. Kalitta reached 60 feet in .849 second and was moving 291.95 mph at half-track before completing the quickest run of Q1. Langdon followed with a solid 3.828 at 321.65 mph, placing him sixth.

Leah Pruett briefly held the top position after an attention-grabbing 3.769 at a session-best 331.04 mph. Her dragster began dancing across the top end, showing spectators both sides of the car as she fought to keep it in her lane through the finish.

“There was no time off for us, we were all over the place for the last three weeks, with Outlaw racing and Roadkill Nights,” Pruett said. She added that the car became “a little loose at the top end,” but she remained in the throttle and secured the provisional No. 2 position.

Maddi Gordon also made a strong opening statement with Funny Car veteran Ron Capps watching from the television broadcast booth. Gordon lined up against Tony Stewart, and both green machines completed clean burnouts before producing a competitive side-by-side pairing.

Crew chief Rob Flynn gave Gordon a tune-up that carried her cleanly down the racetrack in 3.805 seconds at 327.98 mph. The run initially moved her into the No. 2 position and left her fourth after the completion of Q1.

“Two weeks off was two too many,” Gordon said after climbing from the car.

Stewart was nearly alongside her throughout the run, recording a 3.823 at 323.43 mph. His pass initially placed him fifth and ultimately left him sixth in the provisional order.

Billy Torrence also delivered one of the session’s strongest runs, recording a 3.776 at 327.51 mph to finish Q1 third. Will Smith ran 3.837 at 324.12 mph, while Shawn Reed posted a 3.849 at 324.67 mph. Antron Brown rounded out the drivers in the 3.80s with a 3.864 at 318.47 mph.

The second Friday qualifying session for the nitro categories is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Provisional Top Fuel order after Q1

1. Doug Kalitta — 3.764, 326.40 mph
2. Leah Pruett — 3.769, 331.04
3. Billy Torrence — 3.776, 327.51
4. Maddi Gordon — 3.805, 327.98
5. Tony Stewart — 3.823, 323.43
6. Shawn Langdon — 3.828, 321.65
7. Will Smith — 3.837, 324.12
8. Shawn Reed — 3.849, 324.67
9. Antron Brown — 3.864, 318.47
10. Justin Ashley — 4.001, 252.61
11. Tony Schumacher — 4.077, 234.70
12. Keith Murt — 4.116, 237.30
13. Cameron Ferre — 4.118, 289.69
14. Clay Millican — 4.336, 190.65
15. Josh Hart — 4.541, 171.75
16. Scott Palmer — 4.673, 155.24

Pro Stock Qualifying Session 2

Latino and Glenn  share the quickest time in Pro Stock Q2

Dallas Glenn and Matt Latino recorded matching 6.588-second elapsed times to lead Friday’s second Pro Stock qualifying session at Brainerd International Raceway.

Glenn paired his 6.588 with a speed of 206.29 mph in a victory over Erica Enders, who made a competitive 6.607 pass at 206.89 mph. Glenn was also sharp at the starting line with a .031 reaction time and reached the eighth-mile mark in 4.228 seconds at 165.99 mph.

Matt Latino matched Glenn’s elapsed time while running a faster 207.21 mph alongside Greg Anderson. Anderson left first by seven-thousandths of a second, but Latino’s 6.588 was enough to erase the starting-line difference and reach the finish just .0042 second ahead. Anderson followed with a strong 6.591 at 206.48 mph.

Cody Anderson was only one-thousandth behind the two session leaders, posting a 6.589 at 206.99 mph. Eric Latino followed with a 6.592 at a session-best 207.59 mph, giving the Latino family two of the five quickest runs of Q2.

Chris Vang continued the tightly packed qualifying session with a 6.597 at 207.27 mph, while Greg Stanfield ran 6.601 at 207.50 mph. Stanfield defeated Jerry Tucker in the session’s final pair after leaving first with a .032 reaction time.

Enders and Kenny Delco recorded matching 6.607 elapsed times, while Mason McGaha ran 6.610 at 207.50 mph. Matt Hartford, Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Aaron Stanfield completed the large group of 6.62-or-quicker competitors.

Troy Coughlin Jr. and Joseph Wilczek encountered trouble early, while Deric Kramer was unable to record a time.

Only .013 second separated the quickest seven drivers, providing another illustration of the remarkably close competition in Pro Stock.

Pro Stock Q2 session order

1. Matt Latino — 6.588, 207.21
2. Dallas Glenn — 6.588, 206.29 mph
3. Cody Anderson — 6.589, 206.99
4. Greg Anderson — 6.591, 206.48
5. Eric Latino — 6.592, 207.59
6. Chris Vang — 6.597, 207.27
7. Greg Stanfield — 6.601, 207.50
8. Erica Enders — 6.607, 206.89
9. Kenny Delco — 6.607, 206.76
10. Mason McGaha — 6.610, 207.50
11. Matt Hartford — 6.613, 207.34
12. Jeg Coughlin Jr. — 6.620, 206.83
13. Aaron Stanfield — 6.621, 205.82
14. Jerry Tucker — 6.651, 206.42
15. Alan Prusiensky — 6.764, 203.37
16. Joseph Wilczek — 9.335, 100.55
17. Troy Coughlin Jr. — 13.808, 80.30
18. Deric Kramer — No time

Funny Car Qualifying Session 2

Prock powers to the top in second Funny Car qualifying session

Austin Prock delivered the quickest Funny Car run of the day during Friday’s second qualifying session at Brainerd International Raceway, racing to a 3.893-second pass at 329.91 mph to claim the provisional No. 1 position.

Prock entered the session fourth after running 3.971 in Q1, then produced the only pass of the day in the 3.80s. He covered the first 60 feet in .880 second and reached half-track in 3.158 seconds at 287.66 mph before charging through the finish with the session’s fastest speed.

Jack Beckman, the Q1 leader, encountered trouble in the opposite lane and slowed to a 6.156 at 107.86 mph. His opening 3.903 at 324.67 mph remained strong enough for the provisional No. 2 position.

Dave Richards made the second-quickest run of Q2 with a 3.924 at 327.66 mph. Alexis DeJoria was close behind with a clean 3.927 at 324.83 mph, giving the pair a side-by-side three-second race.

Ron Capps rebounded from his troubled opening attempt with a 3.930 at 322.27 mph alongside Jordan Vandergriff, who posted a 3.975 at 302.82 mph.

After missing Q1 because of a fire-bottle issue, Matt Hagan returned with a solid 3.940 at 323.66 mph. Cruz Pedregon completed the pairing with a 3.986 at 322.04 mph.

Spencer Hyde also reached the threes with a 3.988 at 284.93 mph, while Chad Green lost traction early and slowed to a 10.305. J.R. Todd, Daniel Wilkerson, Bobby Bode and Jack Wyatt were also unable to complete representative runs.

Funny Car Q2 session order

1. Austin Prock — 3.893, 329.91 mph
2. Dave Richards — 3.924, 327.66
3. Alexis DeJoria — 3.927, 324.83
4. Ron Capps — 3.930, 322.27
5. Matt Hagan — 3.940, 323.66
6. Jordan Vandergriff — 3.975, 302.82
7. Cruz Pedregon — 3.986, 322.04
8. Spencer Hyde — 3.988, 284.93
9. Bobby Bode — 4.299, 210.01
10. J.R. Todd — 4.354, 216.72
11. Daniel Wilkerson — 4.663, 175.32
12. Jack Wyatt — 4.831, 168.16
13. Jack Beckman — 6.156, 107.86
14. Chad Green — 10.305, 82.74