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DEJORIA STRIKES UNDER THE LIGHTS AS LANGDON, COUGHLIN AND HERRERA LEAD ST. LOUIS

October 3, 2026
by Bobby Bennett

Friday night qualifying is where crew chiefs quit hedging their bets and start showing their hands.

Alexis DeJoria and John Force Racing showed theirs at World Wide Technology Raceway, and it was good enough to leave everybody else in Funny Car chasing them into Saturday.

DeJoria ripped off a 3.882-second pass at 334.65 mph in the Bandero Café Chevrolet SS, grabbing the provisional No. 1 position during the opening day of qualifying for the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals.

Shawn Langdon continued his Countdown roll by leading Top Fuel with a 3.679 at 339.87. Troy Coughlin Jr. paced Pro Stock at 6.473 and 211.69, while Gaige Herrera put a 6.666 at 202.03 on the board to lead Pro Stock Motorcycle.

For DeJoria, the Friday night run was more than another solid qualifying ticket. Her Funny Car has shown enough speed to threaten the front of the field this season, but she entered St. Louis still looking for her first No. 1 qualifier of 2026.

She has qualified No. 2 twice. If the 3.882 survives Saturday’s final two sessions, DeJoria will earn the seventh No. 1 qualifier of her career.

“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.”

There wasn’t much breathing room at the top.

Points leader Matt Hagan matched DeJoria’s 3.882, but his 331.85 mph speed left him second on the tiebreaker. DeJoria’s John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman was third with a 3.888 at 332.10.

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

Langdon arrived in St. Louis with considerably more than momentum. He’s carrying the hottest Top Fuel car in the Countdown.

Back-to-back victories at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park and Rockingham Dragway put Langdon atop the standings, and Friday’s 3.679 at 339.87 showed nothing had cooled off during the trip west. If it holds, the Kalitta Motorsports driver will collect his seventh No. 1 qualifier of the season.

Langdon owns seven victories and entered the weekend with a 25-point advantage over teammate and reigning world champion Doug Kalitta. He has also reset the national speed record twice this season, but October isn’t the time for collecting trivia when a championship is sitting there for the taking.

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

Langdon has won at World Wide Technology Raceway before, although he did it in a Funny Car. A Sunday victory would give him his first Top Fuel win at the facility and continue a Countdown start that has produced exactly what championship teams need: round wins.

Four-time world champion Antron Brown was second with a 3.704 at 334.90. Rookie Maddi Gordon continued making noise in her first Top Fuel season, taking the provisional third position with a 3.708 at 335.90.

Coughlin’s Pro Stock season has taken a sharp turn at exactly the right time.

He snapped a 41-race winless drought at Martin in the Countdown opener, then rolled into St. Louis and put the JEGS entry on the provisional pole with a 6.473 at 211.69. If nobody gets around him Saturday, it will be Coughlin’s first No. 1 qualifier since 2023.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been low qualifier,” Coughlin said. “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.”

There was virtually nothing separating Coughlin from Rockingham winner Greg Stanfield. Stanfield stopped the clocks at 6.474 and 210.93, just .001 behind Coughlin, while six-time world champion Greg Anderson was third at 6.479 and 210.50.

Herrera’s relationship with St. Louis has become considerably less complicated than everyone else’s in Pro Stock Motorcycle. He shows up, and more often than not, the rest of the class spends the weekend trying to get him out of the way.

The three-time defending event winner ran 6.666 at 202.03 on his Suzuki to claim Friday’s provisional No. 1 spot. If it survives Saturday, Herrera will have his third No. 1 qualifier of the 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.”

Angie Smith, the Maryland winner, was second at 6.696 and 199.88, with Joey Gladstone third at 6.697 and 202.15.

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

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.

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Breaking News

DEJORIA STRIKES UNDER THE LIGHTS AS LANGDON, COUGHLIN AND HERRERA LEAD ST. LOUIS

Friday night qualifying is where crew chiefs quit hedging their bets and start showing their hands.

Alexis DeJoria and John Force Racing showed theirs at World Wide Technology Raceway, and it was good enough to leave everybody else in Funny Car chasing them into Saturday.

DeJoria ripped off a 3.882-second pass at 334.65 mph in the Bandero Café Chevrolet SS, grabbing the provisional No. 1 position during the opening day of qualifying for the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals.

Shawn Langdon continued his Countdown roll by leading Top Fuel with a 3.679 at 339.87. Troy Coughlin Jr. paced Pro Stock at 6.473 and 211.69, while Gaige Herrera put a 6.666 at 202.03 on the board to lead Pro Stock Motorcycle.

For DeJoria, the Friday night run was more than another solid qualifying ticket. Her Funny Car has shown enough speed to threaten the front of the field this season, but she entered St. Louis still looking for her first No. 1 qualifier of 2026.

She has qualified No. 2 twice. If the 3.882 survives Saturday’s final two sessions, DeJoria will earn the seventh No. 1 qualifier of her career.

“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.”

There wasn’t much breathing room at the top.

Points leader Matt Hagan matched DeJoria’s 3.882, but his 331.85 mph speed left him second on the tiebreaker. DeJoria’s John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman was third with a 3.888 at 332.10.

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

Langdon arrived in St. Louis with considerably more than momentum. He’s carrying the hottest Top Fuel car in the Countdown.

Back-to-back victories at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park and Rockingham Dragway put Langdon atop the standings, and Friday’s 3.679 at 339.87 showed nothing had cooled off during the trip west. If it holds, the Kalitta Motorsports driver will collect his seventh No. 1 qualifier of the season.

Langdon owns seven victories and entered the weekend with a 25-point advantage over teammate and reigning world champion Doug Kalitta. He has also reset the national speed record twice this season, but October isn’t the time for collecting trivia when a championship is sitting there for the taking.

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

Langdon has won at World Wide Technology Raceway before, although he did it in a Funny Car. A Sunday victory would give him his first Top Fuel win at the facility and continue a Countdown start that has produced exactly what championship teams need: round wins.

Four-time world champion Antron Brown was second with a 3.704 at 334.90. Rookie Maddi Gordon continued making noise in her first Top Fuel season, taking the provisional third position with a 3.708 at 335.90.

Coughlin’s Pro Stock season has taken a sharp turn at exactly the right time.

He snapped a 41-race winless drought at Martin in the Countdown opener, then rolled into St. Louis and put the JEGS entry on the provisional pole with a 6.473 at 211.69. If nobody gets around him Saturday, it will be Coughlin’s first No. 1 qualifier since 2023.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been low qualifier,” Coughlin said. “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.”

There was virtually nothing separating Coughlin from Rockingham winner Greg Stanfield. Stanfield stopped the clocks at 6.474 and 210.93, just .001 behind Coughlin, while six-time world champion Greg Anderson was third at 6.479 and 210.50.

Herrera’s relationship with St. Louis has become considerably less complicated than everyone else’s in Pro Stock Motorcycle. He shows up, and more often than not, the rest of the class spends the weekend trying to get him out of the way.

The three-time defending event winner ran 6.666 at 202.03 on his Suzuki to claim Friday’s provisional No. 1 spot. If it survives Saturday, Herrera will have his third No. 1 qualifier of the 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.”

Angie Smith, the Maryland winner, was second at 6.696 and 199.88, with Joey Gladstone third at 6.697 and 202.15.

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

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.

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DEJORIA STRIKES UNDER THE LIGHTS AS LANGDON, COUGHLIN AND HERRERA LEAD ST. LOUIS

October 3, 2026 No Comments

Friday night qualifying is where crew chiefs quit hedging their bets and start showing their hands. Alexis DeJoria and John Force Racing showed theirs at World