LANGDON, PROCK, A. STANFIELD AND HERRERA PREVAIL AT RECORD-BREAKING NAPA AUTO PARTS NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS -

Last Updated on October 4, 2026 by WWTR Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) claim victories at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals. Langdon sets new track record with a run at 341.68 mph. Herrera claims fourth consecutive NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals win. MADISON, Ill. (Oct. 4, 2026) – Record-breaking performances, a Saturday sellout crowd and major shifts in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship standings highlighted the 15th annual NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway. Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won their respective categories at a record-setting 15th annual NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway. In a weekend filled with record-setting performances, Langdon established a new Top Fuel track speed record at World Wide Technology Raceway with a 341.68-mph run during the first round of eliminations against eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher. The pass eclipsed the previous mark of 340.65 mph set by Top Fuel rookie Maddi Gordon just one day earlier. Langdon defeated Justin Ashley in the semifinals to advance to the final round against Will Smith, who was making his first career Top Fuel final-round appearance. In a dominant season, Langdon put down a blistering run of 3.732 seconds at 335.90 mph for his fourth consecutive win in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and third win in the Countdown to the Championship, completing a perfect start to the playoffs by sweeping the first three of six Countdown events. “It makes me excited because I really have felt that the results that were showing now is from the hard work that’s come the last couple years,” said Langdon. “I really have a lot of faith and confidence in this race team, from Brian to Aaron to Justin to the whole Kalitta Air group. I’ve known how good they were, and I really felt like we had some good results when Brian came on board.” This win further extended Langdon’s lead in the championship standings. Austin Prock continued his march through a stacked Funny Car field, using a holeshot victory to upset No. 1 qualifier Jack Beckman and earn a spot in the final round against Jordan Vandergriff. The matchup marked the first Funny Car final-round meeting between Prock and Vandergriff. The two-time Funny Car champion powered to a run of 3.909 seconds at 332.84 mph to defeat Vandergriff. “This was a big win. Huge win for our family and for our team Tasca Racing, this is a time to get hot and get a win,” said Prock. “After all we’ve been through this year, all the hours that we haven’t slept the seven days a week working hard at this. It really pays off when you get a win. We had a really dominant Ford Mustang all weekend.” This win pushed Prock to third place in the championship standings, just 106 points behind leader Matt Hagan. Pro Stock saw a father-son final with Aaron and Greg Stanfield battling it out. Greg Stanfield came into the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals leading the class in points, but it was his son Aaron Stanfield who claimed the holeshot victory. “Our guys have been working really hard on our program and it showed today,” said Aaron Stanfield. “At the start of the day I would definitely say my car kind of pulled me along, and as the day went on I tried finding myself on the tree and ended up in the final round, there with my dad and that’s a pretty special thing. It’s hard to get to the final round alone and to be able to share it with my dad is pretty cool.” Aaron Stanfield’s victory denied Greg Stanfield an opportunity to extend his points lead more while adding another chapter to one of NHRA’s most successful family rivalries. The Pro Stock Motorcycle final saw teammates Herrera and Richard Gadson go head-to-head in a battle for crucial points. Herrera came off a record-breaking weekend after resetting his previous track record with an E.T. of 6.644 seconds and raced to his fourth consecutive win at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals with a winning run of 6.710 seconds at 200.98 mph. “Getting this win here in St. Louis, it holds a special place for me,” said Herrera. “I don’t know what it is with this place but it’s always been very good to me. I wish we had all races here.” By defeating points leader Gadson in the final round, Herrera gained valuable ground in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings while extending his remarkable NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals winning streak. Renewals for the Oct. 1-3, 2027, event are now live, and guests will receive a unique renewal code via email from TIXR. Visit wwtraceway.com or call the ticket office at (618) 215-8888 ext. 1 for more information.