Category: NHRA

BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 3, 2024) – If you’re NHRA Top Fuel points leader Justin Ashley, it would be hard not to love Bristol Dragway. Ashley has won back-to-back races in scenic Thunder Valley, including last year when he swept the weekend in incredible fashion, including the postponed Epping event, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge bonus race and the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

It may be hard to top that at this weekend’s 23rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, but Ashley will try as he seeks an impressive third straight victory at Bristol Dragway. Only Top Fuel legend Tony Schumacher and Pro Stock’s Mike Edwards have won three straight times in Thunder Valley, meaning Ashley will try to join some rarified air.

He’s enjoyed another banner year thus far in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, entering the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals as the points leader on the strength of two wins in his 11,000-horsepower Scag Power Equipment/Toyota dragster. As expected, the annual trip to Bristol is one Ashley enjoys a great deal.

“It’s one of the more challenging places we race, but it’s been a complete team effort there,” Ashley said. “Our team’s experience tuning and navigating this track has played a big part in it. Last year in Bristol was a weekend I’ll never forget and every time I go to Bristol from now on, it’s going to be something I think about. They absolutely pack the place in Bristol and it’s such a special place to race. With all the sounds that are so unique to that facility, I just have so many fond memories of racing there.”

Ashley (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) took home titles last year in picturesque Thunder Valley and this year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday. It is the eighth of 20 races during the 2024 season and the fan-favorite Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge also takes place on Saturday, featuring semifinalists from last weekend’s NHRA New England Nationals.

Ashley won’t be part of the bonus race this year, experiencing a rare first-round defeat on Sunday. He’ll have an immediate chance to bounce back in Bristol, which could be one benefit of a busy June that features four race weekends.

But he’s also facing off against a deep Top Fuel class that includes reigning world champ Doug Kalitta, who won on Sunday in Epping, Antron Brown, Brittany Force, Steve Torrence, Shawn Langdon, Clay Millican and racing legend Tony Stewart, who is making his Bristol Top Fuel debut this weekend. Ashley, though, is eager to put last weekend behind him and see if he can create some more Bristol magic.

“This stretch is going to be critical for us to get into a rhythm,” Ashley said. “You can go from one race to the next and if you won the race before, it’s great. You can carry that momentum into the next one and if you lose, it might even be better because you don’t have to sit on it too long and suffer. You can go right to the next race. But in the summer months when it becomes hot, the tracks can be really challenging, so the people who are going to win are those who can go up and down the track.”

Capps won his second straight Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals last season when he defeated Alexis DeJoria in the finals. He’s looking for his first win of 2024 in a loaded group that includes points leader Austin Prock, John Force, who won Sunday in Epping, Gainesville winner J.R. Todd, reigning champ Matt Hagan and Bob Tasca III.

Enders, the reigning Pro Stock world champ, is after consecutive Bristol wins and also her 50th career national event victory this weekend. To do so, she’ll have to get past the likes of points leader Dallas Glenn, Greg Anderson, who has two wins this season, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Aaron Stanfield and Epping winner Troy Coughlin Jr.

Johnson, a veteran in Pro Stock Motorcycle, claimed his win over Gaige Herrera in 2023. Herrera, who won 11 events last year, went on to win the title in dominant fashion and is undefeated thus far in 2024. Other contenders include six-time champion Matt Smith, former champ LE Tonglet, John Hall, Hector Arana Jr. and Angie Smith.

The Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, featuring some of the top racers in the country, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Mountain Motor Pro Stock. The weekend includes an appearance from the Legends Nostalgia Nitro Funny Cars as well. After final qualifying on Saturday, fans will also be treated to a special autograph session and fanfest at the Bristol Dragway Welcome Tent in the midway.

Fans will also be invited to the Nitro Alley Stage all weekend, which features Nitro School, meet and greets, music and much more. Race fans at Bristol Dragway can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that celebrates each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the Bristol event winners.

As always, fans also get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet in Bristol. They can see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. Fans can also visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food, and fun for the entire family.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:30 and 7 p.m. ET on Friday, June 7, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, June 8 at 12:30 and 3:15 p.m. Eliminations will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 9. Television coverage includes qualifying action at 7 p.m. ET on Friday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday on FS1, leading into eliminations coverage at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday.

To purchase tickets to the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. For more information on NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

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About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

Headquartered in San Dimas, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 110 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

CHEVROLET IN NHRA
2024 NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS
NEW ENGLAND DRAGWAY
EPPING, NEW HAMPSHIRE
TEAM CHEVY RACE REPORT | NOTES & QUOTES
JUNE 2, 2024

JOHN FORCE RACING DOMINATES NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS IN AN ALL-FORCE FINAL, WITH JOHN FORCE CAPTURING THE VICTORY AT EPPING

Notes:

• In an all-John Force Racing final round, Austin Prock, driver of the AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, and John Force, driver of the PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car faced off with Force capturing his 157th career NHRA victory and third at New England Dragway.
• Today’s win is Chevrolet’s 162nd in Funny Car and 82nd in the Camaro body.
• J. Force, and Dallas Glenn, driver of the RAD Torque Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock, raced their way Saturday to victory in the Mission Foods NHRA #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.
• Prock and Force both qualified first and second respectively after three rounds of qualifying at New England Dragway.
• Falling to Tony Schumacher, Brittany Force, driver of the Monster Energy Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster, was eliminated in Round 1 after running 4.314 E.T. at 242.10 mph to Schumacher’s 4.170 E.T. seconds at 254.95 mph.
• B. Force qualified No. 3 after laying down a 3.715-second E.T. lap at 335.57 mph.
• Troy Coughlin, Jr. and Erica Enders faced off in the final round, with Coughlin, Jr. capturing the New England Nationals win in his JEGS Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock machine.

Quotes:

BRITTANY FORCE, DRIVER OF THE MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET TOP FUEL DRAGSTER:

“This Monster Energy Chevy team is leaving Epping New Hampshire frustrated but we are still determined. Right now, we are focusing on the little bits of progress we made this weekend, and those little bits are adding up. We reset the track speed record at 335 mph and qualified third with a 3.71. On race day I was happy with my reaction time, pedaled it, but came up short. I like that these back-to-back races and that we are headed straight to Bristol which keeps our motivation high. There is no time in between and we are right back on a race track figuring things out.”

