Four drivers left World Wide Technology Raceway on Friday night holding provisional No. 1 spots as the NHRA Midwest Nationals opened under the lights. Doug Kalitta, Austin Prock, Eric Latino and Gaige Herrera each paced their categories, gaining momentum and, in some cases, unique hardware.
Kalitta set the tone in Top Fuel, running 3.675 seconds at 334.82 mph in his Mac Tools dragster. The pass put the points leader atop the Countdown to the Championship standings and earned him a Rawlings “Top Hitter” bat, part of a baseball-themed promotion honoring St. Louis’ sports heritage.
“That was really cool to end up with the bat; it’s engraved and the whole deal,” Kalitta said. “I was sitting back there thinking, ‘Man, I sure hope my car goes down the track because everyone is really running well.’ Got down there and it felt good. Real fortunate to be able to pull off a good run and come out No. 1 so far.”
Kalitta has four career wins at the St. Louis track, but chasing a fifth will mean holding off a loaded field. Reigning champion Antron Brown is second at 3.688 and 337.41, with regular-season champ Tony Stewart third at 3.690 and 335.15. Shawn Reed followed at 3.703, while Brittany Force took fifth at 3.709 and 340.47. Kalitta said every point matters but stressed that eliminations are the priority. “It’s all about Sunday and going rounds and trying to get to the finals,” he said. “It’s going to take any point you can get with the Top Fuel group. Everybody is running strong.”
In Funny Car, Prock continued his knack for shining on Friday night. The reigning world champion drove to a 3.845 at 337.16 mph, good for his fifth provisional No. 1 of the season and another Rawlings bat for his growing collection.
“That was a nice clean pass during Q3, it felt really smooth leaving the starting line,” Prock said. “The lane felt really difficult to drive tonight, a lot of cars earlier in the session were getting inside, and there’s just not as much traction toward the centerline. So, I was a little bit clenched going up there and didn’t want to make that mistake, but I worked with (track specialist) Lanny Miglizzi and my crew chiefs on how to aim the car, and it went right down the center of the racetrack.”
Four-time champion Matt Hagan was second at 3.868, while Daniel Wilkerson held third with a 3.871. Prock said the added Friday-night incentives have become a pattern for him and his team. “It’s been pretty cool,” he said. “Anytime there’s anything on the line on Friday night, we’ve been good enough or lucky enough to take home the award. It’s cool to add this bat to the list.”
Latino added his own chapter in Pro Stock, powering to a 6.515 at 209.75 in his GESi Chevrolet Camaro. The pass edged Dallas Glenn’s 6.516 at 209.14 and put Latino in line for his first career No. 1 qualifier since moving to the class.
“I felt like it was a good run,” Latino said. “As I came around the corner, they opened the door and told me to hurry up and get up there, Dallas Glenn is off the seat and that baseball bat is yours. I was a little bit in disbelief because it’s really tough to be No. 1 qualifier in this class. It was just a good run.”
Cory Reed, winner at Norwalk, sits third at 6.523 and 209.10, while Matt Hartford and Erica Enders rounded out the top five. For Latino, the lap represented both execution and validation within the powerhouse KB Titan lineup.
Herrera returned to the top in Pro Stock Motorcycle, making a 6.741-second pass at 200.41 mph on his Suzuki. The defending champion, currently fourth in points, secured his seventh provisional No. 1 of the year while chasing teammate and points leader Richard Gadson.
“I’m definitely counting all these little points,” Herrera said. “We were able to capitalize tonight on the good weather. I hope that No. 1 qualifier sticks going into Sunday, but you never know — this track has been really good. One thing I love about drag racing is that you never know how the table is going to turn or what’s going to happen.”
Herrera led a Vance & Hines sweep at the top, with Gadson second at 6.759 and 200.02 and rookie Brayden Davis third at 6.767 and 198.47. Matt Smith Racing filled out the next three spots, leaving the class’s two dominant teams in control.
Qualifying continues at 12:15 p.m. CT Saturday, with eliminations scheduled for Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway.
