Shawn Langdon Powers to Provisional No. 1 at NHRA Las Vegas Nationals

Las Vegas Opening-Day Leaders Set the Pace at NHRA Nationals

Friday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway saw Top Fuel points leader Shawn Langdon secure the provisional No. 1 spot to start the weekend, as reported by the NHRA.

Driving his Kalitta Air dragster, Langdon clocked a 3.672-second run at 332.59 mph, moving the former champion closer to his ninth No. 1 qualifier of the year and the 31st of his career.

Championship Stakes and Track Conditions

Langdon enters Saturday holding a 144-point lead over Kalitta Motorsports teammate Doug Kalitta, leaving an opportunity to clinch his second world championship.

History moves fast… like 345 mph fast. 💨See the newest record holder, Shawn Langdon, take on the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals, Oct. 30-Nov. 1.Tickets 👉 https://t.co/Bo9W5vqgjI pic.twitter.com/FdDR20ZqYQ

— https://x.com/LVMotorSpeedway/status/2052129806196560201

Typically here it’s really dry, so this is a little different conditions with the grains up a little bit, a little bit of moisture in the air, Langdon said. So it’s just a matter of finding the power and then it’s just applying it to the track. The track’s good, so you just have to get the power level right and then get the clutch right for the track.

Tony Stewart sits second after a 3.676 run at 339.28 mph, while Josh Hart is third following a 3.688 pass at 325.61 mph.

Funny Car and Pro Stock Standings

In Funny Car, Jack Beckman delivered a 3.836 pass at 335.32 mph in his PEAK Chevrolet SS under the lights, earning the session’s $3,500 “Ted Wiens Trick or Traction Award.” Beckman sits fifth in points with two wins this year, chasing points leader Matt Hagan.

When you get conditions like this, it’s always an educated guess on what you think you can get away with, Beckman said. Barring a miracle, we’re not going to catch Matt Hagan. Our goal is to win two races, and if that means we finish second, that’s good.

Alexis DeJoria holds second in Funny Car with a 3.874 at 333.33 mph, and J.R. Todd is third at 3.889 and 336.82 mph. Hagan stands ninth after a 3.945 run.

In Pro Stock, Matt Hartford posted a 6.632 at 206.57 mph in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro to capture the $1,500 “Ted Wiens Trick or Traction Award.” Hartford sits third in points, trailing leader Dallas Glenn by 41 points.

There were definitely tricky conditions out there tonight, Hartford said. We thought we could go to the front. We were trying to go to the front, but we also knew that there was a chance that it might not get down tonight.

Matt Latino follows in second with a 6.635 at 205.79 mph, and Greg Stanfield is third after a 6.639 at 204.63 mph.

Pro Stock Motorcycle Front-Runners

Gaige Herrera set the pace in Pro Stock Motorcycle right off the trailer, recording a 6.835 at 195.42 mph on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki. Herrera sits second in the standings, 58 points behind teammate and reigning world champion Richard Gadson, with the season finale in Pomona approaching.

I feel like the last couple races have been fighting the weather, the wind, Herrera said. It’s Richard and Matt basically, still in the championship battle, and you know it puts me in a different mindset. It just makes me hungrier when there’s a mix of riders to go out there and do the best I can.

Gadson qualified second with a 6.841 at 194.41 mph, and Joey Gladstone took third with a 6.856 at 195.65 mph while also claiming a $1,000 “Ted Wiens Trick or Traction Award.” Qualifying resumes at 11 a.m. PT on Saturday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.