For years, Maryland International Raceway built its reputation without Top Fuel or Funny Car. On Friday, the facility finally hosted an NHRA national event for the first time, and the sport’s biggest names responded in a big way.
Shawn Langdon led Top Fuel qualifying while Cruz Pedregon topped Funny Car, Greg Anderson paced Pro Stock, and Angie Smith showed the way in Pro Stock Motorcycle as MIR delivered the performance many expected – fast race cars on a fast racetrack.
Langdon’s 3.758-second pass at 336.23 mph in the Kalitta Air dragster was the quickest run of the day and continued a torrid start to the season for the former NHRA champion.
Any concerns about whether Maryland International Raceway could support a national event disappeared quickly. By the second qualifying session, crew chiefs were already talking about how much more potential the track might possess.
Langdon’s run came during a side-by-side duel with teammate Doug Kalitta, whose 3.774 at 333.91 mph placed him second after Day One. Tony Stewart was third with a 3.790 at 333.33 mph.
At this point, Langdon isn’t chasing momentum, he’s driving the car everyone else is trying to catch.
“We didn’t think we could make that kind of run here today,” Langdon said. “We actually underestimated the track on the first run, and so Brian [Husen, crew chief] realized he could get after it a little more and we were able to take the No. 1 from Doug. This is just such a great team effort from everyone at Kalitta Motorsports, starting with [team owner] Connie [Kalitta], and I’m just proud to be able to drive the car.
“Tomorrow, we’ll just have the kind of mindset that we had today. Just try to make some good runs, but also win the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, too.”
Pedregon finally had something tangible to show for a season that has tested his patience.
After enduring a difficult start to the year that included a DNQ in Pomona and six consecutive first-round exits, the two-time champion moved to the provisional pole with a 3.951-second run at 323.19 mph in his Snap-on Dodge Hellcat.
Qualifying well doesn’t erase the frustration of six difficult races. For one night, though, the team looked more like a contender than a group desperate to stanch the bleeding.
“That probably won’t stay No. 1. I think there’s a .92 or (.93) out there, and we’re going to give it a shot tomorrow,” Pedregon said. “It’d be nice to stay No. 1. It doesn’t win the race, but it gives you some confidence. We’re in the numbers game, so, you know, being in that top three or four is important.
“The thing about this place, it’s near the ocean. Anytime you get near the ocean at sea level, you’re going to get good atmospheric conditions. The challenge for our cars is we have more power than we really need, so the challenge for us is to pull it back and not get too fancy and cute. We had a good balance, and it ripped, man. It was a good run.”
Spencer Hyde was second with a 3.953 at 323.58 mph. Jordan Vandergriff, who won the South Georgia race earlier this month, sat third at 3.970, 321.88.
Anderson took one look at the weather conditions and did what he usually does when Mother Nature lends a helping hand. The six-time NHRA champion jumped to the top of the order with a 6.494-second run at 211.79 mph in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. It proved to be the only sub-6.50 run of the opening session.
The venue may be new to the NHRA schedule, but it isn’t new to Anderson. Long before he became one of the division’s most decorated drivers, he was making trips to Maryland as the crew chief on Warren Johnson’s Pro Stock entries.
“I remember so many times coming here back 25 years ago … and we’d come up here and we would race the Wednesday night before Englishtown and the grandstands would be packed. It’s just a great atmosphere,” Anderson said.
“We love going to sea level-type tracks, because we don’t have a blower, we don’t have any type of power. We’re dependent on Mother Nature. We hope and pray we get races somewhere through the season that have conditions like this. These are fantastic conditions; they’re basically Disneyland conditions, and you’ll see the cars all run faster tomorrow. You should see a lot of 6.40 runs tomorrow.”
Points leader Dallas Glenn stayed close with a 6.497 at 211.26 mph. Matt Latino was third after a 6.504, 212.56.
The quickest runs weren’t necessarily the biggest story Friday. That distinction belonged in the Pro Stock Motorcycle pit area.
Smith posted a career-best 6.690 at 202.97 mph less than 24 hours after husband and team owner Matt Smith was hospitalized with gallstone issues and ruled out for the weekend.
Despite being sidelined, Matt Smith remained an integral part in his team’s Friday performance. Chip Ellis was called in to take over as the rider on Matt Smith’s Buell, and the six-time champion made tuning decisions from the hospital.
The result was a dominant showing for the team, with Angie Smith leading the field, Richard Gadson qualifying second at 6.729 for the Vance & Hines team, and Ellis sitting third at 6.743.
Coming off a heartbreaking final-round loss in Chicago when her motorcycle broke on the starting line against her husband, Angie Smith arrived at MIR already carrying emotional baggage. Friday added another layer few racers ever experience.
“My run was awesome. I cried. I don’t usually cry at the racetrack because I’m usually pretty tough, but I was just scared, you know?” she said. “I have made probably 5,000 runs down a racetrack, and zero have been without Matt Smith. I knew he was watching, I’m pretty sure he was proud. Matt tuning from the hospital is pretty remarkable to me, because he’s not here to look at the weather conditions, look at the track and do a lot of the things that he takes into account when he makes a tune-up call. So all I can say is, ‘Honey, you did a remarkable job.’
“I’m relieved, to say the least. It’s just been a lot the last 24 hours, and this whole day has been a blur. I’m just glad that we ran well. I’m glad that all the bikes went down and everybody was safe. That was my main goal. I’ve never had this much responsibility, and the whole team rose to the occasion.”
Qualifying for the NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by Jegs continues at 12:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday at Maryland International Raceway.
Friday’s results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the Inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS at Maryland International Raceway, seventh 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, 3.758 seconds, 336.23 mph; 2. Doug Kalitta, 3.774, 333.91; 3. Tony Stewart, 3.790, 333.33; 4. Leah Pruett, 3.799, 323.43; 5. Maddi Gordon, 3.805, 332.34; 6. Josh Hart, 3.811, 333.91; 7. Antron Brown, 3.823, 329.42; 8. Clay Millican, 3.839, 321.88; 9. Shawn Reed, 3.865, 323.50; 10. Spencer Massey, 3.865, 323.27; 11. Justin Ashley, 3.868, 322.50; 12. Billy Torrence, 3.891, 323.81; 13. Will Smith, 3.959, 295.92; 14. Lex Joon, 4.345, 197.31; 15. Tony Schumacher, 5.386, 144.30.
Funny Car — 1. Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, 3.951, 323.19; 2. Spencer Hyde, Ford Mustang, 3.953, 323.58; 3. Jordan Vandergriff, Chevy Camaro, 3.970, 321.88; 4. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.985, 320.36; 5. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.989, 326.87; 6. J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 4.015, 327.03; 7. Blake Alexander, Charger, 4.018, 319.90; 8. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 4.018, 316.30; 9. Alexis DeJoria, Camaro, 4.025, 318.32; 10. Austin Prock, Mustang, 4.036, 316.90; 11. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 4.050, 321.88; 12. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.058, 321.42; 13. Paul Lee, Charger, 4.114, 311.13; 14. Del Worsham, Toyota Supra, 4.261, 250.00; 15. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 5.309, 130.49.
Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.494, 211.79; 2. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.497, 211.76; 3. Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.504, 212.56; 4. Cody Anderson, Camaro, 6.505, 211.56; 5. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.506, 211.86; 6. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.512, 211.76; 7. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.518, 211.56; 8. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.535, 212.06; 9. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.535, 210.87; 10. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.562, 210.60; 11. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.592, 211.79; 12. Brandon Miller, Dodge Dart, 6.602, 209.56; 13. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 6.607, 211.43; 14. Alan Prusiensky, Dart, 6.795, 193.49; 15. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 12.658, 98.77; 16. Erica Enders, Camaro, 16.655, 59.96.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.690, 202.97; 2. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.729, 201.31; 3. Chip Ellis, EBR, 6.743, 201.16; 4. John Hall, Beull, 6.746, 202.55; 5. Ryan Oehler, Buell, 6.770, 201.10; 6. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.773, 199.82; 7. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.778, 200.32; 8. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.787, 202.06; 9. Clayton Howey, Suzuki, 6.788, 200.02; 10. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.818, 198.47; 11. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.828, 195.11; 12. Brayden Davis, Buell, 6.838, 157.39; 13. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 6.921, 197.13; 14. Charles Poskey, Suzuki, 6.942, 196.90; 15. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 6.960, 191.87.
