SATURDAY NOTEBOOK - IT'S A HOT ONE OUT THERE 

1 - AUSTIN PROCK TIES THE BOSS - John Force set the record for most No. 1 qualifiers in one season back in 1995. Austin Prock, the Funny Car driver who tied the record on Saturday with his 13th No. 1 qualifier, was only one year old when Force did it. 

Prock's team, like the rest of the field, spent much of the day trying to back down a potent race car to face grueling conditions with the expected high-90-degree weather forecast for the Dallas, Texas, area. 

Citing the team’s extensive notebook for all conditions, Prock turned his attention to the seemingly unbeatable record he tied. 

"It's pretty special," Prock said. "I had no idea that there was a record until a few weeks ago, and we've knocked off a few more, and we eventually tied them today,”

"It's pretty special to be added to that list, and to do it in 18 races is pretty incredible. It speaks volumes about this team, my dad, my brother, Nate Hildahl, and everyone that's on this AAA/Cornwall Tools car. I'm really proud of this team and happy to be driving this race car.

"I did talk to John last night and he was so ecstatic to see our race car and his daughter (Brittany’s) race car go No. 1 qualifier (in Top Fuel). He was watching all evening long, and he was really proud. It was nice to hear his voice and know that he was watching and he's proud, and hopefully we can make them proud the rest of the season."

2 - BRITTANY GETS NO. 50 - The gravity of the situation hit Brittany Force the moment she sat down for her post-qualifying interview. She had done this 49 times prior to Saturday's presser at the Texas Motorplex.

Force’s run of 3.667-seconds at 338.19 mph from Friday wasn’t challenged Saturday, handing the 16-time event winner her fourth No. 1 qualifier of the year. She will open eliminations against Spencer Hyde, looking to pick up her first victory since the 2022 season. 

“Just to hear ‘50,’ that’s such a big achievement,” Force said. “It’s a big achievement by all of John Force Racing. It’s something I’m very proud of. It seems like an impossible number, and to have that in my career – to be able to accomplish that – is huge and something I’m very proud of. The cool thing is, it was a collective thing. It was done with so many different teams and crew chiefs that I’ll always look up to. They all taught me things along the way that I still use to this day. I’m very thankful to them that they’re part of my career and getting that 50. 

“To see three (No. 1s) in the last (five) races, it shows that this team is gaining momentum and that we’re moving in the right direction. We’re starting to move on to something positive. But ultimately, we want to perform well on Sunday.”

3 -  TAILWIND MAKES THE DIFFERENCE - In the hotter of the days of the race weekend, no one was hotter than Gaige Herrera in the Pro Stock Motorcycle division. Herrera extended his lead with a 6.749, 202 mph run to secure the eighth No. 1 of the season and the 22nd of his young career. 

"The only thing that made it possible was the tailwind," Herrera admitted. "Just had to catch it at the right time. It was a cross-tail, so I didn't think being in the right lane would affect us as much as it did, but it did. I went 6.749 at 202.52, so that was a good pass. I mean, the bike went straight as an arrow. Andrew [Hines] hit the tune-up just right and it ran good."

Herrera believes Sunday will provide more of the same. 

"I think it's going to be a direct, straight tailwind instead of a cross,” he said. “We'll probably, see pretty good mile an hour tomorrow and be a good day of racing."

 

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4 - ANDERSON REMAINS ON TOP -  Pro Stock’s Greg Anderson secured his sixth No. 1 spot of the season and the 130th in his career. 

Anderson, who is currently fourth in points, made a pair of solid runs on Saturday as well. To stay in the title hunt, Anderson knows he will need a big day in Dallas.

With Erica Enders second and David Cuadra as third, Aaron Stanfield and Dallas Glenn are fourth and fifth. The top two in points – Glenn and Stanfield, respectively – could meet in the second round, with a potential matchup with Anderson looming in the semifinals.

“Three of us are one side. Erica happened to end up on the other side, and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing for her. We’ll see how it plays out tomorrow,” Anderson said. “There’s only going to be one of the three left in the semifinal on our side of the ladder. Without something like that happening at one of these races I probably wouldn’t have a chance to make up ground. If we all four keep making the semifinals, you’re not going to make up much ground. It’s really the only chance I’ve got.

“We’ll see how the cards fall tomorrow, but it's an opportunity. I like that. We’re going to be fast. I’m excited to race, and it could be a turning point of the season. It’s time to either get it done or go home.”

5 - LATINO DISCUSSES FRIDAY NIGHT CRASH - Pro Stock veteran Greg Anderson earned Friday night’s Stampede of Speed qualifying bonus -- $7,500, sitting in tidy stacks in a fancy briefcase -- at the NHRA Texas FallNationals. But he looked at it wistfully, knowing that money had wings on it as soon as he received it. 

