Category: NHRA

Justin Ashley and J.R. Todd both win Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty challenge

JOLIET, Ill. (May 18, 2024) – Defending Top Fuel world champion, Doug Kalitta, was the top performing Toyota Dragster during qualifying for the Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet, Illinois. The Michigan native claimed the No. 3 qualifying spot, laying down a swift 3.750 elapsed time during the Friday evening session. Kalitta was closely followed by teammate, Shawn Langdon, who posted the fourth best time. Antron Brown and Steve Torrence were next of the Toyota Dragsters, placing sixth and seventh overall heading into Sunday.

Though he was the 14th overall qualifier in Top Fuel, Justin Ashley powered his Toyota Dragster to another victory in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty challenge Saturday afternoon. This is Ashley’s second challenge win of 2024, as he was also triumphant back at Phoenix in April.

In Funny Car, Alexis DeJoria powered her GR Supra Funny Car to the fifth overall qualifying spot for Sunday’s eliminations, followed by Ron Capps in sixth and J.R. Todd in 12th. Todd followed Justin Ashley’s suit by winning the Funny Car Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty challenge, also getting his second challenge win of the season.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series
Route 66 NHRA Nationals
Route 66 Raceway
Race 6 of 20

TOYOTA TOP FUEL QUALIFYING POSITIONS 

Name	Car	Qualifying Position	First Round Opponent
T.J Zizzo	Rustoleum Dragster	1st*	T. Stewart
Doug Kalitta	Applied Innovation Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	3rd	J. Ashley
Shawn Langdon	Future Energy Solutions Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	4th	C. Krohn
Antron Brown	Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	6th	J. Salinas
Steve Torrence	CAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	7th	B. Torrence
Billy Torrence	CAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	10th	S. Torrence
Justin Ashley	SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	14th	D. Kalitta

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING POSITIONS 

Name	Car	Qualifying Position	First Round Opponent
A. Prock	Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro Funny Car	1st*	J. Wyatt
Alexis DeJoria	Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	5th	J. Todd
Ron Capps	NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	6th	M. Hagan
J.R. Todd	DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	12th	A. DeJoria

TOYOTA QUOTES

DOUG KALITTA, Applied Innovation Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Qualifying Result: 3rd

How would you describe your day today and what you expect tomorrow?

“Our second run was nice and smooth. Looks like Alan (Johnson, crew chief), Mac (Savage, assistant crew chief) and the guys came up with a nice combination. Think we had a 3.81 time, which was quickest of the session. Yeah, pretty excited for tomorrow. The track will be just as hot, so hopefully that will play right in our hands.”

JUSTIN ASHLEY, SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, SCAG Racing

TF Qualifying Result: 14th

How did you pull off a Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty challenge victory in these conditions?

“Well, that was a great last lap! The conditions out there were real tricky, and the good thing about it is we can take what we just did and apply it to tomorrow. It’s going to be even trickier tomorrow, but we have extra motivation this weekend from everybody at SCAG Power Equipment. The pitbox, the stands, pretty much everything in between was filled, so just feeling really good heading into tomorrow. Thank you Mission Foods for all that you do.”

ALEXIS DEJORIA, Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, DC Motorsports

FC Qualifying Result: 5th

What are your thoughts heading into tomorrow with similar conditions?

“Tomorrow is supposed to be hotter, and last year when we were here, we couldn’t make it down the track one time. So, we’re already winning so far, we’re already ahead of the game. We’ve made three out of four solid runs, so I’m really looking forward to Sunday. We got something for the hot weather. We’ve got speed and are really good in the hot weather. We were able to handle it today with the help of Chuck Worsham (Del Worsham’s father), who came out of retirement today so his son (Del) could go to his daughter’s graduation. We’re a strong team, been through a lot, and we persevere. Excited for tomorrow.”

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

FC Qualifying Result: 12th

With this Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty challenge win today, does that bode well for your team tomorrow?

“I hope so! We didn’t qualify where we wanted to be in the DHL GR Supra, but when conditions are like this, I’m not sure qualifying really matters. It puts you on a sheet, but we don’t race on paper. When it gets hot and nasty like this, it seems like Todd (Smith, co-crew chief) and John (Oberhofer, co-crew chief) have a good notebook to follow up on. We never make it easy on ourselves, but it’s nice to win another Mission Foods race. We appreciate the money they put up for it, but more importantly, the bonus points. Those are going to come in handy later in the year. Hopefully we can make a lot more of these before the Countdown starts.”

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.

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

CHICAGO (May 18, 2024) – Pro Stock points leader Greg Anderson drove to the win in the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout on Saturday at Route 66 Raceway, defeating Matt Hartford in the final round of the specialty event during weekend’s 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance.

T.J. Zizzo (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also qualified No. 1 at the sixth of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Anderson, the winningest driver in Pro Stock history, went 6.595-seconds at 208.36 mph in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro, driving past Hartford to pick up his first Callout victory. Last year, Anderson failed to qualify for the specialty race, but he more than made up for it on Saturday, getting past No. 1 seed Erica Enders, who called out Anderson for a must-see matchup in the opening round, and Troy Coughlin Jr. in the semifinals. Anderson made three standout runs on Saturday and now has a chance to double-up this weekend at Route 66 Raceway.

“This is awesome. We made three fantastic runs today and that’s what it took,” Anderson said. “A lot of teams struggled because the starting line was tricky, but my car is in a happy spot right now and we got down through there. That breeds confidence. Nine out of 10 races are won on the starting line and we get it done because I’ve got a hell of a horse under me. I didn’t get to play in this event last year but I said if I got in, I’d pick the baddest car I the class first round. The roles were reversed and Erica picked me but I’d have done the same if it was my choice.

“Right now, things are great at KB Titan. We’re not backing into wins. We’ve flat out raced the competition and we’re earning them. But wins like this just make us want to work even harder.”

Top Fuel’s T.J. Zizzo enjoyed an incredible moment on Saturday, clinching his first career No. 1 qualifier as Friday’s standout pass of 3.735 at 331.77 in his 11,000-horsepower Rust-Oleum dragster easily held up. To accomplish that in front of a huge group of family and friends at his home track meant even more for the Chicago native, and he performed well in the heat on Saturday, making a pair of solid runs. That bodes well for Sunday’s eliminations, which starts against Tony Stewart as Zizzo seeks his first career victory.

