NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Pro Stock Motorcycle Q1

Qualifying begins in the heat of the day with a racing surface that has had toasty warm sun shining on it all the live-long day, but the Pro Stock Motorcycle class does not appear to be hindered. 

An early highlight was Malcolm Phillips making taking to the drag strip for the first time in a year. He’s riding a motorcycle he got from G.T. Tonglet, and he takes it to a 7.027, 191.62 to get the ball rolling. 

The Matt Smith Racing Buells were strong this session with Jianna Salinas and her Valley Service Scrappers Racing V-Twin making the first 200 mph of the weekend, then Angie Smith making the best run from their stable, a 6.808 at a big 201.41 aboard her pink Denso machine. 

“I was surprised with the 201; Matt [Smith, husband and tuner], you’re doing a good job. Thank you,” she said, elated to be racing at an event that she missed last year after a St. Louis wreck. “Hats off to the Meyer family; we love racing here.” 

It was defending event champion Gaige Herrera on top at the end of this first session, though, with a bold 6.791, 200.10. 

“There is a lot of competitiveness out here,” said Herrera. “But that’s what it’s all about. We’re all shooting for that [bonus] money tonight.” 

Pro Stock Q1

Derrick Reese got things started for the Pro Stocks driving his Kenny Delco Racing entry. Reese, who has plentiful experience in Mountain Motor cars, calls on past experience to tame the beast as his car was way out of shape soon after launching. 

Deric Kramer is back after a two-race respite in his Get BioFuel Chevrolet, but his burnout sounded wonky and he ended up shut off and unable to make the run. There are 19 cars on the property, which means Kramer is among those needing to make a good run later tonight — it’s likely to provide the best conditions of the weekend. 

Defending and three-time Dallas winner Erica Enders did not get to make a run in her JHG/Melling Performance Chevrolet — she was shut off on the starting line as fluid was leaking from her car on the starting line. This is her first race without longtime Elite Motorsports crew chief Mark Ingersoll, who had a double lung transplant just a handful of days ago.

“It’s super unfortunate to watch Jeggie go out there and run straight to the top; I know we can run equally as good as him,” said Enders. “It’s kind of the way things have been going for me, but we’re going to remain positive. I got to talk to [Mark] Ingersoll right before that run. He’s got his iPad in his room, and he’s watching us and to me that’s all that really matters right now.” 

The session closed with the top two drivers in the standings looking for any edge as they chase those bonus qualifying points. Aaron Stanfield, who entered the event 31 points back from points leader Dallas Glenn, makes the third quickest run of the round (6.566) for a point in his Elite Motorsports-powered JHG/Melling/Janac Brothers Chevy. Glenn’s 6.581 in the RAD Torque Systems Camaro settles him into the No. 5 spot for now. 

The top spot changed hands a number of times throughout this session, with six-time Texas Motorplex winner Greg Anderson ultimately ending up in the No. 1 spot on a 6.556, 210.47. 

Jeg Coughlin Jr. earned a pair of bonus points for his 6.564, and Anderson scored three as low of the round for HendrickCars.com.

Funny Car Q1

Eleven cars qualified in the three-second zone in the opening session, whetting appetites for what will come later tonight under the lights.

Blake Alexander, who has qualified Jim Head’s entry fourth or better at three of the last five events including in his lone season win in Brainerd, led the way with a 3.878 with Pep Boys Callout winner Paul Lee second at 3.889 on a run where he came close to glancing off the guardwall just past the finish line but nonetheless made it to the stripe clean,

Matt Hagan grabbed the final bonus points with a 3.902 to solidly set himself in the field for what would be his 350th career eliminations start.

“It’s all about setting yourself up for tonight’s run,” said Hagan crew chief Dickie Venables. “That’s about what we were looking for so we’ll take that and get ready for tonight.”

Neither points leader Austin Prock nor teammate and primary championship challenger got any bonus points as they finished fourth and fifth with respective runs of 3.905 and 3.908.

Alexis DeJoria, who made her first career Funny Car start at this event in 2011, followed with a 3.915, with Bob Tasca III (3.946), Ron Capps (3.946), J.R. Todd (3.957), Daniel Wilkerson (3.965) and Cruz Pedregon (3.987) rounding out the three-second runners.

Texan Buddy Hull sits on the bump spot of what is already a quick field with a 4.177.