AUSTIN PROCK, DRIVER OF THE AAA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:

“Outstanding weekend for John Force Racing. We swept the weekend. We were 1-2 qualifiers. John won the Mission Challenge. John won and we runnered up. You can’t ask for much more out of these two funny cars. Really proud of the team. We got a lot of good energy going here. I’m looking forward to the rest of the year. Obviously, we wanted to win this event today. But if I’m going to get beat, I want to get beat by my boss. It was really cool to see him succeed and all the success he’s had this year. He’s really coming into his own. Proud of him and proud of my team for AAA and Peak this weekend. It was just a great weekend. You can’t say much more than that, and to leave as the points leaders in first and second is pretty cool, too!”

JOHN FORCE, DRIVER OF THE PEAK CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:

“Winning at New Hampshire is always special. The competition is tough, and these young drivers keep me on my toes. I’m grateful for my team and our partners at PEAK, AAA, Monster Energy and HendrickCars.com, Flav-R-Pac for their support. This win shows that this old man still has some fight left in him. Cornwell Tools and Chevy, of course. We’re not done yet!”

Up Next:

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series next heads to Thunder Valley and Bristol Dragway for the 2024 Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals June 7-9, 2024. Friday qualifying airs at 7 p.m., with Saturday’s qualifying airing Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Sunday’s eliminations broadcast at 7 p.m. ET. All sessions from Bristol Dragway air with NHRA on FOX on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Coverage streams live throughout the weekend on NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

EPPING, N.H. (June 2, 2024) – John Force finished off an impressive double-up weekend in front of another sellout crowd on Sunday at New England Dragway, as the 16-time Funny Car world champion outran teammate Austin Prock in the final round of the 11th annual NHRA New England Nationals.

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) and Troy Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) also won the seventh of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. It was the second straight sellout for the NHRA this weekend.

In an all-John Force Racing Funny Car final round, Force went 4.081-seconds at 319.29 mph in his 11,000-horsepower PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS in the finals to slip past Prock’s 4.096 at 316.38. It gave the legendary driver his second victory of the season, third at New England Dragway and 157th in his career.

He reached the finals by defeating Buddy Hull, Blake Alexander and J.R. Todd, holding off Prock in a thrilling side-by-side duel. Force also won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday, with Sunday’s double-up victory pushing him to second in points in what has truly been a remarkable season for the longtime star.

“I love the crowds. For three days they packed them in. I came here 40-something years ago and this place is special,” Force said. “We had a good race car and what keeps me alive is driving this hotrod and all these fans.

“I’m down right now because don’t like beating my teammate in the final. He is the future. I love that kid. He’s going to be here for a long time and Robert [Hight] will be coming back. I’m not being dramatic, but my time is up. It was up when I was 65. Hell, it was up when I turned 50. The world is changing for me and I’ve got to do some real thinking. I’m not quitting today. I’m going to Bristol, but I just know I’m not what I used to be.”

Prock, who jumped back into the points lead in the category and was also the No. 1 qualifier, went to the championship round for the fourth time in 2024 and 12th time overall with wins over Mike Smith, Chad Green and Daniel Wilkerson.

In Top Fuel, Doug Kalitta enjoyed his own special moment on Sunday at New England Dragway, defeating Tony Schumacher in the final round with a pass of 3.802 at 332.92 in his 11,000-horsepower Mac Tools/Toyota dragster. The victory clinched an impressive mark for the reigning world champ, as Kalitta now has a win at every track on the NHRA circuit. It’s another remarkable achievement for the veteran, who has been riding high since clinching his first world title last year.

On Sunday, Kalitta, who also qualified No. 1 and ran well all weekend, defeated Scott Farley, Tony Stewart and Kalitta Motorsports teammate Shawn Langdon to reach the finals. He powered past Schumacher in the championship round, earning his second win of the season – and vaulting to second in points – and the 54th in his career.

“Coming in here, my goal was to try and get the win. This is the last place haven’t won. I didn’t want to put a lot of attention on it, but it’s hard not to,” Kalitta said. “This was incredible. We’ve been digging hard and I was just trying not to screw it up.”

“Then on Saturday, we got set up for our tribute to Scott [Kalitta]. It’s great to have an opportunity to have a good meal with a lot of the teams and I know it means a lot to Connie. He loves this sport. It was a good time to be able to pull off this win. It was super special.”

Schumacher advanced to his second final round of the season and the 159th of his career after defeating Brittany Force, Josh Hart and Clay Millican. Justin Ashley stayed in the points lead, though Kalitta closed the gap to just 26 points on Sunday.

Troy Coughlin Jr. turned in a stellar day on Sunday in Pro Stock, capping things off with a holeshot victory over reigning world champion and Elite Motorsports teammate Erica Enders in the final round. Coughlin went 6.584 at 210.05 in his JEGS.com/White Castle Pro Stock car, holding off Enders’ hard-charging 6.563 at 210.54 on the strength of an impressive .013 reaction time. It is Coughlin’s first win of the 2024 season – and first at New England Dragway – and also the fifth Pro Stock victory in his career.

After qualifying second, Coughlin reached the final round for the first time this season by defeating Brandon Miller, Aaron Stanfield and points leader Dallas Glenn. That set up a marquee final round, but Coughlin’s strong reaction time was just enough to ward off the six-time champion.

“It was definitely a wonderful day,” Coughlin said. “Erica is fast. She hits the tree well and it’s an honor just to race her. When I practice every week on a simulator, you’re asking nothing more of yourself than you do each week on the track. You’re just racing yourself and you need to be that way when you’re running a champ like Erica.

“In the final I just tried to crush it and make my best lap. I got there by four thousandths of a second and here we are.”

Enders, who was the No. 1 qualifier, reached her 81st career final round thanks to wins against Fernando Cuadra Jr., Deric Kramer and Jerry Tucker, coming up just short in the bid for her 50th career national event win.

The 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action June 7-9 with the 23rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tenn.

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NHRA Agate from Epping, N.H.

EPPING, N.H. — Sunday’s final results from the 11th annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway. The race is the seventh of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel — Doug Kalitta, 3.802 seconds, 332.92 mph def. Tony Schumacher, 4.307, 201.43.