Fellow driver Eric Latino, Anderson’s ownership partner at KB Titan Racing, had crashed the Gesi Chevy Camaro ahead of him in the second qualifying session at Texas Motorplex. Latino’s car got loose, clipped a cone as it slipped across the center line, veered right smack into the guardwall, erupted into a massive ball of flames and sparks, and flipped onto its roof. The horrifying spectacle interrupted qualifying, delaying the action.

With that, though, came better air and track conditions, helping Anderson take the provisional No. 1 qualifying position and ace out nemesis Erica Enders. But it came at a steep cost. Anderson said, “I got this briefcase full of money and most of it's coming out of it to pay for the car.”

That they could make jokes, even cheerless ones, is a blessing. Anderson and Latino both knew they can make more briefcases full of money, that the human treasure is what’s irreplaceable. Latino walked away from the ugly mass of melted parts – after crew member Joey Gladstone helped free him from the wreckage. And amazingly, Latino said he experienced no pain or soreness when he awoke Saturday morning and that upon inspection, his car equally miraculously escaped with only minimal damage, relatively speaking.

“I woke up this morning not even realizing I was in a crash last night,” Latino said. “I just got up, walked around, I go, ‘Wow, I can't believe this. I'm touching my toes,’ and I come back up and it's like, ‘Wow. I feel great.’ Actually, I thought the car was a write-off. I looked at it this morning. I'm telling you, all the wheels are dead straight, control arms are straight struck in the car. It just tweaked the front end and scuffed the body. Need a new body, need the front frame section. But as far as all the suspension components and everything, they're all solid Inside. Cockpit looks pretty good.”

After what it went through, that’s remarkable. Latino recounted the experience this way:

“It was like the car was slowly going left and I'm trying to bring it back, and the air was good. The car's accelerating hard. It's going to go left. And it just got too far, and I said, ‘Man, you know what? I should have lifted a second ago.’ It happened so quick. You never know. I didn't know this at this racetrack, but I was told that the track has a real narrow lane and you don't have much of a groove here. But to me, it was pretty good until I got the fourth gear, and the fourth gear, I should have just packed it in and I wouldn't admit it.” – Susan Wade 

 

 

6 - BELLEMEUR CLINCHES TAFC CROWN - Sean Bellemeur secured his fourth Top Alcohol Funny Car Lucas Oil Championship during qualifying behind the wheel of the Bartone Brothers entry. 

This season was a tremendous one for the team, as they scored five national event wins, backed up by three regional victories heading into Dallas. 

“I’m a second-generation driver. My dad was a driver and my mom worked at a race track so I was doomed for this stuff, good thing I fell in love with it,” Bellemeur said. “For Tony Bartone and the whole Killer B’s team it takes an army to win rounds and championships. Thankfully, Tony supports this army. We have our families at home that support us out here chasing our dreams and this makes it all worth it. To win it here in Dallas is great. I ran junior dragsters here and had one of my first wins at this track.

“We had some heartbreak last year (referring to losing the title to Doug Gordon). That lit a fire under this whole team. We saw red after that night. It is a testament to everyone on this team’s hard work to come back this year and win it.

“Of course, without the team that Tony has put together none of this is possible. Steve Boggs, our tuner, Troy Green, Nick Stoms, Justin Taylor, Garret Bateman, Seth Shebester, Matt Krebs, and Lauren McMaster all have a piece of this championship.” 

In addition to the national championship, the team was crowned the NHRA North Central Region Champions by winning two events at Summit Motorsports Park, taking the Wally at National Trail Raceway, and performing strongly at Lucas Oil Raceway Park. 

 

 

7 - NHRA D-1 CLINCHES JEGS ALL-STAR CROWN - The NHRA Northeast Division team claimed its record ninth overall team title at the JEGS Allstars. The victory was fueled by three individual winners and a come-from-behind performance that saw it score 1,400 points.

The North Central Division team, which finished with 1,300 points, initially led the competition before a strong final showing by Division 1 closed the gap. Early in the event, it was a close contest between teams from opposite coasts, but Division 1 surged ahead in the final rounds.

Steve Szupka captured the clinching victory for Division 1 in Comp, defeating defending JEGS Allstars winner Chase Williams. Szupka's impressive .002 light and a (-.535) 6.915 run under pressure secured the title.

Tom and Karen Stalba made history as the first husband-wife duo to place both entries into the final rounds. Tom, a 2003 JEGS Allstars winner, achieved his second win in Super Comp with an 8.892 to 8.862 victory over Division 4’s Michael Holcombe.