“This is a dream come true,” Zizzo said. “I told our team (last week) we have the equipment and the knowledge, the people and the personnel to be No. 1 qualifier and that’s what we’re going to do. That, to me, is a dream come true. It’s pretty amazing.”

Defending event winner Clay Millican qualified second with a 3.746 at 332.84 and defending world champion Doug Kalitta took third with a 3.750 at 332.84.

In Funny Car, Austin Prock kept rolling along, claiming his fourth No. 1 qualifier in the first six races of 2024 on the strength of Friday’s run of 3.907 at 332.43 in his 11,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS. Prock, who is the current points leader, will open eliminations against Jack Wyatt, looking for his second victory of the season. Just as important, the young standout and former NHRA Rookie of the Year has a chance to pick up his first career win at Route 66 Raceway.

“We got a lot of confidence going into tomorrow after making it down the track (in Q4),” Prock said. “It almost made it on the third run, but it knocked the tires loose. The big thing is that we made it, got down and picked up bonus points. Our car is good in the heat. We won Phoenix on a hot, tricky track and we can do that again here. It’s a tough business being a crew chief but I’ve got faith in mine [father, Jimmy]. Besides, the track will get better tomorrow and I think you’ll see some better runs.”

Bob Tasca III took second with Friday’s run of 3.913 at 329.91 and Paul Lee qualified third after going 3.922 at 323.13.

Saturday didn’t start the way Pro Stock’s Erica Enders wanted, but she closed it out with a strong run, following up Friday’s pass of 6.548 at 209.69 in her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/Scag Power Equipment car to cement her No. 1 position. It’s the second top qualifier this season and 36th in her career and she was pleased with the 6.595 to finish out qualifying in the heat. It was a strong turnaround after an opening-round loss to Anderson in the Callout, giving Enders confidence she can earn her 50th career national event win on Sunday at the same place where her first Pro Stock win came.

“After we ran so well on Friday, that first round of the Callout was not ideal,” Enders said. “T.J. [Coughlin] soldiered on but the rest of us [Team Elite drivers] did not. We didn’t get down the track. Afterward, we had a huge meeting with our crew chiefs and went back the drawing board. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. As much as I wanted to win today, race day and winning that Wally is what it’s all about.”

Troy Coughlin Jr. qualified second with a 6.554 at 209.75 and Anderson starts raceday in third looking for a double-up win.

Matt Smith broke Gaige Herrera’s record streak of 11 straight No. 1 qualifiers in Pro Stock Motorcycle, as his 6.708 at 201.40 was more than enough on his Denso Auto Parts/Matt Smith Racing Buell was more than enough to stay at the top. Herrera’s No. 1 string had dated back to last July, but Smith impressed immediately on Friday, claiming his 53rd career top spot. He’ll begin eliminations against Lance Bonham, looking for his first win of the season.

“I’m really excited. I have a good bike. We’ve been testing a lot and getting better and better,” Smith said. “Honestly, I don’t know if lane choice means anything. Both sides are really good. This place has always been good to me. I normally come up here and run really well. This track will take everything you can throw at it. I think we’re back to where we think we should be. A win would be huge. We had the best bike for three runs this weekend and I think we’ll have the best bike tomorrow.”

Herrera can win his eighth straight race on Sunday and qualified second with a run of 6.745 at 200.17. LE Tonglet took third thanks to a run of 6.772 at 200.44.

Eliminations for the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance begin at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday at Route 66 Raceway.

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JOLIET, Ill. — Saturday’s final results from the GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock All-Star Callout at the 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway.

GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout — Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.595, 208.36 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.641, 206.80.

JOLIET, Ill. — Final round-by-round results from the GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock All-Star Callout at 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway,.

GETTRX PRO STOCK ALL-STAR CALLOUT:

ROUND ONE — Deric Kramer, Chevy Camaro, 8.441, 186.46 def. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 8.984, 166.74; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.674, 207.08 def. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 7.107, 163.43; Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.592, 208.65 def. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.604, 208.36; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.566, 208.46 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 7.096, 203.09;

SEMIFINALS — M. Hartford, 6.619, 206.26 def. D. Kramer, 13.300,

65.50; G. Anderson, 6.582, 208.46 def. T. Coughlin Jr., 14.151, 60.90;

FINAL — G. Anderson, 6.595, 208.36 def. M. Hartford, 6.641, 206.80.

JOLIET, Ill. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway, the sixth 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. T.J. Zizzo, 3.735 seconds, 331.77 mph vs. 16. Tony Stewart, 3.852, 323.04; 2. Clay Millican, 3.746, 332.84 vs. 15. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.847, 320.20; 3. Doug Kalitta, 3.750, 332.84 vs. 14. Justin Ashley, 3.831, 320.05; 4. Shawn Langdon, 3.771, 332.10 vs. 13. Cody Krohn, 3.824, 319.75; 5. Shawn Reed, 3.772, 324.51 vs. 12. Josh Hart, 3.803, 319.98; 6. Antron Brown, 3.775, 331.36 vs. 11. Jasmine Salinas, 3.798, 320.28; 7. Steve Torrence, 3.776, 336.65 vs. 10. Billy Torrence, 3.780, 330.63; 8. Tony Schumacher, 3.779,

328.22 vs. 9. Dan Mercier, 3.779, 325.14.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Doug Foley, 3.889, 275.11; 18. Brittany Force, 3.911, 297.16; 19. Krista Baldwin, 4.001, 255.00; 20. Luigi Novelli, 4.139, 291.89; 21. Terry Totten, 4.508, 185.84; 22. Travis Shumake, 5.959, 109.54.

Funny Car — 1. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.907, 332.43 vs. 16. Jack Wyatt, Dodge Charger, 4.677, 187.52; 2. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.913, 329.91 vs. 15. Dave Richards, Toyota Camry, 4.316, 225.15; 3. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.922, 323.12 vs. 14. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.095, 311.63; 4. John Force, Camaro, 3.930, 326.95 vs. 13. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.092, 315.49; 5. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota GR Supra, 3.936, 330.55 vs. 12. J.R.