Funny Car — John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.081, 319.29 def. Austin Prock, Camaro, 4.096, 316.38.

Pro Stock — Troy Coughlin Jr., 6.584, 210.05 def. Erica Enders, 6.563, 210.54.

EPPING, N.H. — Final round-by-round results from the 11th annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway. The race is the seventh of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel

ROUND ONE — Doug Kalitta, 4.254, 198.85 def. Scott Farley, NT; Tony Stewart, 3.973, 286.25 def. Antron Brown, 4.436, 200.38; Shawn Langdon, 3.780, 332.02 def. Shawn Reed, 4.605, 170.99; Billy Torrence, 3.793, 331.04 def. Jasmine Salinas, 3.790, 330.47; Steve Torrence, 3.882, 325.30 def. Smax Smith, 3.796, 169.74; Clay Millican, 3.848, 326.79 def. Dan Mercier, 4.027, 266.48; Tony Schumacher, 4.170, 254.95 def. Brittany Force, 4.314, 242.10; Josh Hart, 3.848, 325.53 def. Justin Ashley, 5.202, 139.90.

QUARTERFINALS — Kalitta, 3.841, 329.67 def. Stewart, 3.848, 323.58; Langdon, 3.953, 289.45 def. B. Torrence, 3.942, 285.29; Millican, 3.841, 328.94 def. S. Torrence, 3.835, 329.18; Schumacher, 3.880, 323.19 def. Hart, 8.623, 65.65

SEMIFINALS — Schumacher, 3.869, 324.12 def. Millican, 5.664, 119.38; Kalitta, 3.848, 330.72 def. Langdon, 3.884, 318.32.

FINAL — Kalitta, 3.802, 332.92 def. Schumacher, 4.307, 201.43.

Funny Car

ROUND ONE — Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.970, 326.16 def. Mike Smith, Ford Mustang, 10.870, 82.17; Chad Green, Mustang, 3.976, 327.03 def. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota GR Supra, 4.060, 319.14; Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.089, 313.80 def. Cory Lee, Mustang, 5.481, 141.25; Ron Capps, Supra, 4.045, 323.89 def. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.185, 248.07; John Force, Camaro, def. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.495, 210.11; Blake Alexander, Mustang, 4.002, 318.54 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.916, 169.36; J.R. Todd, Supra, 4.224, 238.43 def. Dave Richards, Toyota Camry, 9.933, 83.33; Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.005, 327.43 def. Cruz Pedregon, 5.947, 117.00

QUARTERFINALS — Prock, 3.983, 325.15 def. Green, 4.020, 321.27; Wilkerson, 4.022, 320.28 def. Capps, 7.690, 99.06; Force, 4.059, 322.65 def. Alexander, 4.231, 258.67; Todd, 4.079, 317.57 def. Tasca, 4.325, 237.55.

SEMIFINALS — Force, 3.994, 321.88 def. Todd, 4.050, 319.45; Prock, 3.993, 317.12 def. Wilkerson, 4.013, 322.27.

FINAL — Force, 4.081, 319.29 def. Prock, 4.096, 316.38.

Pro Stock

ROUND ONE — Deric Kramer, Chevy Camaro, 6.593, 209.75 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.615, 209.20; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.563, 209.98 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.594, 210.2; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.558, 210.50 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 7.625, 133.84; Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.604, 210.34 def. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 21.383, 35.62; Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.600, 209.23 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 7.155, 192.60; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.569, 209.92 def. Brandon Foster, Camaro, 6.603, 209.10; Troy Coughlin, Camaro, 6.555, 210.90 def. Brandon Miller, Camaro, 6.628, 208.01; Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.554, 210.73 def. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.697, 209.69.

QUARTERFINALS – Tucker, 6.611, 210. 01 def. C. McGaha 8.148, 163.45; Glenn, 6.628, 208.78 def. J. Coughlin, 6.604, 210.80; T. Coughlin, 6.590, 210.24 def. Stanfield 6.584, 209.52; Enders, 6.578, 210.77 def. Kramer, 6.593, 210.11.

SEMIFINALS – Enders, 6.574, 209.79 def. Tucker, 6.624, 2097.79; T. Coughlin 6.610, 209.49 def. Glenn 6.633, 208.04

FINALS – T. Coughlin 6.584, 210.05 def. Enders 6.563, 210.54

EPPING, N.H. – Points standings (top 10) following the 11th annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway. The race is the seventh of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel

1. Justin Ashley 566; 2. Doug Kalitta 540; 3. Shawn Langdon 534; 4. Steve Torrence 467; 5. Antron Brown 428; 6. Clay Millican 391; 7. Billy Torrence 390; 8. Tony Schumacher 359; 9. Tony Stewart 345; 10. Brittany Force 302

Funny Car

1. Austin Prock 580; 2. John Force 558; 3. Matt Hagan 512; 4. J.R. Todd 502; 5. Bob Tasca III 455 6. Dan Wilkerson 389; 7. Ron Capps 360; 8. Alexis DeJoria 339; 9. Chad Green 317; 10. Blake Alexander 295

Pro Stock

1. Dallas Glenn 619; 2. Erica Enders 575; 3. Greg Anderson 569; 4. Jeg Coughlin Jr. 449; 5. Aaron Stanfield 430; 6. Jerry Tucker 401; 7. Troy Coughlin Jr. 387; 8. Cristian Cuadra 334; 9. Brandon Foster 265; 10. David Cuadra 254

KALITTA CLAIMS LONG-AWAITED EPPING VICTORY; SECOND TRIUMPH IN 2024
Toyota extends Top Fuel win streak to eight

EPPING, N.H. (June 2, 2024) – Following his No. 1 qualifier run earlier in the weekend, Doug Kalitta captured his second Wally Trophy of 2024 by defeating Tony Schumacher in Sunday afternoon’s New England Nationals finals. Kalitta’s triumph is the 54th of his legendary career, his first at New England Dragway, and extends Toyota’s Top Fuel win streak to eight. The reigning champion has now won on every track currently on the NHRA tour. With Kalitta making the Top Fuel finals, Toyota has also reached the final round in 30 consecutive NHRA events in either Top Fuel or Funny Car.

