By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio

ENNIS, Texas — Shawn Langdon, Austin Prock, Greg Anderson and Richard Gadson lit up the Texas Motorplex on Friday night, racing to provisional No. 1 qualifying positions and pocketing bonus money during the “Battle for the Saddle” at the 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals — part of the Stampede of Speed’s milestone celebration.

The quartet shined during “JEGS Friday Night Live” qualifying which feature drivers in the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series battling in the fourth of six Countdown to the Championship playoff races that is being held this weekend. More than $40,000 in bonus money was up for grabs, with Top Fuel and Funny Car low qualifiers earning $15,000 each, Pro Stock’s top qualifier taking home $7,500, and Pro Stock Motorcycle collecting $5,000.

Shawn Langdon, Top Fuel Provisional No. 1 qualifier. (NHRA photo)

Langdon rockets to Top Fuel lead

Shawn Langdon powered his Kalitta Air 25th anniversary dragster to the provisional No. 1 spot with a run of 3.684 seconds at 338.88 mph, aiming for his first top qualifying position of the season and the 22nd of his career.

Langdon, who sits third in the championship standings behind Justin Ashley and teammate Doug Kalitta, knows a win on Sunday could keep his title hopes alive.

“We know our team’s capable of it,” Langdon said. “We just ran into certain situations throughout the year and just kind of got behind a little bit here and there. Brian [Husen, crew chief] is doing a really good job with the car. We felt like tonight was important. Brian felt like he could go 3.68 and that was his target, and that’s what it ran, so it gives me a lot of confidence because it shows he’s got a handle on the car.

“There’s three races left, and we’re in the position we’re at however many points back, so we just need to go win. We’ve got to get a couple wins in there.”

Shawn Reed was close behind with a 3.685 at 333.56, and defending event winner Justin Ashley followed at 3.688 at 338.02. Langdon, who has never won at the Motorplex, will look to turn his Friday night success into his first victory in Texas.

The highlight of the night occurred when Brittany Force lit up the scoreboard after posting a run of 3.703 seconds at 340.57 mph in her Monster Energy Top Fuel Dragster. It was her 11^th 340-mph run of the 2025 season and the first ever at the Texas Motorplex.

Austin Prock, Provisional No. 1 qualifier. (NHRA photo)

Prock doubles up in Funny Car

Defending Funny Car world champion Austin Prock continued his remarkable 2025 campaign, storming to the top spot with a 3.876 at 336.07 in his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS, earning another $15,000 “Battle for the Saddle” bonus and his third career Friday night specialty event triumph.

Prock, who leads the Funny Car standings with eight victories this season, was looking for redemption after an early exit at the previous race in St. Louis.

“It’s whoever wins the most in these last three races,” Prock said. “I’m not even counting points at this point. It’s so close. We just got to go out there and try and win the next three races, and if we do that, we’ll be back-to-back world champions — and that’s got a nice ring to it.

“The mindset this weekend was to just go out there and kill it. Getting this No. 1 qualifier, this should hold on for the rest of the weekend. The track is going to continuously get better, and hopefully we can do some damage on Sunday. I’m ready for the fight.”

Matt Hagan, who closed the points gap with his win at St. Louis, sits second after a 3.889 at 334.55, followed by Jack Beckman’s 3.892 at 330.83. Prock is also chasing his first career victory at the Texas Motorplex.

Greg Anderson, Pro Stock Provisional No. 1 qualifier. (NHRA photo)

Anderson stays hot in Pro Stock

Six-time world champion Greg Anderson kept his late-season surge alive, grabbing the provisional No. 1 in Pro Stock with a 6.497 at 209.88 mph in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro to earn a $7,500 bonus.

The reigning world champ, coming off a win in St. Louis, collected his seventh No. 1 qualifier of the season and second consecutive “Battle for the Saddle” win under the lights at the Motorplex.

“I’ve done this a while and there’s not that much that gets my heart ticking, but it did tonight,” Anderson said. “When you look around and the lighting is just perfect, absolutely perfect out there, it’s magical. It feels fantastic and you just tell yourself over and over, focus, man, focus.

“The run was very nice. I saw Dallas’ [Glenn] 6.507 scoreboard ahead of me, and I knew that was going to be tough to get around. I’m just super proud of the KB Titan team. They did a great job.”

Shawn Reed posted a 6.504 at 210.99 for second, while points leader Dallas Glenn was third with a 6.507 at 209.72.

