NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

We and our third-party partners use cookies and other tracking technologies (“Cookies”) to enhance your browsing experience, to serve ads, and to analyze performance, activity, and traffic on the Site. We do not use Cookies to serve you targeted ads unless you click “Accept All Cookies.” You can change your preference at any time by clicking the “Cookie Preference” link in the footer of the Site. For more information on how we use Cookies, please read our Privacy Policy. By interacting with the site, you agree to be bound by our Terms of Use.

​

Saturday qualifying action continues at NHRA Brainerd Nationals

Saturday qualifying is underway at Brainerd International Raceway, and the opportunity hanging in the cool Minnesota air is impossible to miss.
22 Aug 2026
David Kennedy
News
Saturday qualifying action continues at NHRA Brainerd Nationals

Temperatures have stayed cool, the sun is shrouded by sumptuous layers of cloud, and the racing surface is prepared to offer teams as much or more than it did during Friday’s opening sessions. 

Throughout the professional pits, crew chiefs are adjusting fuel systems, clutch settings, and power levels to take advantage of conditions that could produce the quickest runs of the weekend. 

Friday’s provisional leaders—Doug Kalitta in Top Fuel, Austin Prock in Funny Car, and Matt Latino in Pro Stock—set formidable standards, but none of their positions feels secure. With two qualifying sessions remaining, every team has a chance to climb the order, collect valuable bonus points, and improve its place on Sunday’s eliminations ladder. The clouds have changed the character of this racetrack, the teams are responding, and Brainerd is poised to get very fast.

Kalitta delivers a 3.673 blast to lead Top Fuel Q3 at Brainerd

Doug Kalitta advanced to the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge final against Josh Hart and Maddi Gordon unlocked the right lane with a strong 3.695-second run.

Saturday’s third Top Fuel qualifying session at Brainerd International Raceway looked increasingly like a preview of race day. Racers delivered solid side-by-side performances, reaction times sharpened, and the consistency throughout the field suggested that teams were already preparing for Sunday’s eliminations.

Justin Ashley arrived with one of the session’s most visible changes, removing the canopy from his dragster as his team searched for an improvement in performance through possible weight reduction. Ashley responded with a clean 3.772-second pass at 329.67 mph, adding another competitive run to his weekend.

Tony Stewart opened the quicker portion of the session with a 3.758 at 331.45 mph, while Tony Schumacher followed with a 3.768 at 330.07. Will Smith also made a representative run with a 3.777 at 328.30 mph.

Maddi Gordon became the first racer to fully figure out the right lane. Gordon left nearly alongside Shawn Langdon and powered to a strong 3.695 at 336.99 mph, outrunning Langdon’s solid 3.730 at 331.20. Her run briefly stood as the quickest performance of the session and moved her firmly into the conversation among Brainerd’s leading contenders.

Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge 

The Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge added genuine race-day pressure to the closing pairs. Leah Pruett gained the starting-line advantage over Josh Hart with a .090 reaction time to Hart’s .111, but Hart’s dragster quickly made up the difference. Hart powered past Pruett with a 3.774 at 327.35 mph after Pruett slowed to a 4.786, advancing to the Challenge final.

In the second Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge semifinal, Antron Brown left first with a .049 reaction time against Doug Kalitta’s .054, but Kalitta held all the power to the ground. The reigning world champion stormed through the right lane with a 3.673 at 332.26 mph, one of the quickest Top Fuel runs of the season and a significant improvement over his Friday-leading 3.705. Brown slowed to a 5.910.

Kalitta’s exceptional run gives him lane choice over Hart when the two return for the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge final during Q4. It also sent a clear message: The Kalitta Motorsports dragster that led Friday qualifying has found even more performance on Saturday.

Prock delivers weekend-best 3.881 to win thrilling Funny Car Q3 matchup

Austin Prock defeated Jack Beckman in a marquee Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge race and will meet holeshot winner J.R. Todd in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty final.

Funny Car’s third qualifying session at Brainerd International Raceway began with Jim Campbell making a solid solo run, recording a 4.297-second pass at 215.93 mph as Saturday’s cooler conditions offered teams an opportunity to prepare for race day.

The performances soon began to quicken. Daniel Wilkerson powered to a 3.902 at 322.81 mph, although he left the starting line early with a red-light. In the opposite lane, Bobby Bode completed a clean 3.994 at 308.14.

Cruz Pedregon then delivered his best run of the season, charging through the right lane with a 3.906 at 320.51 mph after Spencer Hyde encountered trouble early and slowed to a 10.796.

Jordan Vandergriff followed with his best performance of the weekend alongside points leader Ron Capps. The two Funny Cars moved around as they traveled down the track, but Vandergriff kept his machine under control and crossed the finish line in 3.917 seconds at 320.05 mph. Smoke appeared to be coming from beneath Vandergriff’s body after the run, while Capps slowed to a 5.958.

Alexis DeJoria and Dave Richards completed their burnouts with 16-time world champion John Force standing near the starting line and watching the pair stage. Both drivers delivered solid, stable runs that looked ready for Sunday eliminations. Richards recorded a 3.927 at 324.05 mph, just ahead of DeJoria’s 3.943 at 324.44.

Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge

The Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge then brought race-day intensity to the final two pairs.

Matt Hagan and J.R. Todd staged for the opening semifinal, and Todd rose to the occasion with a brilliant .030 reaction time. Hagan made the quicker run with a 3.899 at 326.40 mph, but Todd’s starting-line advantage allowed his 3.903 at 327.66 to produce a .0039-second holeshot victory.

The final pair brought together Jack Beckman and Austin Prock, the drivers of two of the quickest Funny Cars of the season. They lined up with the intensity of a championship-deciding final, and then delivered exactly the kind of side-by-side show every race fan wants to see.

Prock grabbed the starting-line advantage with a .059 reaction time and never surrendered it, powering to his quickest run of the weekend—a 3.881 at 327.19 mph. Beckman made a strong 3.926 at 323.81, but Prock’s exceptional pass secured the victory and strengthened his hold on the No. 1 qualifying position.

Prock will face Todd in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge final during Q4. With his 3.881 to Todd’s 3.903, Prock will carry lane choice into the final qualifying session. 

Pro Stock Q3

Dallas Glenn recorded the quickest run of Q3 and defeated Greg Stanfield by just .0045-second to earn a final-round #2Fast2Tasty final meeting with Greg Anderson.

Pro Stock’s third qualifying session at Brainerd International Raceway delivered the exceptionally close racing the factory hot rod category is known for, with Dallas Glenn taking over the No. 1 qualifying position and advancing to the final of the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.

The session began with Deric Kramer recording a 6.589-second pass at 208.62 mph alongside Jeg Coughlin Jr.’s 6.598 at 208.20. Matt Hartford followed with a strong 6.550 at 207.46, narrowly bettering Troy Coughlin Jr.’s 6.562 at 207.98.

Chris Vang produced one of the session’s best reaction times with a .009 light before running 6.577 at 206.95 mph. In the opposite lane, Aaron Stanfield recorded a quicker 6.558 at 207.88. Mason McGaha also made a solid 6.587 at 209.36, while Cody Anderson delivered a 6.550 at 206.67 to outrun provisional Friday leader Matt Latino’s 6.565 at 208.46.

Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge

The Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge brought an eliminations-style atmosphere to the final two pairs.

Greg Anderson and Erica Enders added another chapter to one of Pro Stock’s most established rivalries. Anderson left first with a .021 reaction time and powered to a 6.549 at 208.68 mph. Enders followed with a competitive 6.567 at 209.14, but Anderson’s advantage at both ends of the racetrack secured his place in the Challenge final.

Dallas Glenn and Greg Stanfield then produced the closest race of the session. Stanfield grabbed the starting-line advantage with a .014 reaction time to Glenn’s .025, but Glenn steadily erased the deficit. His 6.535 at 208.10 mph was enough to drive around Stanfield’s 6.550 at 208.55 and turn on the win light by just .0045-second.

Glenn’s pass was the quickest of Q3 and moved him past Friday leader Matt Latino into the provisional No. 1 qualifying position. It also gave Glenn lane choice over Anderson when the two return for the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge final during Q4.

With Glenn at 6.535, Anderson at 6.549, and Stanfield, Cody Anderson, and Hartford all recording 6.550-second runs, Pro Stock enters its final qualifying session with an exceptionally tight field and a clear indication that Sunday’s eliminations could be decided by the smallest details.

Top Fuel Q4

Kalitta Closes Top Fuel Qualifying With Q4’s Quickest Run and #2Fast2Tasty Victory

Doug Kalitta saved the quickest run of the fourth Top Fuel qualifying session for last, powering to a 3.726-second pass at 329.50 mph to defeat Josh Hart and win the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals.

Kalitta was strong from the starting line and never looked back. Hart kept pace early but slowed during the second half of the run, finishing with a 4.348 at 191.16 mph.

Kalitta’s run edged Maddi Gordon for the top spot in the session. Gordon made an impressive 3.731-second pass at a session-best 330.80 mph. Billy Torrence was close behind with a 3.741 at 329.58 mph, while Leah Pruett recorded a clean 3.756 at 329.18 mph.

Antron Brown rounded out the session’s four quickest 3.7-second runs with a 3.775 at 325.45 mph. Clay Millican ran 3.900 at 274.44 mph after slowing near the finish line, and Keith Murt completed a 4.021 at 241.20 mph.

Several teams struggled to maintain traction during the final session, including Shawn Langdon, Justin Ashley, Tony Stewart, Shawn Reed, Will Smith and Tony Schumacher.

