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