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Fri, 04 Sep 2026, 19:11 PM

Pro Stock Motorcycle Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Dave Rowe

INDIANAPOLIS - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Pro Stock Motorcycle at the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals listing lane, rider name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

Left Lane: Malcolm Phillips Jr. No Time, Now #3
Right Lane: Hector Arana Jr Runs 9.971/85.54, Now #1

6:47 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 93 degrees, relative humidity 52 percent, barometer 29.88 inches, adjusted altitude 4,086 feet.

Malcolm Phillips enters this event for the 10th race of his career and makes his third appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2022. His best starting position here is No. 15, achieved in 2025, while his career-best starting position is No. 11, set at Bristol in 2022. Phillips owns a career average starting position of 13.7 and has an 0-1 overall record at this event. He failed to qualify here in 2022. This marks his first race of the year and his first race since this event in 2025. Phillips also set his career-best performance numbers of 6.888 seconds at 196.33 mph at this event in 2025.

Hector Arana Jr. enters this event with 19 national event wins, with his most recent victory coming at Reading in 2024. This marks his 197th race overall and his 16th appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2011. His best starting position here is No. 2, achieved in 2018, while his career-best starting position is No. 1, a mark he has accomplished 23 times. Arana Jr. owns an average starting position of 5.3 at this event and 5.0 for his career, along with a 27-14 overall record here. He won this race in 2011, defeating J. Savoie, and finished runner-up in 2016, 2017, and 2023. Arana Jr. has qualified in the top half of the field in 14 of his 15 previous appearances at the event, with his lowest starting position being No. 11 in 2025. This weekend marks his first race since this event in 2025.

Phillips has problems getting the bike to crank and ran out of time so he doesn't make a pass.

Arana drifts to the right and backs off of the throttle about 300 feet out.

Left Lane: Mark Paquette Runs 7.222/173.36, Now #1
Right Lane: Hector Arana Runs 7.366/152.97, Now #2

Mark Paquette enters this event for the 19th race of his career and makes his fourth appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2016. His best starting position here is No. 7, achieved in 2018, while his career-best starting position is No. 6, set at Brainerd in 2018. Paquette owns a career average starting position of 12.8 and a 1-1 overall record at this event. His best finish here was a quarterfinal appearance in 2018. This weekend marks his first race since Las Vegas-2 in 2018, and his first race in Pro Stock Motorcycle came at this event in 2016.

Hector Arana enters this event as the 2009 Pro Stock Motorcycle World Champion with seven national event victories. His most recent win came at Atlanta in 2015, while his last final-round appearance came at Gainesville in 2016. This marks Arana's 332nd race overall and his 27th appearance at this event, where he first competed in 1990. His best starting position here is No. 1, achieved in 2013, while his career-best starting position is also No. 1, a mark he has accomplished 25 times. Arana owns an average starting position of 7.7 at this event and 7.3 for his career, along with a 15-18 overall record here. He won this race in 2009, defeating Michael Phillips, and finished runner-up in 2012 after losing to Andrew Hines. Arana has qualified in the top half of the field in 12 of his 26 previous appearances and has a lowest starting position of No. 16, along with seven DNQs at the event. He enters with an overall record of 228-264. This marks his first race since this event in 2019 and his first race overall since the Charlotte four-wide event in 2024.

Paquette makes a clean pass and takes the early pole. Arana was off of the throttle early.

Left Lane: Chris Bostick Runs 6.994/190.73, Now #1
Right Lane: Wesley Wells Runs 7.126/187.60, Now #2

Chris Bostick enters this event with one national event final-round appearance, finishing runner-up at Indy-3 in 2020. This marks his 96th race overall and his 11th appearance at this event, where he first competed in 1999. His best starting position here is No. 6, achieved in 2004, while his career-best starting position is No. 5, set at Bristol in 2021. Bostick owns an average starting position of 12.3 at this event and 11.6 for his career, along with a 2-8 overall record here. His best finish at this race was a semifinal appearance in 2004, when he lost to A. Brown. His lowest starting position here was No. 16 in 2025, and he failed to qualify in both 2021 and 2022. Bostick enters with an overall career record of 20-82.

Wesley Wells enters this event for the 137th race of his career and makes his 16th appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2002. His best starting position here is No. 12, achieved in 2009, while his career-best starting position is No. 8, a mark he has accomplished twice. Wells owns an average starting position of 14.7 at this event and 13.8 for his career, along with an 0-3 overall record here. He has also recorded 12 DNQs at this event, including in 2025.

Bostick goes down the groove with a good pass to take the top spot for now. Wells makes a clean pass but was falling behind all the way through the run.

Chris Bostick's incremental times: 60ft-1.088 sec., 330ft-2.901, 660ft-4.455/157.25 mph, 1,000ft-5.820.