Richard Gadson, Pro Stock Motorcycle Provisional No. 1 qualifier. (NHRA photo)

Gadson grabs glory in Pro Stock Motorcycle

Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader Richard Gadson made a statement on Friday night, blasting to a 6.747 at 201.59 mph aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki to pick up the $5,000 bonus and the provisional No. 1 qualifier.

If it holds, it would be Gadson’s second No. 1 of the season. The second-year rider is clinging to a 29-point lead with three races remaining and is focused on maintaining his momentum.

“From the championship standpoint, obviously, I’m counting every point I can find,” Gadson said. “I’m just feeling good about the bike, feeling good about the performance, and I’m holding on for dear life right now, so I’ll take anything I can get.

“Championship battle aside, I’ve always wanted to have a specialty low qualifier Friday. We have a few of them throughout the year, but none of them are like the Stampede of Speed, where you get to get up there on the saddle. I’ve always wanted to sit up there — I don’t think I ever have — so this was pretty cool.”

Defending event and world champion Gaige Herrera was second at 6.767 at 200.35, while teammate and rookie Brayden Davis followed close behind with a 6.772 at 200.53, giving Vance & Hines a 1-2-3 sweep on the provisional qualifying chart.

Qualifying continues at 12 p.m. CT on Saturday at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals. The elimination rounds are set for Sunday at 10 a.m.

Media Center Interviews:

Shawn Langdon – 

Austin Prock – 

Greg Anderson – 

Richard Gadson – 

ENNIS, Texas — Friday’s results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex, 18th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel — 1. Shawn Langdon, 3.684 seconds, 338.88 mph; 2. Shawn Reed, 3.685, 333.56; 3. Justin Ashley, 3.688, 338.02; 4. Antron Brown, 3.695, 336.70; 5. Doug Kalitta, 3.701, 338.37; 6. Brittany Force, 3.703, 340.57; 7. Steve Torrence, 3.709, 332.59; 8. Tony Stewart, 3.724, 331.86; 9. Clay Millican, 3.737, 333.63; 10. Josh Hart, 3.740, 330.79; 11. Tony Schumacher, 3.745, 335.50; 12. Jasmine Salinas, 3.760, 332.86; 13. Ida Zetterstrom, 3.788, 326.70; 14. Doug Foley, 3.826, 321.41; 15. Mitch King, 4.131, 259.23; 16. Cameron Ferre, 4.412, 188.30.

Funny Car — 1. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.876, 336.07; 2. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.889, 334.55; 3. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.892, 330.83; 4. Chad Green, Ford Mustang, 3.901, 331.17; 5. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 3.915, 321.68; 6. Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 3.918, 329.38; 7. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.929, 327.75; 8. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.932, 332.08; 9. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 3.945, 299.28; 10. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.954, 323.37; 11. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.969, 291.85; 12. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.970, 325.36; 13. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.044, 304.84; 14. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.073, 311.81; 15. Alex Laughlin, Charger, 4.073, 273.71; 16. Chris King, Charger, 4.157, 244.27. 

Not Qualified: 17. Blake Alexander, 4.282, 215.69.

Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.497, 209.88; 2. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.504, 210.99; 3. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.507, 210.37; 4. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.515, 209.57; 5. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.519, 210.69; 6. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.519, 209.91; 7. Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.523, 207.39; 8. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.534, 209.60; 9. Chris Vang, Camaro, 6.535, 209.64; 10. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.537, 211.43; 11. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.539, 210.53; 12. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.545, 210.71; 13. Stephen Bell, Camaro, 6.549, 209.50; 14. Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.550, 209.23; 15. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.552, 210.62; 16. David Cuadra, Camaro, 6.554, 210.61. 

Not Qualified: 17. Cristian Cuadra, 6.554, 210.26; 18. Mason McGaha, 6.564, 209.88; 19. Chris McGaha, 6.576, 210.69; 20. Fernando Cuadra Jr., 6.597, 209.34; 21. Kenny Delco, 6.601, 209.89.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.747, 201.59; 2. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.767, 200.35; 3. Brayden Davis, Suzuki, 6.772, 200.53; 4. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.777, 199.07; 5. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.803, 200.15; 6. John Hall, Beull, 6.815, 200.38; 7. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.831, 195.07; 8. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.843, 198.55; 9. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.869, 194.38; 10. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.871, 198.94; 11. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.880, 194.28; 12. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.881, 195.36; 13. Clayton Howey, Suzuki, 6.885, 197.20; 14. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.886, 196.27; 15. Charles Poskey, Suzuki, 7.081, 189.40; 16. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.262, 181.55.