In Top Alcohol Dragster, the East Region edged out the North Central Region for victory. Julie Nataas of the Central Region claimed her fourth consecutive JEGS Allstars title, defeating Karen Stalba with a run of 5.313.

Sean Bellemeur, fresh off his fourth world title in Top Alcohol Funny Car, led the “Killer B’s” to victory in the JEGS Allstars. He won with a 5.472 after teammate Chris Foster encountered issues.

Other winners included Trey Vetter (Super Stock), Michael Brand (Stock), Michael Boehner (Super Gas), Vince Musolino (Top Dragster), Curt Fredrich (Top Sportsman), and Alan Bush (Super Street)

The winning team members will share a $20,000 bonus from a total payout exceeding $125,000. Each winner has also earned a spot to return for next year’s 41st annual JEGS Allstars event at Texas Motorplex. 

​8 - STANFIELD LAYS ONE DOWN IN FACTORY X - Greg Stanfield laid down the quickest run of the weekend in the Factory X division, running a 7.009 elapsed time at 193.97 miles per hour. With recent rule adjustments, Stanfield wasn’t surprised by the run. 

"We’ve been in the sixes with this car and with NHRA giving us the pulley swap that we have now, obviously we have more power," Stanfield said. "So we’re all learning how to race with the power we have. So I think if we can make a really good clean run, we probably can go a high 6.90, .98, .97."

Stanfield has been quicker and faster in a Pro Stocker, but the Factory X car is a different breed. 

"It’s like riding a bull for the first three gears with that little tire on the back," Stanfield said. "So, just got to keep the tire under it and she goes."

 

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10 - CAREER BEST FOR RICHARDS - In the heat of the day, when the conditions were at their worst, Dave Richards was at his best a year after his Funny Car was destroyed in a two-car crash with Dale Creasy Jr.

Enter Randy Glady, the driving force behind SCAG Racing. He sponsored the low-budgeted driver with a car to return to competition, and a year later, Richards was able to run a 3.920, 315.99, his personal best. The run vaulted him into the No. 12 qualifying position. 

Richards plays the underdog role, and lately, he’s been getting a good bite out of the competition. 

“We are David, and everyone else is Goliath,” Richards said. “We are just trying to keep up, and we never give up. We kept digging and digging. Just proud to be a part of this team. This SCAG team is awesome. Then, to run a 3.92. Are you kidding me? I’m so happy and excited.” 

 

 

 

 

FRIDAY NOTEBOOK - THE STARS ARE BRIGHT DEEP IN THE HEART OF THE TEXAS MOTORPLEX

1 - BRITTANY SAILS TO THE TOP - Brittany Force lit up the Dallas sky with what could prove to be a milestone run of her career at the Texas Motorplex. Her dragster covered the 1,000-foot distance in 3.667 seconds at 338 miles an hour, and if her time holds through Saturday’s final two qualifying rounds, it would be her fourth number one of the season and her 50th in her career. 

"That was just an amazing run for our team to come out here to Texas," Force said. "We've had a tough year. We've been struggling, and to put a 3.66 on the board, 338 mile per hour, we're very proud of that. That's David Grubnic, that's this entire HendrickCars.com team, and we've been pushing all season long. We've been trying to do that and just to be able to have a killer run like that. We're currently sitting No. 1."

For her Friday-night fireworks, Force pocketed a bonus check of $15,000 and a pair of Corral Boots. 

Force has been on a tear of sorts in the Countdown, and though she entered the weekend ranked eighth, she's not about to throw in the towel on her championship hopes. 

"We won't give up until it's ended and it's done, and it comes down to Pomona, the final event," Force said. "So we keep on pushing. Our game plan is to win this event here, and we try not to look too far out, get too far ahead of ourselves, but we just focus on, 'We want to move up that ladder.’

"We want to win. We want to get back in that winner's circle. It's been far too long and that's our ultimate goal right now, is to get back in that winner's circle and do it this weekend."

 

 

2 - PROCK CONTINUES TO DO PROCK THINGS - With money and other prizes on the line for the Friday night low qualifier, Austin Prock uncorked the quickest Funny Car run of 2024 and the quickest since he transferred over from Top Fuel with a 3.813, 333.09.

Prock picked up a $15,000 bonus for the monumental run. He also made Texas Motorplex history by becoming the first drag racer to win a saddle in two professional categories. 

If the run holds through a much warmer Saturday, it will mark the 13th No. 1 qualifier of the season, putting him into a tie with sidelined teammate/team owner John Force for most top qualifying positions in a season. 

