Drag Race Central | Presented by Summitracing.com

Fri, 30 Oct 2026, 19:14 PM

Funny Car Qualifying Notes, Session #1

By Dave Rowe

LAS VEGAS - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Funny Car at the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, 26th annual MOPAR NHRA Las Vegas Nationals powered by Dodge listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

Right Lane: Julie Nataas Runs 4.475/193.27, Now #1

3:28 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 65 degrees, relative humidity 74 percent, barometer 29.80 inches, adjusted altitude 3,434 feet.

This is Julie Nataas's 7th race overall and her 1st race at this event. The best starting spot of her career is #12 (Gainesville, 2026), and her average starting spot of her career is 14.0. This is her 3rd race this year and her 6th race in the FC class. She was R/U 3 times at this event in TAD.

Nataas gets about 500 feet out and starts making a move to the right. The rear tires break loose, she drops a cylinder, then she gives up on the run.

Left Lane: Jeff Diehl Runs 4.173/245.00, Now #1
Right Lane: Jason Rupert Runs 6.381/106.68, Now #3

This is Jeff Diehl's 164th race overall and his 14th race at this event; his first was 2009. His best starting spot at this event is #15 (2024), the best starting spot of his career is #9 (Pomona-1, 2024), his average starting spot at this event is 15.7, and his average starting spot for his career is 14.7. His overall record at this event is 0 - 4. He has 10 DNQ at this event (including 2025). This is his 4th race this year.

This is Jason Rupert's 25th race overall and his 4th race at this event; his first was 2022. His best starting spot at this event is #12 (2024), the best starting spot of his career is #10 (Phoenix, 2026), and his average starting spot for his career is 13.6. His overall record at this event is 0 -2. He DNQ here in 2022. This is his 4th race this year.

Diehl was on a decent pass but lost a cylinder, then hazed the tires and clicked it off. Rupert gets about 300 feet out, loses traction, then gives up on the run.

Left Lane: Terry Haddock Runs 4.212/299.40, Now #2
Right Lane: Hunter Green Runs 4.712/172.01, Now #4

This is Terry Haddock's 355th race overall and his 23rd race at this event; his first was 2001. His best starting spot at this event is #14 (2020 & 2023), the best starting spot for his career is #6, his average starting spot at this event is 15.3, and his average starting spot for his career is 13.8.

Haddock lost a cylinder early in the run but stayed on the throttle all the way through. Green hazed the tires about 300 feet out and backed off of the throttle.

Left Lane: Jeff Arend Runs 4.132/262.54, Now #2
Right Lane: Paul Lee Runs 3.999/322.88, Now #1

Paul Lee has 1 National event win in FC and 1 win in 2025. His last win was Phoenix, 2025. This is his 185th race overall and his 14th race at this event; his first was 2010. His best starting spot at this event is #3 (2024), the best starting spot for his career is #1 (3), his average starting spot at this event is 11.6, and his average starting spot for his career is 10.2.

Arend goes down the groove with a clean, straight pass and gets in the second spot for now. Lee was moving around all the way through the run but stayed with it and took over the top spot for now.

Jeff Arend's incremental times: 60ft-0.912 sec., 330ft-2.327, 660ft-3.284/268.92 mph.

Paul Lee's incremental times: 60ft-0.886 sec., 330ft-2.289, 660ft-3.242/273.27 mph.

Left Lane: Dave Richards Runs 3.979/278.00, Now #2
Right Lane: Cruz Pedregon Runs 3.966/320.97, Now #1

This is Dave Richards's 110th race overall and his 5th race at this event; his first was 2016. His best starting spot at this event is #12 (2020), the best starting spot of his career is #7, his average starting spot at this event is 13.3, and his average starting spot for his career is 13.2. His overall record at this event is 0 -3. He DNQ here in 2016.

Cruz Pedregon is a 2 time FC World Champion (1992 & 2008) and has 40 National event wins in FC. He has 1 win in 2025, and his last win was Reading, 2025. This is his 724th race overall and his 25th race at this event; his first was 2002. His best starting spot at this event is #1 (2012), and the best starting spot of his career is #1 (65). His average starting spot at this event is 9.1, and his average starting spot for career is 7.5.

Richards was on a good pass, leading Pedregon at the 660 foot mark, but hazed the tires about 800 feet out and he slowed. Pedregon went down the groove with a clean pass to take the top spot for now.

Dave Richards' incremental times: 60ft-0.880 sec., 330ft-2.260, 660ft-3.177/282.19 mph.

Cruz Pedregon's incremental times: 60ft-0.898 sec., 330ft-2.293, 660ft-3.215/280.31 mph.

Left Lane: Spencer Hyde Runs 3.901/328.46, Now #1
Right Lane: Chad Green Runs 3.948/319.45, Now #2

Spencer Hyde was the 2025 Rookie of the Year and has 3 National event Final rounds. He has 1 Final in 2026, and his last Final was Phoenix, 2026. This is his 40th race overall and his 2nd race at this event; his first was 2025. He qualified #5 here in 2025. The best starting spot of his career is #1 (2), and his average starting spot of his career is 8.8.

Chad Green has 4 National event wins in FC and 2 wins in 2026. His last win; Chicago, 2026. This is his 107th race overall and his 6th race at this event; his first was 2021. His best starting spot at this event is #6 (2023), and the best starting spot for his career is #1 (Epping, 2023). His average starting spot at this event is 10.0, and his average starting spot for his career is 8.7.

