Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 20 hours ago
Doug Kalitta came out swinging Friday night at Route 66 Raceway, blasting to the provisional No. 1 spot in Top Fuel at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals. Jack Beckman led Funny Car, Erica Enders may have found the spark Elite Motorsports needed, and Angie Smith continued her qualifying surge in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Kalitta’s 3.720 at 338.17 mph reminded the NHRA pit area that the reigning champion is still very much in the title fight. Meanwhile, rookie Maddi Gordon continued to impress with another strong Top Fuel performance, while Shawn Langdon struggled to 13th after Friday qualifying.
Funny Car saw Jack Beckman grab the top spot for John Force Racing after a wild and “entertaining” run, with Ron Capps and Cruz Pedregon right behind him. Jordan Vandergriff’s second run was disqualified after officials discovered a pinned parachute.
In Pro Stock, Erica Enders returned to the top of the qualifying sheet at the same facility where she earned her first career win in 2012. Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Greg Stanfield completed an Elite Motorsports sweep of the top three positions Friday night.
Angie Smith paced Pro Stock Motorcycle with a 6.738 and made it clear Matt Smith Racing is hearing the chatter from rivals — and answering it on the racetrack.
#NHRA #Route66Nationals #DougKalitta #EricaEnders #JackBeckman #TopFuel #FunnyCar #ProStock #ProStockMotorcycle #DragRacing #NHRAonFOX #PEAKSquad #RaceStrange
Doug Kalitta came out swinging Friday night at Route 66 Raceway, blasting to the provisional No. 1 spot in Top Fuel at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals. Jack Beckman led Funny Car, Erica Enders may have found the spark Elite Motorsports needed, and Angie Smith continued her qualifying surge in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Kalitta’s 3.720 at 338.17 mph reminded the NHRA pit area that the reigning champion is still very much in the title fight. Meanwhile, rookie Maddi Gordon continued to impress with another strong Top Fuel performance, while Shawn Langdon struggled to 13th after Friday qualifying.
Funny Car saw Jack Beckman grab the top spot for John Force Racing after a wild and “entertaining” run, with Ron Capps and Cruz Pedregon right behind him. Jordan Vandergriff’s second run was disqualified after officials discovered a pinned parachute.
In Pro Stock, Erica Enders returned to the top of the qualifying sheet at the same facility where she earned her first career win in 2012. Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Greg Stanfield completed an Elite Motorsports sweep of the top three positions Friday night.
Angie Smith paced Pro Stock Motorcycle with a 6.738 and made it clear Matt Smith Racing is hearing the chatter from rivals — and answering it on the racetrack.
#NHRA #Route66Nationals #DougKalitta #EricaEnders #JackBeckman #TopFuel #FunnyCar #ProStock #ProStockMotorcycle #DragRacing #NHRAonFOX #PEAKSquad #RaceStrange
