The competition in NHRA’s Pro Stock category is as tight as ever.

The qualifying ladder at the Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis was proof.

Kyle Koretsky (6.510 seconds and 211.00 mph) was No.1 followed by Greg Anderson (6.510 seconds, 210.97 mph); Aaron Stanfield (6.511 seconds, 211.33 mph) and Erica Enders (6.511 seconds, 210.34 mph).

“It felt good,” Koretsky said of his run. “I knew the team's been working on the engines real hard. I've been struggling a little bit as a team with the engines, but Greg (Anderson) and Jeff and all the guys back at the shop at KB have been really busting their butt to make sure that all these cars are fast. I think we're all kind of in a little bit of a slump somewhat as a team, but to go out there and go low for Friday night was pretty cool.”

Koretsky came to St. Louis fifth in the points standings. This is second No. 1 qualifying position this season to go with the one he had in Phoenix. He has three No. 1 qualifiers in his short career.

“Huge,” Koretsky said about the run meant to him. “My confidence was good coming in now. I was disappointed in myself in Reading. I really wanted to win that race and last weekend, second round, but my confidence is high. (My) team gives me a good car. Everyone works together and it flows over there at KB, so it's nice to (know) you can jump in a car and know that this thing's going to be good. It takes a little pressure off you as a driver.”

Counting St. Louis, there are four races remaining in the Countdown to the Championship.

“We're in the Countdown, so now is the time to get all your ducks in a row and make every single run as clean as possible,” Koretsky said. “I think that's what the KB car did here this weekend. Last run we kind of swung for the fence and had a little driver hiccup there. But we'll be good for eliminations. Sunday, I think we have a bye run, so that’s nice. Takes a little pressure to get one win light, but, yeah, we'll keep going.

“I think the crew will try something (on the bye run). They're always looking to better the team. So, we'll try something and try to hit the tree on my end and try to make a clean run because we definitely want lane choice. It's very important here and to make a clean run, A to B, and do the best we can.”

In the highly talented Pro Stock class, Koretsky know he has to be up to the challenge.

“You just got to dig deep. Dig deep,” he said. “Every car here from No. 1 to 16 can win and that's cool. That's why I love Pro Stock. It's nothing (against) other classes (or anything) like that. Everyone's fighting week in and week out to tear each other's head off and we're here as a team, KB to put these three cars (Greg Anderson), (Dallas) Glenn and (me) 1, 2, 3, every single weekend and yeah, we're ready. We're here as a team and we're going to win as a team and lose a team, but we're going to try to hold our position.”

Koretsky will have a first-round bye, and then will face the winner of Bo Butner and Deric Kramer in round two.

“I'm not perfect. I'm far from perfect,” Koretsky said. “But Jason Line said, ‘you make a mistake and once you think you’ll fix it, you always make it again.’ So, I'll try to be the best I can. Being perfect is Pro Stock. That's what's it’s about. Pro Stock you have to be perfect if you want to be the best. So, we're going to give it Hell.”

Koretsky is coming off a second-round loss to Troy Coughlin Jr. in Charlotte, the last race, and has a 22-15 elimination round in 2022.

“This is where it counts,” Koretsky said. “I mean, every point. I think we picked up, all except for that last run, we didn't get the baby points there, but every point counts and you need clean runs. Consistency is going to win, and we'll try to hunt down that red car of Elite and show them that KB didn't give up. We know the guys are trying hard, digging deep, and it's up to the drivers and I think we have three of the best drivers out here and we're chasing them hard, and we definitely didn't give up.”

Koretsky has enjoyed being part of the KB program, where Anderson brought home of the world championship a year ago. 

“I mean, I think I was fortunate since day one to be a part of the KB team and have Jason Line and Greg, they're the best,” he said. “They're knowledgeable and they want to win. They want to win more than anybody. But they show that here at KB that they give everybody a fair shot and a car to win. I thought he would go out there and get us by a couple of thousandths, but I knew our cars were on a strong run. The thing's just smooth. It's really making good runs and she's healthy, motor is happy. So, when a motor's happy and driver's happy, crew is happy. I think one thing is try to get that blue hat and the Wally and everybody's happy.”