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Fri, 16 Oct 2026, 19:11 PM

Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Dave Rowe

ENNIS, Texas - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, 41st annual Texas NHRA FallNationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

Left Lane: Chris King Runs 4.077/268.02, Now #1
Right Lane: Jeff Diehl Runs 8.151/78.95, Now #2

5:28 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 65 degrees, relative humidity 45 percent, barometer 30.37 inches, adjusted altitude 781 feet.

Chris King is making his 19th career appearance and his third appearance at this event. His first appearance here was in 2024. He failed to qualify here in both 2024 and 2025. His career-best starting position is No. 14, and his average starting position for his career is 15.0. This is his fourth race of the year.

Jeff Diehl is making his 163rd career appearance and his ninth appearance at this event. His first appearance here was in 2010. His best starting position at this event is No. 14, achieved in 2018 and 2022. His career-best starting position is No. 9. His average starting position at this event is 14.5, compared with 14.7 for his career. His overall record at this event is 0-4. He has four DNQs here. This is his third race of the year.

King goes down the groove with a career best pass.

Diehl rattles the tires early, pedals a couple of times, then gives up on the run.

Left Lane: Jim Campbell Runs 5.866/119.89, Now #3
Right Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 4.954/157.63, Now #2

Jim Campbell is making his 156th career appearance and his seventh appearance at this event. His first appearance here was in 2017. His best starting position at this event is No. 12, achieved in 2021. His career-best starting position is No. 7, achieved three times. His average starting position at this event is 13.7, compared with 13.3 for his career. His overall record at this event is 0-6. This is his third race of the year. His last appearance at this event was in 2022.

Terry Haddock is making his 354th career appearance and his 20th appearance at this event. His first appearance here was in 2001. His best starting position at this event is No. 11, achieved in 2009. His career-best starting position is No. 6. His average starting position at this event is 14.2, compared with 13.8 for his career. His overall record at this event is 2-9. By round, his record is 2-7 in Round 1, 0-2 in Round 2, 0-0 in Round 3, and 0-0 in the final round. His best finishes here were quarterfinal appearances in 2017 and 2023. His lowest starting position at this event was No. 16, achieved in 2018, 2022, and 2024. He has 10 DNQs here and has competed at this event in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.

Campbell gets about 150 feet out, has traction problems and backs off of the throttle. Haddock gets a little further and gives up on the run.

Left Lane: Hunter Green No Time, Now #6
Right Lane: Blake Alexander Runs 10.032/80.69, Now #5

Hunter Green is making his 16th career appearance and his first appearance at this event. His career-best starting position is No. 3, achieved at Brainerd in 2025. His average starting position for his career is 9.8. He begins the event with an overall record of 5-15. This is his seventh race of the year. His best starting position this year is No. 7, achieved at Valdosta.

Blake Alexander has four national event wins, including two in Top Fuel and two in Funny Car. His most recent victory came at Brainerd in 2024. This is his 155th race overall and his 13th appearance at this event. His first appearance here was in 2012. His best starting position at this event is No. 4, achieved in 2024. His career-best starting position is No. 3, achieved six times. His average starting position at this event is 10.6, compared with 9.8 for his career. His overall record at this event is 3-12. By round, his record is 3-9 in Round 1, 0-3 in Round 2, 1-0 in Round 3, and 0-0 in the final round. His best finishes here were quarterfinal appearances in 2018, 2022, and 2024. He has qualified in the top half of the field in four of his 12 appearances here. His lowest starting position at this event was No. 16 in 2025. This is his 10th race of the year.

Green broke before the burnout and did not make a pass. Alexander had traction problems at the hit and backed off of the throttle.

Left Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 6.838/96.99, Now #5
Right Lane: Paul Lee Runs 3.921/326.80, Now #1

Jeff Arend has four national event wins. His most recent victory came at Chicago in 2012. This is his 265th race overall and his 14th appearance at this event. His first appearance here was in 1995. His best starting position at this event is No. 2, achieved in 2007. His career-best starting position is No. 1, achieved twice. His average starting position at this event is 11.8, compared with 11.6 for his career. His overall record at this event is 1-13. By round, his record is 1-12 in Round 1, 0-1 in Round 2, 0-0 in Round 3, and 0-0 in the final round. His best finish at this event was a quarterfinal appearance in 1995.

