The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to World Wide Technology Raceway for the decisive Saturday qualifying sessions of the NAPA Auto Parts Midwest Nationals. After a dazzling Friday night under the stadium lights, teams now have two more chances to improve their provisional starting positions, capture valuable qualifying bonus points and cement a spot in Sunday’s elimination field. This event marks the third race of the six-stop Countdown to the Championship making every tenth of a second crucial for drivers seeking to climb the playoff ladder.
Top Fuel and Funny Car battles heat up
In the Top Fuel class, Shawn Langdon continued his dominant form by posting the fastest elapsed times in both Friday sessions. His first run of 3.679 seconds at 339.87 mph was followed by a 3.682-second pass at 338.51 mph under the lights, giving him a slim.025-second edge over Antron Brown heading into Saturday. Behind them, Maddi Gordon (3.708) and Spencer Massey (3.715) kept the pressure on, while veteran Doug Kalitta and former champion Tony Stewart looked to bounce back after Friday’s technical hiccups.
The Funny Car lineup produced a remarkable dead-heat: Alexis DeJoria and points-leader Matt Hagan both recorded 3.882-second elapsed times. DeJoria claimed the provisional pole by virtue of a higher speed – 334.65 mph versus Hagan’s 331.85 mph – and snagged the Top Dog bonus. Jack Beckman lingered close at 3.888 seconds, and J.R. Todd posted a session-best 336.07 mph. With a packed field of sixteen spots, the final two qualifying rounds could dramatically shuffle the order, especially for racers like reigning champion Austin Prock and Ron Capps, who struggled with traction on Friday.
Pro Stock and Motorcycle contenders lock in positions
The Pro Stock brackets are tighter than ever. Troy Coughlin Jr. edged points leader Greg Stanfield by a razor-thin 0.001 second, posting a 6.473-second run at 211.69 mph. Greg Anderson settled into third with 6.479 seconds, while Aaron Stanfield and Matt Hartford trailed closely. Eight cars have already dipped below the 6.491-second mark, meaning every qualifying bonus point earned on Saturday could prove decisive as the championship enters its midpoint.
On the two-wheeled side, Gaige Herrera delivered a masterful Pro Stock Motorcycle performance, clocking 6.666 seconds at 202.03 mph to seize the provisional pole and the Top Dog bonus. Angie Smith and Joey Gladstone split the next two positions by a single thousandth of a second, underscoring how competitive the class has become. Herrera, a three-time St. Louis winner, now chases points leader Richard Gadson, hoping that a top qualifying spot will narrow the championship gap.
Schedule, fan experience and historic sellout
Saturday’s itinerary begins with the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series eliminations at 8 a.m., followed by the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod qualifiers at 11 a.m. and again at 1:45 p.m. The Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown posts qualifying at 11:20 a.m. with eliminations later at 5:05 p.m. The main event – the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series – starts its professional qualifying at noon, with the final nitro session at 2:30 p.m. and the Pro Stock & Motorcycle rounds wrapping up by 3:30 p.m.
For the sixth straight year, Saturday’s reserved-seat grandstand sold out in advance, a testament to the growing enthusiasm for drag racing in the St. Louis market. Every ticket doubles as a pit pass, granting spectators a rare glimpse of crews servicing 12,000-horsepower machines between runs, plus access to driver autograph sessions and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway. Children 12 and under enjoy free admission when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.
Eliminations kick off Sunday at 10 a.m. CT, where the final 16 qualifiers will battle for the coveted win. Fans can renew for the 2027 event at the on-site Midway kiosk and receive a limited-edition commemorative ring honoring 16-time champion John Force. For tickets or more information, visitors should contact the WWTR ticket office at (618) 215-8888 or visit.