"I was definitely jacked up for this one," Prock admitted. "I knew the conditions were there and I knew this AAA team was going to push if the conditions were there, so I'm really proud of them. This track is very difficult to drive, especially at night. The Meyer family brings all the lights and everything they can do, but it's still tough to see out there. So I stood on the gas and felt like I was pretty centered up, and then I think I got close to the center line down there. I was a little tardy on the parachutes.

"I'm itching to get back to the pit and re-watch the run and see what I can learn, and I'm pretty sure I stole a few thou there on the starting line. Just got out of my routine, bumping in there and stepped off the pedal, bumped the brakes once and the bulb was lit so I know I wasn't a hundred percent tight. So, looking forward to getting back to the pit and scoping out that video, seeing what I can learn and getting back to work."

Tuner/father Jimmy Prock said earlier the team was shooting for a 3.83 or so. The driver didn't get the memo. 

"I don't speak to him directly, I just hear him on the radio, so I mind my own business and let him do his deal up there because he doesn't need his youngest son in his ear barking," Prock said. "I just knew what calls they were making and I was pretty certain it was going to be loaded up. I heard Lanny Miglizzi on the radio giving all the track numbers and I don't know a lot, but I know enough to be dangerous."
 

 

 

3 - ANDERSON GETS THE SADDLE - Two-thousandths might as well have been two seconds as Greg Anderson drove around Erica Enders to claim the provisional No. 1 spot during Friday's Stampede of Speed. The run netted him a $7,500 bonus and a pair of Corral Boots. 

Anderson stopped the timers in 6.524 seconds at 208 miles per hour to get a leg up on what could be his sixth No. 1 of the season and the 130th of his career. 

"I love coming here," Anderson said. "Absolutely love it. And it is all the Meyer family, Billy and his daughter Christie. They make it special, and that matters to us. We pound the road and do 18, 20 races a year, and you don't get anything special like this. You don't get a chance for a bounty like this. It makes you rise to a new level. It's so much fun. It's so cool. And I'm not going to lie, we run on cash. These race cars run on cash. So anytime you can make a little bit of extra and put it back into the race car and hopefully it makes it go faster. So it's all great. It's all good."

Anderson was in line to run when teammate Eric Latino crashed his Camaro. 

"Thank God he's alright." Anderson said. "But that was ugly, and that's a long time to think and watch. I try to be strong in the mind, but I can't tell you how many times going down the racetrack I said to myself, ‘Do not let this thing get out of the groove like Eric did. And don't do anything dumb if it does. You got to live. Don't worry about the cash. You got to live.’ Fortunately we were able to keep her in the center of the racetrack and got the check by two thousandths. So, all ended up great. It's a great night in Texas."

 

 

 

 

 

4 - HERRERA REDISCOVERING HIS GROOVE - Gaige Herrera pocketed $5,000 and scored a pair of Corral Boots in successfully defending his Battle for the Saddle title. He ran a 6.757 and 201.21 in Friday’s latter session to knock Jianna Evaristo off the top spot. She was a distant second with a 6.778, 201.81, in the provisional order. Angie Smith was third with a 6.808, 201.41 from the Q1 session, but fell short of improving when a faulty fuel pump prevented her bike from firing for the night-time round. 

If Herrera's run stays on top it, will be his eighth No. 1 this season and the 22nd in his two-year career. It's been an uncharacteristic Countdown for Herrera, who lost in the semifinals during the first two events before winning at the most recent venue in St. Louis. 

The Texas Motorplex played right into Herrera's restored momentum. 

"You come here, you get a different vibe," Herrera said. "It's a very welcoming vibe. It's just a fun vibe and that's what we're doing. We're having fun and getting to race at the same time, so it's awesome. They put up the bonus money for Friday night. It's awesome. All the stuff they do for us as racers here at Texas, the whole Meyer family, all of them, can't thank them enough for it.”

 

 

5 - JUSTIN ASHLEY ONE AND DONE IN QUALIFYING - Justin Ashley planned to run Friday's Q1 session and forego qualifying to tend to a higher purpose. For qualifying sessions two through four, the second-generation drag racer will observe the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur. 

"Our plan is to make the first qualifying run and then we're going to sit out the other three," Ashley said. "I fully expect to go out there and make a run that's going to stay in the show, and we'll see you on Sunday morning, and we'll compete for the event title."

Yom Kippur is the most solemn of Jewish holidays. Its purpose is to effect individual and collective purification by practicing forgiveness for the sins of others and sincere repentance for one's own sins against God.

