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INDIANAPOLIS - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run: Right Lane: Justin Schriefer Runs 4.809/169.13, Now #1 8:07 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 89 degrees, relative humidity 60 percent, barometer 29.87 inches, adjusted altitude 3,896 feet. Justin Schriefer enters this event for the 43rd race of his career and makes his 16th appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2009. His best starting position here is No. 11, achieved in 2021, which also stands as his career-best starting position. Schriefer owns a career average starting position of 14.9 and an 0-4 overall record at this event. He has recorded 11 DNQs here, including in 2024, and enters the event with an overall career elimination-round record of 0-11. This marks his second race of the year after failing to qualify in Chicago. His 16 appearances at this event are the most he has made at any race, and he set career-best marks of 4.005 seconds and 317.94 mph here in 2019. Schriefer hit the throttle and the flames looked a little green. He started mixing up cylinders about 300 feet out and he clicked it off early. Left Lane: Chris King Runs 4.136/268.49, Now #1 Right Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 6.713/110.47, Now #3 Chris King enters this event for the 18th race of his career and makes his third appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2024. He qualified No. 16 in his debut appearance in 2024 before failing to qualify in 2025. King's career-best starting position is No. 14, and he owns a career average starting position of 15.0. He has an 0-1 overall record at this event and enters with an overall career elimination-round record of 0-7. King set career-best marks of 4.079 seconds and 302.21 mph at this event in 2024. This weekend marks his second race of the year, following a start at Chicago. Terry Haddock enters this event for the 351st race of his career and makes his 19th appearance at this event, where he first competed in 1999. His best starting position here is No. 12, achieved in 2009, while his career-best starting position is No. 6, set at Bristol in 2024. Haddock owns an average starting position of 13.4 at this event. He enters with an overall record at this event of 0-5. This weekend marks his second race of the year, following a start at Gainesville, and his career-best performance numbers are 3.958 seconds and 317.87 mph. King was on a good pass but the flames disappeared about 800 feet out, not sure why. Haddock had traction problems and was off of the throttle early. Left Lane: Julie Nataas Runs 4.529/199.35, Now #2 Right Lane: Bobby Bode Runs 5.289/138.63, Now #4 Julie Nataas enters this event for the sixth race of her career and makes her second appearance at this event, where she first competed in 2025. She qualified No. 15 here in 2025, while her career-best starting position is No. 12, achieved at Gainesville in 2026. Nataas owns a career average starting position of 13.8 and an 0-1 overall record at this event. This weekend marks her second race of the year, following a start at Gainesville. She also has previous success at this facility in Top Alcohol Dragster, winning the race in 2022 after defeating M. Coughlin and finishing runner-up in 2023 after losing to M. Payne. Bobby Bode enters this event with one national event final-round appearance, with his most recent and only final coming at Houston in 2022, where he finished runner-up. This marks Bode's 54th race overall and his sixth appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2021. His best starting position here is No. 9, achieved in 2021, while his career-best starting position is No. 3, which he has accomplished twice. Bode owns an average starting position of 11.6 at this event and 11.8 for his career, along with a 1-5 overall record here. His best finish at this event came in 2024, when he advanced to the quarterfinals. Bode's lowest starting position here was No. 14 in 2023. This weekend marks his fourth race of the year. Nataas left the line, started drifting to the left, then back off of the throttle. Bode had traction issues about 300 feet out and clicked it off. Left Lane: Dylan Winefsky Runs 4.173/305.84, Now #3 Right Lane: John Smith Runs 4.104/307.65, Now #1 Dylan Winefsky enters this event for the seventh race of his career and makes his first appearance at this event. His career-best starting position is No. 14, achieved at Phoenix in 2026, and he owns a career average starting position of 15.0. This weekend also marks Winefsky's fourth race of the year. John Smith enters this event with one national event final-round appearance, finishing runner-up in Top Fuel at Gainesville in 2003. This weekend marks his 140th race overall and his seventh appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2002. His best starting position here is No. 5, achieved in 2002, while his career-best starting position is No. 4, set at Chicago in 2003. Smith owns an average starting position of 10.3 at this event and 12.7 for his career, along with an 0-3 overall record here. He failed to qualify at this event in 2004, 2005, and 2010. This weekend marks his third race of the year, following starts at Gainesville and Charlotte. A good side-by-side, both down the groove, header flames high and steady all the way through the run. Smith takes the top spot for now, Winefsky into the third spot. Dylan Winefsky's incremental times: 60ft-0.953 sec., 330ft-2.402, 660ft-3.379/262.64 mph. John Smith's incremental times: 60ft-0.926 sec., 330ft-2.339, 660ft-3.310/264.23 mph. Left Lane: Hunter Green