Paul Lee has one national event win in Funny Car, recorded at Phoenix in 2025. This is his 184th race overall and his 10th appearance at this event. His first appearance here was in 2010. His best starting position at this event is No. 5, achieved in 2025. His career-best starting position is No. 1, achieved three times. His average starting position at this event is 9.8, compared with 10.2 for his career. His overall record at this event is 4-9. By round, his record is 4-5 in Round 1, 0-4 in Round 2, 0-0 in Round 3, and 0-0 in the final round. His best finish here has been the quarterfinals, achieved four times. He has qualified in the top half of the field in three of his nine appearances here. His lowest starting position at this event was No. 15 in 2011. This is his ninth race of the year.

Arend starts hazing the tires at the hit and is off of the throttle before he gets 200 feet out. Lee goes down the groove with a full pass to take the pole for now.

Left Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 3.855/323.83, Now #1
Right Lane: Dave Richards Runs 4.141/252.55, Now #4

Cruz Pedregon is a two-time Funny Car World Champion, having won titles in 1992 and 2008. He has 40 national event wins in Funny Car, including one in 2025. His most recent victory came at Reading in 2025. This is his 723rd race overall and his 34th appearance at this event. His first appearance here was in 1991, when he competed in Top Fuel. His best starting position at this event is No. 1, achieved in 1995 and 2011. His career-best starting position is No. 1, with 65 such starts. His average starting position at this event is 7.5, matching his career average of 7.5. His overall record at this event is 37-25. By round, his record is 17-12 in Round 1, 9-8 in Round 2, 7-2 in Round 3, and 4-3 in the final round. Pedregon won this race in 1992, defeating John Force; in 1994, defeating Gary Bolger; in 2011, defeating Ron Capps; and in 2013, defeating John Force. He was runner-up here in 1996, losing to Dale Pulde; in 2004, losing to Del Worsham; and in 2007, losing to Tony Pedregon. He has qualified in the top half of the field in 17 of his 33 appearances here. His lowest starting position at this event was No. 14 in 2019. He has four DNQs at this event. His 37 round wins here are the most he has recorded at any event.

Dave Richards is making his 100th career appearance and his sixth appearance at this event. His first appearance here was in 2015. His best starting position at this event is No. 12, achieved in 2024. His career-best starting position is listed as No. 87 at Charlotte in 2026. His average starting position at this event is 13.7, compared with 13.2 for his career. His overall record at this event is 0-3. His lowest starting position here was No. 15 in 2016. He failed to qualify here in 2015 and 2023. He recorded his career-best elapsed time of 3.920 seconds here in 2024.

Pedregon goes down the groove with a full pass and goes to the top spot for now. Richards gets about 700 feet out, loses traction, the car makes a wild move toward the wall, and he gives up on the run.

Left Lane: Spencer Hyde Runs 3.956/320.90, Now #3
Right Lane: Chad Green Runs 3.966/320.83, Now #4

Spencer Hyde was the 2025 Rookie of the Year. He has three national event final-round appearances, including one in 2026. His most recent final was at Phoenix in 2026. This is his 39th race overall and his third appearance at this event. His first appearance here was in Top Fuel in 2024. His best starting position at this event is No. 9, achieved in 2025. His career-best starting position is No. 1, achieved twice. His average starting position at this event is 12.5, compared with 8.8 for his career. His overall record at this event is 1-2. By round, his record is 1-1 in Round 1, 0-1 in Round 2, 0-0 in Round 3, and 0-0 in the final round. His best finish here was a quarterfinal appearance in 2025.

Chad Green has four national event wins in Funny Car, including two victories in 2026. His most recent win came at Chicago in 2026. This is his 106th race overall and his fifth appearance at this event. His first appearance here was in 2022. His best starting position at this event is No. 4, achieved in 2025. His career-best starting position is No. 1, achieved at Epping in 2023. His average starting position at this event is 8.5, compared with 8.6 for his career. His overall record at this event is 3-4. By round, his record is 2-2 in Round 1, 1-1 in Round 2, 0-1 in Round 3, and 0-0 in the final round. His best finish here was a semifinal appearance in 2025. He has qualified in the top half of the field in two of his four appearances here. His lowest starting position at this event was No. 14 in 2024. He recorded his career-best elapsed time of 3.861 seconds here in 2023.