Shawn Langdon, one of those defeated by Kalitta on the way to victory, made the semifinals for the fourth time this season. Billy Torrence, along with his son, Steve, both reached the second round. 

In Funny Car, J.R. Todd was the lead GR Supra, making his fourth semifinals of the 2024 season, ultimately defeated by event winner, John Force. His Toyota teammates, Ron Capps and Alexis DeJoria, bowed out in the early rounds on Sunday.

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is right back in action next weekend at Bristol Dragway for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series
NHRA New England Nationals
New England Dragway
Race 7 of 20

TOYOTA TOP FUEL FINISHING POSITIONS 

Name	Car	Final Result	Round-by-Round
Doug Kalitta	Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Winner	W (4.254) v. S. Farley (No Time) W (3.841) v. T. Stewart (3.848) W (3.848) v. S. Langdon (3.884) W (3.802) v. T. Schumacher (4.307)
Shawn Langdon	Kalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Semi-finals	W (3.780) v. S. Reed (4.605) W (3.953 – holeshot) v. B. Torrence (3.942) L (3.884) v. D. Kalitta (3.848)
Billy Torrence	CAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Second Round	W (3.793 – holeshot) v. J. Salinas (3.790) L (3.942) v. S. Langdon (3.953 – holeshot)
Steve Torrence	CAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Second Round	W (3.882) v. S. Smith (4.796) L (3.835) v. C. Millican (3.841 – holeshot)
Justin Ashley	SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	First Round	L (5.202) v. J. Hart (3.848)
Antron Brown	Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	First Round	L (4.436) v. T. Stewart (3.973)

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR FINISHING POSITIONS 

Name	Car	Final Result	Round-by-Round
J.R. Todd	DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	Semi-finals	W (4.224) v. D. Richards (9.933) W (4.079) v. B. Tasca III (4.325) L (3.994) v. J. Force (4.050)
Ron Capps	NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	Second Round	W (4.045) v. M. Hagan (4.185) L (7.690) v. D. Wilkerson (4.022)
Alexis DeJoria	Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	First Round	L (4.060) v. C. Green (3.976)

*= Non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

DOUG KALITTA, Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Final Result: Winner

How does it feel to sweep the weekend and get this victory at Epping?

“Yeah, no, it’s incredible. We had a tribute to my cousin, Scott, yesterday and this was definitely true to him. Connie (Kalitta, team owner), Alan (Johnson, crew chief), Mac (Savage, assistant crew chief), the whole Mac Tools, Toyota, Revchem team. We’ve been digging hard. I’m just making sure I don’t screw up, up there. They give me such a good car. Awesome weekend and super excited!”  

J.R. TODD, DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, Kalitta Motorsports

FC Final Result: Semi-finals

Can you describe your day and weekend?

“It was a good weekend for the DHL GR Supra team. We qualified well and made it to the semis which means we get to race in the 2Fast2Tasty deal (Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge) at Bristol which is always the goal. We’re still behind those Force (John Force Racing) cars quite a bit so we have some work to do going into Bristol, but at the end of the day, it’s nice to be going rounds and earning points for DHL, Revchem and SealMaster.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships. 

Toyota directly employs more than 49,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 34 million cars and trucks at our nine manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 10th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 28 electrified options.

Through its Driving Possibilities initiative, the Toyota USA Foundation has committed to creating innovative educational programs within, and in partnership with, historically underserved and diverse communities near the company’s U.S. operating sites.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

EPPING, N.H. (June 1, 2024) – Funny Car’s Austin Prock claimed his fifth No. 1 qualifier in the first seven races of the 2024 season in front of a sellout crowd on Saturday at New England Dragway, powering to the top spot at the 11th annual NHRA New England Nationals.

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) also qualified No. 1 at the seventh of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Prock’s rocket run of 3.837-seconds at 336.23 mph in his 11,000-horsepower AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS from Friday stayed on top to close out qualifying, as the first-year Funny Car continued to roll in qualifying. It’s also the eighth career top qualifier for the young standout, who is seeking his sixth career victory and second this year on Sunday. He’ll open raceday against Mike Smith on Sunday.

“It’s been great. To be low at five of seven races is unreal,” Prock said. “I really want to get the job done for AAA tomorrow. We struggled in Pomona with these colors on and I want to fix that. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

“These [Friday] runs are a premium. When you have success it builds notebooks for the crew chiefs. Things are aligning right now. The team is working together well. I’m having so much fun driving this thing right now.”

John Force, who won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday, is in second after Friday’s 3.865 at 333.16 and J.R. Todd took third with his 3.865 at 327.74 from Friday.

In Top Fuel, Doug Kalitta stayed on a good path to possibly grab a victory at the only track where he hasn’t won, as Friday’s 3.700 at 332.84 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Mac Tools dragster remained atop the field. It handed the reigning world champ his third No. 1 qualifier of the season and 56th in his career, and he capped off Saturday with a strong run in the warmer temperatures.

Next up is trying to go four rounds on Sunday and claim his first career victory at New England Dragway. He’ll face off with Scott Farley to open eliminations.

“My guys really have got this thing running well,” Kalitta said. “I’m just trying to do my part and go rounds on Sunday. I would love to win here at Epping. They had a great crowd here today and we’re hoping to have a great day tomorrow.

“We got info that we can use for tomorrow. The track was good. We got down on second run. On the first one we tried to find the edge and we did. Shawn [Langdon’s] car also ran well, too. [Crew chiefs] Alan Johnson and Brian Husen are working to get both cars as close together as possible.”

Steve Torrence qualified second with a 3.702 at 335.23 from Friday and also won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday. Brittany Force finished third with Friday’s 3.715 at a track-record 335.57.

Defending and six-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders easily stayed atop the field on Saturday, as Friday’s run of 6.488 at 211.79 in her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/Scag Power Equipment wasn’t challenged in Saturday’s warmer temperatures. It gives Enders her third No. 1 qualifier this season and she’ll open eliminations against Fernando Cuadra Jr., looking for her second win of the season and the 50th national event victory in her remarkable career. Enders is also the most recent Pro Stock winner at New England Dragway (2022).

“I’ve definitely got a race day tune-up for tomorrow. Our biggest challenge will be a tricky track but I’m thankful that’s the crew’s job and I can stay focused on my job,” Enders said.

