DeJoria Earned Top Qualifying Spot in St. Louis
Alexis DeJoria secured the provisional number one qualifying position at the NHRA Midwest Nationals on Friday.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Motorsports
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Alexis DeJoria clocked a 3.882-second pass at 334.65 mph to lead the Funny Car field at World Wide Technology Raceway. Her performance edged out points leader Matt Hagan during the third race of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Why it matters
These qualifying sessions are critical for drivers looking to secure advantageous race day positioning during the final stretch of the championship series. The results set the stage for the remainder of the weekend at the St. Louis venue.
Alexis DeJoria paced the Funny Car field with a 3.882-second pass at 334.65 mph, while Shawn Langdon, Troy Coughlin Jr., and Gaige Herrera also secured top spots in their categories. Additionally, Justin Bond set a national elapsed time record of 5.619 seconds.
The players
Alexis DeJoria
She is a professional drag racer competing in the NHRA Funny Car category.
Matt Hagan
He is the current points leader in the Funny Car standings for the NHRA series.
Shawn Langdon
He is a professional NHRA driver who secured a provisional number one qualifying spot.
Gaige Herrera
He is a professional drag racer who claimed a top qualifying position in his category.
Justin Bond
He is a drag racer who set a new national elapsed time record during the event.
The details
Drivers competed in qualifying sessions at World Wide Technology Raceway to determine their race day positioning. The Top Dog competition also took place during the second Friday session, rewarding top qualifying runs across four categories with $7,500 in total bonus awards.
Timeline
Friday, October 2, 2026: Provisional qualifying sessions occurred at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Saturday, October 3, 2026: Qualifying sessions continue at 12 p.m. ET.
Season Trajectory
The NHRA Midwest Nationals serve as the third of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. This qualifying performance significantly impacts the competitive balance as drivers fight to improve their standing in the final race sequence of the season.
Alexis DeJoria's top qualifying position improves her bracket placement for race day, potentially providing a better matchup against lower-seeded competitors. The $7,500 in Top Dog bonus awards provides additional financial incentives for the participating teams.
The takeaway
Qualifying success at the Midwest Nationals is a vital indicator of performance consistency during the high-pressure playoff stretch. Teams that master the track conditions in St. Louis often carry significant momentum into the final three races of the Countdown to the Championship.
What happens next
Qualifying sessions will continue at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Further reading
For more information on the current drag racing standings and playoff developments, visit the Motorsports section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RACER.
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