Photos by Mike Burghardt, Jeff Burghardt, Ron Lewis
SUNDAY FINAL – PROCK, KALITTA, GLENN AND GADSON DOMINATE PLAYOFF SUNDAY AT TEXAS MOTORPLEX
Austin Prock continued his march toward a second consecutive Funny Car championship Sunday, claiming his ninth win of the season at the Texas NHRA FallNationals. The John Force Racing driver outran Ron Capps in the final at Texas Motorplex, using a 3.959-second, 328.30 mph run to pad his points lead with only two events remaining.
Doug Kalitta, Dallas Glenn, and Richard Gadson also took home victories, giving each of the current points leaders a pivotal playoff triumph during the fourth race of the six-event Countdown to the Championship.
Prock, who qualified No. 1, scored round wins over Blake Alexander, Spencer Hyde, and Chad Green before putting together another dominant final pass against Capps. He entered the weekend with a 20-point margin over Matt Hagan but left Dallas with a 112-point lead, a dramatic swing that could prove impossible for his pursuers to overcome.
“We went out there and won and all of the cards fell right today, and we were able to extend our points lead,” Prock said. “You always want to extend your points lead even if it’s by one point, but we did a lot more than that. I said earlier this weekend that whoever gets the most wins in these next three races is going to be crowned the world champion, and we knocked one off.”
The Cornwell Tools Chevrolet driver added that consistency has been key, crediting his father and crew chief, Jimmy Prock. “After Q1, we were low E.T. every time we went down the track, and not just by a little bit. That’s an O.G. Jimmy Prock move right there,” he said. “I’m just really proud to drive this race car … now we need to keep turning on win lights.”
Capps reached his fifth final of the season with victories over Alex Laughlin, Cruz Pedregon, and Dan Wilkerson, moving him to third in points, 131 behind Prock. Hagan fell early, opening the door for Prock’s playoff surge.
Kalitta extended his Top Fuel dominance with a victory over Texan Steve Torrence, delivering a 3.777-second, 333.04 mph run in the final. The reigning champion and Mobil DELVAC 100th Anniversary driver has reached the final in every playoff race so far, winning the last two and stretching his points lead to 141 over Justin Ashley.
On a hot day in Ennis, Kalitta’s consistency proved crucial. He ran in the 3.70s three times, defeating Jasmine Salinas, Ida Zetterström, and teammate Shawn Langdon before facing Torrence. The win was Kalitta’s third at the Motorplex and 59th of his career.
“Alan [Johnson, crew chief] and my guys really have a handle on this thing and it’s fun to drive,” Kalitta said. “It’s really impressive with the temperature swing and to be able to run that .77 in the final. I’ve finished second six or seven times [in the championship hunt], so I’m not going to count my chickens until they’re hatched, but this is definitely where we want to be.”
Torrence reached his second final of 2025 after defeating Josh Hart, Shawn Reed, and Brittany Force. Langdon remains 159 points behind Kalitta heading into Las Vegas.
In Pro Stock, Dallas Glenn kept his momentum rolling toward his first NHRA title. The RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet driver beat Aaron Stanfield in the final with a 6.605-second, 208.89 mph pass — his seventh win of the year and 20th of his career.
The victory, Glenn’s first at Texas Motorplex, widened his advantage to 60 points over KB Titan Racing teammate Greg Anderson. Glenn advanced past Cody Coughlin, Eric Latino, and Jeg Coughlin Jr. on race day before turning back Stanfield.
“I just need to keep turning on win lights,” Glenn said. “I just need to go up there and take everything one round at a time and let the crew chiefs do their job. I feel a little more relaxed this year. If I can continue to do that and have a little luck, I think we can wrap it up.”
Stanfield reached his second final of the season with wins over Erica Enders, Matt Hartford, and Anderson. Glenn, meanwhile, has won three of four playoff events, placing himself firmly in control.
Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Richard Gadson capped the day by extending his points lead with a win over rookie Brayden Davis. Riding his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki, Gadson ran 6.796 at 200.37 mph for his fourth win of the year and first at Texas Motorplex.
Gadson qualified No. 1 and never wavered, beating Lance Bonham, Clayton Howey, and Matt Smith before sealing the deal. When Davis upset Gaige Herrera in the semifinals, Gadson capitalized, using an .011 reaction time to seize control of the championship chase.
“You watch this happen for other people and you want it for yourself, but I try to live in the moment,” Gadson said. “I try to remember: This is the stuff you watched Gaige, Andrew and Eddie do — and you’re doing it right now. I’m extremely motivated right now. I feel like I have something to prove.”
