By Mike Haag | Raceday San Antonio
ENNIS, Texas — Reigning world champion Dallas Glenn made the quickest run in Pro Stock history Saturday at Texas Motorplex, capturing the No. 1 qualifying position with a world-record pass during the Texas NHRA FallNationals.
Glenn powered his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro to a record-setting run of 6.434 seconds at 213.50 mph, earning his third No. 1 qualifying position of the season and 15th of his career. His performance highlighted the quickest Pro Stock qualifying field in NHRA history, with all 16 drivers recording elapsed times in the 6.40-second range.
“When we were getting ready to drive here from North Carolina, we were looking at the weather coming up and telling ourselves that as long as we could run as good as we did last year, we should be able to get the record,” Glenn said.
Glenn nearly missed his opportunity after an engine malfunction slowed an earlier qualifying attempt. But with favorable conditions still in place, his team made adjustments that produced the historic run.
“When it left, it felt really good,” Glenn said. “I was telling myself, ‘Don’t mess this up because you’re on a run.’”
The accomplishment was especially meaningful to Glenn, who believes earning the top qualifying position in Pro Stock can be more difficult than winning a national event.
“Not only do you have to make the perfect run, but you have to do it at the right time, too,” Glenn said. “With so many other cars out there, if you make just one little mistake, somebody else is going to be making the run where they’re not making a mistake.”
Aaron Stanfield qualified second with a 6.443 at 213.42 mph, followed by Matt Latino, who was third at 6.447 and 213.63. Glenn will open Sunday’s eliminations against No. 16 qualifier Stephen Bell as he seeks his fifth victory of the season and an opportunity to close the championship gap on points leader Greg Stanfield.
With Stanfield qualifying ninth, the two championship contenders could meet in the second round, provided both advance.
“You really don’t get that many opportunities to race the guy that’s ahead of you on points that often,” Glenn said. “So I definitely need to take advantage of it. I have not taken advantage of it yet, and we really need to, or else this championship is going to get really tough.”
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, two-time world champion Gaige Herrera continued his recent surge, securing his fourth No. 1 qualifying position of the season with a run of 6.651 seconds at 203.05 mph aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki.
Herrera, coming off a victory in St. Louis, made the quickest run in each of Saturday’s final two qualifying sessions and capitalized on favorable conditions at Texas Motorplex. “Today was very satisfying,” Herrera said. “We had awesome conditions all day. The weather was cool and crisp. I felt like it was record-setting weather, but we didn’t really capitalize on the 60-foot.”
Herrera entered the weekend less than 35 points behind teammate and reigning world champion Richard Gadson in the championship standings. With valuable qualifying points secured, Herrera will look to make up additional ground Sunday when he faces No. 16 qualifier Hector Arana Jr. in the opening round of eliminations.
“My bike’s been running very good,” Herrera said. “I feel good on the bike, making good runs between the left and right lane. So I’m feeling good going into tomorrow.”
Herrera said his recent success has come after rediscovering the enjoyment of racing, something he admitted had slipped away following his dominant championship seasons in 2023 and 2024.
“I kind of got too relaxed,” Herrera said. “Last year I had ups and downs, and I just wasn’t in the zone.”
That renewed mindset has helped Herrera regain his consistency and confidence as the Countdown to the Championship enters its final stages.
“The main thing is go out there, have fun, and remember that I’m a kid living the dream, getting to ride these motorcycles,” Herrera said. “I just had to go back to that.”
Joey Gladstone qualified second in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a run of 6.653 seconds at 202.89 mph, followed by Matt Smith at 6.659 and 204.18. Gadson qualified fifth with a 6.692 at 202.07, setting the stage for another pivotal day in the championship battle when eliminations begin Sunday.
ENNIS – Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 41st annual Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex, the 18th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Pairings based upon results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.
Top Fuel – 1. Shawn Langdon, 3.648-seconds, 340.39 mph vs. 16. Jake Sanders, 3.844, 319.78; 2. Tony Stewart, 3.668, 343.70 vs. 15. Spencer Massey, 3.758, 327.80; 3. Doug Kalitta, 3.668, 338.80 vs. 14. Tony Schumacher, 3.755, 336.68; 4. Antron Brown, 3.677, 335.32 vs. 13. Dan Mercier, 3.748, 329.89; 5. Leah Pruett, 3.691, 336.05 vs. 12. Billy Torrence, 3.730, 335.35; 6. Maddi Gordon, 3.701, 333.43 vs. 11. Shawn Reed, 3.727, 333.78; 7. Justin Ashley, 3.713, 335.80 vs. 10. Clay Millican, 3.716, 332.45; 8. Josh Hart, 3.714, 337.64 vs. 9. Will Smith, 3.714, 335.80.
Did Not Qualify – 17. Lee Callaway, 3.863, 308.77; 18. Charles Loftin, 3.926, 281.51; 19. Cameron Ferre, 4.021, 301.45.
Funny Car – 1. Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 3.852, 330.13 vs. 16. Terry Haddock, Ford Mustang, 4.033, 310.97; 2. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.855, 334.80 vs. 15. Hunter Green, Charger, 3.985, 321.31; 3. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.855, 323.83 vs. 14. Austin Prock, Mustang, 3.930, 300.20; 4. Alexis DeJoria, Camaro, 3.873, 333.09 vs. 13. Dave Richards, Mustang, 3.925, 333.68; 5. J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 3.874, 337.13 vs. 12. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 3.922, 323.93; 6. Jordan Vandergriff, Camaro, 3.881, 333.83 vs. 11. Blake Alexander, Toyota Supra, 3.914, 327.92; 7. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.896, 329.98 vs. 10. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.912, 328.37; 8. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.899, 324.61 vs. 9. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.910, 330.32.
Did Not Qualify – 17. Chris King, 4.038, 311.22; 18. Jeff Arend, 4.050, 315.99; 19. Jim Campbell, 4.083, 311.18; 20. Jeff Diehl, 4.331, 214.65.
Pro Stock – 1. Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.434, 213.50 vs. 16. Stephen Bell, Camaro, 6.495, 211.26; 2. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.443, 213.42 vs. 15. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.473, 213.03; 3. Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.447, 213.63 vs. 14. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.472, 212.21; 4. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.449, 211.95 vs. 13. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.471, 211.69; 5. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.452, 213.76 vs. 12. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.469, 212.59; 6. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.457, 213.95 vs. 11. Cody Anderson, Camaro, 6.468, 212.01; 7. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.458, 213.37 vs. 10. Chris Vang, Camaro, 6.464, 211.67; 8. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.459, 212.91 vs. 9. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.460, 212.80.
Did Not Qualify – 17. Shane Tucker, 6.502, 213.44; 18. Mason McGaha, 6.514, 212.30; 19. Cliff Mayes, 6.621, 210.41.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.651, 203.05 vs. 16. Hector Arana Jr., EBR, 6.880, 198.00; 2. Joey Gladstone, Buell, 6.653, 202.89 vs. 15. G.T. Tonglet, Buell, 6.873, 196.63; 3. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.659, 204.18 vs. 14. Malcolm Phillips Jr., Suzuki, 6.867, 194.12; 4. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.689, 201.53 vs. 13. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.809, 196.09; 5. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.692, 202.07 vs. 12. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.803, 198.46; 6. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.718, 201.58 vs. 11. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 6.789, 200.60; 7. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.733, 201.13 vs. 10. Clayton Howey, Buell, 6.753, 199.21; 8. John Hall, Buell, 6.735, 201.72 vs. 9. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.750, 199.17.
Did Not Qualify – 17. Hector Arana, 6.969, 197.19; 18. Blaine Hale, 7.624, 176.88.