Left Lane: Marc Ingwersen Runs 7.004/190.86, Now #3
Right Lane: Kelly Clontz Runs 6.947/193.38, Now #1

Marc Ingwersen enters this event for the 80th race of his career and makes his seventh appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2020. His best starting position here is No. 10, achieved in both 2022 and 2023, while his career-best starting position is No. 4, which he has accomplished twice. Ingwersen owns an average starting position of 12.7 at this event and 10.2 for his career, along with a 1-6 overall record here. His best finish at the event was a quarterfinal appearance in 2024, and his lowest starting position was No. 15 in both 2020 and 2021.

Kelly Clontz enters this event for the 107th race of her career and makes her ninth appearance at this event, where she first competed in 2018. Her best starting position here is No. 9, achieved in 2025, while her career-best starting position is No. 2, set at Dallas in 2023. Clontz owns an average starting position of 11.2 at this event and 11.7 for her career, along with a 1-5 overall record here. Her best finish at the event was a quarterfinal appearance in 2023, and her lowest starting position here was No. 14 in 2019. She has also recorded three DNQs at this event and has made five runs at more than 200 mph.

Ingwersen makes a clean pass but is a little off of the pace. Clontz makes the quickest pass of the round so far and moves into the top spot...for now.

Left Lane: Geno Scali Runs 7.061/192.63, Now #4
Right Lane: Steve Johnson No Time, Now #11

Geno Scali enters this event as the 2003 Pro Stock Motorcycle World Champion with four national event wins, the most recent coming at Sonoma in 2003. This marks his 179th race overall and his 14th appearance at this event, where he first competed in 1995. His best starting position here is No. 4, achieved in 2002, while his career-best starting position is No. 1, a mark he has accomplished three times. Scali owns an average starting position of 10.2 at this event and 8.9 for his career, along with a 5-11 overall record here. His best finish at the event was a semifinal appearance in 2003. He has qualified in the top half of the field in three of his 13 previous races here, with his lowest starting position being No. 13 on three occasions. Scali failed to qualify in 2007 and 2025 and enters the event with an overall record of 132-158.

Steve Johnson enters this event with 12 national event victories, with his most recent win coming at Bristol in 2023. This marks his 527th race overall and his 39th appearance at this event, where he first competed in 1987. His best starting position here is No. 2, achieved in 2021, while his career-best starting position is No. 1, which he has accomplished seven times. Johnson owns an average starting position of 9.2 at this event and 9.3 for his career, along with a 25-35 overall record here. He won this race in 2005, defeating Matt Smith, and again in 2008, defeating Andrew Hines. Johnson has qualified in the top half of the field in 14 of his 38 previous appearances here, with his lowest starting position being No. 16 in 1996. His 337 round wins rank sixth most in Pro Stock Motorcycle history, and he has one DNQ at the event, coming in 1993. Johnson enters with an overall record of 337-484, and his 25 round wins at this race are his third-most at any event. He has also made nine runs at more than 200 mph.

Scali makes a decent pass to get in the fourth spot for now. Johnson could not get his engine to fire and did not make a pass.

Left Lane: Clayton Howey Runs 6.973/194.66, Now #2
Right Lane: Ryan Oehler Runs 7.060/194.38, Now #5

Clayton Howey enters this event with one national event final-round appearance, coming at the Charlotte four-wide event in 2026. This marks his 12th race overall and his first appearance at this event. Howey's career-best starting position is No. 5, and he owns a career average starting position of 9.0. This weekend marks his sixth race of the 2026 season.

Ryan Oehler enters this event with two national event victories, with his most recent win coming at the Las Vegas four-wide event in 2021. This marks his 115th race overall and his 10th appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2017. His best starting position here is No. 9, achieved in both 2019 and 2020, while his career-best starting position is No. 2, accomplished at both Chicago and Charlotte in 2026. Oehler owns an average starting position of 11.5 at this event and 10.7 for his career, along with a 1-8 overall record here. His best finish at the event was a quarterfinal appearance in 2021, and his lowest starting position was No. 13 in 2022, 2024, and 2025. He also failed to qualify here in 2017.

Howey goes down the groove with a good run to get in the second spot for now.

Clayton Howey's incremental times: 60ft-1.123 sec., 330ft-2.936, 660ft-4.478/158.78 mph, 1,000ft-5.822.

Oehler engine bogged at the hit.

Left Lane: Chase Van Sant Runs 7.069/194.07, Now #8
Right Lane: John Hall Runs 6.910/195.65, Now #1

Chase Van Sant enters this event with one national event victory, with his most recent win coming at Seattle in 2024. This marks his 50th race overall and his fourth appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2023. His best starting position here is No. 5, achieved in 2023, while his career-best starting position is No. 2, which he has accomplished twice. Van Sant owns an average starting position of 6.7 at this event and 8.8 for his career, along with a 3-3 overall record here. His best finish at the event has been a quarterfinal appearance, which he has accomplished in each of his three previous starts from 2023 through 2025. His lowest starting position here was No. 8 in 2024. Van Sant enters with an overall record of 49-48 and has made 15 runs at more than 200 mph.

