NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

It’s race day at World Wide Technology Raceway, and the stakes couldn’t be much higher. The NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals enters Sunday with championships increasingly coming into focus and every round carrying major implications in the Countdown to the Championship. After two days of qualifying in front of packed grandstands, the quickest teams in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle are set for eliminations. From last-minute adjustments in the pits to pressure-packed moments on the starting line, follow along throughout Sunday for news, notes, highlights, and developments from an action-packed day in St. Louis.

Top Fuel Round 1 recap: Langdon leads winners as holeshots and upsets shake up St. Louis

No. 1 qualifier Shawn Langdon delivered the quickest winning run of the opening Top Fuel round at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals, powering to a 3.680 at 341.68 mph to defeat Tony Schumacher’s solid 3.749 at 331.94 mph.

Shawn Reed was next quickest and stunned the audience with a 3.706 at 336.15 mph, advancing past Doug Kalitta, who slowed to a 4.683 at 157.76 mph. Jasmine Salinas produced a 3.716 at 337.92 mph —her personal best speed ever—to upset No. 4 qualifier Spencer Massey, who slowed to a 4.988.

Will Smith also scored an upset, running a 3.722 at 333.00 mph to defeat Maddi Gordon’s 4.847. Antron Brown advanced with a 3.735 at 336.15 mph when Clay Millican slowed to a 4.529.

Two races were decided on holeshots. Leah Pruett used a .077 reaction time and a 3.735 at 328.30 mph to defeat Kyle Wurtzel’s quicker 3.733 at 333.00 mph. Pruett reached the finish line first by .0728-second.

Justin Ashley produced the closest victory of the round, combining a stellar .035 reaction time with a 3.766 at 332.02 mph to defeat Billy Torrence’s quicker 3.708 at 338.43 mph by just .0033-second.

Tony Stewart advanced with a 5.322 at 229.24 mph after both cars encountered trouble. Josh Hart slowed to a 7.912 at 93.86 mph in the opposite lane.

Funny Car Round 1 recap: Beckman leads the field with a 3.864 in St. Louis

No. 1 qualifier Jack Beckman made the quickest run of the opening Funny Car elimination round at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals, powering to a 3.864 at 332.84 mph to defeat Dale Creasy Jr.’s 4.221 at 261.37 mph.

Austin Prock was close behind with a 3.872 at a round-best 334.90 mph. Prock combined the run with a .057 reaction time to defeat Ron Capps’ competitive 3.937 at 322.11 mph by .0719-second.

Alexis DeJoria advanced with a 3.874 at 329.91 mph when Bobby Bode slowed to a 4.667. Jordan Vandergriff also made a clean pass, recording a 3.896 at 324.51 mph to defeat Cruz Pedregon, who slowed to a 6.921.

Matt Hagan powered to a 3.935 at 331.12 mph to defeat Terry Haddock’s 6.341, while Daniel Wilkerson used a sharp .045 reaction time and a 4.006 at 315.93 mph to advance past Dave Richards’ 4.753.

J.R. Todd moved into the second round with a 4.345 at 205.04 mph after Blake Alexander encountered trouble and slowed to an 11.458. Spencer Hyde scored an upset over No. 6 qualifier Chad Green, winning with a 6.985 at 159.64 mph after both drivers struggled to make clean runs.

Pro Stock Round 1 recap: Cody Anderson edges Enders by .0009-second

Cody Anderson delivered the closest victory of the opening Pro Stock elimination round at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals, defeating Erica Enders by just .0009-second. Anderson paired a .042 reaction time with a 6.501 at 209.75 mph to narrowly overcome Enders’ sharp .009 light and 6.534 at 210.93 mph.

Greg Stanfield recorded the quickest winning elapsed time of the round with a 6.479 at 211.30 mph, defeating Mason McGaha’s 6.539. No. 1 qualifier Troy Coughlin Jr. was nearly as quick, combining a class-best .007 reaction time with a 6.480 at 211.36 mph to beat Chris Vang’s 6.530.

Greg Anderson advanced with a 6.482 at 209.88 mph after Kenny Delco left early with a red-light start. Dallas Glenn ran a 6.485 at 210.67 mph to move past Eric Latino, who also red-lighted.

Matt Hartford used a 6.496 at 210.93 mph to defeat Stephen Bell’s 6.532 by .0190-second. Aaron Stanfield advanced with a 6.500 at 210.57 mph after Deric Kramer fouled at the starting line.

Jeg Coughlin Jr. also benefited from a red light, advancing with a 6.513 at 210.57 mph after Matt Latino left .097-second too soon. Latino’s 6.493 would otherwise have made the race competitive.

Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 1 recap: Smith and Herrera match 6.693s to lead St. Louis winners

Matt Smith and No. 1 qualifier Gaige Herrera recorded matching 6.693-second passes to lead the opening Pro Stock Motorcycle elimination round at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals.

Smith earned the top spot on speed, riding to a round-best 202.79 mph to defeat Geno Scali’s 6.853 at 197.05 mph. Herrera followed with a 6.693 at 201.49 mph, overcoming Malcolm Phillips Jr.’s starting-line advantage to win by .1705-second.

Ryan Oehler delivered the closest victory of the round. Oehler ran a 6.724 at 198.70 mph to chase down Clayton Howey’s starting-line advantage and win by just .0106-second. Howey recorded a 6.801 at 195.68 mph.

John Hall advanced with a strong 6.744 at 200.62 mph after Steve Johnson left .006-second too soon. Joey Gladstone ran a 6.747 at 199.94 mph to defeat Kelly Clontz’s 6.833 at 197.77 mph.

Richard Gadson overcame Chase Van Sant’s exceptional .008 reaction time, using a 6.755 at 200.14 mph to defeat Van Sant’s 6.850 by .0491-second. Marc Ingwersen completed the list of first-round winners with a 6.864 at 195.00 mph after Angie Smith encountered trouble and slowed to a 17.375.