Rodger Brogdon paced Comp Eliminator qualifying, headlining the Lucas Oil Sportsman divisions at the NHRA Midwest Nationals outside of St. Louis,
Mark Pawuk topped Factory Stock Showdown, David Barton led Super Stock, Jimmy Hidalgo Jr. was first in Stock, and Darian Boesch earned the No. 1 spots in Top Sportsman as sportsman qualifying wrapped up at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Brogdon, of Tomball, Texas, put his ’34 Chevrolet B/SR at the top of Comp Eliminator with a run of 7.710 seconds, .670 under his index. Scott Linder of Hedrick, Iowa, was second at 6.506, and Clint Neff of Arvada, Colo., slotted in third at 7.640.
The rest of the top five included Robert Bailey of Wabash, Ind., who went 6.553 in his A/ED entry, and Sean Dodd of Double Oak, Texas, with an 8.044 in his Cobalt. Troy Galbraith of Warsaw, Ind., and Matthew Alvey of Taylorsville, Ky., also qualified in the top 10.
In Factory Stock Showdown, Pawuk claimed the top position with a 7.710 at 178.10 mph in his 2021 Dodge Challenger. Raymond Nash of Hinckley, Ohio, followed close behind at 7.719, while Taylor Dietsch of Hicksville, Ohio, also posted a 7.719 to take the third spot.
Alex Anderson of Wilmington, Ill., and Jonathan Allegrucci of Scott Township, Pa., rounded out the top five. Defending champion David Janac of Caldwell, Texas, ended the session seventh with a 7.769.
Super Stock qualifying was led by Barton of Sinking Spring, Pa., who put his 2015 Camaro FSS/F on top with a 9.213, .987 under the index. Larry Hodge of La Place, Ill., was second with a 10.384, while Gary Stinnett of Emporia, Kan., claimed third at 9.992.
Scott Libersher of Wilmington, Ill., drove his 2023 Camaro to fourth at 8.996, and Jason DeForrest of Oak Grove, Minn., was fifth at 9.006. Barton’s margin of nearly a tenth under the field set him apart in a competitive Super Stock ladder.
In Stock Eliminator, Hidalgo Jr. of Donaldsonville, La., ran his 2004 Pontiac GTO to a 10.590, 1.110 under the E/SA index, to lead the category. Blake Hooper of Charleston, Ill., was second with a 12.029, and T.C. Morris of New Haven, Ky., held third at 10.738.
Brent Kopejtka of Stanton, Neb., and Billy Maddox of Sidney, Neb., completed the top five. Defending class contender Briana Splingaire of Minooka, Ill., placed sixth in her 2022 Camaro.
Boesch of Kenner, La., set the pace in Top Sportsman with a 6.235 at 228.04 mph in his 2018 Camaro. Jeff Brooks of Fredericksburg, Va., was second with a 6.386, and Allen Firestone of Velma, Okla., ranked third with a 6.406.
Rounding out the top five were Rick Sojka of North Aurora, Ill., and Richard Smith of Wentzville, Mo. Belva Brinegar of Middletown, Ohio, was seventh in her 2003 Mustang, while Dean McIlvain of New Carlisle, Ohio, secured the 10th spot in his 1970 Barracuda.