Davis earned his third final-round appearance in his debut season, taking out Ryan Oehler, John Hall, and Herrera before falling to Gadson.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series resumes Oct. 30-Nov. 2 with the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
SATURDAY QUALIFYING – LEADERBOARD REMAINS UNCHANGED AFTER FINAL QUALIFYING AT TEXAS FALLNATIONALS
Austin Prock, Shawn Langdon, Greg Anderson, and Richard Gadson led their respective classes at the 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals, setting the tone for a high-stakes Countdown to the Championship round at Texas Motorplex. The event marks the 18th of 20 races in the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the fourth of six playoff events in the Countdown.
Funny Car points leader Austin Prock once again showcased his consistency, keeping the top spot with a 3.876-second, 336.07 mph blast from Friday night in his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS. It marked his sixth No. 1 qualifier of the season, and the 24th of his career, reinforcing his hold on the points lead as the Countdown battle tightens. Prock backed up his Friday performance with two strong Saturday passes, including a 3.934 at 330.18 in the Texas heat.
“The points are so close right now, so we just have to focus on going out and winning every race that’s left,” Prock said. “Whoever wins the most in this next three-race shootout is going to be world champion. We’ve got to focus on our race car and what we’re doing, and right now, our race car looks good.”
The reigning Funny Car champion, who has yet to win at Texas Motorplex, said Saturday’s runs boosted his confidence heading into eliminations. “I feel like our two runs today were more impressive than our run last night,” Prock said. “Getting down the racetrack efficiently and quickly and a few hundredths ahead of the field definitely feels good.”
Prock, who has won eight times this season, will face Blake Alexander in Sunday’s opening round. The Funny Car field remains stacked, with Ron Capps qualifying second at 3.889, 334.55, followed by Jack Beckman — Prock’s John Force Racing teammate — in third with a 3.892, 330.83 run.
In Top Fuel, Shawn Langdon claimed his first No. 1 qualifier of 2025 with a 3.684, 338.88 pass in his Kalitta Air 25th Anniversary dragster. The 2013 Top Fuel champion, who sits third in points, earned the 22nd No. 1 qualifier of his career and remains one of the few drivers capable of challenging teammate Doug Kalitta and second-place Justin Ashley for the championship.
Langdon’s Kalitta Motorsports dragster was quick in both Friday sessions and steady in the heat Saturday, giving the veteran confidence heading into eliminations. He’ll line up against Mitch King in Round 1 as he looks for his first win in Dallas.
“We feel like we have a slightly better car with the cooler conditions, but it hasn’t played out that way,” Langdon said. “You just have to have a good, fast car when you need it, but also a good, consistent car when you need it. That’s been our focus.”
Langdon said the team has worked hard to make the car more predictable and forgiving under race-day pressure. “It’s kind of a work in progress, but it’s nice to be able to make some good runs on Friday and Saturday and set the tone,” he said. “You try to make the best run possible to get yourself set up to where you have confidence for raceday.”
Shawn Reed qualified second with a 3.685, 333.56, and defending event winner Ashley was third with a 3.688, 338.02. Points leader Kalitta qualified fifth at 3.701, 338.37.
In Pro Stock, Greg Anderson held onto his No. 1 position from Friday with a 6.497, 209.88 mph in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. The six-time champion, who trails teammate Dallas Glenn in the standings, added two more strong passes Saturday and earned his seventh top qualifier of the season. Anderson will start eliminations against David Cuadra as he pursues his seventh win at Texas Motorplex.
“We’ve learned how to manage a hot racetrack,” Anderson said. “The whole KB Titan team has been doing a great job and hopefully tomorrow will be great. We’re going to have to be great because there’s a lot of really good cars out there. It’s going to be fun. We love racing here in Texas and here at Texas Motorplex, and we’re thrilled to have this car on the pole again.”
Cory Reed qualified second at 6.504, 210.99, while Glenn was third with a 6.507 at 210.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, points leader Richard Gadson earned his second career No. 1 qualifier, both coming this season, with a 6.747-second run at 201.59 mph aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki. The breakout rider, who continues to lead the championship standings, will race Lance Bonham in the first round as he seeks his first Dallas victory.
“I’m just trusting in my team,” Gadson said. “They’ve given me a great bike and all I have to do is pop the clutch and hit the button on time. I’ve been having a great time here at the Stampede of Speed in Dallas, and we’ve got four rounds to go on Sunday to win it.”
Defending champion Gaige Herrera, who has won at the Motorplex the past two years, qualified second at 6.752, 200.71, with rookie Brayden Davis in third at 6.771, 201.46.
Eliminations for the 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals begin at 10 a.m. CDT Sunday at Texas Motorplex.
FRIDAY QUALIFYING – LANGDON, PROCK, ANDERSON, GADSON LEAD AFTER “JEGS FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE” AT TEXAS MOTORPLEX
Shawn Langdon delivered the quickest run of the night Friday at Texas Motorplex, racing to the provisional No. 1 spot at the 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals and earning a $15,000 “JEGS Friday Night Live” bonus.
