By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio

ENNIS, Texas — Austin Prock is determined to turn heartbreak into hardware this weekend at the 40th annual Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex.

Austin Prock, Funny Car No. 1 qualifier. (NHRA photo)

A year after suffering a crushing semifinal loss when his car broke on the starting line, Prock is back in Texas at the Stampede of Speeed looking for redemption — and a cowboy hat.

“I’ve always wanted a cowboy hat,” Prock said. “We had a great race car last year and had some misfortune there in the semi-finals. So yeah, we want to redeem ourselves this year. We did that earlier this season in Brainerd after a tough race there last year, and there’s no reason we can’t do it again. Everybody’s got their head on straight and they’re ready to attack. I’m looking for four round wins tomorrow and wearing that cowboy hat all night.”

Prock, driving the 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS, powered to the No. 1 qualifying position Friday night with a 3.876-second run at 336.07 mph, his sixth No. 1 qualifier of the season. Despite sizzling track temperatures on Saturday, he backed it up with a solid 3.934 at 330.18 mph to close out qualifying.

“The points are so close right now, so we just have to focus on going out and winning every race that’s left,” Prock said. “Whoever wins the most in this next three-race shootout is going to be world champion. We’ve got to focus on our race car and what we’re doing, and right now, our race car looks good.”

Prock, who has eight wins this season and 20 in his career, leads Matt Hagan by just 20 points in the Countdown to the Championship heading into Sunday’s elimination rounds. Hagan, who is fresh off a win at St. Louis, qualified 12th and will face Paul Lee in the opening round, while Prock will take on Blake Alexander.

“Sunday, that’s where the big points are,” Prock said. “The qualifying points are nice, but we need to get as many of those big ones as we can.”

The 29-year-old driver credited his John Force Racing crew for delivering consistency in all conditions throughout the weekend.

“Our two runs today were, for our team, more impressive than our run last night,” Prock said. Getting down the racetrack efficiently and a few hundredths ahead of the field definitely feels good — especially after smoking the tires in Q1. To rebound in those hot conditions felt great. We’re going to have similar conditions tomorrow, so hopefully the track stays in good shape and we can keep knocking those numbers off.”

Prock said his team’s adaptability this season has been key to staying in the championship hunt.

“This team’s been doing a great job getting up and down the track efficiently in both sets of conditions — hot or cool,” he said. “We’ve won races in both, and that’s what you have to do to win a championship. When you can run good in all sorts of conditions, you’re prepared for anything.”

Ron Capps qualified second with a 3.889 at 334.55 mph, followed by Prock’s teammate Jack Beckman in third at 3.892, 330.83 mph.

As Prock eyes his first Texas Motorplex win, he knows what’s at stake.

“It’s everything,” Prock said. “We’re not counting points at this point — we’re counting wins. Whoever wins the most from here on out is going to be champion. And I plan on making sure one of those wins comes right here in Texas.”

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

Langdon Locks Down No. 1 in Top Fuel

Shawn Langdon wasn’t challenged for the top spot in Top Fuel qualifying on Saturday. His blistering 3.684-second run at 338.88 mph in his Kalitta Air 25th Anniversary dragster easily held up to earn his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 22nd of his career.

Langdon’s strong performance on Friday night set the tone for the weekend and puts the former world champion in prime position for Sunday’s elimination rounds. He will open the eliminations against Mitch King.

“We feel like we have a slightly better car with the cooler conditions, so we were hoping for that, but it hasn’t played out that way,” Langdon said. “You have to have a good, fast car when you need it, but also a consistent one, and that’s been our focus the last couple races — getting the car manageable where we can.”

Langdon, who sits 81 points behind teammate Doug Kalitta in the standings, said the team has been emphasizing steady improvement and confidence heading into raceday. “It’s nice to make some good runs on Friday and Saturday and set the tone,” Langdon said. “You try to make the best run possible to get yourself set up so you have confidence for raceday.”

Shawn Reed qualified second with a 3.685 at 333.56, and Justin Ashley, last year’s event winner, took third at 3.688 at 338.02. Championship leader Doug Kalitta grabbed the No. 5 spot with a 3.701 at 338.37.

“Obviously, I always have a lot of confidence in this team,” Langdon said. “We were able to pick up a couple bonus points, which are very critical at this point in the season. We’re on a good track right now, and hopefully we can put it all together tomorrow and finally get it done here in Texas.”