A good side-by-side, both down the groove with clean, straight passes. Hyde makes the quickest pass of the round so far and takes the top spot. Green makes a good run to get in the second spot for now.

Spencer Hyde's incremental times: 60ft-0.879 sec., 330ft-2.256, 660ft-3.161/283.01 mph.

Chad Green's incremental times: 60ft-0.898 sec., 330ft-2.291, 660ft-3.205/283.07 mph.

Left Lane: Daniel Wilkerson Runs 3.967/324.59, Now #5
Right Lane: Alexis DeJoria Runs 3.874/333.33, Now #1

Daniel Wilkerson has 5 National event Final rounds and 2 Finals in 2026. His last Final was Sonoma, 2026. This is his 72nd race overall and his 3rd race at this event; his first was 2024. His best starting spot at this event is #7 (2025), the best starting spot of his career is #3, and his average starting spot for his career is 8.8.

Alexis DeJoria has 6 National event wins in FC. Her last win was Bristol, 2021. This is her 273rd race overall and her 14th race at this event; her first was 2011. Her best starting spot at this event is #1 (2021), and the best starting spot for her career is #1 (6). Her average starting spot at this event is 8.3, and her average starting spot for her career is 7.9.

Another good side-by-side, DeJoria goes down the groove with an impressive run and takes the top spot for now. Wilkerson makes a good pass and gets in the fifth spot for now.

Daniel Wilkerson's incremental times: 60ft-0.893 sec., 330ft-2.294, 660ft-3.222/280.08 mph.

Alexis DeJoria's incremental times: 60ft-0.874 sec., 330ft-2.238, 660ft-3.142/285.83 mph.

Left Lane: Ron Capps Runs 7.233/94.56, Now #15
Right Lane: Jack Beckman Runs 3.875/333.00, Now #2

Ron Capps is a 3 time FC World Champion (Most recent, 2022) and has 80 national event wins (79 in FC.1 in TF). He has 3 wins in 2026, and his last win was Norwalk, 2026. This is his 687th race overall and his 26th race at this event; his first was 2001. His best starting spot at this event is #1 (2011 & 2020), and the best starting spot of his career is #1 (41). His average starting spot at this event is 6.5, and his average starting spot for career is 6.5.

Jack Beckman is the 2012 FC World Champion and has 39 National event wins in FC. He has 2 wins in 2026, and his last win was Indy, 2026. This is his 381st race overall and his 19th race at this event; his first was 2005 in TF. His best starting spot at this event is #1 (2016, 2017 & 2019), and the best starting spot of his career is #1 (37). His average starting spot at this event is 5.3, and his average starting spot of his career is 6.2.

Capps gets about 100 feet out, loses traction and gives up on the run. Beckman went down the groove with an impressive pass and he gets in the second spot just behind DeJoria.

Ron Capps' incremental times: 60ft-0.877 sec., 330ft-2.573, 660ft-4.769/096.72 mph.

Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.875 sec., 330ft-2.241, 660ft-3.144/285.53 mph.

Left Lane: Austin Prock Runs 5.432/133.74, Now #15
Right Lane: J.R. Todd Runs 3.922/330.39, Now #4

Austin Prock is the 2024 & 2025 FC World Champion and has 23 National event wins. He has 2 wins in 2026, and his last win was St. Louis, 2026. This is his 128th race overall and his 6th race at this event; his first was 2019. His best starting spot at this event is #1 (2024 & 2025), and the best starting spot for his career is #1 (27). His average starting spot at this event is 3.4, and his average starting spot for his career is 6.0.

J.R. Todd is the 2018 FC World Champion and has 24 National event wins (9 in TF.15 in FC). He has 2 wins in 2026, and his last win was Dallas, 2026. This is his 356th race overall and his 17th race at this and gets in the fourth spot for now.event; his first was 2013. His best starting spot at this event is #1 (2014 in TF), and the best starting spot of his career is #1 (17). His average starting spot at this event is 5.9, and his average starting spot for his career is 7.5.

Prock gets about 300 feet out, hazes the tires, then backs off of the throttle. Todd started drifting to the left late in the run but kept it off of the centerline.

Left Lane: Jordan Vandergriff Runs 4.306/214.31, Now #14
Right Lane: Matt Hagan Runs 3.945/327.03, Now #5

Jordan Vandergriff has 3 National event wins and 3 wins in 2026. His last win was Martin, 2026. This is his 32nd race overall and his 1st race at this event. The best starting spot of his career is #1 (3), and his average starting spot of his career is 7.0. He has qualified in the top half of the field at 12 of his 18 races this year. He set Top Speed in Dallas his 1st in the FC class. He is 10 - 3 in the Countdown this year.

Matt Hagan is a 4 time FC World Champion (Most recent, 2023) and has 59 national event wins. He has 4 wins in 2026, and his last win was Rockingham, 2026. This is his 394th race overall and his 18th race at this event; his first was 2009. His best starting spot at this event is #1 (2009 & 2014), and the best starting spot of his career is #1 (55). His average starting spot at this event is 4.4, and his average starting spot for career is 5.6.

Vandergriff gets about 600 feet out, strikes the tires, then backs off of the throttle. Hagan went down the groove with a good pass and gets in the fifth spot to end this session.

Matt Hagan's incremental times: 60ft-0.878 sec., 330ft-2.269, 660ft-3.200/279.85 mph.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink