NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Shawn Langdon leads Top Fuel Q3 with a 3.701 in St. Louis

Shawn Langdon continued to set the pace in Top Fuel qualifying Saturday at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals, leading the third session with a 3.701-second pass at 337.16 mph at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Langdon, who entered Saturday as the provisional No. 1 qualifier following Friday’s 3.679 at 339.87 mph, was again quickest when the Top Fuel field returned to the track. His dragster left with an .816-second 60-foot time, reached the eighth-mile in 2.980 seconds at 292.77 mph and charged through the finish line with the lowest E.T. of Q3.

Leah Pruett was second quickest with a strong 3.722 at 327.35 mph. Pruett reached half-track in 2.990 seconds at 294.11 mph to put together one of her best runs of the weekend.

Billy Torrence was right behind with a 3.727 at 338.00 mph, followed by Maddi Gordon, who recorded a 3.738 at a session-best 340.65 mph. Gordon was moving 295.66 mph at the eighth-mile before charging to the fastest speed of Q3.

Shawn Reed rounded out the top five with a 3.752 at 332.92 mph, followed by Josh Hart’s 3.769 at 330.80.

Tony Stewart made a clean 3.775-second run at 334.98 mph to rank seventh, with Jasmine Salinas eighth at 3.793 and 320.20. Antron Brown followed with a 3.821 at 322.42.

Scott Palmer was the final driver to run in the threes, recording a 3.973 at 281.07 mph.

The session was less forgiving for several contenders. Justin Ashley slowed to a 4.024, Clay Millican ran 4.156 and Kyle Wurtzel recorded a 4.315. Doug Kalitta, Spencer Massey, Bryan Inouye, Tony Schumacher, Will Smith, Keith Murt and Chuck Loftin all encountered trouble and failed to make representative full-track runs.

For Langdon, Q3 provided another strong confirmation of the performance that put him atop the field Friday. His 3.701 was the lowest E.T. of Saturday’s third session, while his 3.679 from Friday remains his best run of the event.

Top Fuel Q3 — ranked by lowest E.T.

Quickest of Q3: Shawn Langdon — 3.701 at 337.16 mph
Second: Leah Pruett — 3.722 at 327.35 mph
Third: Billy Torrence — 3.727 at 338.00 mph
Fastest of Q3: Maddi Gordon — 340.65 mph
Three-second runs: 10

Jack Beckman blasts to 3.866 to lead Funny Car Q3 in St. Louis

Jack Beckman delivered the quickest run of Saturday’s third Funny Car qualifying session at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals, powering to a 3.866-second pass at 332.59 mph at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Beckman put together an impressive run from start to finish, leaving with a .860-second 60-foot time and reaching the eighth-mile in 3.132 seconds at 284.87 mph before charging through the finish line with the quickest elapsed time of the session.

Alexis DeJoria, who entered Saturday as the provisional No. 1 qualifier following her 3.882 at 334.65 mph Friday, continued her strong weekend with a 3.913 at 332.51 mph in Q3.

Austin Prock was just one-thousandth behind DeJoria with a 3.914 at 332.84 mph, while Jordan Vandergriff continued to show consistency with a 3.923 at 329.26.

Blake Alexander made a strong 3.958 at 327.66 mph, followed by Chad Green’s 3.969 at 325.22. Cruz Pedregon was next with a 3.994 at 315.56 mph, while Matt Hagan narrowly missed another three-second pass with a 3.999 at 283.31 mph.

Terry Haddock recorded a 4.075 at 304.53 mph.

Several drivers encountered trouble in the Saturday afternoon session. Spencer Hyde shut off early after reaching the eighth-mile in 3.365 seconds, while J.R. Todd, Dave Richards, Chris King, Bobby Bode, Dale Creasy Jr., Jack Wyatt, Daniel Wilkerson and Ron Capps were unable to make representative full-track runs.

Beckman’s 3.866 was not only the quickest run of Q3 but also bettered DeJoria’s Friday 3.882, moving Beckman to the top of the overall qualifying order with one session remaining.

Funny Car — Q3 ranking by E.T.

Quickest: Jack Beckman — 3.866
Fastest: Austin Prock — 332.84 mph
Best 60-foot: Jack Beckman — .860
Three-second runs: Eight
New overall provisional No. 1: Jack Beckman — 3.866 at 332.59 mph

Troy Coughlin Jr. leads Pro Stock Q3 with a 6.474 in St. Louis

 Troy Coughlin Jr. continued his strong qualifying weekend Saturday at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals, powering to a 6.474-second pass at 211.30 mph to lead the third Pro Stock qualifying session at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Coughlin, who paced Friday night’s Q2 with a 6.473 at 211.69 mph, once again found himself at the top of the session. He left with a .971-second 60-foot time, reached the eighth-mile in 4.158 seconds at 169.08 mph and carried the run through the finish line at more than 211 mph.

Eric Latino was only .013-second behind, recording a strong 6.487 at 210.60 mph to rank second in Q3.

Jeg Coughlin Jr. followed with a 6.496 at 210.47 mph, while Dallas Glenn rebounded from a difficult Friday-night run with a 6.499 at 210.93 mph.

Erica Enders continued to run near the front of the field with a 6.502 at 211.33 mph, the fastest speed of the session. Stephen Bell was close behind with a 6.510 at 209.65, and Matt Latino recorded a 6.522 at 211.08.

Deric Kramer rounded out the clean full-track passes with a 6.539 at 209.26 mph.

The session proved much more difficult for several of the leading Pro Stock contenders. Kenny Delco, Greg Stanfield, Matt Hartford, Chris Vang, Cody Anderson and Aaron Stanfield all encountered problems, while Greg Anderson — who opened the weekend with a 6.482 — lost traction early and slowed to a 16.959 at 48.38 mph.

Coughlin's Q3 run was one-thousandth slower than his 6.473 from Friday night, leaving his Q2 performance as his best of the weekend.

Pro Stock — Q3 ranking by E.T.

Quickest: Troy Coughlin Jr. — 6.474
Fastest: Erica Enders — 211.33 mph
No. 1 to No. 5: .028 second
Six-second runs: Eight

Matt Smith fires a 6.663 to lead Pro Stock Motorcycle Q3 in St. Louis

Matt Smith delivered the quickest run of Saturday’s third Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying session at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals, powering to a 6.663-second pass at 202.70 mph at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Smith made a strong run from start to finish, leaving with a 1.030-second 60-foot time before reaching the eighth-mile in 4.266 seconds at 165.64 mph. His 6.663 moved him to the top of the Q3 order by .015-second over Gaige Herrera.

Herrera, who led Friday night’s Q2 with a 6.666, continued his strong weekend with a 6.678 at a session-best 202.76 mph. Joey Gladstone was third quickest with a 6.695 at 201.37 mph.

John Hall turned in another 200-mph-plus run, recording a 6.721 at 202.03 mph, while Angie Smith followed with a 6.723 at 201.01.

Richard Gadson ran 6.733 at 200.89 mph, with Chase Van Sant just behind at 6.742 and 200.59. Steve Johnson was eighth with a 6.745 at 199.02 mph.

Clayton Howey followed with a 6.783 at 197.88 mph, while Marc Ingwersen ran 6.831 at 199.43 and Kelly Clontz recorded a 6.847 at 199.29.

Smith's 6.663 was also quicker than Herrera's 6.666 from Friday night, making it the quickest Pro Stock Motorcycle run shown through the first three sessions.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — Q3 ranking by E.T.

Quickest: Matt Smith — 6.663
Fastest: Gaige Herrera — 202.76 mph
Best 60-foot: Matt Smith — 1.030
No. 1 to No. 3: .032 second
200-mph runs: Seven

Top Fuel Q4 recap

Chuck Loftin made the better of the two runs in the final qualifying session, powering to a 4.044-second pass at 249.16 mph. Loftin said the team plans to return to competition at the Texas NHRA FallNationals in Dallas.

Cameron Ferré left the starting line with a .075 reaction time and recorded a 1.035-second 60-foot time before the car broke traction and erupted in tire smoke. He slowed to a 7.837 at 67.43 mph.

Tony Stewart led the final Top Fuel qualifying session with a strong 3.733-second pass at 337.50 mph. Stewart left with a .055 reaction time and reached half-track in 3.013 seconds at 293.22 mph.

Leah Pruett leads Top Fuel Q4 with a 3.728 in St. Louis

Leah Pruett closed Top Fuel qualifying at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals with the quickest run of the fourth and final session, powering to a 3.728-second pass at 335.07 mph at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Pruett put together a strong run from start to finish, leaving with an .845-second 60-foot time, reaching the eighth-mile in 3.006 seconds at 293.22 mph and completing the run with the lowest E.T. of Q4.

Tony Stewart was just five-thousandths behind Pruett, recording a 3.733 at 337.50 mph. Stewart left with an .849 60-foot time and reached half-track in 3.013 seconds at 293.22 mph.

Doug Kalitta was third quickest with a 3.735 at a session-best 339.45 mph. Kalitta reached the eighth-mile in 3.018 seconds at 293.35 mph before charging through the finish line.

Billy Torrence followed with a 3.746 at 334.73 mph, while Shawn Reed rounded out the top five with a 3.768 at 333.49 mph.

Antron Brown was sixth quickest at 3.769 and 337.24 mph.

After those six strong passes, the session became significantly more challenging. Chuck Loftin made his best run of the session with a 4.044 at 249.16 mph, followed by Clay Millican's 4.226 at 203.16.

Shawn Langdon, who entered Q4 as the No. 1 qualifier after his 3.679 at 339.87 mph on Friday, was on a strong run early before slowing to a 4.284 at 189.90 mph. His Friday performance remained safely atop the qualifying order.

Will Smith recorded a 4.751 at 154.33 mph, Kyle Wurtzel ran 4.915 at 145.06, and Josh Hart slowed to a 4.951 at 146.59. Maddi Gordon, who reached 340.65 mph in Q3, shut off early in Q4 and recorded a 5.255 at 129.73.

Keith Murt, Bryan Inouye, Justin Ashley and Cameron Ferre also encountered problems. Ferre left with a 1.035-second 60-foot time before the car lost traction, lit up the rear tires and slowed to an 11.231 at 65.61 mph.

Tony Schumacher did not make a run.

With qualifying complete, Langdon's 3.679 at 339.87 mph from Friday remains the benchmark, while Pruett closed Saturday by producing the lowest E.T. of the final session.

Top Fuel Q4 — ranked by lowest E.T.

Quickest of Q4: Leah Pruett — 3.728 at 335.07 mph
Second: Tony Stewart — 3.733 at 337.50 mph
Third: Doug Kalitta — 3.735 at 339.45 mph
Fastest of Q4: Doug Kalitta — 339.45 mph
Three-second runs: Six
No. 1 qualifier: Shawn Langdon — 3.679 at 339.87 mph