Runs 4.046/294.24, Now #1 Right Lane: Blake Alexander Runs 4.793/171.99, Now #6 Hunter Green enters this event for the 14th race of his career and makes his first Funny Car appearance at this event. His career-best starting position is No. 3, achieved at Brainerd in 2025, and he owns a career average starting position of 9.5. Green previously competed at this race three times in Top Alcohol Dragster from 2022 through 2024, qualifying No. 1 and winning the event in 2024 after defeating A. Sampey in the final. Blake Alexander enters this event with four national event wins, including two in Top Fuel and two in Funny Car, with his most recent victory coming at Brainerd in 2024. This marks his 153rd race overall and his 11th appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2012. His best starting position here is No. 4, achieved in 2024, while his career-best starting position is No. 3. Alexander owns an average starting position of 8.8 at this event and 9.8 for his career, along with an 8-8 overall record here. His best finishes at the event have been semifinal appearances in 2018, when he lost to Terry McMillen, and in both 2024 and 2025, when he lost to Austin Prock. Alexander has qualified in the top half of the field in three of his 10 previous appearances and failed to qualify in 2012 and 2013. His lowest starting position at this event was No. 15 in 2014. This marks his eighth race of the year. Green is driving the car that Alexander drove earlier in the season. Alexander has his own team and this is his first pass in this car. Green makes a full pass and gets in the top spot for now. Alexander's car looked like a few sparks were coming out as soon as he hit the throttle. The car gets out of the groove, makes a move toward the centerline, then he backs off of the throttle. Left Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 4.135/300.66, Now #3 Right Lane: Paul Lee Runs 4.713/179.23, Now #7 Jeff Arend enters this event with four national event wins, with his most recent victory coming in Chicago in 2012. This marks his 264th race overall and his 10th appearance at this event, where he first competed in 1995. Arend's best starting position here is No. 1, achieved in 2007, while his career-best starting position is also No. 1, which he has accomplished twice. He owns an average starting position of 11.1 at this event and 11.6 for his career, along with a 4-9 overall record here. His best finish at the event has been four quarterfinal appearances. Paul Lee enters this event with one national event win in Funny Car, earned at Phoenix in 2025. This marks his 182nd race overall and his 13th appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2005. His best starting position here is No. 9, achieved in both 2019 and 2025, while his career-best starting position is No. 1, which he has accomplished three times. Lee owns an average starting position of 12.2 at this event and 10.2 for his career, along with a 2-10 overall record here. His best finishes at the event have been quarterfinal appearances in 2010 and 2025. Lee failed to qualify here in 2005 and 2006, and his lowest starting position was No. 16 in 2023. This weekend marks his seventh race of the year. Arend goes down the groove with a full pass and he gets in the third spot for now. lee gets about 500 feet out and the flames die, not sure why. Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 3.970/319.98, Now #1 Right Lane: Dave Richards Runs 7.361/85.08, Now #13 Cruz Pedregon enters this event as a two-time Funny Car World Champion, having captured titles in 1992 and 2008, and with 40 national event wins in Funny Car. His most recent victory came at Reading in 2025. This weekend marks Pedregon's 719th race overall and his 35th appearance at this event, where he first competed in 1991 in Top Fuel. His best starting position here is No. 1, achieved in 2011, while his career-best starting position is also No. 1, a mark he has accomplished 65 times. Pedregon owns an average starting position of 7.1 at this event and 7.5 for his career, along with a 33-27 overall record here. He won this race in 1992, defeating Del Worsham, in 1994, defeating K.C. Spurlock, and in 1995, defeating John Force. He also finished runner-up in 2004 after losing to Gary Densham. Pedregon has qualified in the top half of the field in 16 of his 34 previous appearances, with his lowest starting position being No. 14 in both 2003 and 2017. He has also recorded four DNQs at this event. Dave Richards enters this event for the 105th race of his career and makes his seventh appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2016. His best starting position here is No. 14, achieved in 2020, while his career-best starting position is No. 7, set at Charlotte in 2026. Richards owns an average starting position of 15.0 at this event and 13.3 for his career, along with a 1-3 overall record here. His best finish at the event came in 2016, when he advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to Del Worsham. His lowest starting position here was No. 16 in 2021. Richards has also failed to qualify at this event three times, in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Pedregon goes down the groove with an impressive pass and he takes the top spot for now. Cruz Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.899 sec., 330ft-2.277, 660ft-3.214/275.45 mph. Richards gets about 200 feet out, loses traction, then backs off of the throttle. Left Lane: Spencer Hyde Runs 4.013/318.47, Now #3 Right Lane: Daniel Wilkerson Runs 3.984/314.17, Now #2 Spencer Hyde enters this event with three national event final-round appearances, all resulting in runner-up finishes, including one final appearance in 2026. His most recent final came at Phoenix earlier this season. This marks Hyde's 35th race overall and his second appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2025 and qualified No. 14. His career-best starting position is No. 1, which he has accomplished twice, and he owns a career average starting position of 8.7. Hyde carries an 0-1 overall record at this event and has qualified in the top half of the field in 14 of his 34 career races. Daniel Wilkerson enters this event with five career national event final-round appearances, including two finals so far in 2026, with his most recent coming at Sonoma. This weekend marks Wilkerson's 67th race overall and his fourth appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2011. His best starting position here is No. 5, achieved in 2024, while his career-best starting position is No. 3. Wilkerson owns an average starting position of 6.3 at this event and 8.8 for his career, along with a 1-3 overall record here. His best finish at the event came in 2011, when he advanced to the quarterfinals. Wilkerson has qualified in the top half of the field in all three of his previous appearances here, with his lowest starting position being No. 8 in 2025. A good side-by-side, both down the groove with clean, straight passes. Wilkerson gets on the second spot for now, Hyde just behind in third. Spencer Hyde's incremental times: 60ft-0.901 sec., 330ft-2.317, 660ft-3.253/276.75 mph. Daniel Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.898 sec., 330ft-2.294, 660ft-3.222/278.17 mph. Left Lane: Alexis DeJoria Runs 3.947/329.26, Now #1 Right Lane: Chad Green Runs 4.044/283.49, Now #5 Alexis DeJoria enters this event with six national event wins in Funny Car, with her most recent victory coming at Bristol in 2021. Her last final-round appearance came at Chicago in 2026, where she finished runner-up. This marks DeJoria's 268th race overall and her 13th appearance at this event, where she first competed in 2012. Her best starting position here is No. 3, achieved in 2023, while her career-best starting position is No. 1, which she has accomplished six times. DeJoria owns an average starting position of 7.3 at this event and 8.0 for her career, along with a 10-11 overall record here. She won this race in 2014, defeating John Force, and has qualified in the top half of the field in seven of her 12 previous appearances. Her lowest starting position at this event was No. 12 in 2013. Chad Green enters this event with four national event wins in Funny Car, including two victories so far in 2026. His most recent win came at Chicago earlier this season. This marks Green's 102nd race overall and his sixth appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2021. His best starting position here is No. 6, achieved in 2025, while his career-best starting position is No. 1, accomplished at Epping in 2023. Green owns an average starting position of 10.0 at this event and 8.7 for his career. Despite his success elsewhere, he is still looking for his first round win at this event, entering with an 0-4 overall record. He also failed to qualify here in 2021. DeJoria makes an impressive pass, down the groove with the quickest pass of the round so far, and she moves into the top spot for now. Green was right beside her until he got about 800 feet out, then he hazes the tires and has to back off of the throttle. Alexis DeJoria's incremental times: 60ft-0.882 sec., 330ft-2.278, 660ft-3.205/279.67 mph. Chad Green's incremental times: 60ft-0.901 sec., 330ft-2.312, 660ft-3.245/276.58 mph. Left Lane: Austin Prock Runs 3.943/313.37, Now #2 Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 3.937/326.79, Now #1 Austin Prock enters this event as the reigning two-time Funny Car World Champion, having won the title in both 2024 and 2025. He has collected 22 national event victories, including four in Top Fuel and 18 in Funny Car, with one win so far in 2026. His most recent victory came at MIR earlier this season. This weekend marks Prock's 123rd race overall and his sixth appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2019. His best starting position here is No. 1, achieved in 2024, while his career-best starting position is also No. 1, a mark he has accomplished 26 times. Prock owns an average starting position of 8.0 at this event and 6.0 for his career, along with an impressive 10-3 overall record here. He won this race in 2024, defeating Ron Capps, and again in 2025, defeating Jack Beckman. Prock has qualified in the top half of the field in two of his five previous appearances, with his lowest starting position being No. 14 in 2022. He begins the event in sixth place, his highest position of the year. Jack Beckman enters this event as the 2012 Funny Car World Champion with 38 national event wins in the category and one victory so far in 2026, with his most recent win coming at Epping. This marks Beckman's 376th race overall and his 18th appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2005 in Top Fuel. His best starting position here is No. 1, achieved in 2015, 2019, and 2025, while his career-best starting position is also No. 1, a mark he has accomplished 35 times. Beckman owns an average starting position of 5.8 at this event and 6.3 for his career, along with a 28-15 overall record here. He won this race in 2015, defeating Robert Hight, and again in 2020, defeating J.R. Todd, while also finishing runner-up four times. Beckman swept the event in 2015 and has qualified in the top half of the field in 13 of his 17 previous appearances here. His lowest starting position was No. 16 in 2005. He set low elapsed time at this event in both 2024 and 2025, and his 528 Funny Car round wins rank sixth most in class history. His 28 round wins at this event are also the most he has recorded at any single race. Another good side-by-side, both down the groove with clean, straight passes. Beckman makes the quickest pass of the round so far and moves into the top spot for now, Prock right behind in the second spot. Austin Prock's incremental times: 60ft-0.868 sec., 330ft-2.246, 660ft-3.177/275.84 mph. Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.879 sec., 330ft-2.264, 660ft-3.190/279.15 mph. Left Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 3.998/323.89, Now #7 Right Lane: Ron Capps Runs 3.938/329.10, Now #2 J.R. Todd enters this event as the 2018 Funny Car World Champion with 23 national event wins, including nine in Top Fuel and 14 in Funny Car. He has one victory in 2026, with his most recent win coming at Seattle. This marks Todd's 351st race overall and his 18th appearance at this event, including eight previous starts in Top Fuel and nine in Funny Car, where he first competed in 2006. His best starting position here is No. 1, achieved in 2018, while his career-best starting position is also No. 1, a mark he has accomplished 17 times. Todd owns an average starting position of 7.7 at this event and 7.5 for his career, along with a 21-13 overall record here. He won this race in 2017, defeating Ron Capps, and in 2018, defeating Matt Hagan, while finishing runner-up in 2020 and 2023. Todd has qualified in the top half of the field in 10 of his 17 previous appearances, with his lowest starting position being No. 16 in 2006. He also failed to qualify in 2007 and 2013. His 21 round wins at this event are his third most at any race. Ron Capps enters this event as a three-time Funny Car World Champion, most recently winning the title in 2022, with 80 national event victories, including 79 in Funny Car and one in Top Fuel. He has three wins in 2026, with his most recent victory coming at Norwalk. This marks Capps' 682nd race overall and his 31st appearance at this event, where he first competed in 1995 in Top Fuel. His best starting position here is No. 1, achieved in 2022, while his career-best starting position is also No. 1, a mark he has accomplished 39 times. Capps owns an average starting position of 5.8 at this event and 6.5 for his career, along with a 36-28 overall record here. He won this race in 2022, defeating Robert Hight, and again in 2023, defeating J.R. Todd, while also finishing runner-up in 2017, 2021, and 2024. Capps has qualified in the top half of the field in 22 of his 30 previous appearances, with his lowest starting position being No. 13 in both 2009 and 2018. Another good pair, both down the groove with full passes. Capps makes a good run and gets in the second spot for now. Todd is a little off the leaders pace and gets in the seventh spot for now. J.R. Todd's incremental times: 60ft-0.898 sec., 330ft-2.294, 660ft-3.242/273.22 mph. Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.881 sec., 330ft-2.268, 660ft-3.196/280.37 mph. Left Lane: Jordan Vandergriff Runs 4.082/263.67, Now #12 Right Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 3.988/326.40, Now #7 Jordan Vandergriff enters this event with two national event wins, both of which have come during the 2026 season, with his most recent victory coming at Sonoma. This marks Vandergriff's 27th race overall and his third appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2019. His best starting position here is No. 2, achieved in 2025, while his career-best starting position is No. 1, a mark he has accomplished three times. Vandergriff owns an average starting position of 6.5 both at this event and for his career, although he is still looking for his first round win here with an 0-2 overall record. He moved up to second place after Brainerd, his highest position of the year. Matt Hagan enters this event as a four-time Funny Car World Champion, most recently winning the title in 2023, with 58 national event victories. He has three wins in 2026, with his most recent coming at Brainerd. This marks Hagan's 389th race overall and his 18th appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2008. His best starting position here is No. 1, which he has achieved five times, and his career-best starting position is also No. 1, accomplished 55 times. Hagan owns an average starting position of 5.6 both at this event and for his career, along with a 21-16 overall record here. He won this race in 2016, defeating Del Worsham, and finished runner-up in 2018. Hagan holds both ends of the track record at this facility with marks of 3.799 seconds and 338.77 mph, while his five No. 1 qualifying positions here are the most he has recorded at any event. He has qualified in the top half of the field in 14 of his 17 previous appearances, and his lowest starting position here was No. 16 in 2008. Hagan also set his career-best elapsed time of 3.799 seconds at this track in 2017. His 603 round wins rank fifth most in Funny Car history, and he moved into first place in the standings after Brainerd. Vandergriff was on a good pass but the header flames died about 900 feet out, not sure why. Hagan makes a full pass but is a little off of the pace but he gets in the seventh spot to end this session. Jordan Vandergriff's incremental times: 60ft-0.887 sec., 330ft-2.284, 660ft-3.232/269.89 mph. Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.893 sec., 330ft-2.308, 660ft-3.241/278.69 mph.
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