Sat, 26 Sep 2026, 00:02 AM Kalitta, Capps, Hartford & A. Smith Start NHRA Nationals at The Rock in No. 1 Spots

Courtesy of NHRA Social Media

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - Reigning Top Fuel world champ Doug Kalitta finished Friday's qualifying with the best run of the day at Rockingham Dragway, rolling to the provisional No. 1 spot to open the NHRA Nationals at The Rock.

Ron Capps (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Angie Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 16th of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Top Fuel provisional No. 1 qualifier Doug Kalitta drove his Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster to a 3.682 second pass at 338.09 mph.

Reigning Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta powered to the provisional No. 1 qualifier spot on Friday at the inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock when he went 3.682 seconds at 338.09 mph at Rockingham Dragway. If it holds for best of the field, it will give Kalitta his fifth No. 1 of the 2026 season.

Funny Car provisional No. 1 qualifier Ron Capps drove his NAPA Auto Care Funny Car to a 3.870 second pass at 330.40 mph.

Funny Car veteran Ron Capps took the provisional No. 1 qualifier spot on Friday at Rockingham Dragway when he raced to a 3.870-second pass at 330.40 mph to kick off the inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock. If it stays best of the field, it will give his fourth No. 1 of the season.

Pro Stock provisional No. 1 qualifier Matt Hartford drove his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro to a 6.476 second pass at 212.87 mph.

Matt Hartford currently sits in the provisional Pro Stock No. 1 qualifier spot after day one of the inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock thanks to his 6.476-second pass at 212.87 mph. If it holds, it will give Hartford his third No. 1 of the season.

Pro Stock Motorcycle provisional No. 1 Qualifier Angie Smith rode her DENSO Auto Parts Buell to a 6.674 second pass at 201.61 mph.

Pro Stock Motorcycle's Angie Smith took the provisional No. 1 qualifier spot on Friday at the inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock when she ran a time of 6.674 seconds at 201.61 mph at Rockingham Dragway. If it holds up, it will give Smith her fourth No. 1 of the 2026 season.