Courtesy of the NHRA

MADISON, Ill. – Funny Car points leader Ron Capps powered to an impressive run on Friday, racing to the provisional No. 1 spot at the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Ron Capps. 10th Annual NHRA Midwest Nationals. NHRA photo

Mike Salinas (Top Fuel) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 16th of 20 races during the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season and the third race in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Looking for his second world championship, Capps put together a pass of 3.888-seconds at 332.59-mph in his 11,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, running side-by-side with Don Schumacher Racing teammate and defending world champ Matt Hagan during Friday’s lone qualifying session. It was a thrilling side-by-side run, as Hagan, who is second in points, went 3.889 at 332.75. If it holds, it would give Capps the top spot for the fifth time this year and 30th time in his career.

“That felt great,” said Capps, who has four wins at St. Louis. “You’re always going to have to go through Hagan and that run was a sign of things to come. I saw his flames beside me and my car was just hauling the mail. Man, 332 mph is great. We haven’t done that in a while. We’ll take it. It’s going to be a lot of fun these next few races.”

Mike Salinas. 10th Annual NHRA Midwest Nationals. NHRA photo

After Hagan, young driver Bobby Bode is third after a career-best pass of 3.891 at 322.04. Robert Hight and Tim Wilkerson round out the top five with runs of 3.902 and 3.905, respectively.

In Top Fuel, Salinas made a tremendous run, far outdistancing the rest of the field after going 3.652 at 327.74 in his 11,000-horsepower Scrappers Racing dragster. Should it hold, it would give Salinas his first No. 1 qualifier of the year and seventh in his career as he also seeks his first victory of the season. Currently eighth in points, Salinas has advanced to one final round in 2021. He was the only driver to run in the 3.60s, with three-time defending world champ Steve Torrence currently in second after an impressive run of 3.702 at 328.30. After winning eight times in the regular season, Torrence is after his first victory in the playoffs.

His father, Billy, is third following his run of 3.717 at 330.96. Points leader Brittany Force is in the 16th spot after the first session, going 5.620 at 116.81.

Greg Anderson. 10th Annual NHRA Midwest Nationals. NHRA photo

Looking to make Pro Stock history this weekend in St. Louis, Anderson got off to a great start on Friday, jumping to the top position with a run of 6.536 at 209.65 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. If it holds, it would give the Pro Stock points leader his ninth No. 1 qualifier this season and 115th in his career. Of course, Anderson is also after his fourth win in 2021, which would give him 98 career wins and the all-time record in Pro Stock.

While he jumped to No. 1, there were plenty of standouts right behind, as Kyle Koretsky, who won last weekend in Charlotte by beating Anderson in the final round, went 6.538 at 210.28 to follow up his first career Pro Stock win. Defending world champ Erica Enders is currently third after her run of 6.545 at 209.49.

Qualifying continues at 1:15 p.m. CT on Saturday at the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Interviews:

Mike Salinas –

Ron Capps –

Greg Anderson –

MADISON, Ill. — Friday’s results after the first one of three rounds of qualifying for the 10^th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, 16th of 20 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel — 1. Mike Salinas, 3.652 seconds, 327.74 mph; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.702, 328.30; 3. Billy Torrence, 3.717, 330.96; 4. Tripp Tatum, 3.745, 323.81; 5. Doug Kalitta, 3.747, 325.14; 6. Josh Hart, 3.761, 323.19; 7. Antron Brown, 3.765, 323.97; 8. Justin Ashley, 3.770, 327.03; 9. Scott Palmer, 3.772, 317.57; 10. Spencer Massey, 3.793, 322.65; 11. T.J. Zizzo, 3.798, 325.53; 12. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.809, 316.82; 13. Lex Joon, 3.953, 240.12; 14. Joey Haas, 3.966, 298.27; 15. Buddy Hull, 5.086, 147.86; 16. Brittany Force, 5.620, 116.81.

Not Qualified: 17. Leah Pruett, 6.680, 104.23; 18. Clay Millican, 6.747, 92.81; 19. Keith Murt, 6.857, 139.75; 20. Shawn Langdon, 11.560, 73.67.

Funny Car — 1. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 3.888, 332.59; 2. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.889, 332.75; 3. Bobby Bode, Ford Mustang, 3.891, 322.04; 4. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.902, 326.87; 5. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.905, 322.11; 6. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.907, 329.91; 7. J.R. Todd, Toyota Camry, 3.915, 330.72; 8. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.926, 324.36; 9. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 4.094, 305.77; 10. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.129, 234.33; 11. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.177, 259.51; 12. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.242, 290.51; 13. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.291, 212.26; 14. John Force, Camaro, 5.816, 125.75; 15. Chris King, Camry, 7.334, 98.49.

Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.536, 209.65; 2. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.538, 210.28; 3. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.545, 209.49; 4. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.546, 208.39; 5. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.549, 209.20; 6. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.552, 209.43; 7. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.564, 210.08; 8. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.564, 208.81; 9. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.569, 207.82; 10. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.574, 209.52; 11. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.595, 208.59; 12. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.603, 208.10; 13. Fernando Cuadra, Mustang, 6.620, 208.91; 14. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.629, 209.10; 15. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.635, 208.52; 16. Marty Robertson, Mustang, 6.637, 208.46.

Not Qualified: 17. Robert River, 7.184, 148.27; 18. Fernando Cuadra Jr., 7.444, 143.35; 19. Mason McGaha, 27.444, 26.48.