Austin Prock (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Richard Gadson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also claimed provisional No. 1 qualifying positions at the 18th of 20 events during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, which also serves as the fourth of six Countdown to the Championship races.
Langdon powered his Kalitta Air 25th anniversary dragster to a 3.684-second pass at 338.88 mph as he aims for his first No. 1 qualifier of the year and the 22nd of his career. The former world champion won the “Battle for the Saddle” in Dallas against a stacked Top Fuel field and hopes to add his first career Texas Motorplex victory to remain in championship contention.
Langdon, who sits third in points behind Justin Ashley and teammate Doug Kalitta, knows he likely needs a win to keep his title hopes alive. “We know our team’s capable of it,” Langdon said. “We just ran into certain situations throughout the year and got behind a little bit here and there. Brian [Husen, crew chief] is doing a really good job with the car. We felt like tonight was important. Brian felt like he could go 3.68 and that was his target, and that’s what it ran, so it gives me a lot of confidence because it shows he’s got a handle on the car.”
“There’s three races left and we’re in the position we’re at, however many points back, so we just need to go win,” he continued. “We’ve got to get a couple wins in there.”
Shawn Reed followed closely in second with a 3.685 at 333.56, and defending event winner Ashley was third with a 3.688 at 338.02 mph.
More than $40,000 in total bonus money was at stake for the quickest drivers under the lights in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Top Fuel and Funny Car low qualifiers each earned $15,000, with $7,500 awarded in Pro Stock and $5,000 in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
In Funny Car, reigning world champion Austin Prock swept both “JEGS Friday Night Live” and the “Battle for the Saddle,” cashing another $15,000 bonus after running 3.876 seconds at 336.07 mph in his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS.
Coming off an early-round loss in St. Louis, the strong performance was a critical recovery for Prock, who saw his lead shrink to just 20 points over Matt Hagan. With eight wins already this year, Prock said he’s not focused on the standings—just victories. “It’s whoever wins the most in these last three races,” Prock said. “I’m not even counting points at this point. It’s so close. We just got to go out there and try and win the next three races, and if we do that, we’ll be back-to-back world champions, and that’s got a nice ring to it.”
“The mindset this weekend was to just go out there and kill it,” he added. “Getting this No. 1 qualifier, this should hold on for the rest of the weekend. The track is going to continuously get better and hopefully we can do some damage on Sunday. I’m ready for the fight.”
Ron Capps is currently second at 3.889, 334.55 mph, and Jack Beckman follows in third with a 3.892 at 330.83.
Greg Anderson extended his mastery of Texas Motorplex in Pro Stock, earning the $7,500 bonus with a 6.497-second, 209.88 mph pass in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. For the second consecutive year, the reigning champion claimed the “Battle for the Saddle” title and continues his bid for a seventh No. 1 qualifier in 2025.
Dallas has long been favorable ground for Anderson, who has six career wins at the facility and is coming off a victory in St. Louis. The KB Titan Racing veteran has tightened the points gap behind teammate and leader Dallas Glenn and sees this weekend as another opportunity to close the distance.
“I’ve done this a while and there’s not much that gets my heart ticking, but it did tonight,” Anderson said. “When you look around and the lighting is just perfect, absolutely perfect, it’s magical. It feels fantastic, and you just tell yourself over and over, focus, man, focus. It really felt nice.”
“The run was very nice,” he added. “I saw Dallas’ [6.507] scoreboard ahead of me, and I knew that was going to be tough to get around, let alone Cory Reed in the other lane. I’m just super proud of the KB Titan team. They did a great job.”
Reed is second with a 6.504 at 210.99, and Glenn’s 6.507 has him third.
Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader Richard Gadson claimed the top spot under the lights with a 6.747 at 201.59 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki. Gadson was the quickest in both sessions, earning the $5,000 “JEGS Friday Night Live” bonus and potentially his second No. 1 qualifier of the year.
It’s been a career-defining season for Gadson, who extended his points lead with two consistent passes. “From the championship standpoint, obviously, I’m counting every point I can find,” Gadson said. “I’m just feeling good about the bike, feeling good about the performance, and you know, I’m holding on for dear life [to the points lead] right now, so I’ll take anything I can get. I’m 29 points ahead with three races to go.”
“Championship battle aside, I’ve always wanted to have a specialty low qualifier Friday,” he added. “We have a few of them throughout the year, but none of them are like the Stampede of Speed, where you get to get up there on the [saddle]. I’ve always wanted to sit up there. I don’t think I ever have. So this was pretty cool.”
Defending world champion Gaige Herrera, seeking his third consecutive Dallas win, sits second at 6.767 and 200.35 mph, while rookie Brayden Davis holds third at 6.772, 200.53.
Qualifying continues Saturday at noon Central at the Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex.
