Shawn Langdon went to the top on Friday’s final run at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, taking the provisional No. 1 spot to open professional qualifying at the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals.
In the other pro categories, Jack Beckman topped Funny Car, Greg Stanfield set the pace in Pro Stock, and Matt Smith was tops in Pro Stock Motorcycle. The race is the 14th of 20 races in the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, and the finale of the regular season.
Langdon saved his best for last, driving the Kalitta Motorsports SealMaster dragster to a 3.727-second run at 334.98 mph. The former champion is seeking his sixth No. 1 qualifier of the season and 28th of his career.
The run came at a good time for Langdon, who slipped to second in the standings behind teammate Doug Kalitta at Brainerd two weeks ago. He entered Indy 67 points behind the reigning NHRA champion with the regular-season championship still in play.
“It was definitely a big confidence boost for the team and it takes some of the pressure off for the rest of the weekend,” Langdon said. “The last couple of races, things just didn’t really seem to go our way. We still have a good car, though, and we still know what our group is capable of, so this is definitely a good start to the weekend. With the amount of cars that we have [22 in Top Fuel], we know we’re in, so not qualifying goes out of your head.”
Langdon is chasing his third U.S. Nationals victory. Tony Stewart opened qualifying second at 3.744 and 328.22, with wife Leah Pruett third at 3.772, 326.24.
Beckman put John Force Racing on top of a 23-car Funny Car field with a 3.937 at 326.79 in the PEAK Chevrolet SS.
One year after ending Friday night atop the qualifying order at Indy, Beckman did it again while carrying another John Force throwback scheme. This year’s black-and-white design honors Force’s dominant 1996 championship season.
“It’s awesome to be No. 1 qualifier when there are 16 cars, but I don’t want to say it’s essential when there are 23 cars – it just sets you right,” Beckman said. “It’s a unique race because we get five qualifiers. It’s the only event where we’re only scheduled for one run on Friday, and we only get one night session. This might be an interesting weekend. Sunday, it looks like the forecast is a lot more favorable. Maybe there’s a chance to swing harder than that, and I hope there is.
“It’s so rewarding when you step on the throttle on one of these things, and it just keeps motoring down there. I don’t know if ours mixed a cylinder up – it wasn’t a great mile an hour, but it was efficient.”
Beckman is seeking his third No. 1 qualifier this season and 36th of his career. He also enters Sunday’s PlayNHRA All-Star Callout as the No. 1 seed.
Ron Capps was only .001 behind Beckman with a 3.938 and 329.10. Back-to-back event winner Austin Prock sits third at 3.943, 313.37.
Greg Stanfield gave Elite Motorsports the opening-day advantage in Pro Stock, putting his Janac Brothers Racing entry on top with a 6.650, 206.01.
Stanfield entered the weekend third in points and has been Elite’s leading driver in the standings this season. If his time holds through qualifying, it would give the veteran his second No. 1 of the year.
“If you could be number one at the end of the session, it’s a great day for us, so we’re tickled to death with where we finished up,” Stanfield said. “Looking at the weather for Sunday, and as the race goes on, I think the weather’s going to get better, so things will kind of get jockeyed around. But it feels good to start out on top for sure.
“I love this race. It’s our best race. So, hopefully, we can just keep moving forward and we need luck. That’s what we need more than anything.”
Stanfield knows his way to the Indy winner’s circle, having won Pro Stock at the U.S. Nationals in 2010.
Defending event winner Erica Enders is second after a 6.661 at 206.67. Seven-time Indy winner and points leader Greg Anderson also ran 6.661, with his 205.60 mph speed placing him third.
Pro Stock Motorcycle returned from its extended summer break with Matt Smith Racing controlling the top of the qualifying sheet.
Matt Smith led the way with a 6.864, 198.90 aboard his Denso Auto Parts Buell, while wife Angie Smith was second at 6.905, 196.64. John Hall completed the team’s hold on the top three with a 6.910, 195.65.
The full Pro Stock Motorcycle field had not competed since late June, although eight riders returned for the GETTRX All-Star Callout in July. Matt Smith used the downtime to prepare for the hot, humid conditions awaiting the class at Indianapolis.
“I thought it was pretty good. We went to Rockingham [Dragway] and made a bunch of test laps,” Smith said. “We spent two days down there in conditions just like this. It was hot and humid, and we dedicated ourselves to it because we knew it was probably going to be hot here.
“Sunday might be a little different, but right now I think we got a good little start. We had some time off and we worked really hard preparing motors and getting everybody’s stuff fresh for this race and for the Countdown.”
Smith entered Indy fourth in the standings and is seeking his third No. 1 qualifier of the season and 62nd of his career.
Professional qualifying continues Saturday at 12:30 p.m. EDT at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
