Final qualifying at the Texas NHRA FallNationals delivered record pace at Texas Motorplex, with cool air and grip boosting Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pro Stock, and Top Fuel contenders.

Saturday on the Saddle resumed after a temperature delay. Grip improved, aiding headline runners and exposing setup margins across the classes.

Joey Gladstone led Pro Stock Motorcycle with a 6.653, securing bonus cash and validating a confident tune in challenging conditions.

Matt Smith set a 204.61 mph track speed record, yet Gaige Herrera’s prior 6.673 kept second, leaving Smith third. Richard Gadson surged to provisional fifth.

GT Tonglet improved from 7.050 to 6.956. Hector Arana Jr. and John Hall bettered marks but remained outside the cut.

Pro Stock built on Friday’s rapid foundation. Cooler air helped naturally aspirated engines, and traction consistency encouraged aggression without overstepping clutch windows.

Aaron Stanfield tied the national elapsed-time record at 6.433 at 213.42 mph, matching Greg Anderson’s track benchmark to claim the Battle of the Saddle bonus.

An all‑6.40 field was narrowly missed, with insights tracked in our FallNationals NHRA coverage. Shane Tucker held 16th with 6.502, while three 6.44s underlined depth.

Cody Anderson edged into the field at 6.468. Mason McGaha, Clifford Mayes, and Jerry Tucker missed out. Kenny Delco posted a season‑best 6.471.

Top Fuel round three ran at about 60 degrees. Teams targeted repeatable low‑3.60s, managing cylinder‑to‑clutch balance as conditions stabilized.

Shawn Langdon led with 3.657, sweeping nine session points after Friday’s 3.648 benchmark. The DHL team maximized lane choice and confidence for eliminations.

Doug Kalitta answered with 3.677 at 340.57 mph, combining with Langdon for the fastest side‑by‑side pairing recorded in Top Fuel.

Leah Pruett clocked 3.691, reinforcing the lead trio. Antron Brown produced 3.693 at 340.03 mph, his first 340‑plus of the weekend.

Spencer Massey held the bump at 3.758, mirroring last year’s U.S. Nationals cut. Jake Sanders at 3.844 and Tony Schumacher at 3.809 stayed within reach.

Shawn Reed, Dan Mercier, Spencer Massey, and rookies Jake Sanders and Chuck Loftin improved as the track tightened, hinting at eliminations volatility.

Momentum now matters for race day. Preview expectations in the Texas NHRA preview, and see supporting storylines in PEAK Drag Race FallNationals coverage for this weekend.

Visual Summary

Nicholas Rivera

Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.