“That 6.48 on Friday was really exciting. I’ve got a fast hot rod and I just need to stay focused and not allow outside influences to get in the way. This has been a great track for us. I enjoy going back to tracks where we’ve had success. I have to remain positive, visualize what we want and go get it.”

Troy Coughlin Jr. took second thanks to Friday’s 6.510 at 211.46 and points leader Dallas Glenn, who won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, ended in third with his 6.529 at 210.57.

Eliminations for the NHRA New England Nationals begin at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday at New England Dragway.

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EPPING, N.H. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 11th annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway, the seventh of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Top Fuel — 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.700 seconds, 332.84 mph vs. 16. Scott Farley, 13.824, 69.65; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.702, 335.23 vs. 15. Smax Smith, 5.286, 127.45; 3. Brittany Force, 3.715, 335.57 vs. 14. Tony Schumacher, 4.077, 232.35; 4. Shawn Langdon, 3.722, 330.23 vs. 13. Shawn Reed, 3.820, 324.20; 5. Billy Torrence, 3.744, 332.43 vs. 12. Jasmine Salinas, 3.812, 324.20; 6. Justin Ashley, 3.754, 328.22 vs. 11. Josh Hart, 3.795, 327.98; 7. Clay Millican, 3.759, 332.43 vs. 10. Dan Mercier, 3.777, 328.38; 8. Tony Stewart, 3.762, 323.12 vs. 9. Antron Brown, 3.766, 330.80.

Funny Car — 1. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.837, 336.23 vs. 16. Mike Smith, Ford Mustang, 4.785, 230.53; 2. John Force, Camaro, 3.865, 333.16 vs. 15. Buddy Hull, Dodge Charger, 4.466, 203.55; 3. J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 3.865, 327.74 vs. 14. Dave Richards, Toyota Camry, 4.296, 231.60; 4. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.899, 329.91 vs. 13. Cory Lee, Mustang, 4.267, 246.21; 5. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.910, 322.96 vs. 12. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 4.036, 319.37; 6. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.923, 333.41 vs. 11. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.965, 323.27; 7. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.945, 320.51 vs. 10. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 3.958, 315.64; 8. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.953, 323.35 vs. 9. Alexis DeJoria, GR Supra, 3.956, 325.53.

Pro Stock — 1. Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.488, 211.89 vs. 16. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.607, 210.11; 2. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.510, 211.46 vs. 15. Brandon Miller, Dodge Dart, 6.606, 208.39; 3. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.529, 210.87 vs. 14. Brandon Foster, Camaro, 6.582, 209.82; 4. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.530, 211.59 vs. 13. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.558, 209.30; 5. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.530, 210.64 vs. 12. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.549, 210.77; 6. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.534, 210.67 vs. 11. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.546, 210.93; 7. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.537, 211.79 vs. 10. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.543, 210.24; 8. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.540, 210.93 vs. 9. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.541, 209.95.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Val Smeland, 7.758, 130.32.

EPPING, N.H. (June 1, 2024) – John Force powered to the win in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday at New England Dragway, claiming the bonus event win in front of a sellout crowd as part of this weekend’s 11th annual NHRA New England Nationals.

Steve Torrence (Top Fuel) and Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) also won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge at the seventh of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Force went 4.048-seconds at 320.81 mph in his 11,000-horsepower PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS to defeat Blake Alexander’s 3.994 at 320.51 on a holeshot in the final round, giving the 16-time world champion his first specialty event win of the season. It’s another impressive moment in what has been a standout season for Force, who is currently third in points. He’ll get a chance for an event win on Sunday and a double-up weekend, looking to continue his strong 2024 campaign.

“I love racing these kids,” Force said. “They make get me out of bed every day. I just know [car owner] Jim Head, he’s tricky and Alexander can drive so I rolled it in deep. I knew I needed to get a few inches on him and evidently it helped me. The numbers look deceiving, but it was a good race. Blake has a big future out here.

“So far, it’s been a good weekend, and it’s nice just to win. Tomorrow is a big day, so let’s go get some more tomorrow. I love being up here. The fans are great.”

Top Fuel’s Steve Torrence rolled to his first win of 2024 in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, taking down Dan Mercier in the final round with a run of 3.866 at 327.43 in his 11,000-horsepower Capco Contractors dragster. Mercier went 3.897 at 298.27, but Torrence led wire-to-wire en route to the victory, his fourth career win in the specialty race dating back to last year.

He knocked off Antron Brown earlier in the day, making a pair of solid runs in the 3.80s in the heat. That bodes well tomorrow for the four-time world champion, who is after his third career victory at New England Dragway.

“Our semifinal match-up with Antron Brown in Chicago was a great race and we had the same thing today. We also had a great race in the final with Mercier,” Torrence said. “Those guys have come out and started running well this year. I’m proud to see that. We need more guys like that out here. He’s a super nice guy and it’s an honor to race them in the final.

“Thanks to Mission Foods for all they do. It changes the way you look at qualifying and it adds something. Fans enjoy it when they get to see someone crowned as a champion. Mission is doing a lot of good for our spot and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

In Pro Stock, Dallas Glenn slipped by Aaron Stanfield in the final round of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, going 6.545 at 210.80 in his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro to get the win over Stanfield’s 6.551 at 210.24. It’s Glenn’s first win in the bonus event this season and second in his career, and he was thrilled with how his car performed on Saturday in the heat. The Pro Stock points leader and former NHRA Rookie of the Year made a pair of strong runs, giving him plenty of momentum for what he hopes is his first career double-up weekend.

“It was a great preparation for tomorrow,” Glenn said. “I’m trying to stay a little more relaxed and it’s definitely helped. These are hard to come by. I don’t tend to do very well in bonus races, but we were able to get it done. We’ve got a great hot rod in the heat and it’s going to be warm tomorrow, so I feel like we’ve got something for them. We did a fantastic job today and I’ve got a good hot rod for tomorrow.

“I’m very happy with my Saturday. We got bonus points on both runs and I had two good races. We should have similar conditions for tomorrow so feel good that we can compete with anyone out there.”

Eliminations for the NHRA New England Nationals begin at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday at New England Dragway.