Top Fuel Q4 order:

  1. Doug Kalitta — 3.726, 329.50 mph
  2. Maddi Gordon — 3.731, 330.80 mph
  3. Billy Torrence — 3.741, 329.58 mph
  4. Leah Pruett — 3.756, 329.18 mph
  5. Antron Brown — 3.775, 325.45 mph
  6. Clay Millican — 3.900, 274.44 mph
  7. Keith Murt — 4.021, 241.20 mph
  8. Josh Hart — 4.348, 191.16 mph
  9. Shawn Langdon — 4.742, 154.94 mph
  10. Justin Ashley — 5.003, 141.13 mph
  11. Tony Stewart — 5.739, 113.11 mph
  12. Shawn Reed — 6.799, 86.12 mph
  13. Will Smith — 7.034, 96.03 mph
  14. Tony Schumacher — 7.508, 95.71 mph

Funny Car Q4

Vandergriff Leads Q4; Todd Wins #2Fast2Tasty Final on a Holeshot

Jordan Vandergriff delivered the quickest run of the fourth Funny Car qualifying session at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals, powering to a stellar 3.879-second pass at 323.50 mph.

Alexis DeJoria was second quickest with a clean 3.915 at a session-best 326.08 mph. Austin Prock followed with a 3.933 at 323.81 mph, but his final pass also produced one of the session’s most dramatic moments.

Prock lined up against J.R. Todd in the final round of the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge. Todd left first with a .051 reaction time to Prock’s .067 and used the starting-line advantage to score a holeshot victory. Todd’s 3.938 at 321.88 mph defeated Prock’s quicker 3.933 by just .0117-second at the finish line.

Daniel Wilkerson and Matt Hagan left together with identical .086 reaction times. Wilkerson reached the finish line first with a 3.941 at 316.30 mph, narrowly ahead of Hagan’s 3.948 at 318.92 mph.

Chad Green ran 3.985 at 322.50 mph, while Dave Richards completed the session’s final three-second pass with a 3.990 at 320.58 mph. Jack Beckman was quick early but slowed to a 4.135 at 235.39 mph. Ron Capps, Spencer Hyde, Cruz Pedregon and Jim Campbell also encountered trouble.

Funny Car Q4 order:

  1. Jordan Vandergriff — 3.879, 323.50 mph
  2. Alexis DeJoria — 3.915, 326.08 mph
  3. Austin Prock — 3.933, 323.81 mph
  4. J.R. Todd — 3.938, 321.88 mph
  5. Daniel Wilkerson — 3.941, 316.30 mph
  6. Matt Hagan — 3.948, 318.92 mph
  7. Chad Green — 3.985, 322.50 mph
  8. Dave Richards — 3.990, 320.58 mph
  9. Jack Beckman — 4.135, 235.39 mph
  10. Ron Capps — 4.778, 167.41 mph
  11. Spencer Hyde — 6.325, 104.06 mph
  12. Cruz Pedregon — 9.079, 74.24 mph
  13. Jim Campbell — 9.884, 87.85 mph

You’re right—the first image showed individual Q4 runs, while this image shows the final qualifying order after all four sessions. Here is the corrected recap:

Pro Stock Q4

Dallas Glenn earns Pro Stock No. 1 qualifier at Brainerd

Dallas Glenn secured the No. 1 qualifying position in Pro Stock following Saturday’s fourth and final session at Brainerd International Raceway.

Glenn’s best run of 6.535 seconds at 208.10 mph placed him decisively atop the 18-car field. KB Titan Racing teammate Greg Anderson qualified second with a 6.549 at 208.68 mph, giving the team the top two starting positions entering Sunday eliminations.

The field was exceptionally tight behind them. Greg Stanfield, Matt Hartford and Cody Anderson each recorded 6.550-second elapsed times to qualify third through fifth. Aaron Stanfield followed in sixth with a 6.558 at 207.88 mph.

Troy Coughlin Jr. earned the seventh position with a 6.562, and Chris Vang qualified eighth at 6.563. Friday provisional leader Matt Latino ultimately settled into the No. 9 position with a 6.564 at 208.81 mph. Kenny Delco matched Latino’s elapsed time and qualified 10th.

Jerry Tucker, Erica Enders, Deric Kramer, Eric Latino and Mason McGaha occupied positions 11 through 15. Jeg Coughlin Jr. claimed the final starting spot with a 6.598 at 208.20 mph.

Alan Prusiensky’s 6.721 and Joseph Wilczek’s 6.944 left them outside the 16-car field.

Only .027 second separated Glenn from the No. 10 qualifier, setting the stage for a highly competitive Sunday at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals.

Final Pro Stock qualifying order

  1. Dallas Glenn — 6.535, 208.10 mph
  2. Greg Anderson — 6.549, 208.68
  3. Greg Stanfield — 6.550, 208.55
  4. Matt Hartford — 6.550, 207.46
  5. Cody Anderson — 6.550, 206.67
  6. Aaron Stanfield — 6.558, 207.88
  7. Troy Coughlin Jr. — 6.562, 207.98
  8. Chris Vang — 6.563, 207.15
  9. Matt Latino — 6.564, 208.81
  10. Kenny Delco — 6.564, 203.40
  11. Jerry Tucker — 6.566, 208.36
  12. Erica Enders — 6.567, 209.14
  13. Deric Kramer — 6.583, 207.50
  14. Eric Latino — 6.584, 207.56
  15. Mason McGaha — 6.587, 209.36
  16. Jeg Coughlin Jr. — 6.598, 208.20

Not qualified:

  1. Alan Prusiensky — 6.721, 203.98
  2. Joseph Wilczek — 6.944, 198.41