NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

After a solid Friday night of qualifying for the nitro cars (Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle Q2 was postponed), Saturday promises an action-packed day of racing at the Texas Motorplex as the Stampede of Speed continues at the Texas NHRA FallNationals.

Many are chasing a Championship, while others hope to punch their ticket to Sunday, and some are still hunting for one of the few NHRA 75th Anniversary Diamond Wallys left up for grabs.

In Top Fuel, Shawn Langdon delivered a career-best e.t. of 3.648, took the “Battle of the Saddle” honors, and earned JEGS Friday Night Live cash.

Tony Stewart set a new track record with a blistering 343.70 to land in the provisional no. 2 spot, followed by Doug Kallita, Antron Brown and Leah Pruett. This handful of drivers are the only cars in the 60s right now on the qualifying sheet.

On the outside looking in are Chuck Loftin, Cameron Ferre and Spencer Massey, who will have to run a 4.026 or quicker to make the field.

Funny Car’s Jack Beckman secured the “Battle of the Saddle” and JEGS Friday Night Live cash and the bonus points to stay in the championship hunt. Alexis DeJoria kept the saddle warm for most of the night before her teammate (Beckman) took over as her John Force Racing Bandero Cafe Tequila team capitalized on the hero run.

Could this be the race we see an all-3-second field? Possibly, but positions 15 and 16 on the qualifying sheet would need to step it up and run 3.99 or quicker. Jim Campbell, Austin Prock, Jeff Diehl, and Terry Haddock are currently on the outside looking in.

Friday’s cool, windy conditions allowed only one round of Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying, so Q2 moved to Saturday, starting at 10:30 a.m.

Round one of qualifying saw the second-quickest Pro Stock field in history, with Kenny Delco sitting on the bump with a 6.539. Points leader Greg Stanfield led the field, believing there was more out there on Friday night after running a 6.460.

Troy Coughlin Jr., who has seen some recent success, is in the provisional no. 2 spot, while KB Titan teammates Greg Anderson and Dallas Glenn are 3 and 4, respectively.

Texas Motorplex e.t. and speed record holder Gaige Herrera rode to the top with 6.676, and was the only Pro Stock Motorcycle to dip into the 60s. His teammate and points leader Richard Gadson is currently in the provisional 12th spot after he had to lift when he got too close to the right wall, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t go back-to-back at the ‘Plex and further his Championship points lead over Herrera.

Following Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle at 10:30 a.m. will be Factory Stock Showdown, Right Trailers NHRA Outlaw Street, and then Q3 will follow like normal. 

2025 EVENT WINNERS

Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel; Austin Prock, Funny Car; Dallas Glenn, Pro Stock; Richard Gadson, Pro Stock Motorcycle

MOST EVENT VICTORIES (active drivers) 

Tony Schumacher, 6, Top Fuel; Matt Hagan, 5, Funny Car; Greg Anderson, 6, Pro Stock; Gaige Herrera, 2, Pro Stock Motorcycle

TRACK RECORDS

Top Fuel - 3.636 seconds by Steve Torrence, Oct. '23; 343.70 mph by Tony Stewart, Oct. '26
Funny Car - 3.813 seconds by Austin Prock, Oct. '24; 338.60 mph by Robert Hight, Oct. '17
Pro Stock - 6.457 seconds by Greg Anderson, Oct. '15; 214.59 mph by Anderson, Oct. '15.
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.627 seconds by Gaige Herrera, Oct. '23; 204.16 mph by Herrera, Oct. '23

NATIONAL RECORDS

Top Fuel - 3.623 seconds by Brittany Force, Sept. '19, Reading; 346.95 mph by Shawn Langdon, Sept. ‘26, Martin
Funny Car - 3.793 seconds by Robert Hight, Aug. '17, Brainerd; 341.68 mph by Austin Prock, Nov. '24, Pomona
Pro Stock - 6.443 seconds by Greg Anderson, March '25, Gainesville; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May '14, Englishtown 
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.627 seconds by Gaige Herrera, Oct. '23, Dallas; 205.04 mph by Matt Smith, July '21, Sonoma

SCHEDULE

Saturday, Oct. 17
NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series eliminations at 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car eliminations at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m
Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown qualifying at 11:20 a.m. and eliminations at 5:30 p.m.
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying at 10:30 a.m., 12:00 and 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 18
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series eliminations begin at 12:00 p.m.

TELEVISION

Sunday, Oct. 18: FOX Sports 1 (FS1) will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 2:00 p.m. ET
Sunday, Oct. 18: FOX Sports 1 (FS1) will televise three hours of finals coverage at 4:00 p.m. ET

TICKETS

Tickets available online at tickets.texasmotorplex.com or call 800-668-6775