Todd, GR Supra, 4.040, 316.52; 6. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.939, 327.90 vs. 11. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.012, 322.27; 7. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.953, 314.75 vs. 10. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.963, 312.86; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.957, 319.90 vs. 9. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.962, 321.58.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Justin Schriefer, 5.173, 211.43; 18. Chris King, 7.013, 94.18.

Pro Stock — 1. Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.548, 209.69 vs. 16. John DeFlorian Jr., Camaro, 6.615, 209.10; 2. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.554, 209.75 vs. 15. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.606, 856.05; 3. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.554, 208.78 vs. 14. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.605, 208.59; 4. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.559, 209.23 vs. 13. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.596, 209.69; 5. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.563, 208.14 vs. 12. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.595, 208.17; 6. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.572, 208.88 vs. 11. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.592, 208.65; 7. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.583, 208.07 vs. 10.

Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.590, 208.55; 8. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.584, 208.81 vs. 9. David Cuadra, Mustang, 6.588, 208.97.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Mason McGaha, 6.622, 208.39; 18. Sienna Wildgust, 6.623, 207.72.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.708, 201.40 vs. 16. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.246, 184.50; 2. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.733, 201.16 vs. 15. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 7.237, 185.51; 3. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.772, 200.44 vs. 14. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.956, 195.28; 4. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.778, 200.26 vs. 13. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.948, 193.32; 5. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.782, 200.95 vs. 12. Ron Tornow, Victory, 6.894, 196.96; 6. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.795, 200.00 vs. 11. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.867, 196.22; 7. John Hall, Beull, 6.811, 198.50 vs. 10. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.853, 195.45; 8. Chase Van

Sant, Suzuki, 6.822, 198.12 vs. 9. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.838, 130.78.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Geno Scali, 7.355, 183.24; 18. Eiji Kawakami, 7.408, 184.60.

CHICAGO (May 18, 2024) – For the second time this season, Funny Car’s J.R. Todd picked up a win in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, defeating reigning world champion Matt Hagan in the final round on Saturday at Route 66 Raceway as part of this weekend’s 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance.

Justin Ashley (Top Fuel) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge at the sixth of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Todd went 4.040-seconds at 316.52 mph in his 11,000-horsepower DHL Toyota GR Supra, holding off Hagan to get his third career victory in the specialty race. Warmer conditions posed a challenge on Saturday, but Todd performed well, knocking off John Force in the semifinals before getting past Hagan. The solid back-to-back runs also give Todd confidence heading into tomorrow, where he’ll have the chance to become the first two-time Funny Car winner in 2024.

“This is extremely rewarding and a lot of that is because these are race conditions,” Todd said. “Tomorrow, it might be even warmer. In Q3, a lot of cars weren’t getting down the track and we did against John [Force]. Tomorrow, I’m not sure how important lane choice will be, but I feel like no matter what, we’re good in the heat. The teams that put up numbers sometimes struggle in the heat when they have to pull back.

“I love days like this when conditions are tough. I’m not saying I’m the best at it, but I love the thought of trying to tame 11,000 horsepower.”

In Top Fuel, Justin Ashley put together his best run of the weekend, going 3.831 at 320.05 in his 11,000-horsepower Scag Power Equipment/Toyota dragster to knock off Clay Millican. It’s his second victory in the specialty race for the points leader and the eighth overall win in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, as it’s become an area where Ashley has thrived. The run in the final was his best of the weekend as well, providing some solid momentum going into eliminations.

“This feels great but it’s tough to pinpoint one thing that we did to make this happen today,” Ashley said. “I just know it helps to get us in raceday mode. In these races, I’m not necessarily trying to race the other person, just trying to make the best run I can make. As a team, we keep chipping away at it. We struggled a bit at the start of the year but we’re better and this was a fun one today.

“When we ran that 3.83 in the final I felt better because that’s similar conditions than what we’re going to face tomorrow. I assume there will be a lot of shaking and spinning and we need to be ready for it.”

Defending Pro Stock Motorcycle Gaige Herrera stayed perfect in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in 2024, winning for the third straight time with a run of 6.733 at 201.16 on his RevZilla/Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki. The victory came against teammate Richard Gadson, making it a win-win for the team, but Herrera has been nearly impossible to beat since last year. He’ll look for yet another double-up weekend on Sunday, pleased with how the bike ran in the heat on Saturday at Route 66 Raceway.

“I knew that it was going to be a tough race with Richard because he’s my teammate. He’s new but he’s competitive and he’s learning quickly,” Herrera said. “He left on me, but we had enough to get around him. The good thing about these [Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge] races is that you get in a routine on Saturday and that helps make you a better racer on Sunday. Right now, the parity in this class is close, and that’s what this class needs.”

Eliminations for the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance begin at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday at Route 66 Raceway.

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JOLIET, Ill. — Saturday’s final results from the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge at the 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway.

Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Top Fuel Challenge — Justin Ashley, 3.831 seconds, 320.05 mph def. Clay Millican, 6.120 seconds, 102.22 mph.

Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Funny Car Challenge — J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 4.040, 316.52 def. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.104, 317.64.

Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Challenge — Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.733, 201.16 def. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.795, 200.00.

JOLIET, Ill. — Final round-by-round results from the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge at 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway,.

MISSION #2FAST2TASTY NHRA TOP FUEL CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE — Justin Ashley, 3.942, 296.37 def. Antron Brown, 4.082, 258.42; Clay Millican, 3.951, 253.14 def. Doug Kalitta, 8.748, 81.78;

FINAL — J. Ashley, 3.831, 320.05 def. C. Millican, 6.120, 102.22.

MISSION #2FAST2TASTY NHRA FUNNY CAR CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE — Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 10.714, 78.83 def. Daniel Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, Foul – Red Light; J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 4.076, 306.74 def. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.678, 181.01;

FINAL — J. Todd, 4.040, 316.52 def. M. Hagan, 4.104, 317.64.

MISSION #2FAST2TASTY NHRA PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE — Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.829, 200.41 def. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.819, 199.52; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.744, 200.62 def. John Hall, 6.811, 198.50;

FINAL — G. Herrera, 6.733, 201.16 def. R. Gadson, 6.795, 200.00.

CHICAGO (May 17, 2024) – Chicago native T.J. Zizzo made the quickest Top Fuel run in each session on Friday at Route 66 Raceway, taking the provisional No. 1 qualifier at the 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance.

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

Zizzo powered to a run of 3.735-seconds at 331.77 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Rust-Oleum dragster, putting the part-time racer in line for his first career NHRA No. 1 qualifier. Clay Millican went 3.746 earlier in the session before Zizzo closed out the day with an impressive pass in front of a host of family and friends. Zizzo was a provisional No. 1 qualifier in 2019 in Gainesville, but it didn’t hold. This time, he’ll look to keep the No. 1 spot at his home track.

“Today has been a dream,” Zizzo said. “You have the opportunity to do all kinds of things in this world, but to do this with friends and family is really special. We have worked really hard to get this done and it means a lot.

“I have to say that Don Schumacher was riding along with me today. He was instrumental in the success of this team. We don’t race as much as I’d like but I have confidence that when the car runs, every nut and bolt is right. My crew is all volunteer, but they’ve all been with me for a long time and I have complete confidence in them.”

Millican’s 3.746 at 332.84 has him second, while defending world champion Doug Kalitta sits third after going 3.750 at 332.84.

Funny Car points leader Austin Prock is searching for his first career victory at Route 66 Raceway and that journey got off to a good start on Friday, going 3.907 at 332.43 in his 11,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS to take the No. 1 spot. Prock made the best run in each session, slipping past Bob Tasca to close out the evening in the Funny Car category. Should that hold, Prock would pick up his fourth No. 1 qualifier in six races this season, another impressive mark in Prock’s first Funny Car season.

“It definitely feels good, especially after Charlotte where we weren’t happy,” Prock said. “We didn’t race smart in Charlotte and it cost us. Here, we made two great runs. I’m getting more seat time and we changed a few components on the car as far as steering. This is just my sixth race, but I’d say I’m more comfortable in the Funny Car. From day one, I’ve been saying I’m oddly comfortable in there. Don’t get me wrong. This thing is a beast and anyone who tells you otherwise is crazy, but I feel really good right now.”

Tasca III is currently second thanks to a run of 3.913 at 329.91 and Paul Lee’s 3.922 at 323.13 has him third.

Looking for her 50th career national event victory this weekend, Pro Stock’s Erica Enders took back the provisional No. 1 spot to close out the day at Route 66 Raceway, going 6.548 at 209.69 in her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/Scag Power Equipment car. Should that hold, Enders would earn her second No. 1 this season and the 36th in her career. The defending and six-time world champ also made her selection for Saturday’s GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout, selecting longtime rival and No. 2 seed Greg Anderson.

Dallas Glenn called out Troy Coughlin Jr., followed by Aaron Stanfield selecting Matt Hartford as his first-round opponent. The other matchup features Cristian Cuadra against Deric Kramer, and Enders is excited for Saturday’s bonus race.

“We went to Tulsa to test this week because it’s no secret that we’ve been struggling a bit and this race is very important to me for a number of reasons,” Enders said. “I have a lot of great memories here. Obviously, it’s where I got my first win and to think I could also get my 50th would be amazing. I know it’s a tall order but it’s what we’re shooting for.”

“Our team talked strategy (for the Callout). We eventually decided to take Greg, and our thinking was go big or go home. When you think about it, Greg and I have battled for the top spot for the last ten years or more and I expect we’ll go back and forth until the end of our careers.”

Coughlin is currently second in qualifying with a 6.554 at 209.75 and Anderson is right behind after his run of 6.554 at 208.78.

Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Matt Smith impressed during both sessions to kick off the weekend, making the quickest run each time, including a Friday-best 6.708 at 201.40 on his Denso Auto Parts/Matt Smith Racing Buell. It was a solid step forward for the six-time world champ, who is looking to snap Gaige Herrera’s class-record streak of 11 No. 1 qualifiers. Smith is off to a strong start with that, getting close to the 6.60s with his second run on Friday. It would also be Smith’s 53rd top qualifier if it holds up.

“I think we’re running well and we’ve made this bike very competitive,” Smith said. “Our goal is to just keep getting better and hats off to this whole team for the progress we’ve made. We’re learning and we’ll keep trying to improve.

“We’ve been working hard and testing to get out sixty-foot times better. I had a 1.05 in Charlotte and the bike wouldn’t shift and I had a 1.05 here on Q1. We put some power in it and it stuck. Really, our goal is just to make our program better.”

Herrera, who has won seven consecutive races, is current second with a run of 6.745 at 200.17, and LE Tonglet is third thanks to a run of 6.772 at 200.44.

Qualifying continues at 11:40 a.m. CT on Saturday at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway. The first round of the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout starts at 11:30 a.m. CT on Saturday, with the semifinals to follow at 1:45 p.m. and the finals at 2:55 p.m.

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JOLIET, Ill. — Friday’s results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway, sixth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel — 1. T.J. Zizzo, 3.735 seconds, 331.77 mph; 2. Clay Millican, 3.746, 332.84; 3. Doug Kalitta, 3.750, 332.84; 4. Shawn Langdon, 3.771, 332.10; 5. Shawn Reed, 3.772, 324.51; 6. Antron Brown, 3.775, 331.36; 7. Steve Torrence, 3.776, 336.65; 8. Tony Schumacher, 3.779, 328.22; 9. Dan Mercier, 3.779, 325.14; 10. Billy Torrence, 3.780, 330.63; 11. Jasmine Salinas, 3.798, 320.28; 12. Josh Hart, 3.803, 319.98; 13. Cody Krohn, 3.824, 319.75; 14. Justin Ashley, 3.840, 318.77; 15. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.847, 320.20; 16. Tony Stewart, 3.877, 320.58.

Not Qualified: 17. Doug Foley, 3.889, 275.11; 18. Krista Baldwin, 4.001, 255.00; 19. Luigi Novelli, 4.139, 291.89; 20. Brittany Force, 4.296, 190.19; 21. Travis Shumake, 5.959, 109.54.

Funny Car — 1. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.907, 332.43; 2. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.913, 329.91; 3. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 3.922, 323.12; 4. John Force, Camaro, 3.930, 326.95; 5. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota GR Supra, 3.936, 330.55; 6. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.939, 327.90; 7. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.953, 314.75; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.957, 319.90; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.962, 321.58; 10. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.963, 312.86; 11. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.012, 322.27; 12. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 4.062, 314.46; 13. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.092, 315.49; 14. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.095, 311.63; 15. Dave Richards, Toyota Camry, 4.318, 222.91; 16. Jack Wyatt, Charger, 5.866, 123.62.

Not Qualified: 17. Justin Schriefer, 6.588, 102.59.

Pro Stock — 1. Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.548, 209.69; 2. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.554, 209.75; 3. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.554, 208.78; 4. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.559, 209.23; 5. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.563, 208.14; 6. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.572, 208.88; 7. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.583, 208.07; 8. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.584, 208.81; 9. David Cuadra, Mustang, 6.588, 208.97; 10. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.590, 208.55; 11. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.592, 208.65; 12. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.595, 208.17; 13. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.596, 209.69; 14. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.605, 208.59; 15. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.606, 856.05; 16. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.623, 208.39.

Not Qualified: 17. John DeFlorian Jr., 7.019, 206.83; 18. Sienna Wildgust, 10.962, 81.46.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.708, 201.40; 2. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.734, 23.45; 3. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.772, 200.44; 4. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.778, 200.26; 5. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.782, 200.95; 6. John Hall, Beull, 6.823, 199.05; 7. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.827, 197.54; 8. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.838, 130.78; 9. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.862, 196.10; 10. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.875, 197.86; 11. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.890, 194.13; 12. Ron Tornow, Victory, 6.894, 196.96; 13. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.948, 193.32; 14. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 7.065, 195.90; 15. Wesley Wells, Suzuki,

7.237, 185.51; 16. Eiji Kawakami, EBR, 7.408, 184.60.

Not Qualified: 17. Lance Bonham, 7.409, 179.80.

JOLIET, Ill. (May 16, 2024) – Eight NHRA Pro Stock drivers will have more on the table at this weekend’s Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance as they will be competing in the GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago.

The specialty race will feature eight Pro Stock drivers in a unique callout format. Reigning champion Erica Enders sits atop the stacked group of drivers. Thanks to her qualifying effort from last season, Enders will have her pick of opponents. The other seven drivers in the Callout are, in order, points leader Greg Anderson, 2023 Chicago winner Dallas Glenn, Troy Coughlin Jr., Aaron Stanfield, Matt Hartford, Cristian Cuadra and Deric Kramer.

The must-see event kicks off on Friday at 12:30 p.m. CT when the drivers will make their picks, with Callout hitting the track on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. Enders will get the first selection, then the pick will go to Anderson, if he isn’t the first driver called out. The picks will continue based on position.

The longtime rivalry between the Elite Motorsports and the KB Titan Racing Pro Stock camps is always high on race day but with four drivers from each respective team seeded into the GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout, competition will be even more intense than usual for these drivers. Enders, the flagship driver of Elite Motorsports, is ready to make her selection in this unique event.

“The pick is going to come down to what we’re feeling that day,” Enders said, driver of the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/SCAG Power Equipment Pro Stock car. “I’ve always said it from the get-go but to be the best, you have to beat the best, so let’s come out swinging.

“It definitely is a very tight field in Pro Stock. We started off well this season in Gainesville after it alluded us for so long, but not having been back in the winner’s circle since, we’re definitely looking to continue the positive trek for Elite Motorsports. The Callout is going to be a lot of fun.”

The opening round of the NHRA Pro Stock All-Star Callout takes place at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, followed by the semifinals at 1:45 p.m. and the final round at 2:55 p.m. A special broadcast highlighting the Callout takes place from 7-8:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

The winning driver who makes the quickest run in the opening round will select their semifinal opponent, with a big purse and major bragging rights on the line in the finals. The drivers in the GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout are ready for their shot at the cash and bragging rights and here’s what each had to say going into the weekend.

Greg Anderson, driver of the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro: Momentum does a lot for an old guy like me. I’m excited. I didn’t get to be a part of the GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout last year. I had to sit on the sidelines and watch. It was tough to sit back, so I’m glad I’m back and glad to be involved this year.

Dallas Glenn, driver of the RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro: I feel really good. I came in (seeded) first last year and obviously I’m not going to be first this year but with Greg running as well as he is currently, and me being in that final quad (in Charlotte), I feel like KB Titan has some good momentum coming into this race. I’m definitely looking for some redemption from last year. I put down a really good lap first round but went red. So this year, if I can tame that down, I think we have a good shot at it.

Troy Coughlin Jr., driver of the JEGS.com/White Castle Pro Stock car: I think it would definitely get us started if we could turn a few win lights on, that’s for certain. Our JEGS.com/White Castle machine is off on the right foot and working fine. The driver just needs to focus and make a couple good laps and we’ll be good to go.

Aaron Stanfield, driver of the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/Janac Brothers Racing Pro Stock car: I enjoy being busy at the racetrack and getting those competitive juices following. When you get home, you’re exhausted but I love it. I think we had a really good weekend in Charlotte. We’re looking to build off of it and see if we can make some better runs and see if I can do my job and have some fun in Chicago.

Matt Hartford, driver of the GETTRX/Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro: KB Titan gives my team a lot of great power. We’ve failed to utilize it all year but we’re coming to this Callout and I think we have as good of a chance as anybody. A year ago, GETTRX asked me what they can do to help me, what can they do to help the sport. I said I think you need to do something with the Callout, so we worked really had last year to put this deal together. I’m really excited that it came together. It’s a three-year deal to have the GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout. There’s $40,000 on the line. Our goal is to get the GETTRX car in the final and take home the money.

Cristian Cuadra, driver of the Corral Boots/Cuadra/Columbia Impex car: Right now, I feel really confident. My car is running really well. Elite Motorsports is giving me a lot of power and they’re helping me a lot, so I think I have a really strong opportunity.

Deric Kramer, driver of the Get Biofuel Chevrolet Camaro: I think we made a step in the right direction in Charlotte. We made a really good lap in the first round to win the quad. I think we’ve made that corner and have really started to show what this team is capable of.

2024 GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout Final Standings

1. Erica Enders
2. Greg Anders
3. Dallas Glenn
4. Troy Coughlin Jr.
5. Aaron Stanfield
6. Matt Hartford
7. Cristian Cuadra
8. Deric Kramer

(Note: Enders will get the first selection for the opening round, followed by the next-highest seeded driver until matchups are set.)

Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) collected titles last season at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance and this year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1. It is the sixth of 20 events of the 2024 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the weekend will also feature the #2Fast2Tasty Mission NHRA Challenge in both nitro classes and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, someone will look to unseat Gaige Herrera after his perfect start to the season. Herrera, the dominant 2023 world champion, has won seven straight races dating back to last season and is also the defending event winner in Chicago. But he’ll face a talented field at Route 66 Raceway, including Charlotte runner-up John Hall, who put together a strong effort at zMAX Dragway.

He’ll look to continue that in Chicago, riding a wave of momentum while racing under the Matt Smith Racing banner in 2024. Hall has emerged as a strong contender through two events and he will attempt to unseat Herrera, who has won 27 straight rounds, in Chicago. Others two watch in the two-wheeled category include Matt Smith, Hector Arana Jr., Steve Johnson, Richard Gadson, LE Tonglet and Angie Smith.

Qualifying sessions take place at 2:30 and 5 p.m. CT on Friday, and 11:40 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday. Eliminations begin at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday.

To purchase tickets to the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK Performance on May 17-19 at Route 66 Raceway, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult.

Tickets for the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance are on sale now at NHRA.com/tickets. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.

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 GERBER COLLISION AND GLASS ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS
ROUTE 66 DRAGWAY
JOLIET, ILLINOIS
TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE | NOTES & QUOTES
MAY17-19, 2024

CHEVROLET TAKES ON THE 2024 GERBER COLLISION AND GLASS ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS AT ROUTE 66 RACEWAY WITH JOHN FORCE RACING

Notes:

• Team Chevy heads to the 2024 Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway May 17-19, 2024, the sixth round of the season.
• Entering the Route 66 NHRA Nationals, Austin Prock, driver of the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car remains the Funny Car points leader ahead of J.R. Todd by 17 points.
• In 2023, Prock’s teammate Robert Hight captured the No. 1 qualifier at Route 66 Raceway in the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car.
• Both John Force (Funny Car) and Brittany Force (Top Fuel) look to potentially capture a double-up in Joliet, with Brittany also representing PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant along with Team Chevy.
• Brittany Force, driver of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster, looks to Joliet to break her slump and add to her 16 event wins, 35 final round appearances, and 47 No. 1 qualifiers in Top Fuel.
• Still seeking her first win at Route 66 Raceway, B. Force has one final round appearance in 2014, as well as a two-time No. 1 qualifier in 2016 and 2017. Additionally, she raced to the track speed record in 2023 with her pass of 334.82 mph.
• John Force, also in PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant colors on his Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, enters Route 66 Raceway aiming to add to his three previous wins at the track in addition to his 156 career wins.
• J. Force, after finishing runner-up in Charlotte, will also participate in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge at Joliet in Funny Car this weekend.
• Pro Stock saw Dallas Glenn racing to victory for the Bowtie brand in 2023’s Joliet event after also going No. 1. Glenn looks to Route 66 Raceway to go back-to-back in a drive to the Winner’s Circle amongst an ever-tight Pro Stock field.

What They’re Saying (Quotes):

BRITTANY FORCE, DRIVER OF THE PEAK ANTIFREEZE & COOLANT CHEVROLET TOP FUEL DRAGSTER:

“Our team struggled last year, and we need to get our car back on track. We were lost all last season. I already feel the improvement that’s come into this season, looking at what we did last year and all the testing we’ve done this year. We’re kind of combining the last few years and trying to create our tune-up that way, combining all the good from those last few years. But it’s something you can’t do overnight, it’s always a work in progress. But this extra testing is definitely getting us closer to the ultimate goal, to turning on the win lights and getting us back into the winner’s circle.”

“Our team is very structured with how we move through the season. So we had a goal coming into the first quarter, the first five races. That we should have so many round wins. Well, the problem is we’re already behind, which is why we’ve been doing (so much) extra testing to get us moving forward quicker than what we’ve been doing this year. We need to get ahead of ourselves if we want to be competitive at that point when that Countdown (to the Championship six-race playoff) kicks off, and that is what we’re aiming to do.”

“I look forward to coming to Chicago because it’s a unique setting. This year, with my dad running PEAK and me running PEAK, it gives us the opportunity for a double-up in all-PEAK colors and gives us the opportunity to do something we’ve never been able to do.”

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

On racing at Joliet this weekend…

“They’re all big races throughout the season, but this is always a good one for us. Growing up in Lansing (Mich.), (Route 66 is) kind of like a home race in a sense to have some family members and friends out there, it’s always a good time and it’s a huge race for PEAK and quite a few of our partners.”

On being the current points leader and the thought of a target on his back heading into the next part of the season…

“There’s some very challenging tracks coming up. New Hampshire is always a challenging track, you’ve got Bristol, of course, and Chicago as well. How do we keep our momentum going? I’m just excited to get back to the racetrack, sitting out of the seat for three weeks.

“I’m just excited to get back in the seat. Yeah, there are some tough tracks ahead, but we’ve also done well at some other hard tracks in the first part of the season already. This team and this car has been really successful at all those racetracks. So I’m looking forward to getting back doing what I love, driving this race car. It’s like riding a bike. it’ll all come back real quick, but we just got to keep our heads down and keep being really focused. So I’m looking forward to what should be a good weekend.”

Do you still pinch yourself at the success you’ve instantly had in Funny Car this year?

“This year has just been a blur. It’s crazy that we’re already a quarter of the way through the season. It just seems like it’s flown by, and it’s been a lot mentally to process and it just doesn’t seem like it’s really happened. So I’ve just got to keep doing the same job I’ve been doing.”

“It’s been working so far, but we’ve got a long ways to go. I’m just head down, got to stay focused, can’t get too caught up in everything surrounding you and just go up there and do everything one moment at a time and try to be perfect every moment you do something.”

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

“This is a very important race for us. It’s our home office (PEAK is headquartered in north suburban Northbrook, IL.), but Route 66, where NHRA puts on that national event, is unbelievable. It’s fun to race there, the access to it is great, the stands wrap around so that the fans can see everything. It’s just a great place to be.”

“I’m also excited to be representing PEAK and Blue Def. And with myself, a Funny Car world champion and Brittany (Force), a Top Fuel world champion, if we were to double up wearing PEAK colors and at a PEAK race, that’ll be huge. We’d love to double up, so we’re going to be trying. And this is also a home race for my son-in-law (and crew chief), Danny Hood, who is from Chicago.”

“I’ve always said Indy (U.S. Nationals) was our granddaddy of races and, of course, the world finals at Pomona. And this is major, just as big to me because of all the things that we’re doing.”

“We’ve got a big event at PEAK’s headquarters on Wednesday, we’re going to have media all over town, TV and radio appearances and then we’re going out to the racetrack for photo shoots. So, all this is exciting. I love this race, the track and we’ve run good at it. We’re going in there with guns blazing.”

On returning to Chicago in 2023…

“I love the concept of Route 66, from the old days of the highway (Route 66 Raceway) that went from Chicago and across the country, all the way to California,” Force said. “You never want to lose a race. But you especially don’t want to lose one that’s in a market that’s as huge as Chicago. We’re excited that we’re back in Chicago because that’s where my major sponsor is. That’s where we need to be.”

How to Watch:

The 2024 Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK kick off Friday, May 17 at Route 66 Raceway with qualifying, airing at 7:30 p.m. ET that evening. Saturday’s qualifying airs Sunday before eliminations, at 1 p.m. ET. Round 1 of Finals air also Sunday at 4 p.m. ET, with the remaining rounds airing at 10 p.m. ET from near Chicago. All sessions from Route 66 Raceway 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:

1,450: 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.

CHICAGO (May 14, 2024) – Legendary Funny Car racer John Force has enjoyed a terrific start to his 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. The 16-time world champion has already posted one victory this season and a pair of final-round appearances, giving the team plenty of momentum heading into this weekend’s Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway.

It’s a meaningful race for the sport’s winningest driver in his 11,000-horsepower PEAK Antifreeze & Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS, too, as Force knows the importance of doing well in his sponsor’s backyard.

Force has always found success in Chicago, winning three times at Route 66 Raceway, including the second-ever race at the famed facility in 2000. He’s eager to put on a show in front of another huge crowd this weekend, determined to keep his strong season going as the summer months approach.

“This is a very important race for us,” Force said. “It’s our home office, but Route 66 (Raceway), where NHRA puts on that national event, is unbelievable. It’s fun to race there, the access to it is great, the stands wrap around so that the fans can see everything. It’s just a great place to be. This is exciting. I love this race, the track and we’ve run good at it. We’re going in there with guns blazing.”

Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won in Chicago last year, while Justin Ashley, Ron Capps and Gaige Herrera secured Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge titles. Camrie Caruso won the first-ever Callout in Pro Stock a season ago. It is the sixth of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA season and this weekend’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, showcasing a jam-packed weekend that includes four qualifying sessions, the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday.

Force has enjoyed a rejuvenation of sorts in 2024, winning his first race in two years with his NHRA Winternationals triumph. After advancing to the final quad in Charlotte at the most recent race, Force currently sits fifth in points in a stacked Funny Car field that included JFR teammate and points leader Austin Prock, J.R. Todd, reigning champ Matt Hagan, Bob Tasca III and Ron Capps. There’s also been five different winners at the first five races (Todd, Force, Prock, Tasca and Hagan), showcasing the impressive depth in the category.

Force gets a chance to double-up in Chicago as well, taking part in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday against a Funny Car field that also includes Hagan, Daniel Wilkerson and Todd. It adds up to a weekend filled with possibilities, and Force will look to take advantage at a facility that means a great deal to him and was thrilled to see it return to the NHRA schedule last year and in 2024.

“I love the concept of Route 66, from the old days of the highway (Route 66) that went from Chicago and across the country, all the way to California,” said Force, who has 156 career victories and 267 final-round appearances. “You never want to lose a race. But you especially don’t want to lose one that’s in a market that’s as huge as Chicago. We’re excited that we’re back in Chicago because that’s where my major sponsor is. That’s where we need to be.”

Top Fuel’s Millican will look to repeat his Chicago win against a loaded 22-car lineup that includes points leader Justin Ashley, Chicago native Tony Schumacher, Brittany Force, Antron Brown, four-time champ Steve Torrence and racing legend Tony Stewart, who is making his Chicago Top Fuel debut.

Pro Stock legend Greg Anderson has already won twice in 2024, taking the points lead into Chicago. He’s also participating in the Callout as he attempts for a double-up weekend taking on stars like defending world champ Erica Enders, who is the top seed in the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout, defending event winner Dallas Glenn and Jeg Coughlin Jr. The full Callout fields features Enders, Anderson, Glenn, Troy Coughlin Jr., Aaron Stanfield, Matt Hartford, Cristian Cuadra and Deric Kramer.

Herrera dominated Chicago a year ago in Pro Stock Motorcycle, setting a host of track records. He’s won twice in 2024 and has seven straight wins dating back to last season. To continue that historic streak, he’ll have to topple six-time champion Matt Smith, former champ LE Tonglet, Angie Smith, Hector Arana Jr. and Steve Johnson.

Also slated in Chicago is the special Drag and Drive exhibition event. With star drivers like Alex Taylor and Tom Bailey, the standout street cars run in the 6-second range and quicker at speeds of more than 200 mph. The weekend also includes competition in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown division, the new Holley EFI Factory X category and the season debut of the Pingel Top Fuel Motorcycle class.

Fans will also be invited all weekend long to the Nitro Alley Stage, which is the main entertainment hub in the pits, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, music and much more. Race fans at Route 66 Raceway can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate 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 of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the event winners.

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

Qualifying sessions take place at 2:30 and 5 p.m. CT on Friday, and 11:40 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday. Eliminations begin at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday

The first round of the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout starts at 11:30 a.m. CT on Saturday, with the semifinals to follow at 1:45 p.m. and the finals at 2:55 p.m. Television coverage includes qualifying action at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday and 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, leading into eliminations coverage at 4:00-5:00 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET on Sunday on FS1. A special Callout broadcast airs at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday on FS1.

To purchase tickets to the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK Performance on May 17-19 at Route 66 Raceway, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult.

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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.

BRISTOL, Tenn. (May 13, 2024) – The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to Thunder Valley for another year of intense racing action at the 23rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway on June 7-9.

A highlight on the NHRA circuit, all the stars in the NHRA are thrilled to return to Bristol Dragway for one of the most scenic and memorable events on the NHRA tour. It is the eighth of 20 events during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and will again feature competition in the four professional categories: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

All the thrilling sights and sounds of 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph action is taken to an incredible, can’t-miss level in Thunder Valley, where fans will be treated to an epic weekend loaded with action. From four rounds of qualifying, including a spectacular night session on Friday night, to the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday, there’s something for every racing fan in Bristol.

Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) took home titles in 2023 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, June 9.

Ashley had a memorial weekend in Bristol last year in the Top Fuel ranks. When the rain-delayed NHRA New England Nationals had to be contested in Bristol, Ashley not only claimed the Epping title on Saturday, he also went on to win the Bristol race. He’s the Top Fuel points leader with two event wins to his credit, but hot on his heels is a loaded field, including reigning champion Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon also with two wins this season, and the Capco duo of Steve and Billy Torrence. Fans can also watch NASCAR legend Tony Stewart’s Bristol Top Fuel debut as well.

Capps claimed his second consecutive Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals last season when he defeated Alexis DeJoria in the final round. Capps is the winningest Funny Car driver at Bristol Dragway with six wins to his credit. If he wants to go three in a row, he’ll be up against the likes of points leader Austin Prock who joined the Funny Car ranks this season, Gainesville winner J.R. Todd, reigning champ Matt Hagan, Bob Tasca and John Force, who each have wins on the season.

Enders, the reigning Pro Stock world champ, didn’t claim an event win until Bristol last year. The Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals was the turning point in her season in 2023, where she went on to win her sixth Pro Stock title. With a win in Gainesville, she’s in the hunt again this season. Leading the points and Enders’ longtime rival is Greg Anderson, with two wins in 2024. Also in the Pro Stock mix is Dallas Glenn, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Aaron Stanfield and Cristian Cuadra.

Johnson, a veteran within the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, was one of only four race winners in 2023. He claimed his win over Gaige Herrera, who went red in the final. Herrera, who won 11 events last year, went on to win the title in dominant fashion and is undefeated thus far in 2024. Johnson is only the third motorcycle rider to win at Bristol Dragway as the class was added to the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in 2021. Other contenders include six-time champion Matt Smith, former champ LE Tonglet, John Hall, Hector Arana Jr. and Angie Smith.

Also on deck is the fan-favorite Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday. Semifinalists from the NHRA New England Nationals, will meet up in Bristol for a specialty race rematch with the winners taking home bonus points and a bonus purse.

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 and 6:45 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.

INDIANAPOLIS (May 8, 2024) – The NHRA Top Fuel Motorcycle Series has quickly become a fan-favorite and NHRA officials announced today that Pingel Enterprise, Inc., a longtime manufacturer of high-quality motorcycle performance parts, has been named the title sponsor for the series, which will make four appearances during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

The Pingel NHRA Top Fuel Motorcycle Series will take place at four events in 2024, beginning with the NHRA’s national event at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago. Pingel has been a key partner for top riders in drag racing’s motorcycle ranks, including Larry “Spiderman” McBride, who set the record for the fastest motorcycle pass in drag racing history at the NHRA national event in 2022 at Virginia Motorsports Park.

McBride and a variety of standout competitors will deliver edge-of-your-seat action at incredible speeds at four NHRA national events and Pingel is thrilled to be the title sponsor in the category.

“This class is loaded with incredible riders who put on one of the most exciting shows in drag racing and we’re proud to be title sponsors of the Pingel NHRA Top Fuel Motorcycle Series,” Pingel Owners Wayne and Donna Pingel said. “Our goal for nearly 60 years has been providing the best parts for better performance on the dragstrip, and we can’t wait to see what these riders and race teams have in store for NHRA fans during the upcoming season.”

Following the season-opening race in Chicago, the Pingel NHRA Top Fuel Motorcycle Series will entertain fans at NHRA national events at Virginia Motorsports Park in Richmond (June 22-23), Brainerd International Raceway (Aug. 16-18) and the finale at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte on Sept. 20-22. The category will receive final-round coverage on FS1 at each of the four stops, while Pingel will get on-site exposure at NHRA events with displays, announcements and Sunoco-vision. Riders will also be involved in autograph sessions at each of their four events.

Featuring stars like McBride, the class is a nonstop thrill ride, with riders reaching speeds of more than 260 mph, running the quarter-mile in less than six seconds. Two years ago, McBride went 268.38 mph at his home track in Virginia, shattering his previous record, while also going a remarkable 5.61-seconds.

Fans can expect more of that type of action from the entire class in 2024 and Pingel will be a key part of it all. They’ve been a manufacturer and distributor of motorcycle parts for the street and dragstrip since 1967, boasting a wealth of experience and success.

“The Top Fuel Motorcycle category has been a huge success in the NHRA the last two seasons, and we’re thrilled see them increase to four races in 2024 and have Pingel as the title sponsor of the category,” NHRA Vice President and Chief Development Officer Brad Gerber said. “Pingel is a company deeply dedicated to motorcycle performance, which makes them a perfect fit for this class, and I’m sure we’ll see a number of outstanding performances from these riders this season.”

For more information on Pingel, please visit www.pingelonline.com. For more information on NHRA, including the 2024 schedule, please visit www.NHRA.com.

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About Pingel

Pingel Enterprise, Inc., is a manufacturer and distributor of high-quality motorcycle performance parts for street and drag racing since 1967. Whether you’re simply looking for a way to secure your motorcycle properly with one of our wheel chocks or want to enhance performance for the dragstrip, we offer a variety of products to make your riding experience better. Pingel Fuel Valves and Wheel Chocks have long been known as the best. Pingel Electric Speed Shifters offer something for all riders, from the weekend rider to the drag racer wanting an edge with faster shifting. For more information, please visit www.pingelonline.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.