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EPPING, N.H. — Saturday’s final results from the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge at the 11th annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway.

Top Fuel Challenge — Steve Torrence, 3.866 seconds, 327.43 mph def. Dan Mercier, 3.897 seconds, 298.27 mph.

Funny Car Challenge — John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.048, 320.81 def. Blake Alexander, Ford Mustang, 3.994, 320.51.

Pro Stock Challenge — Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.545, 210.80 def. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.551, 210.24.

EPPING, N.H. — Final round-by-round results from the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge at the 11th annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway.

MISSION #2FAST2TASTY NHRA TOP FUEL CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE — Steve Torrence, 3.897, 270.64 def. Antron Brown, 4.400, 185.46; Dan Mercier, 3.857, 319.98 def. Shawn Langdon, 3.896, 313.15;

FINAL — S. Torrence, 3.866, 327.43 def. D. Mercier, 3.897, 298.27.

MISSION #2FAST2TASTY NHRA FUNNY CAR CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE — Blake Alexander, Ford Mustang, 4.026, 311.41 def. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.104, 308.71; John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.133, 281.36 def. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 6.676, 94.81;

FINAL — J. Force, 4.048, 320.81 def. B. Alexander, 3.994, 320.51.

MISSION #2FAST2TASTY NHRA PRO STOCK CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE — Aaron Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, 6.573, 210.01 def. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.591, 209.88; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.540, 210.87 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.537, 211.79;

FINAL — D. Glenn, 6.545, 210.80 def. A. Stanfield, 6.551, 210.24.

KALITTA EARNS NO. 1 QUALIFIER IN STRONG TOYOTA SHOWING AT EPPING
Defending Top Fuel Champion’s Third No. 1 Qualifying Position in Four Races

EPPING, N.H. (June 1, 2024) – Doug Kalitta continued his qualifying hot streak by capturing the No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel for the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway. His third No. 1 qualifier in four races, and the 56th of his career, Kalitta laid down a blistering 3.700 elapsed time Friday night that held firm after Saturday’s two sessions. The run by Kalitta also marks Toyota’s fifth No. 1 qualifier in the first seven races of the 2024 season.

Steve Torrence earned the No. 2 seed in Top Fuel, narrowly missing out on the top spot by two one thousandths of a second after posting a 3.702 time Friday night. Coupling his strong qualifying, Torrence was also victorious in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, defeating Dan Mercier in the final qualifying session Saturday afternoon. Toyota makes up five of the top six positions in Top Fuel tomorrow with Shawn Langdon in fourth, Billy Torrence in fifth and points leader, Justin Ashley, in sixth.

In Funny Car, J.R Todd was the lead GR Supra Funny Car, earning the third overall position for Sunday’s eliminations. His Toyota teammates, Alexis DeJoria and Ron Capps, qualified eighth and 12th going into tomorrow.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series
NHRA New England Nationals
New England Dragway
Race 7 of 20

TOYOTA TOP FUEL QUALIFYING POSITIONS 

Name	Car	Qualifying Position	First Round Opponent
Doug Kalitta	Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	1st	S. Farley
Steve Torrence	CAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	2nd	S. Smith
Shawn Langdon	Kalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	4th	S. Reed
Billy Torrence	CAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	5th	J. Salinas
Justin Ashley	SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	6th	J. Hart
Antron Brown	Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	9th	T. Stewart

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING POSITIONS

Name	Car	Qualifying Position	First Round Opponent
Austin Prock	Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Funny Car	1st*	M. Smith
J.R. Todd	DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	3rd	D. Richards
Alexis DeJoria	Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	8th	C. Green
Ron Capps	NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	12th	M. Hagan

*Non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

DOUG KALITTA, Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Qualifying Result: 1st

Is it too early to count points as you guys are looking very strong right now.

“Yeah, definitely appreciate what Mission Foods is doing for us out here and these yellow (No. 1 qualifier) hats. Yeah, my guys really have this car running well, I’m just trying to do my part and go rounds on Sunday. Yeah, it’s probably too early to start counting points, but 20 points a round tomorrow, Sunday, is definitely what we’re looking for. I would love to win here at Epping. They have a great crowd here this weekend. Toyota, Mac Tools and all my sponsors, we’re hoping to have a good day tomorrow.”

STEVE TORRENCE, CAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Torrence Racing

TF Qualifying Result: 2nd

How does this #2Fast2Tasty win feel?

“Hey, I’ve won these (Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge) before, just not this year! Yeah, thanks to everyone at Mission Foods, everybody that takes care of us. Man, that was a cool race. (Dan) Mercier doesn’t race all the time, but man, he kicks our butt when he does, so I had to get up on the wheel and do the best I could. Props to that team, proud to have them out here. Proud of these CAPCO boys, they were unbelievable. This Toyota Dragster hasn’t been as good as it used to be, but we’re working on getting it back there and we’re working on getting Steve-O (himself) to drive this thing a little bit better. Heck, we won something this weekend, maybe we can win one tomorrow.”

J.R. TODD, DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, Kalitta Motorsports

FC Qualifying Result: 3rd

Take us through your thoughts with the No. 3 qualifying position for tomorrow.

“Yeah, a good qualifying effort, just missed it on Q4. Conditions for race day tomorrow will probably be like Q3 today, so we have a good idea on what to work with for tomorrow.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships. 

Toyota directly employs more than 49,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 34 million cars and trucks at our nine manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 10th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 28 electrified options.

Through its Driving Possibilities initiative, the Toyota USA Foundation has committed to creating innovative educational programs within, and in partnership with, historically underserved and diverse communities near the company’s U.S. operating sites.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

EPPING, N.H. (May 31, 2024) – Reigning Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta made the quickest run of both sessions on Friday at New England Dragway, taking the provisional No. 1 spot at the 11th annual NHRA New England Nationals.

Austin Prock (Funny Car) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the seventh of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Kalitta went 3.700-seconds at 332.84 mph under the lights in his 11,000-horsepower Mac Tools dragster as part of a thrilling side-by-side run with Steve Torrence, maintaining his No. 1 spot from earlier in the day. It puts the veteran in position for his third No. 1 qualifier of the season and 56th in his career. New England Dragway is also the only track on the NHRA tour where Kalitta hasn’t won, which is something the 53-time event winner would love to change this weekend.

“I was really confident and real hopeful,” Kalitta said. “The car left good and smooth and really happy once I figured we got the quick time. This track is on my radar [as the last one] to get to a final and finally get a win.

“This is last on the list and the history here is incredible and the area around this place is fantastic. Hats off to Alan Johnson and Mac Savage and all the guys working on this thing. The Toyota guys have been helping us with the track and I can’t thank them enough. All our cars ran well that session.”

Torrence took the second spot with a strong 3.702 at 335.23 and Brittany Force, who did not qualify at the most recent event in Chicago, jumped to third with a 3.715 at a track-record 335.57.

In Funny Car, Austin Prock continued to impress in qualifying on Friday, delivering a standout run of 3.837 at 336.23 in his 11,000-horsepower AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS. It puts Prock, who is second in points, on track for an impressive fifth No. 1 qualifier in the first seven races of the season as the former NHRA Rookie of the Year continues to show his talents in a new category. Prock has adjusted well in his first year in the loaded Funny Car ranks and made a pair of solid runs on Friday as he attempts to pick up his first career victory at New England Dragway.

“It’s surreal just holding on to the wheel,” Prock said. “Kudos to my dad [Jimmy] and brother [Thomas]. They’re making really smart decisions, and it’s really impressive watching them work. They’ve been in the right spot at right time and we’re getting the job done.

“I got a little John Force in me. I never know where I’m at. On the first run, I didn’t have it staged shallow and it cost me the top spot. I had to walk back to the trailer with my tail between legs. It was so bad, my dad could see it. As soon as I crossed the finish line I apologized on the radio but on the second run they bailed me out with a 3.83 with a really good mph.”

Prock’s boss, legendary Funny Car racer John Force, is in second with a run of 3.865 at 333.16 and J.R. Todd is in third after the first two qualifying sessions, going 3.865 at 327.74.

A two-time Pro Stock winner at New England Dragway, defending world champ Erica Enders enjoyed a terrific start to her weekend, going a blistering 6.488 at 211.79 in her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/Scag Power Equipment car. Should that hold, Enders would pick up her third top spot of 2024, as Enders was the only driver to reach the 6.40s on Friday. The biggest thing for Enders is picking up her 50th career national event victory, something she’s been chasing for a handful of events now. After Friday’s terrific start, it could happen this weekend for Enders.

“Well, my guys have really been studying up and have been working hard this past week and put their heads together,” Enders said. “We’re running our race car just a little bit differently. Earlier in that session, the starting line wasn’t there but the air was. We thought we could go .49 then with the sun down and cooler track temps, we thought we could get after it a little bit more and we threw a .48 on the board. I love racing up here in Epping and I’m just really grateful and I’m having fun again.

“When I let go of clutch the wheels were up and that makes you think you’re on a run. Then you’ve just got to keep it in groove and hit all your shifts, and I was able to do that. I could tell it was good when my guys were excited on the radio.”

Troy Coughlin Jr. is currently second thanks to a run of 6.510 at 211.46 and points leader Dallas Glenn is third after going 6.529 at 210.57.

Qualifying continues at 12 p.m. on Saturday at the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway.

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EPPING, N.H. — Friday’s results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 11th annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway, seventh of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel — 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.700 seconds, 332.84 mph; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.702, 335.23; 3. Brittany Force, 3.715, 335.57; 4. Shawn Langdon, 3.722, 330.23; 5. Billy Torrence, 3.744, 332.43; 6. Justin Ashley, 3.754, 328.22; 7. Clay Millican, 3.759, 332.43; 8. Tony Stewart, 3.762, 323.12; 9. Antron Brown, 3.766, 330.80; 10. Dan Mercier, 3.777, 328.38; 11. Josh Hart, 3.795, 327.98; 12. Jasmine Salinas, 3.812, 320.20; 13. Shawn Reed, 3.820, 324.20; 14. Smax Smith, 5.286, 127.45; 15. Tony Schumacher, 5.679, 114.41.

Funny Car — 1. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.837, 336.23; 2. John Force, Camaro, 3.865, 333.16; 3. J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 3.865, 327.74; 4. Daniel Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.899, 329.91; 5. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.910, 322.96; 6. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.923, 333.41; 7. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.945, 319.22; 8. Alexis DeJoria, GR Supra, 3.956, 325.53; 9. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 3.958, 315.64; 10. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.965, 323.27; 11. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.990, 322.11; 12. Dave Richards, Toyota Camry, 5.567, 135.85; 13. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 6.288, 114.94; 14. Buddy Hull,

Charger, 7.443, 89.82; 15. Cory Lee, Mustang, 7.628, 83.56.

Pro Stock — 1. Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.488, 211.79; 2. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.510, 211.46; 3. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.529, 210.57; 4. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.530, 211.59; 5. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.530, 210.28; 6. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.534, 210.67; 7. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.540, 210.93; 8. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.541, 209.92; 9. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.543, 209.82; 10. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.546, 209.95; 11. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.549, 210.77; 12. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.558, 209.30; 13. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.564, 210.64; 14. Brandon Foster, Camaro, 6.582, 209.82; 15. Brandon Miller, Dodge Dart, 6.606, 208.39; 16. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.962, 160.48.

Not Qualified: 17. Val Smeland, 7.758, 130.32.

EPPING, N.H. (May 30, 2024) – A return trip to New England Dragway for the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ also marks the first full appearance for the thrilling class at the fan-favorite facility as part of this weekend’s 11th annual NHRA New England Nationals.

The NHRA Pro Mod category was set to make its exciting debut at Epping last year, but inclement weather only allowed for two qualifying sessions. Now, fans at New England Dragway will get their first chance to see three days of action from the standout drivers in Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, and they’re ready to put on a show.

It’s the fourth of 10 races during the 2024 season and this weekend’s event is powered by PGT Trucking, Inc. Action from the category will also be featured on FS1 on Sunday during the eliminations show and with only two races left in the NHRA Pro Mod regular season, fans can expect nothing but action in Epping.

“PGT Trucking is happy to be back as a sponsor for the NHRA Pro Mod Series in Epping,” said Rick Simpson, Vice President, Asset Management. “Since 1981, PGT has provided quality flatbed transportation services, focusing on personal relationships with our drivers, staff, and customers. Just like in motorsports, our people are always our strongest asset. We are excited to share this opportunity with such a passionate fanbase once again.”

A Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ winner will be crowned at New England Dragway for the first time and it’s a field loaded with contenders. In all, 23 drivers will attempt to win a Wally in Epping and it’s a group led by current points leader and former world champion Jose Gonzalez, who won the season-opener in Gainesville.

Ken Quartuccio is second, while other top competitors include Billy Banaka, Phoenix winner Kevin Rivenbark, former world champion Kris Thorne, Lyle Barnett, defending world champion Mike Castellana, Justin Bond, Mason Wright and Chicago runner-up Khalid AlBalooshi.

With Eric Dillard winning in Chicago, the class has also seen three different winners at the first three races of the year, showcasing the impressive depth and parity in the category. A host of standouts will look to add to that in Epping, while putting on a show in what could be ideal conditions at New England Dragway.

Featuring the world’s fastest doorslammer race cars, the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ offers something unique and exciting for every drag racing fan. The class continues to grow in popularity and is highlighted by historic muscle cars and a variety of late-model American muscle cars, as well as several different power adders.

The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ will kick off with two qualifying rounds on Friday at 4:30 PM and 7 PM ET, with the final two qualifying rounds set for 11:30 AM and 4 PM on Saturday. The first round of eliminations is slated for 12:25 PM ET on Sunday.

To purchase tickets to the NHRA New England Nationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.

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About PGT Trucking, Inc.

PGT Trucking, Inc., founded in 1981, is a multi-service transportation firm offering flatbed, dedicated, international and specialized services. Headquartered in Aliquippa, PA, PGT Trucking, named a 2023 and 2024 Best Fleets to Drive For®, has company, lease purchase, and owner-operator positions available. PGT knows what matters: pay, home time, equipment, respect, and family. Join PGT Trucking. Driven by the best. Fueled by our promise. Visit pgttrucking.com.

About NHRA

Headquartered in San Dimas, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 110 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

CHEVROLET IN NHRA
2024 NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS
NEW ENGLAND DRAGWAY
EPPING, NEW HAMPSHIRE
TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE | NOTES & QUOTES
MAY 31-JUNE 2, 2024

CHEVROLET HEADS NORTHEAST WITH JOHN FORCE RACING FOR THE NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS AT NEW ENGLAND DRAGWAY

Notes:

• Team Chevy heads to the 2024 NHRA New England Nationals May 31-June 2 at New England Dragway, the seventh round of the season.
• Entering the weekend, Austin Prock, driver of the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car sits second behind Matt Hagan, trailing by four points after the Route 66 NHRA Nationals.
• John Force, driver of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, currently sits third entering this weekend’s event at New England Dragway, trailing teammate Austin Prock (second) by 38 points and competitor Matt Hagan (first) by 42 points.
• Looking to turn her momentum in a positive direction, Brittany Force eyes Epping this weekend and the NHRA Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series Winners Circle to capture a victory at a track she has both won at previously and holds the national speed record of 334.90 mph (2018).
• Last competing in 2022 at New England Dragway, Pro Stock returns with Erica Enders looking to repeat her last victory at Epping, defeating Aaron Stanfield with a pass of 6.547 seconds E.T. to his 6.553 seconds E.T.

Quotes:

BRITTANY FORCE, DRIVER OF THE MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET TOP FUEL DRAGSTER:

“This weekend will be a pivotal time for our Monster Energy Chevrolet team. We are coming out of one of the toughest, most heartbreaking weekends of my career, the toughest since not qualifying for the Finals in 2014. But, moving forward from Chicago has taught everyone on this David Grubnic-run team to dig even deeper and stay positive. I know we will get back on top. We won Epping in 2017, so we have some good history, and it’s a market with fans that I love. I’m really excited about the prospect of getting back on track, literally and figuratively.”

AUSTIN PROCK, DRIVER OF THE AAA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:

“I’m looking forward to Epping and being back with our AAA family again. It’s an honor to sport the colors of the car that I cheered on for so many years of my life. We slipped back a few points from the lead in Chicago, but we’re all up for the challenge to get it back this weekend.”

JOHN FORCE, DRIVER OF THE PEAK ANTIFREEZE & COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:

“I’m always excited going back to Epping. I’ve been there a lot of years and have won the race a couple times. It’s got a great market where we draw fans from Boston, Canada, and everywhere, but it’s a tricky racetrack, depending on whether it’s hot or cool. The crew chiefs really have their jobs cut out for them. Right now, my car is running very consistently. (Austin) Prock’s car, with AAA, is doing the same. So, we’re both in the hunt for the championship. We’ve got our work cut out for us and it’s going to be tough, but for this PEAK team, it also feels nice to be coming off of a runner-up finish two weeks ago.”

How to Watch:

The 2024 NHRA New England Nationals from New England Dragway kick off Friday, May 30 with qualifying, airing at 7:30 p.m. ET. Saturday’s qualifying airs at 7 p.m. ET, as well as the Mission Foods NHRA #2Fast2Tasty Challenge airing at 8 p.m. ET. Round 1 of Finals air Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, with the remaining rounds airing at 7 p.m. ET. All sessions from Epping, New Hampshire air with NHRA on FOX on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Coverage streams live throughout the weekend on NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.

TEAM CHEVY BY THE NUMBERS:

1,453: Round wins for John Force (1st all-time).

626: Round wins for Robert Hight; 13th all-time. Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), sits 12th, with 629.

167: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for John Force (1st all-time).

161: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins since 1967.

84: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Robert Hight (6th all-time). Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) is fifth with 88.

81: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins with the Camaro SS body.

47: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Brittany Force.

28: Number of NHRA championships Chevrolet holds as a manufacturer since entering the first in 1966. This is the seventh consecutive award and ninth in 11 seasons. No other manufacturer has won it more than Chevrolet.

25: Wins by John Force in a Chevrolet-bodied Funny Car.

20: Chevrolet career Top Fuel wins in NHRA.

16: Number of Chevrolet career wins by Brittany Force.

7: Number of Funny Car driver championships.

2: Number of Top Fuel driver championships.

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.