A good side-by-side, both down the groove with full passes. Hyde gets in the third spot for now, Green right behind in fourth.

Left Lane: Daniel Wilkerson Runs 8.782/76.51, Now #12
Right Lane: Alexis DeJoria Runs 8.471/75.74, Now #11

Daniel Wilkerson has five national event final-round appearances, including two finals in 2026. His most recent final was at Sonoma in 2026. This is his 71st race overall and his fourth appearance at this event. His first appearance here was in 2017. His best starting position at this event is No. 6, achieved in 2024. His career-best starting position is No. 3, achieved three times. His average starting position at this event is 9.3, compared with 8.9 for his career. His overall record at this event is 5-3. By round, his record is 3-0 in Round 1, 2-1 in Round 2, 0-2 in Round 3, and 0-0 in the final round. His best finishes here were semifinal appearances in 2024 and 2025.

Alexis DeJoria has six national event wins in Funny Car. Her most recent victory came at Bristol in 2021. This is her 272nd race overall and her 14th appearance at this event. Her first appearance here was in 2011. Her best starting position at this event is No. 2, achieved in 2014. Her career-best starting position is No. 1, with six such starts. Her average starting position at this event is 8.0, compared with 7.9 for her career. Her overall record at this event is 5-12. By round, her record is 5-7 in Round 1, 0-5 in Round 2, 0-0 in Round 3, and 0-0 in the final round. Her best finish here has been the quarterfinals, achieved five times. She has qualified in the top half of the field in seven of her 13 appearances here. Her lowest starting position at this event was No. 12 in 2022. She failed to qualify here in 2011. Her first Funny Car appearance was at this event in 2011, when she failed to qualify.

Wilkerson loses traction at the hit, gets about 200 feet out and backs off of the throttle. Same story for DeJoria, she gets a little further before giving up on the run.

Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 3.960/319.83, Now #5
Right Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 3.944/330.18, Now #3

Ron Capps is a three-time Funny Car World Champion, most recently in 2022. He has 80 national event wins overall, including 79 in Funny Car and one in Top Fuel. He has three wins in 2026, with his most recent victory coming at Norwalk in 2026. This is his 686th race overall and his 31st appearance at this event. His first appearance here was in Top Fuel in 1995. His best starting position at this event is No. 1, achieved in 1997 and 2005. His career-best starting position is No. 1, with 41 such starts. His average starting position at this event is 5.5, compared with 6.5 for his career. His overall record at this event is 38-27. By round, his record is 16-13 in Round 1, 13-3 in Round 2, 7-6 in Round 3, and 2-5 in the final round. Capps won this race in both 2021 and 2022, defeating Matt Hagan on each occasion. He was runner-up here in 2011, losing to Cruz Pedregon; in 2016, losing to Matt Hagan; in 2017, losing to Robert Hight; in 2024, losing to Matt Hagan; and in 2025, losing to Austin Prock. He has qualified in the top half of the field in 23 of his 30 appearances here. His lowest starting position at this event was No. 12 in 2007. He failed to qualify here in 1995.

J.R. Todd is the 2018 Funny Car World Champion. He has 23 national event wins, including nine in Top Fuel and 14 in Funny Car. He has one win in 2026, with his most recent victory coming at Seattle in 2026. This is his 355th race overall and his 18th appearance at this event. His first appearance here was in Top Fuel in 2006. His best starting position at this event is No. 1, achieved in 2007 and 2014, both in Top Fuel. His career-best starting position is No. 1, with 17 such starts. His average starting position at this event is 6.5, compared with 7.5 for his career. His overall record at this event is 20-16. By round, his record is 10-7 in Round 1, 6-4 in Round 2, 3-3 in Round 3, and 1-2 in the final round. Todd won this race in Top Fuel in 2008, defeating Tony Schumacher. He was runner-up here in Top Fuel in 2014, losing to Schumacher, and in Funny Car in 2018, losing to Robert Hight. He has qualified in the top half of the field in 13 of his 17 appearances here. His lowest starting position at this event was No. 14 in 2017.

