FRIDAY NIGHT QUALIFYING AT NAPA AUTO PARTS NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS
Last Updated on September 26, 2025 by WWTR
MADISON, Ill. (Sept. 26, 2025) – The Friday night under-the-lights qualifying session brought out everything from top speeds to success for previous Midwest Nationals champions at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.
The 2024 Funny Car world champion Austin Prock proved why he holds the Funny Car elapsed-time track record at WWT Raceway. Prock had a run of 3.845 at 337.16 that put him at the top of the qualifying standings. While it was not a track record this time around, the time did him justice to snag the “Top Hitter” bat. Prock leads the standings in Funny Car in only his second full season in the class and has had a great qualifying track record at WWTR.
“Yeah, that was a great run to be provisional number one qualifier. Feels good,” said Prock. “It’s been a couple weekends since we’ve been able to do that. So it was a nice clean pass. Felt really smooth leaving the starting line, and that lane seemed very difficult to drive tonight.”
Top Fuel leader Doug Kalitta has had success in 2025 and showcased what he has to bring to the table as he took the No. 1 qualifying spot in some of the quickest racing there is to offer. Kalitta tore down the drag strip to ultimately take the bat with a run of 3.675 at 334.82.
“It was kind of an interesting round,” said Kalitta. “I was sitting back there thinking, Man, I sure hope my car goes down the track, because everybody is really running well. So, got down there and, you know, it felt good. So real fortunate to be able to pull off a good run and come out number one so far.”
Top Fuel set records under the lights as 2024 No. 1 qualifier TJ Zizzo set a personal best with a run at 336.23 mph.
Breaking records has become synonymous with the name Brittany Force this season, and she proved that as she broke her own track record at WWT Raceway during the first Top Fuel qualifying session when she tore down the track at 340.47 mph. Force held the previous track record at the Madison-based track for a speed of 338.43 mph in 2022.
Gaige Herrera in Pro Stock Motorcycle did it again in St. Louis as he once again took the No. 1 qualifier spot with a pass of 6.741 seconds at a speed of 200.41 mph. Herrera is the back-to-back champion at the “Palace of Power” from 2023 and 2024, and he also took the top qualifier spot the year prior.
“We capitalized tonight on the good weather, and I hope that number one qualifier sticks going into Sunday, but you never know,” said Herrera. “I mean, conditions are gonna be good tomorrow as well. So, and this track’s been really good.”
Pro Stock was a battle to the end, where it ultimately was Eric Latino’s run of 6.515 at 209.75 that took the “Top Hitter” bat from 2024 WWT Raceway champion Dallas Glenn in the final Pro Stock qualifying run. Glenn sits at the top of the standings in the class and was second quickest earlier in the evening. However, Latino’s last pass was able to push Glenn off his throne.
“It was pretty exciting,” said Latino. “You know, I seen Dallas Glenn up on top of sitting on a chair and holding a baseball bat, and I didn’t know how I ran. It felt a good run as I came around the corner and went open the door. ‘Just hurry up, get out. You gotta get Dallas Glenn off that seat. That baseball bat is yours number one qualifier.’ So I was a little bit in disbelief.”
The “Top Hitters” of the night were awarded a chrome baseball bat provided by Rawlings to signify the success of each driver in the under-the-lights showdown.
Racing continues Saturday, Sept. 27, at 8 a.m. with Sportsman, and the Nitro categories begin at 12:15 p.m. For more information, visit wwtraceway.com or NHRA.com.
About World Wide Technology Raceway
World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) is the home of NASCAR, INDYCAR and NHRA racing in St. Louis’ Metro East region. Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering 700 acres, WWTR is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the area. WWTR’s facilities include a 1.25-mile superspeedway; 1/4-mile drag strip; 2.0-mile road course; the Gateway Kartplex state-of-the-art karting facility; and the adjacent Gateway National Golf Links. WWTR and Owner & CEO Curtis Francois have been recognized with several awards, including: 2023 St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame induction; 2023 Innovation in Philanthropy Award by the St. Louis Business Journal; 2022 Explore St. Louis Hospitality Hero Recognition; 2022 Best in Show and Best Event & Festival from the Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism; 2021 Comcast Community Champion of the Year; 2021 Jack Buck Award; 2020 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Track Award; 2018 Innovator Award from the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission; 2017 Outstanding Facility of the Year Award from the Race Track Business Conference; and the 2017 Spirit of St. Louis Award from the St. Louis Attractions Association. Our mission: We are committed to making a difference in our community, while providing first-class entertainment and memories that last a lifetime.
MEDIA CONTACT: Payton Buschhorn | WWTR Public Relations & Media Manager | 314.517.5125 | pbuschhorn@wwtraceway.com
