DeJoria Races to Provisional No. 1 to open NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals

ST. LOUIS – October 3, 2026 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – John Force Racing Funny Car standout Alexis DeJoria took the provisional No. 1 qualifier spot at World Wide Technology Raceway, kicking off the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals.

DeJoria, driver of the Bandero Café Chevrolet SS, clocked a 3.882-second pass at 334.65 mph to land in the provisional No. 1 qualifying position on Friday. With only seven qualifying days left in the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, DeJoria and her team know the importance of performing well during qualifying leading into race day.

“Our car is set up exactly the way it should be, and this is the right time to get hot in the season,” DeJoria said. “We have the consistency, but we needed to step it up. We needed to run those faster numbers, those quicker numbers, especially on where we stand. So, we’re off to a good start.”

Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Troy Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 17th of 20 races of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the third of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Langdon, Matt Hagan, Coughlin and Herrera each won the inaugural “Top Dog” competition, presented by USEDHOTDOGS.com, during Friday’s second qualifying session, running best in their respective categories. The winners will receive a custom Hot Dog Trophy, exclusive USEDHOTDOGS.com swag, a ceremonial winner’s check and bonus cash awards totaling $7,500.

Prize payouts include:

• Top Fuel: $2,500
• Funny Car: $2,500
• Pro Stock: $1,500
• Pro Stock Motorcycle: $1,000

DeJoria has two No. 2 qualifier positions this season, and if her qualifying effort stays atop the field at World Wide Technology Raceway, it will give her first No. 1 of the year and seventh of her career.

“Friday night qualifying sessions are key,” said DeJoria. “You want to throw down Friday night, and we’re grateful we did that.”

DeJoria edged out No. 2 qualifier and Funny Car points leader Hagan. Hagan also ran a 3.882 at 331.85, while her John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman is third with a 3.888 at 332.10.

Top Fuel points leader Langdon ran a 3.679 at 339.87 to land in the No. 1 spot. With back-to-back playoff wins in Martin and Rockingham, he is on course for his seventh low qualifier of the season.

“I just try to do the task at hand, take each run for what it is and address each run in that moment,” said Langdon, who has set two new national speed records this season. “The records and the speeds and all that are cool to see, but more importantly, you just want the points.”

Langdon has seven wins on the year and currently leads his Kalitta Motorsports teammate and reigning world champion Doug Kalitta by 25 points. Langdon has one Funny Car win at World Wide Technology Raceway and will be looking for his first Top Fuel win at the facility.

Four-time world champion and five-time St. Louis winner Antron Brown is currently second with his 3.704 at 334.90, with Top Fuel rookie standout Maddi Gordon in third with her 3.708 at 335.90.

Coughlin powered to a 6.473 at 211.69 in his JEGS Pro Stock car. If it stays best of the field, it will give him his first No. 1 of the season and first since 2023.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been low qualifier,” said Coughlin. “It feels good. Now the focus is on tomorrow, making two more solid passes that really help our race day setup. We’re gaining momentum and consistency, that’s important. I just want to make sure I can be the best for these guys. They’ve given me the race car to get the job done, I just want to be the driver that can get the job done for this team.”

Coughlin kicked off the playoffs with a win at Martin, giving him his first win since 2024. He currently sits fifth in the overall points standings.

Last weekend’s winner Greg Stanfield is provisionally second with his 6.474 at 210.93, while six-time world champion Greg Anderson is third with a 6.479 at 210.50.

Two-time Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Herrera is currently No. 1 after going 6.666 at 202.03 on his Suzuki. Herrera enters World Wide Technology Raceway as the three-time consecutive NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals winner. If his qualifying effort holds, it will be his third No. 1 of the 2026 season.

“My bike’s been on rails,” Herrera said. “It’s just coming down to me doing my job and running a 6.66 here in St. Louis is very cool, especially at night under the lights. Tonight was the premium track conditions where we could lay it all out. Tomorrow is going to get us ready for Sunday.”

Maryland winner Angie Smith is currently second with her 6.696 at 199.88, while Joey Gladstone is third with a 6.697 at 202.15.

In JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports, Justin Bond broke the national elapsed time record with his impressive 5.619 at 256.06. Bond is currently second in the overall Pro Mod champion points, with only St. Louis and Las Vegas to go on the 2026 season.

Qualifying continues at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.

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MADISON, IL — Friday’s results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 15th annual NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, 17th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel

1. Shawn Langdon, 3.679 seconds, 339.87 mph; 2. Antron Brown, 3.704, 335.90; 3. Maddi Gordon, 3.708, 335.90; 4. Spencer Massey, 3.715, 332.67; 5. Billy Torrence, 3.716, 334.82; 6. Josh Hart, 3.717, 333.41; 7. Shawn Reed, 3.721, 331.69; 8. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.723, 332.59; 9. Doug Kalitta, 3.728, 333.66; 10. Leah Pruett, 3.730, 331.69; 11. Justin Ashley, 3.737, 331.36; 12. Jasmine Salinas, 3.741, 327.11; 13. Will Smith, 3.742, 332.75; 14. Tony Stewart, 3.742, 332.59; 15. Clay Millican, 3.760, 323.19; 16. Tony Schumacher, 3.842, 320.20. Not Qualified: 17. Keith Murt, 3.862, 307.09; 18. Brian Inouye, 4.159, 247.47; 19. Cameron Ferre, 4.169, 228.34; 20. Scott Palmer, 7.366, 95.71; 21. Charles Loftin, 10.778, 64.65.

Funny Car

1. Alexis DeJoria, Chevy Camaro, 3.882, 334.65; 2. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.882, 335.07; 3. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.888, 332.10; 4. J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 3.898, 336.07; 5. Chad Green, Ford Mustang, 3.906, 329.99; 6. Jordan Vandergriff, Camaro, 3.906, 328.94; 7. Dave Richards, Mustang, 3.923, 333.74; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.933, 320.89; 9. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 3.945, 327.35; 10. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.028, 315.19; 11. Blake Alexander, Toyota Supra, 4.115, 266.85; 12. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 4.234, 238.17; 13. Chris King, Charger, 4.265, 244.34; 14. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.547, 180.91; 15. Austin Prock, Mustang, 4.923, 225.15; 16. Jack Wyatt, Charger, 7.299, 94.35. Not Qualified: 17. Bobby Bode, 7.900, 89.26; 18. Ron Capps, 8.006, 86.85.

Pro Stock

1. Troy Coughlin Jr., Chevy Camaro, 6.473, 211.69; 2. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.474, 210.93; 3. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.479, 210.50; 4. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.483, 210.24; 5. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.486, 210.54; 6. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.488, 211.46; 7. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.488, 210.08; 8. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.491, 211.63; 9. Cody Anderson, Camaro, 6.525, 209.46; 10. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.531, 209.95; 11. Stephen Bell, Camaro, 6.531, 209.36; 12. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.550, 210.87; 13. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.555, 193.05; 14. Matt Latino, Camaro, 8.988, 104.03; 15. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 9.166, 129.50; 16. Chris Vang, Camaro, 10.279, 87.51.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.666, 202.03; 2. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.696, 199.88; 3. Joey Gladstone, Buell, 6.697, 202.15; 4. John Hall, Buell, 6.707, 200.50; 5. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.710, 200.86; 6. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.712, 201.19; 7. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.739, 200.20; 8. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.762, 199.76; 9. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.788, 196.10; 10. Clayton Howey, Buell, 6.803, 197.71; 11. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.830, 197.10; 12. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.841, 198.23; 13. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 6.865, 194.32; 14. Malcolm Phillips Jr., Suzuki, 6.895, 191.29.

Tickets may be purchased at the WWTR ticket office, by phone at (618) 215-8888, or online at www.wwtraceway.com. All children 12 and under are free in the general admission area with a paid adult. For more info on NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports and NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Source: National Hot Rod Association 

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