Capps was on a decent pass but it looked like he lost a cylinder late in the run. Todd makes a full pass and he gets in the field in the third spot for now.

Left Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 5.588/172.44, Now #11
Right Lane: Austin Prock Runs 4.201/218.63, Now #9

Jack Beckman is the 2012 Funny Car World Champion. He has 39 national event wins in Funny Car, including two victories in 2026. His most recent win came at Indianapolis in 2026. This is his 380th race overall and his 19th appearance at this event. His first appearance here was in Top Fuel in 2005. His best starting position at this event is No. 2, achieved in 2015 and 2016. His career-best starting position is No. 1, with 36 such starts. His average starting position at this event is 6.2, matching his career average of 6.2. His overall record at this event is 23-17. By round, his record is 13-5 in Round 1, 6-7 in Round 2, 3-3 in Round 3, and 1-2 in the final round. Beckman won this race in 2020, defeating Matt Hagan. He was runner-up here in 2009, losing to Robert Hight, and in 2015, losing to Del Worsham. He has qualified in the top half of the field in 15 of his 18 appearances here. His lowest starting position at this event was No. 15 in 2006.

Austin Prock is the 2024 and 2025 Funny Car World Champion. He has 23 national event wins, including two victories in 2026. His most recent win came at St. Louis in 2026. This is his 127th race overall and his sixth appearance at this event. His first appearance here was in 2019. His best starting position at this event is No. 1, achieved in both 2024 and 2025. His career-best starting position is No. 1, with 27 such starts. His average starting position at this event is 3.6, compared with 5.9 for his career. His overall record at this event is 11-4. By round, his record is 4-1 in Round 1, 4-0 in Round 2, 2-2 in Round 3, and 1-1 in the final round. Prock won this race in 2025, defeating Ron Capps. He was runner-up here in Top Fuel in 2022, losing to Justin Ashley. His lowest starting position at this event was No. 8 in 2023. He has qualified in the top half of the field in all five of his previous appearances here and swept this race in 2025. He set the track record of 3.813 seconds here in 2024. Following St. Louis, he moved from sixth to third place in the standings.

Beckman gets about 300 feet out, loses traction, then backs off of the throttle. Prock makes it about 600 feet out, hazes the tires and gives up on the run.

Left Lane: Jordan Vandergriff Runs 8.347/77.75, Now #16
Right Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 3.911/333.88, Now #2

Jordan Vandergriff has three national event wins, all recorded in 2026. His most recent victory came at Martin in 2026. This is his 31st race overall and his second appearance at this event. His first appearance here was in Top Fuel in 2019, when he qualified No. 6. His career-best starting position is No. 1, achieved three times. His average starting position for his career is 7.0. His overall record at this event is 3-1. He was runner-up here in 2019, losing to Billy Torrence. He has qualified in the top half of the field in 11 of his 17 races this year.

Matt Hagan is a four-time Funny Car World Champion, most recently in 2023. He has 59 national event wins, including four victories in 2026. His most recent win came at Rockingham in 2026. This is his 393rd race overall and his 18th appearance at this event. His first appearance here was in 2009. His best starting position at this event is No. 1, achieved in 2020 and 2022. His career-best starting position is No. 1, with 55 such starts. His average starting position at this event is 6.9, compared with 5.6 for his career. His overall record at this event is 36-12. By round, his record is 13-4 in Round 1, 9-4 in Round 2, 9-0 in Round 3, and 5-4 in the final round. Hagan won this race in 2010, defeating John Force; in 2016, defeating Ron Capps; in 2019, defeating Bob Tasca III; in 2023, defeating John Force; and in 2024, defeating Ron Capps. He was runner-up here in 2012, losing to Bob Tasca III; in 2020, losing to Jack Beckman; and in both 2021 and 2022, losing to Ron Capps. Hagan has qualified in the top half of the field in 13 of his 17 appearances here. His lowest starting position at this event was No. 15 in 2018. He set the track's top speed record of 335.20 mph here in 2024. His 36 round wins here are the second-most he has recorded at any event, behind the 37 he has at the Winternationals.

Vandergriff shakes the tires at the hit and gives up on the run about 100 feet out. Hagan makes a full pass and gets in the second spot to end this session.