Chris Roe didn’t need many passes to make his presence known at Brainerd International Raceway.
After traveling from Florida to Minnesota for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series West Central Division event, Roe made his official competition debut behind the wheel of the Mustang he is piloting for the Right Trailers team and finished Thursday’s qualifying session at the top of the field.
Roe posted a 6.378-second pass at 219.26 mph to become the No. 1 qualifier in the 24-car Top Sportsman field, earning the top spot heading into Friday’s eliminations.
The No. 1 qualifying position came after a challenging start to the day. Roe’s first qualifying attempt did not make it all the way down the track. The team returned to the pits, made adjustments, and prepared for another attempt.
On his next opportunity, Roe made his first complete pass of the event and it immediately became the quickest run in the field.
The performance marks an impressive start to Roe’s tenure with the Right Trailers team, which selected him to drive the GT 500 that is new to the team. Roe brings extensive experience handling high-horsepower Ford combinations to the program.
“It was a challenging first pass, but we were able to come back, make some adjustments and get the car down the track,” said Roe. “To have that first full pass put us No. 1 is a great start. I’m really proud of the team and excited to see what we can do tomorrow.”
Roe’s trip to Brainerd represents a significant undertaking for the Florida-based racer, traveling more than 1,500 miles to compete in the West Central Division event. Now, he heads into Friday’s eliminations with the best possible starting position – No. 1.
But qualifying is only the beginning. Roe and the Right Trailers team will return to Brainerd International Raceway Friday for competition.
For Roe, the message from his first full competition pass in the Right Trailers Mustang was clear: The Florida racer has arrived in Brainerd and he’s starting from the top.
This story was originally published on August 14, 2026.
The post Chris Roe Goes Straight to the Top at NHRA Division 5 Event in Brainerd first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
