Justin Ashley enters the weekend focused on continuing the momentum his SCAG Power Equipment Top Fuel team has built over the past several races. With more round wins coming their way, Ashley and crew chiefs Tommy DeLago and Jason McCulloch are looking to capitalize on strong qualifying performances and put themselves in position for a deep run on Sunday.

“I say the same thing every year, but I only do so because it’s true. Billy Meyer, Christie Meyer, Elon Werner, and the entire Texas Motorplex staff do an excellent job,” said Ashley. “The Stampede of Speed is a special race. The entertainment both on and off the racetrack over a 10-day period of time is something that we all value.

“Our team has started to stack round wins over the last few races. The best way for us to continue moving in that direction is by qualifying well. Our goal is to run well on Friday and Saturday so we’re in a good position on race day. Once we’re there, we’ll do everything we can with the opportunities that come our way. This is generally one of the highest-attended SCAG races, so we want to ensure we have our best outing of the year to help show our appreciation for the support of our guests.”

In Funny Car, Daniel Wilkerson and his SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang team are finding consistency at the right time. With four consecutive first-round victories under their belts, Wilkerson and his team are eager to take the next step and turn those round wins into a trip to the winner’s circle.

“Four consecutive round-one wins is definitely headed in the right direction, but this SCAG Power Equipment, Summit Racing Equipment Ford Mustang team is hunting Diamond Wallys, and with a few adjustments, I think we have a solid chance,” said Wilkerson. “We have an awesome group from SCAG Southwest down here this weekend, and I hope we can get them all in the winner’s circle next to a dragster and a Funny Car from our team.”

Will Smith and the Bluebird Turf Top Fuel team arrive in Texas with plenty to be excited about following a series of career-best performances. After earning his first semifinal appearance in Rockingham and advancing to his first final round in St. Louis, Smith is looking to keep the momentum rolling as his team continues to make strides in its first full-time NHRA Top Fuel season.

“We’ve been having a lot of fun lately, and I think it’s showing in how this Bluebird Turf dragster has been running,” said Smith. “The guys have been working their tails off all season, and it’s pretty cool to see everything starting to come together. Getting to that first final was a big deal for us, but now we want to take it one step further. Texas is always a great race, and we’ve got a lot of people here supporting us. Hopefully, we can give them something to really cheer about on Sunday.”

Rounding out the four-car SCAG Racing lineup is Dave Richards, driver of the Bluebird Turf Funny Car. Richards and his team are looking to make the most of their opportunities at the Texas Motorplex and put together a strong weekend as the 2026 season approaches its conclusion.

“Texas is always a fun one, and you know there’s going to be a big crowd and some great racing,” said Richards. “We’ve had our ups and downs this year, but nobody on this Bluebird Turf team is giving up. We’ve got a few races left to make some noise, and I’d say Texas is as good a place as any to do it. We’d sure like to send some of our SCAG people home with a Wally and a big smile.”

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying at the Texas Motorplex is scheduled for Friday, October 16, at 5:00 and 7:30 p.m CT, followed by two additional qualifying sessions on Saturday, October 17, at noon and 2:30 p.m. CT. Final eliminations are scheduled to begin Sunday, October 18, at noon CT.

Television coverage of the Texas NHRA FallNationals will air Sunday, October 18, on FS1, with qualifying coverage scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. ET and eliminations coverage from 4 to 7 p.m. ET.