Doug Kalitta – NHRA Photo
KALITTA, PROCK & LATINO OPEN NHRA BRAINERD NATIONALS IN PROVISIONAL NO. 1 SPOTS
BRAINERD, Minn. – Reigning Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta earned
the provisional No. 1 spot on Friday at Brainerd International Raceway
to kick off the weekend at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals.
Kalitta took his Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster to a 3.705-second pass at
340.30 mph to land in the provisional No. 1 qualifier position on
Friday, while also winning the Brainerd “Battle for the Axe,”
presented by Visit Brainerd & Baxter, along with bonus money and
bragging rights. Kalitta has three wins this season, including
back-to-back victories in Sonoma and Seattle.
“I had a lot of confidence in Alan (Johnson, crew chief) and in our
ability to get to the top,” said Kalitta. “The car left well, pulled
hard and stayed nice and straight. It was a good, solid run for us.”
With momentum on his side and as the reigning NHRA Brainerd Nationals
winner, Kalitta is confident in his team’s abilities to perform at the
pivotal race.
“I’ve got the best crew behind me,” said Kalitta. “With Alan
Johnson building these cars and the performance he gets from his
engines, I couldn’t be more fortunate to be in the situation I’m
in.”
Top Fuel rookie standout Maddi Gordon is currently second with her 3.725
at 336.15, while current points leader Shawn Langdon is third thanks to
his 3.731 at 334.57.
Austin Prock (Funny Car) and Matt Latino (Pro Stock) are also the
provisional No. 1 qualifiers in Brainerd at the 13th of 20 races during
the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Reigning Funny Car world champion Austin Prock took the provisional No.
1 spot in his Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang thanks to his 3.893 at
329.91. After winning the NHRA Brainerd Nationals last season en route
to his second consecutive world championship, Prock has his sights set
on another Brainerd win and his second victory of the year for Tasca
Racing.
“I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished this season,” said
Prock. “We were 14th in points for the first six races of the year,
and now we’re creeping up on fifth going into the Countdown. A lot of
progress has been made.
“We figured if we ran between an .87 and an .89, we’d have a pretty
good shot at being the No. 1 qualifier and we did that. It was a good
way to end my birthday here in Brainerd.”
Jack Beckman took the second spot with his 3.903 at 324.67, with Dave
Richards in third after his 3.924 at 327.66.
Pro Stock’s Matt Latino has his eye on his first NHRA No. 1 qualifier.
If his 6.588 at 207.21 stays best of the class, he’ll start race day
as the top qualifier in his FASS Diesel Solutions Chevrolet Camaro.
“Last year, I did pretty well for a rookie and got comfortable in the
car quickly. I brought some good brands on board, and I’m thankful
they stayed with me for the full season. I don’t do anything unless I
can excel at it. That’s not me pounding my chest and saying I’m the
best—it’s about dedication.”
Reigning Pro Stock champ Dallas Glenn is second with a 6.588 at 206.29,
while Pro Stock rookie Cody Anderson is third with his 6.589 at 206.99.
Qualifying continues at 12 p.m. CT on Saturday at the NHRA Brainerd
Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.
***
BRAINERD, Minn. — Friday’s results after the first two of four rounds
of qualifying for the 44th annual NHRA Brainerd Nationals at Brainerd
International Raceway, 13th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag
Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final
eliminations.
Top Fuel — 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.705 seconds, 340.30 mph; 2. Maddi Gordon,
3.725, 336.15; 3. Shawn Langdon, 3.731, 334.57; 4. Justin Ashley, 3.743,
333.99; 5. Billy Torrence, 3.754, 330.96; 6. Antron Brown, 3.763,
330.55; 7. Tony Stewart, 3.765, 332.34; 8. Leah Pruett, 3.769, 331.04;
9. Will Smith, 3.780, 326.00; 10. Clay Millican, 3.818, 326.00; 11.
Shawn Reed, 3.849, 324.67; 12. Tony Schumacher, 3.892, 258.22; 13. Josh
Hart, 3.909, 261.12; 14. Keith Murt, 3.935, 305.77; 15. Scott Palmer,
3.994, 249.49; 16. Cameron Ferre, 4.118, 289.69.
Funny Car — 1. Austin Prock, Ford Mustang, 3.893, 329.91; 2. Jack
Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 3.903, 324.67; 3. Dave Richards, Mustang, 3.924,
327.66; 4. Alexis DeJoria, Camaro, 3.927, 325.92; 5. Ron Capps, Toyota
GR Supra, 3.930, 322.27; 6. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.940, 323.66; 7.
Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.942, 319.52; 8. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.972,
318.99; 9. Jordan Vandergriff, Camaro, 3.975, 302.82; 10. J.R. Todd, GR
Supra, 3.976, 321.88; 11. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.986, 322.04; 12.
Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 3.988, 284.93; 13. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.299,
210.01; 14. Jack Wyatt, Charger, 4.831, 168.16.
Pro Stock — 1. Matt Latino, Chevy Camaro, 6.588, 207.21; 2. Dallas
Glenn, Camaro, 6.588, 206.29; 3. Cody Anderson, Camaro, 6.589, 206.99;
4. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.590, 208.14; 5. Greg Anderson, Camaro,
6.591, 206.57; 6. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.592, 207.59; 7. Chris Vang,
Camaro, 6.597, 207.27; 8. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.599, 206.89; 9. Jerry
Tucker, Camaro, 6.604, 206.42; 10. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.605, 207.21;
11. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.607, 206.76; 12. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.610,
207.53; 13. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.613, 207.34; 14. Aaron Stanfield,
Camaro, 6.617, 205.85; 15. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.620, 206.83; 16. Troy
Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.621, 207.69. Not Qualified: 17. Joe Wilczek,
9.335, 100.55; 18. Alan Prusiensky, 9.999, no speed.
-NHRA-