"I try and have certain principles in my life that are centered and based around faith and family, and it's too easy to lose sight of those things in the midst of everything," Ashley said. "This is a priority for me, but more important than anything else, I really appreciate the unconditional support that I've gotten from everybody in our team to everybody at SCAG Racing and ownership to all of our other partners; that means more to me than anything else."

Two decades ago, when his father, a Pro Modified pioneer and two-time NHRA champion Mike Ashley, was in the midst of a championship battle, he likewise sat out a day of qualifying at this race for the same reason.

"I'll be spending tonight, from Friday night to Saturday night, fasting," Ashley explained. "So I will not be drinking water or eating food for a 25-hour period of time, and during that period of time, I'll also be at a local temple praying as well."

Ashley ran a 3.778 elapsed time at 326.02 to land in the No. 5 slot after the first session. He was No. 11 after the second round of the 19 drivers competing for a spot in Sunday’s 16-car eliminator. 

6 - MINESHAFT CONDITIONS FOR COMP - Every Rooftec Competition Eliminator Bonus Fund event in the last two seasons has drawn enough cars to ensure every race has contested five rounds of competition, both on a national and divisional basis.

The combination of a field of 32-plus entries and excellent atmospheric conditions pushed the class into what is known as mineshaft conditions. Essentially, if the qualified field has 17 or more entries running six-tenths or more under their index, racers can run up to -.66 under without incurring a personal index penalty. 

The competition was fierce in the opening round as Don Thomas, the current point leader in the CEBF, was the only one in the top five to advance. Rick Brown, Rodger Brogdon, Taylor Chomiski, and defending series champion Chase Williams lost in the first round. 

The Texas NHRA FallNationals was not originally on the schedule. Still, when weather adversely affected the NHRA Midwest Nationals two weeks earlier, series officials decided to move the event to the Texas Motorplex national event. 

 

7 - PEANUT THROWS DOWN - What a difference a year can make.

Popular independent Funny Car racer Dale Creasy Jr. crashed his Funny Car here a year ago in the first round of qualifying – collecting Dave Richards’ car in the melee – and contemplated retirement. On Friday Night, he made a career-best run of 3.909, 326.96, to jump into the provisional No. 1, which stood for at least three pairs of Funny Cars. He was ninth going into Saturday’s two qualifying sessions.

"This means a lot to me," Creasy said. "What we went through last year, and leaving here with our tails between our legs and a broken race car, getting help from John Force Racing, and we worked a lot of hours to make a difference."

His previous best was a 3.95. 

 

 

8 - NOT THE KIND OF START ENDERS HOPED FOR - Erica Enders is racing for the first time without crew chief Mark Ingersoll, who is recuperating in a Chicago-area hospital following a double lung transplant. Her Q1 was less than what she'd hoped for as her Camaro was shut off on the starting line with an oil leak. 

"It's super unfortunate to watch Jeggie go 6.56 and go to the top,” Enders said. “I know we could go up there and run equally as good. It's just the way things are going for me right now. We are going to keep it on a positive note."

Enders said she was able to speak with Ingersoll before the run. 

"He's got his iPad with him, and he's watching us – that's all that matters right now," she said.

Enders rebounded in Friday’s night session to run 6.526 and end the day No. 2 behind Greg Anderson.

 

9 - LEE DOESN'T MISS A BEAT - Paul Lee announced after the NHRA U.S. Nationals he was going to sit out the first half of the NHRA's Countdown to the Championship. Because he missed a race in the regular season, he dropped from No. 11 to No. 14, as drivers who participated in all the races moved around him.

Lee didn't sit idle during his time off as crew chiefs Jonnie Lindberg and John Medlen worked on the car's deficiencies. They even tested at an NMCA event in Indianapolis before coming to this weekend's Texas Motorplex.

"We had the last two races we ran, Brainerd and Indy, we had some piston scuffing problems and we went out, Indy … and made a couple of runs and fixed it," Lee said. "So it's a whole new race car."

Lee said his team went through every aspect of the race car, including the ignition system. 

"We replaced everything brand new and that made a big difference," Lee said. "Replaced some switches. Jonnie replaced a lot of stuff to fix the problem. We went to Indy, tested it, and it fixed the problem, so we're ready to race."

Lee ran a 3.889, 323.6, to open the day, but smoked the tires in Q2.

10 - SCARY MOMENT AS LATINO CRASHES - Pro Stock racer Eric Latino crashed during the Q2 session, losing control of his GESI-sponsored Camaro and hitting the left retaining wall. The car had a flash fire as it rolled over on the roof and slid to a stop in the shutdown area. Latino was alert, exited the car under his own power, was examined onsite by NHRA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Phillip Surface and released.