Friday night's qualifying at the NHRA Midwest Nationals was hot and fast, with head flames high and adrenaline pumping even higher for the drivers competing in the third of six NHRA Countdown to the Championship events. They have been named provisional low qualifiers and on Saturday at World Wide Technology Raceway, these four drivers are the target.
Doug KalittaCountdown's incredible performance continued Friday in St. Louis as he drove the Mac Tools dragster to the top in a 3.70-second pass at 331 mph. Kalitta, the incoming points leader, took a huge turn in the first Countdown race when an on-track dispute led to a return to a backup dragster. The previously unkind car took on a new demeanor when given this second chance, and Kalitta not only won Reading, but followed it up with a win at Charlotte a few days later. Here in St. Louis, that dragster – perfected to the tune of Alan Johnson and Brian Hoosen – had no intention of quitting. Saturday's weather was forecast to be quite toasty and this could prove difficult. Mike Salinas – who became the first driver in history to hit 300 mph in the 1/8th mile last weekend – sits in the No. 2 spot in the Valley Services dragster, and Andron BrownMatco Tools' Rail was just 0.004 back from Salinas in the No. 3 spot.
Kalitta scored three bonus points to extend his lead, while Salinas earned two and Brown earned one. Steve Torrens, who entered the event No. 2 in the Top Fuel standings, is currently No. 13 on the page – but with two sessions today, it's reasonable to expect improvement for the four-time champion. Justin Ashley, the regular-season winner, came to St. Louis fourth in points – and is No. 3 on the qualifying sheet for day two, while Buddy Hull and Terry Totten are eager to make a move and break through. in the field.
Young Cody Kron, aged just 19, is making his Top Fuel debut in the event. He posted an impressive 3.81, 319 and is currently No. 10.
Blake Alexander and his Jim Head Racing Pronto Auto Parts Funny Car ran a spectacular 3.88, 326 pass and held the lead until the last pair when Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft Quicklane Ford Mustang blew it out of the water with a 3.85, 324. Alexander's display was especially exciting coming off a string of early losses, and he'll be one to watch Saturday in St. Louis and he and his team are working to improve what already seems possible.
The target on Tasca's back, meanwhile, is growing as he continues to show that the coordination team of Aaron Brooks and Todd Okuhara can excel under any circumstances. The provisional low qualifier aims to secure his sixth No. 1 of the year and 14th of his career. Last weekend in Charlotte, he went on to win the race from the No. 3 spot to move up to No. 2 in the standings. Robert Hight leads the points in his AAA Cornwell Tools Chevrolet, and he and his team have work to do as they look to move up from the No. 13 spot.
Hite's boss, 16-time world champion John Force, sits No. 3 on the sheet. The reigning series champion Ron Cappsfour-time St. Louis winner, were tied with Matt Hagan for third parties in the Funny Car spots heading to St. Louis. Capps is provisionally No. 14 on the ladder, while Hagan is No. 4. With 17 cars vying for 16 spots, the odd man out right now is Cruz Pedregon.
Defending Pro Stock Champion Erica Enders collected three bonus points as the fastest driver Friday in the Johnson's Horsepowered Garage Chevrolet Camaro and her Elite Motorsports teammate Troy Coughlin Jr.driving the JEGS.com Chevy, is right back in the No. 2 spot. Charlotte winner Greg Andersonthe winningest driver in class history, also earned a bonus point and is No. 3 in his HendrickCars.com Camaro.
Leader of incoming points Matt Hartford sits as the No. 4 qualifier right now, partnered by KB Titan Racing Kyle Koretsky No. 5. Just four points separated Enders from Hartford going into the last game, and with Enders' performance Friday, that gap narrowed to a single point. Dallas Glennwho won the regular season, is No. 3 in the standings and is looking for another shot after finishing second last weekend in Charlotte.
With 18 cars in attendance, Robert River and Derrick Kramer are on the outside looking in with big plans to claim the race start.
Defending Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion Matt Smith had to pull a big switch after a major engine damage at Charlotte left him without an effective bullet for the Midwest Nationals. He's back on the bike he rode in the previous three championships, and although it's only for one race while he works to source parts for his DENSO Suzuki, Smith plans to make the most of the opportunity. He was No. 2 in Pro Stock points entering the event and is No. 2 on the qualifying sheet.
As it has been for much of the season, Gaige Herrera sits atop the Vance & Hines Mission Suzuki with a 6.71 on the 201 that was five hundredths faster than the run Smith put down. Herrera's teammate Vance & Hines, Eddie Kravitz, has two previous wins in St. Louis and is currently third in the qualifying series. He was holding onto No. 4 in the Pro Stock Motorcycle points heading into this race, while Hector Arana Jr., the 2015 St. Louis winner, was third. Arana is looking to move higher than fourth in the qualifying series, where he currently resides.
2022 EVENT WINNERS
Steve Torrence, Top Fuel; Robert Hight, Funny Car; Erica Enders, Pro Stock, Matt Smith, Pro Stock Motorcycle
MOST EVENT WINS
Antron Brown, 5, TF; Ron Capps, 4, FC; Erica Enders, 6 PS; Matt Smith, 5, PSM
TRACK RECORDS
Top Fuel – – 3.631 seconds by Clay Millican, Sept. '17; 338.43 mph by Brittany Force, Oct. '22
funny car – 3,830 seconds by Robert Hight, Sep '17; 338.60 mph by Hight, Sep. '17
Pro Stock –6.492 seconds by Greg Anderson, Sep '15; 213.47 mph by Line, Sept. '12
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.709 seconds by Matt Smith, Sep '22; 203.22 mph by M Smith, Oct '22
PROGRAM:
SATURDAY, Sept. 30
Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Eliminations at 8 a.m
FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series Qualifiers at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown prelims at 4:15 and 7:15 p.m.
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Qualifiers at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m.
SUNDAY 1 OCT
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series eliminations begin at 11 a.m
TV
Sunday, October 1: FOX Sports 1 (FS1), will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 2:00 p.m. ET and three hours of finals coverage at 3:00 p.m. ET
You can also watch the action at NHRA.tv.