John Hall enters this event with four national event victories, including two wins in 2025, with his most recent victory coming at Reading. This marks his 119th race overall and his eighth appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2012. His best starting position here is No. 3, achieved in 2024, while his career-best starting position is No. 1, set at Seattle in 2025. Hall owns an average starting position of 9.3 at this event and 8.5 for his career, along with a 6-6 overall record here. He won this race in 2013, defeating Matt Smith, and has qualified in the top half of the field in three of his seven previous appearances. His lowest starting position here was No. 15 in 2013. Hall enters with an overall record of 86-103 and has made 35 runs at more than 200 mph.

Van Sant makes a clean pass but is off of the pace. Hall goes down the groove with the quickest pass of the round so far to take the top spot for now.

John Hall's incremental times: 60ft-1.099 sec., 330ft-2.909, 660ft-4.439/160.54 mph, 1,000ft-5.769.

Left Lane: Matt Smith Runs 6.864/198.90, Now #1
Right Lane: Angie Smith Runs 6.905/196.64, Now #2

Matt Smith enters this event as a six-time NHRA World Champion, most recently winning the title in 2022, with 44 national event victories. He has two wins in 2026, with his most recent coming in Chicago. This marks Smith's 346th race overall and his 25th appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2002. His best starting position here is No. 1, which he has achieved four times, while his career-best starting position is also No. 1, a mark he has accomplished 61 times. Smith owns an average starting position of 4.0 at this event and 5.1 for his career, along with a 36-19 overall record here. He won this race in 2006, 2022, and 2023 and finished runner-up in 2005, 2007, and 2013. Smith has qualified in the top half of the field in 19 of his 24 previous appearances here, with his lowest starting position being No. 11 in 2016. He failed to qualify in his first two starts at this event in 2002 and 2003. His 525 round wins rank second most in Pro Stock Motorcycle history, and he enters with an overall record of 525-290. Smith has also made 211 runs at more than 200 mph.

Angie Smith enters this event with four national event wins, including one victory in 2026, with her most recent coming at MIR earlier this season. This marks her 262nd race overall and her 18th appearance at this event, where she first competed in 2008. Her best starting position here is No. 4, achieved in 2022, while her career-best starting position is No. 1, a mark she has accomplished five times. Smith owns an average starting position of 8.5 at this event and 8.9 for her career, along with a 10-13 overall record here. She finished runner-up at this event in 2024 after losing to Gaige Herrera and has qualified in the top half of the field in eight of her 17 previous appearances. Her lowest starting position here was No. 16 in 2015, and she has four DNQs at the event. Smith enters with an overall record of 181-235, with her 181 round wins tied for 16th most in Pro Stock Motorcycle history. She has set top speed 14 times, ranking 14th most in the category, and has made 113 runs at more than 200 mph. Smith has also qualified No. 1 five times in her career, including three times this season.

Matt goes down the groove with an impressive run for the conditions and he takes the top spot for now. Angie makes a good run to get in right behind Matt in the second spot.

Matt Smith's incremental times: 60ft-1.084 sec., 330ft-2.891, 660ft-4.414/161.09 mph, 1,000ft-5.736.

Angie Smith's incremental times: 60ft-1.092 sec., 330ft-2.907, 660ft-4.433/160.58 mph, 1,000ft-5.766.

Left Lane: Gaige Herrera Runs 6.926/195.70, Now #4
Right Lane: Richard Gadson Runs 6.946/193.85, Now #5

Gaige Herrera enters this event as the two-time reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle World Champion, having captured titles in 2023 and 2024, with 30 national event victories. He has two wins in 2026, with his most recent coming at Bristol. This marks Herrera's 58th race overall and his fifth appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2022. His best starting position here is No. 1, which he achieved in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while his career-best starting position is also No. 1, a mark he has accomplished 33 times. Herrera owns a perfect 1.0 average starting position at this event and a 2.5 career average. He has compiled a 10-1 overall record here and won this race in both 2024, defeating Angie Smith, and 2025, defeating Brayden Davis. Herrera set the track record of 6.738 seconds here in 2025, while his first race in the class came at this event in 2022, when he failed to qualify. He has set low elapsed time 34 times, tied for seventh most in Pro Stock Motorcycle history, and enters with an overall record of 152-25. Herrera has made 136 runs at more than 200 mph.

Richard Gadson enters this event as the 2025 Pro Stock Motorcycle World Champion with six national event victories, including two wins in 2026. His most recent victory came at Norwalk earlier this season. This marks Gadson's 40th race overall and his third appearance at this event, where he first competed in 2024. His best starting position here is No. 2, achieved in 2025, while his career-best starting position is No. 1, which he has accomplished twice. Gadson owns a career average starting position of 4.2 and has compiled a 4-2 overall record at this event. His best finishes here were semifinal appearances in both 2024 and 2025. Gadson has qualified in the top half of the field in 35 of his 39 career races and is one of 19 Pro Stock Motorcycle riders with six or more national event wins. He enters with an overall record of 76-32 and has made 66 runs at more than 200 mph.

Herrera makes a decent pass and he gets in the fourth spot for now. Gadson makes a decent run and gets in the fifth spot to end this session.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink