NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

FUNNY CAR Q1

We got three bikes into the first Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying session before it started to rain; two hours and change later, we're back and instead kicking off with Funny Car and Top Fuel, which will be followed by Pro Stock car, Pro Stock Motorcycle, then back into the nitro classes, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pro Stock car, Pro Mod, then the Summit Series, and finishing with Top Alcohol.

We've got 20 Funny Cars entered, so the battle for the quick 16 will be hot and heavy, especially among the many part-time West Coast cars that typically save up for this event. The adjusted altitude is about 2,000 feet thanks to the cool weather, but there's a lot of water grains in the air after the earlier rainfall, levels not seen here since 2018.

Alexis DeJoria's new silver and black Bandero Premium Tequila entry — unveiled with much pomp before the run by members of Las Vegas Raiders fan club as Bandero is now the football team's official tequila — poured out a 3.874 to lead the field.

"This is one of my favorite tracks," she said. "We've had really good success here. I've got two wins from here, just missing that diamond Wally from this year. So I'd love to triple up here in Vegas. We're off to a great start, No. 1 qualifier so far. We'll see. It's not over yet. I've been a huge fan of the Raiders my entire life, ever since I was a little girl when they were the LA Raiders and they were playing at the Coliseum."

Her John Force Racing teammate, Jack Beckman, was just a tick behind her with a 3.875 to lead a fleet of 10 cars that covered the strip in less than four seconds.

Spencer Hyde got the last bonus point with a 3.901, followed by J.R. Todd (3.922), Matt Hagan (3.945), Chad Green (3.948), Cruz Pedregon (3.966), Daniel Wilkerson (3.967), Dave Richards (3.979), and Paul Lee (3.999)

Richards, who ended up ninth, had a great run going and slowed to just 278, but still got a 3.97 time slip, making one wonder how much quicker he could have gone.

Hunter Green sits on the current bump spot with a 4.712.

***

TOP FUEL Q1

Three drivers —Tony Stewart, Shawn Langdon, and Spencer Massey — ran matching 3.719 elapsed times, but Stewart got the provisional pole on speed with a run of 336.99, with Langdon next at 335.73, and Massey, the surprise runner-up earlier this year in Martin, third at 332.67.

"I'm just excited about the mile an hour," said Stewart. "It's a little windy today and it's kind of a headwind, so to be able to pull that kind of mile an hour I think it is really strong for our R+L team so far. It's a product of Mike Green and Joe Barlam again. They're the magicians with their fingers working up in the lounge trying to get this thing going fast."

Langdon's two session bonus points are important as it moved his lead over Doug Kaitta to 141 points (now seven rounds of racing) after the reignign two-time world champ failed to make it down the track under power..

Maddi Gordon clocked a speed of 340.56, the first 340-mph in track history, on a 3.724 pass. The always-reserved rookie racer took it in typical stride.

"Wait, that's the first?" she screamed. "That's so cool! I have no idea. That's awesome, man. That's that flying forklift power right there, man. Rob Flynn has this thing on rails. I'm so proud of my team, man. That was so awesome. I love this racetrack."

Mountain Motor Pro Stock racer Chris Powers made his nitro debut in Todd Paton's entry, the Powers Xtreme Motorsports machine, and ripped to a wiggly 3.885.

***

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE Q1

Entering the Las Vegas event, just 85 points separate the top three title contenders, with Gaige Herrera, Richard Gadson, and Matt Smith each in the mix. Gadson, the reigning champ, is the leader while Herrera is 58 points back, and Smith is still in contention for his record seventh crown, but is facing an 85-point deficit.

Given that The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is an altitude track, it’s apparent that we won’t see the same record-setting performances that highlighted the last event in Dallas, but that doesn’t mean the Pro Stock field this week won’t be close and competitive. And, with multiple drivers still in the race for the championship, every point matters, perhaps now more than ever.

Four bikes made runs during the first session before rain interrupted the proceedings. GT Tonglet, who returned after a lengthy absence at the last event in Dallas, was quickest with a 7.005 while Karen Stoffer, Ron Procopio, and Brad Hawkes all shut off early.

Following a lengthy delay, and a very competitive opening session for Funny Car and Top Fuel, Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying resumed with Vance & Hines teammates and title contenders Herrera and Gadson claiming the top two spots. Herrera was quickest at 6.835 while Gadson was close behind at 6.841.

“It’s a lot of fun [to race against Gadson]. We go back and forth a lot. Sometimes I wish he wasn’t my teammate,” said Herrera. “We got three points and that’s the big thing.”

Herrera banked three valuable bonus points while Gadson claimed two. Third quickest was Steve Johnson with a surprising 6.875. Title contender Matt Smith could only muster a 7.005 as teams struggled to deal with the windy conditions in Las Vegas.

***

PRO STOCK Q1

Realistically speaking, there are five contenders for the 2026 Mission Foods Pro Stock title, and after one round of qualifying in Las Vegas, the battle remains wide open.

Dallas Glenn’s win in Dallas gave him the lead by just 14 points over Greg Stanfield, but that lead is now cut to 11 as Stanfield made the quickest run of the session with a 6.652. Glenn missed the set-up in his RAD Torque Systems entry with a 6.680.

Anderson picked up two valuable points with a 6.655 to cut his deficit to 76 while other title contenders Matt Hartford and Troy Coughlin Jr. remain further down the order.

The third-quickest car of the session was Deric Kramer at 6.657, while Erica Enders, who has virtually owned Las Vegas during her career, ran 6.662 for the No. 4 spot.