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

Anderson, Gadson secure No. 1 Qualifiers in Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle

Greg Anderson delivered another strong performance and held on to the No. 1 qualifying spot in Pro Stock with his 6.497-second run at 209.88 mph from Friday night. The five-time world champion backed it up with two solid passes on Saturday in the Texas heat.

Anderson, who trails KB Titan Racing teammate Dallas Glenn in the championship standings, earned his seventh No. 1 qualifier of the season and will look to claim his seventh career victory at the Motorplex on Sunday. He’ll face David Cuadra in the opening round of eliminations.

“We’ve learned how to manage a hot racetrack,” Anderson said. “The whole KB Titan team has been doing a great job and hopefully tomorrow will be great. We’re going to have to be great because there’s a lot of really good cars out there. We love racing here in Texas, and we’re thrilled to have this car on the pole again.”

Cory Reed qualified second with a 6.504 at 210.99, while Glenn was close behind in third at 6.507 at 210.37 as the Pro Stock championship battle tightened heading into Sunday’s elimination rounds.

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

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Richard Gadson earned his second career No. 1 qualifier, both coming this season, after posting a 6.747 at 201.59 mph on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki. The points leader will take on Lance Bonham in Sunday’s first round as he chases his first career NHRA win at the Texas Motorplex.

“I’m just trusting my team,” Gadson said. “They’ve given me a great bike, and all I have to do is pop the clutch and hit the button on time. I’ve been having a great time here at the Stampede of Speed, and we’ve got four rounds to go on Sunday to win it.”

Defending world champion Gaige Herrera, who has won the last two years at the Motorplex, improved on Saturday to qualify second at 6.752, 200.71, while rookie Brayden Davis grabbed the third spot with a 6.771 at 201.46.

Media Center Interviews:

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Shawn Langdon – 

ENNIS, Texas — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 40th annual Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex, the 18th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Top Fuel — 1. Shawn Langdon, 3.684 seconds, 338.88 mph vs. 16. Mitch King, 4.030, 302.30; 2. Shawn Reed, 3.685, 333.56 vs. 15. Kyle Satenstein, 3.948, 278.79; 3. Justin Ashley, 3.688, 338.02 vs. 14. Doug Foley, 3.826, 321.41; 4. Antron Brown, 3.695, 336.70 vs. 13. Ida Zetterstrom, 3.788, 326.70; 5. Doug Kalitta, 3.701, 338.37 vs. 12. Jasmine Salinas, 3.760, 332.86; 6. Brittany Force, 3.703, 340.57 vs. 11. Tony Schumacher, 3.745, 335.50; 7. Steve Torrence, 3.709, 332.59 vs. 10. Josh Hart, 3.740, 330.79; 8. Tony Stewart, 3.724, 331.86 vs. 9. Clay Millican, 3.737, 333.63.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Cameron Ferre, 4.031, 291.24.

Funny Car — 1. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.876, 336.07 vs. 16. Blake Alexander, Dodge Charger, 4.124, 309.38; 2. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.889, 334.55 vs. 15. Alex Laughlin, Charger, 4.073, 273.71; 3. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.892, 330.83 vs. 14. Dave Richards, Ford Mustang, 4.047, 316.81; 4. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.901, 331.17 vs. 13. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.044, 304.84; 5. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.915, 321.68 vs. 12. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.970, 325.36; 6. Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 3.918, 329.38 vs. 11. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.969, 321.75; 7. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.929, 327.75 vs. 10. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.954, 323.37; 8. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.932, 332.08 vs. 9. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 3.945, 299.28.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Chris King, 4.157, 244.27.

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

Did Not Qualify: 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, 6.599, 209.89.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.747, 201.59 vs. 16. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.262, 181.55; 2. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.752, 200.71 vs. 15. Charles Poskey, Suzuki, 7.081, 189.40; 3. Brayden Davis, Suzuki, 6.771, 201.46 vs. 14. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.886, 196.27; 4. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.777, 199.07 vs. 13. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.881, 195.36; 5. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.803, 200.15 vs. 12. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.880, 194.28; 6. John Hall, Beull, 6.815, 200.38 vs. 11. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.871, 198.94; 7. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.826, 198.24 vs. 10. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.869, 194.38; 8. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.835, 198.96 vs. 9. Clayton Howey, Suzuki, 6.868, 196.62.