Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 22 hours ago
Austin Prock celebrated his birthday by swinging the axe Friday night at Brainerd International Raceway.
Prock blasted to a 3.893-second run at 329.91 mph to win Brainerd's "Battle for the Axe" and take the provisional No. 1 spot in Funny Car qualifying at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals. Jack Beckman sits second, while Dave Richards turned heads with a 3.924-second run to hold third.
Doug Kalitta brought the speed in Top Fuel, charging to a 3.705 at a massive 340.30 mph to claim his axe and the provisional No. 1 qualifying position. Maddi Gordon delivered one of Friday's biggest performances with a 3.725 at 336.15 mph for second, followed by Shawn Langdon.
Then came Matt Latino's Friday-night comeback. After a brake issue prevented him from making a run in the opening Pro Stock session, Latino returned with only one chance to get into the field. He delivered a 6.588 at 207.21 mph, tying Dallas Glenn on elapsed time but taking the provisional No. 1 spot on speed and claiming an axe of his own.
Three classes. Three axes. And three provisional No. 1 qualifiers with two sessions still to come Saturday at Brainerd.
Professional qualifying resumes Saturday at noon CST with two sessions remaining to set the fields for Sunday's eliminations.
Subscribe to CompetitionPlusTV for NHRA drag racing news, interviews, qualifying coverage and behind-the-scenes stories from the pits.
#DragRacingNews #PEAKSquad #RaceStrange #NHRA #NHRAFinals #BrainerdNationals #AustinProck #DougKalitta #MattLatino #FunnyCar #TopFuel #ProStock #DragRacing
Austin Prock celebrated his birthday by swinging the axe Friday night at Brainerd International Raceway.
Prock blasted to a 3.893-second run at 329.91 mph to win Brainerd's "Battle for the Axe" and take the provisional No. 1 spot in Funny Car qualifying at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals. Jack Beckman sits second, while Dave Richards turned heads with a 3.924-second run to hold third.
Doug Kalitta brought the speed in Top Fuel, charging to a 3.705 at a massive 340.30 mph to claim his axe and the provisional No. 1 qualifying position. Maddi Gordon delivered one of Friday's biggest performances with a 3.725 at 336.15 mph for second, followed by Shawn Langdon.
Then came Matt Latino's Friday-night comeback. After a brake issue prevented him from making a run in the opening Pro Stock session, Latino returned with only one chance to get into the field. He delivered a 6.588 at 207.21 mph, tying Dallas Glenn on elapsed time but taking the provisional No. 1 spot on speed and claiming an axe of his own.
Three classes. Three axes. And three provisional No. 1 qualifiers with two sessions still to come Saturday at Brainerd.
Professional qualifying resumes Saturday at noon CST with two sessions remaining to set the fields for Sunday's eliminations.
Subscribe to CompetitionPlusTV for NHRA drag racing news, interviews, qualifying coverage and behind-the-scenes stories from the pits.
#DragRacingNews #PEAKSquad #RaceStrange #NHRA #NHRAFinals #BrainerdNationals #AustinProck #DougKalitta #MattLatino #FunnyCar #TopFuel #ProStock #DragRacing
