Leah Pruett & Matt Hagan
Dodge Power Brokers Top Fuel & Funny Car Drivers
NHRA Nevada Nationals
Oct. 28-30 | Las Vegas

Event Overview

Friday, Oct. 28 (Nitro Qualifying, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

● Nitro qualifying session (Q1): 1:30 p.m. PDT/4:30 p.m. EDT

● Nitro qualifying session (Q2): 4:15 p.m. PDT/7:15 p.m. EDT

Saturday, Oct. 29 (Nitro Qualifying, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

● Nitro qualifying session (Q3): 1 p.m. PDT/4 p.m. EDT

● Nitro qualifying session (Q4): 4:30 p.m. PDT/7:30 p.m. EDT

Sunday, Oct. 30 (Nitro Eliminations, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

● Round 1: 11 a.m. PDT/2 p.m. EDT

● Round 2: 1:30 p.m. PDT/4:30 p.m. EDT

● Semifinals: 3:10 p.m. PDT/6:10 p.m. EDT

● Finals: 4:45 p.m. PDT/7:45 p.m. EDT

TV coverage on FS1

● Sunday, Oct. 30: Qualifying show recapping Friday’s action (9:30 a.m. EDT)

● Sunday, Oct. 30: Qualifying show recapping Saturday’s action (12:30 p.m. EDT)

● Sunday, Oct. 30: Finals show (5 p.m. EDT)

Notes of Interest

● The NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is the penultimate race on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series’ 22-race schedule and it is the fifth round in the six-race Countdown to the Championship. Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) drivers Leah Pruett (Top Fuel) and Matt Hagan (Funny Car) are both in the Countdown, with 2022 marking Pruett’s sixth appearance in the NHRA postseason and Hagan’s 11th.

● Pruett is 11th in the Top Fuel standings heading into Las Vegas, 243 points behind championship leader Justin Ashley. Hagan is third in the Funny Car standings, 78 points behind leader Robert Hight. Pruett’s best career points finish is fourth, earned three times (2018, 2019 and 2020). Hagan is a three-time champion (2011, 2014 and 2020).

● Dodge Power Brokers and Direct Connection return to Pruett’s Top Fuel dragster and Hagan’s Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car this weekend at Las Vegas. The Dodge Power Brokers program serves as the exclusive source for Direct Connection, Dodge’s factory-backed performance parts program, which is equipped with staff trained to deliver a performance-focused customer service experience.

● Pruett and Hagan competed at Las Vegas earlier this year (April 1-3) during the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. Pruett secured the No. 3 qualifying position and advanced to Round 2 on Sunday. Hagan secured the No. 4 qualifying position and advanced to the Finals on Sunday, where his run of 3.924 ET at 324.44 mph fell short of Ron Capps’s race-winning run of 3.914 ET at 331.20 mph.

● The NHRA Nevada Nationals will be Pruett’s 192nd career Top Fuel start. It’ll be her 15th overall start at Las Vegas and her ninth in the NHRA Nevada Nationals. For Hagan, the NHRA Nevada Nationals will be his 314th career Funny Car start. It’ll be his 27th overall start at Las Vegas and his 14th in the NHRA Nevada Nationals.

● Pruett earned the No. 1 qualifier at the 2019 NHRA Nevada Nationals with an ET of 3.654 seconds at 330.47 mph, which set a new track record. She is seeking her first Top Fuel victory at Las Vegas, with her best result coming in the 2018 NHRA Nevada Nationals when she finished runner-up to event winner Steve Torrence. Pruett, however, has proven victorious at Las Vegas. She won the Pro Mod title in the 2011 NHRA Nevada Nationals.

● Hagan has three career wins at the NHRA Nevada Nationals (2017, 2019 and 2020). For his first victory in 2017, Hagan ran a 3.942 ET at 329.42 mph to defeat Courtney Force (4.020 ET at 320.00 mph). In 2019, Hagan ran a 3.876 ET at 331.36 mph to defeat Jonnie Lindberg (3.945 ET at 321.12 mph). And in 2020, Hagan clocked a 3.914 ET at 326.40 mph to defeat Ron Capps (4.463 ET at 173.70 mph).

● Hagan has two No. 1 qualifiers at the NRHA Nevada Nationals, which came in 2009 (4.030 ET at 313.88 mph) and 2014 (3.983 ET at 322.42 mph).

● After the NHRA Nevada Nationals are over, Pruett will return to Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 3 and head to Nellis Air Force Base to fly with the Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds perform for people all around the world to display the pride, precision and professionalism the U.S. Air Force represents. Through air shows and flyovers, they aim to excite and inspire. In addition to showcasing the elite skills all pilots must possess, the Thunderbirds demonstrate the incredible capabilities of the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Leah Pruett, Driver of the Dodge Power Brokers Top Fuel Dragster

In the series’ last event at Dallas, you and your team made significant improvements to your dragster, and you continue to be competitive each time you hit the track. What’s your confidence level heading into Las Vegas?

“It’s the type of confidence that’s stronger than just knowing that we can do it and more so the confidence of knowing we’ve finally unlocked the initial findings of what it takes to be throw-down fast. I’m looking forward to bringing our Dodge Power Brokers dragster to Las Vegas and giving it all we have.”

You’ll be testing at Las Vegas after the NHRA Nevada Nationals. How valuable will that track day be as you start to prepare for 2023?

“This test day will most likely be as valuable as the first time we hit the track, as this particular test session will have implications of what wholesale changes we move forward with next year. Our potential changes require strategy and time, which is why we have to start now and not wait for the standard pre-season test.”

Following the NHRA Nevada Nationals, you’ll get the unique opportunity to fly with the Thunderbirds. What are your expectations?

“I often get asked what it feels like to drive a Top Fuel dragster and whether we pass out from the g-forces. I always hit them back with an explanation of our sudden g-swings compared to the sustained g-forces that the Thunderbirds pilots experience. I look forward to not only experiencing the physical rush of the ride, but being in the presence of the Air Force servicemen and women while learning about their skills and how they’re used to keep America safe. I’m extremely appreciative of this opportunity, as it’s one I’m getting ready to cherish for my entire life. I’m also doing everything that’s recommended to prevent getting sick up there and seeing how long I can sustain eight to nine g-forces before experiencing tunnel vision.”

Matt Hagan, Driver of the Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car

You’ve won the NHRA Nevada Nationals three times in the last five years. What makes you so successful in this event?

“Just like we’ve done well in races at the beginning of the season, I think we always do well in races at the end of the season. It’s favorable conditions as far as what Dickie (Venables, crew chief) is comfortable with and being able to push hard. Our Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car is making a lot of power and as those tracks cool down, our car is able to maintain that power. Here at the end of the year, these obviously count a lot. We’re 78 points out and have a lot of ground to make up. (Robert) Hight and (Ron) Capps have to have two bad races and we have to have two good races. We’re going to go into Las Vegas and work hard and do our best to race our racecar.”

By advancing to the finals at Dallas, you were able to chip away at the gap to Funny Car leader Robert Hight. With only 78 points separating you and him, what is your outlook heading into Las Vegas?

“Being 78 points back, we have to have two good races. We kind of backed ourselves into a corner and have to come out swinging and win these next two races to have a shot at the championship. We have to be aggressive. We still have a shot at this, but things have to line up a bit. We have to scoop up those little points and turn win lights on.”

You’ll be testing at Las Vegas after the NHRA Nevada Nationals. How valuable will that track day be as you start to prepare for 2023?

“Testing will be very valuable for next year. We won’t be making wholesale changes for the last race, but it’ll allow us the opportunity to gear up for the following season. As a driver, I always learn something by being in the car, and it’ll help the team by also learning some things for next year.”

CHEVROLET AT LAS VEGAS

What: NHRA Nevada Nationals
When: Friday, Oct. 28-Sunday, Oct. 30
Where: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
TV: FS1 will telecast eliminations at 5 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 30

Chevrolet drivers roll into Vegas aiming for big points
Enders placing her bet on red Camaro SS to lock up fifth Pro Stock championship

DETROIT (Oct. 27, 2022) – Erica Enders is betting on red — her red Melling Performance Chevrolet Camaro SS — in the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Enders takes a whopping 165-point advantage over Elite Motorsports teammate Aaron Stanfield into the weekend – the penultimate NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series event of the season — and has the opportunity to wrap up her fifth NHRA Pro Stock world championship.

With three wins in four NHRA Countdown to the Championship races and a history of success at the racetrack, the odds are in her favor.

“We have had a ton of success at The Strip and we are looking forward to what could potentially be an amazing weekend,” said Enders, who won the four-wide race in April to extend her streak with a victory at the track to four years. “This has been a tremendous season for us and we are going to do our best to finish strong.

“With just two races remaining, we have no plans on letting up on our competition. We will keep our eyes on the prize and let the others worry about the rest.”

A personal-best 10th victory of the season and sweeping the spring and fall races at The Strip for the third time are additional motivation. Enders earned her first victory with Elite Motorsports in 2014 at Las Vegas.

“A personal goal coming into the year was the most wins we’ve ever had in one season. There’s still room to accomplish that goal,” said Enders, whose 42 career victories is second to Angelle Sampey on the all-time list among females in all categories.

Enders’ drive for five

Erica Enders will move into a tie for third with five NHRA Pro Stock championships. She has won in 2014, ’15, 2019 and ’20:

10: Bob Glidden (1974-75, ’78-80, ’85-89)

6: Warren Johnson (1992-93, ’95, ’98-99, ’01)

5: Greg Anderson (2003-05, ’10, ’21)

5: Jeg Coughlin Jr. (2000, ’02, ’07-08, ’13)

She enters the race with the momentum of back-to-back Countdown victories, most recently defeating reigning and five-time Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson in the final at Dallas. Enders was runner-up to Dallas Glenn’s Camaro SS in the 2021 fall race at Las Vegas.

Brittany Force, who won the four-wide Top Fuel race at The Strip in spring, is also in a title hunt. The driver of the Flav-R-Pac/Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster, who owns both ends of the track Top Fuel records, is second in the standings. She was the No. 1 qualifier for the 2021 fall race at the track.

“We need four solid passes during qualifying and need to land back in the winner’s circle. We won this event in the spring and are confident we can do it again,” the 2017 Top Fuel champion said.

John Force Racing teammate Robert Hight, who has won a class-high eight races this season, sits atop the Funny Car standings. The driver of the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS is a five-time winner at The Strip. John Force remains in contention for his record-extending 17th NHRA Funny Car championship. The driver of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Camaro SS is fourth in points.

FOX Sports 1 will telecast eliminations at 5 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 30.

CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT

TOP FUEL

BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, FLAV-R-PAC/MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (four-time winner this season; second in points): “Two races left in the season and our Flav-R-Pac/Monster Energy team heads to Sin City this weekend. We are currently sitting in second position and still have a shot at getting back the points lead. We need four solid passes during qualifying and need to land back in the winner’s circle. We won this event in the spring and are confident we can do it again.”

AUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRAND/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (won at Reading, runner-up at Dallas): “This car has been running really well and we have been moving up in the points. I just hope we can keep it going these last two and try to sneak into the two three or top five in the points. I’ve put my heart and soul into this and I know how hard everybody else works.”

FUNNY CAR

ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (eight-time winner this season; points leader): “We knew this championship hunt was going to come down to the end. We still have the lead but this Auto Club team needs to keep up their hard work, keep their focus and go and get every point we can. We don’t need to change anything, we just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing, it’s what got us here, now is not the time to switch things up. I have all the confidence in this Auto Club Chevy team. Jimmy Prock, Chris Cunningham and every crew member, they are truly the best group of guys I could have in my corner. We’re looking forward to getting to Vegas and putting on a good show. This competition really is exciting.”

JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (Charlotte four-wide winner in spring; fourth in points): “I’m going to head into Vegas to win. I never give up. This PEAK Chevy team doesn’t give up. We just don’t have a mindset like that. We never give up and it’s not over until we say it’s over.”

PRO STOCK

ERICA ENDERS, ELITE MOTORSPORTS, MELLING PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (nine-time winner this season; points leader): “I want to go to Vegas and I want to lock it up there. I don’t think there’s a (point) cushion. I don’t want to have that mentality because I don’t want to let off the pedal. I want to go to battle like we’re coming from behind. I enjoyed being a driver that needed to come from the back. I’m not really sure what it about Las Vegas. The guys have a really great tune-up. Everything changes out here. It is a little bit of altitude, and it is definitely dry and crazy air, so you have to have your tune-up right. You don’t want to be too lean, or you will burn your motor up. I have to give a lot of the credit to my crew chiefs because they have a ton of data her and they do a great job.”

AARON STANFIELD, ELITE MOTORSPORTS, JANAC BROTHERS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (three-time winner and seven-time finalist this season; second in points): “I love racing in Vegas, it’s a great racetrack and we would love to get a win. I’m feeling confident about my hot rod. The guys have been working hard to make sure we finish the season strong, I just need to focus and do the job. As the season is coming to a close I think as a whole, the Elite team has been very strong and I am thankful to be part of it.”

GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (reigning Pro Stock champion; third in standings): “No. 1 is probably out of reach. That’s what we were competing for, and it looks like we didn’t get it done this year. But we go to the next two races to win. I put just as much weight on race wins as I do a championship – that’s what I go for, to win races, and there are still two great days to be had this year. By the time we get to Vegas, hopefully we have a chance to win.”

TROY COUGHLIN JR., ELITE MOTORSPORTS, JEGS.COM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (two-time winner this season; fourth in standings): “The fall Vegas race is always one of the coolest races for me. I won my first national event in Super Comp at this race when I was 19 in 2009. The boys have been hard at it on the dyno pretty much seven days a week, so I have all the confidence in the world. I’m as proud as ever to wear the Elite Motorsports and JEGS colors and we’re ready to finish strong.”

KYLE KORETSKY, KB RACING, LUCAS OIL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (fifth in standings): “The last few races haven’t played out in our favor, but the KB Racing group keeps giving me a fast hot rod. I’m looking forward to returning to Vegas for the second time this season and get in the winner’s circle.”

DALLAS GLENN, KB RACING, RAD TORQUE SYSTEMS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (Gainesville winner; runner-up at Indianapolis and St. Louis; 2021 fall race winner at track): “We’re coming into Vegas as the defending event champion and that’s just the boost we need right now. We’re not in contention for the championship this year but we’ve still got a great car that can win these last two races.”

CAMRIE CARUSO, CARUSO FAMILY RACING, POWERBUILT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (first season in Pro Stock; No. 1 qualifier and runner-up at Houston; rookie of the year award candidate): “I love Las Vegas and I am glad we are coming back to a track like this for the Countdown. The four-wide nationals was a new experience so I am looking forward to traditional side-by-side racing this weekend. My crew chief Jim Yates has been working his tail off on our tune-up and I think we have a car that can go rounds. I have been trying to be super aggressive on the starting line. We just need a few things to go our way and we could have a long day on Sunday. This is Las Vegas so anything can happen.”

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in nearly 80 countries with nearly 2.7 million cars and trucks sold in 2021. 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.

Championship-Winning Driver and Team Owner To Run Top Alcohol Dragster for McPhillips Racing Oct. 28-30 During NHRA Nevada Nationals

COLUMBUS, Ind. (Oct. 24, 2022) – After two multi-day sessions at Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School and a handful of tests over the last two years in both a Top Alcohol dragster and a Top Fuel dragster, Tony Stewart is ready for the real thing.

The versatile racer who owns driving championships across NASCAR, INDYCAR and USAC, along with hundreds of victories on oval tracks, dirt tracks and road courses, will throttle up behind the wheel of a Top Alcohol dragster during the NHRA Nevada Nationals Oct. 28-30 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“I’m excited and nervous at the same time,” Stewart said. “It’s definitely going to be a big learning curve, and to do it at a national event right out of the gate adds to the challenge. But it’s something I’ve really been wanting to do and I’ve been working toward this moment. I’m not taking it lightly. It’s a serious business and I’m going to be as prepared as possible when I get to Las Vegas.”

Stewart will make his debut driving for McPhillips Racing in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

“The team I’m driving for, McPhillips Racing, has been awesome to work with,” Stewart said. “They felt like I was ready to compete. With their confidence, that’s given me the confidence and courage to try something new and take the leap.”

Even with all the newness that will surround Stewart, he will have support from longtime partner Mobil 1, the world’s leading brand of synthetic motor oil.

“Throughout his storied career, Tony has been known for his commitment and dedication to his craft, which is why he’s long been a perfect fit as a Mobil 1 partner,” said Rob Shearer, ExxonMobil Director Global Lubricants Marketing Services and Sponsorships. “His desire to be exceptional has always aligned with our goal to do the same. His laser focus and intense competitive spirit that we all know so well will be on display once again, but this time on a quarter-mile dragstrip. We’re looking forward to cheering him on in his NHRA debut.”

Stewart won his third and final NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2011 with Mobil 1 as both a sponsor and technical partner. It’s a 12-year-and-counting partnership that encompasses Stewart-Haas Racing in NASCAR and Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) in the NHRA and World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series.

“Mobil 1 is more than just a sponsor – they’re a partner that provides us with a competitive advantage to get the most out of our cars,” Stewart said. “I love driving and it’s the most fun when our cars are running at their best – and Mobil 1 makes that possible. Their technology gives me a strong sense of security when I’m behind the wheel and a tremendous amount of pride whenever we put a racecar on the track.”

While Stewart is best known for his NASCAR exploits, most notably three NASCAR Cup Series championships and induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Columbus, Indiana-native has become a mainstay in the NHRA paddock. Stewart is married to Top Fuel driver Leah Pruett, a 10-time winner in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, and his eponymous race team made its NHRA debut earlier this year in the season opener in Pomona, California, and has since placed both Pruett and her Funny Car teammate, Matt Hagan, in the Countdown to the Championship.

“I’ve been a rookie in a lot of different cars over the course of my career. That part won’t be new, but the drag racing side is so different from anything I’ve driven in the past. It’s all about procedures and knowing the routine and doing it the same every time,” Stewart said.

“In all the other forms of racing, you blow a corner and you fix it and do better the next lap. There is no next lap if you screw up in these cars. You have to do it the same every time for the team to be able to tune the car the right way, and you have to do your job. You have to cut good lights and stay in the groove.

“There are a lot of things people don’t think about just by watching on television. I’ve learned a lot from our teams this year. I’m sure it will be sensory overload, but you have to start somewhere.

“The McPhillips family is awesome and they’re great teachers, and when your wife is a professional driver and you have a teammate like Matt Hagan, they’re teaching me everything I need to know. I’m excited about finally getting the opportunity to do what they do.”

When Stewart makes his first pass as part of the NHRA Nevada Nationals, it will add to an already impressive racing resume. The 51-year-old has competed in NASCAR, INDYCAR, IMSA, USAC and an array of sprint car series, including the World of Outlaws and All Star Circuit of Champions. Stewart has also driven a Formula 1 car, having sampled Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 championship-winning machine on June 14, 2011 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International during a promotional event for Mobil 1.

“Tony Stewart is one of the most talented and versatile drivers in motorsports history, winning in every discipline in which he’s competed,” said Jei Gort, ExxonMobil Global Motorsports and Sponsorships Manager. “His love of racing is unwavering, and we’re proud to have him represent the Mobil 1 brand as he takes on this new challenge in the NHRA.

“Both driver and machine face extreme conditions on the dragstrip, and demanding environments are where Tony and Mobil 1 technology thrive. This should be an outstanding combination – just as it has been so many times before.”

Even with 13 driving championships to his resume, Stewart is taking a methodical approach to his NHRA debut.

“My expectations are just to gain experience and knowledge throughout the weekend,” Stewart said. “It will be nice to go from getting to drive the car to actually competing. Hopefully, we’ll have a good weekend and I’ll get to make a lot of passes.”

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series is the premier Sportsman racing program in motorsports. The series features eight categories, highlighted by the 270+ mph Top Alcohol dragsters, the stepping-stone division into the nitro categories of Top Fuel and Funny Car in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.

Stewart and his Top Alcohol counterparts begin their NHRA Nevada Nationals weekend on Friday, Oct. 28 with Q1 at 11:15 a.m. PDT/2:15 p.m. EDT and Q2 at 5:45 p.m. PDT/8:45 p.m. EDT. Saturday, Oct. 29 begins with Q3 at 10:30 a.m. PDT/1:30 p.m. EDT with Round 1 of eliminations at 2:30 p.m. PDT/5:30 p.m. EDT and Round 2 at 5:45 p.m. PDT/8:45 p.m. EDT. The weekend culminates on Sunday, Oct. 30 with Semifinals at 1 p.m. PDT/4 p.m. EDT and Finals at 3:50 p.m. PDT/6:50 p.m. EDT. All the action will be streamed live on NHRA.TV.

Leah Pruett & Matt Hagan
Top Fuel | Funny Car
Texas NHRA FallNationals
Oct. 14-16 | Dallas

Event Recap

Leah Pruett, driver of the Rush Truck Centers Top Fuel Dragster:

● Earned No. 7 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (3.906 ET at 290.06 mph).

● Earned No. 8 provisional qualifying position in Q2 on Friday (3.731 ET at 304.18 mph) when her car experienced a mechanical failure during the run.

● Maintained No. 8 provisional qualifying position based off Friday’s Q2 run. In Q3 on Saturday, Pruett ran a 3.802 ET at 321.08 mph.

● Secured No. 8 qualifying position based off Friday’s Q2 run. In Q4 on Saturday, Pruett ran a 3.776 ET at 325.71 mph.

● Advanced to Round 2 on Sunday:

● Round 1: 3.888 ET at 229.84 mph, defeated Josh Hart (red light – 3.707 ET at 330.03 mph).

● Round 2: 3.764 ET at 275.72 mph, lost to Austin Prock (3.737 ET at 324.18 mph).

● Currently 11th in the Top Fuel championship standings, 243 points behind leader Justin Ashley.

Matt Hagan, driver of the Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car:

● Earned No. 3 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (3.938 ET at 327.01 mph).

● Scored one bonus point for third-quickest run of the session.

● Earned No. 1 provisional qualifying position in Q2 on Friday (3.825 ET at 334.85 mph).

● Scored three bonus points for quickest run of the session.

● Maintained No. 1 qualifying position based off Friday’s Q2 run. In Q3 on Saturday, Hagan ran a 3.900 ET at 335.87 mph.

● Scored three bonus points for quickest run of the session.

● Secured No. 1 qualifying position based off Friday’s Q2 run. In Q4 on Saturday, Hagan ran a 3.893 ET at 322.77 mph.

● Scored two bonus points for second-quickest run of the session.

● Advanced to Finals on Sunday:

●  Round 1: 3.875 ET at 326.56 mph, defeated Terry Haddock (4.051 ET at 305.98 mph).

●  Round 2: 3.883 ET at 335.12 mph, defeated Tim Wilkerson (3.938 ET at 329.26 mph).  

● Semifinals: 3.891 ET at 338.02 mph, defeated Bob Tasca III (3.891 ET at 329.21 mph).

● Finals: 3.923 ET at 331.32 mph, lost to Ron Capps (3.911 ET at 327.18 mph).

● Currently third in the Funny Car championship standings, 78 points behind leader Robert Hight.

Notes of Interest

● Hagan has advanced to the final round each of the last four years at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas. He has appeared in more final rounds in the Texas NHRA FallNationals than in any other event in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series (seven times in 14 appearances).

● Hagan’s No. 1 qualifier marked his sixth this season and his second at Dallas. His previous No. 1 start in the event came in 2020.

● Hagan’s Q2 run set a new track record at the Texas Motorplex, breaking the previous track record of 3.828 seconds, set by Robert Hight in 2017. The run earned Hagan and Tony Stewart Racing a $15,000 bonus established by the track. The time marked the second-fastest Funny car run of the season, just behind Hagan’s Q3 run at Phoenix in February (3.823 ET at 333.41 mph).

Leah Pruett, Driver of the Rush Truck Centers Top Fuel Dragster

“It was great to debut our Rush Truck Centers scheme at Dallas. Their slogan is to expect more when you go to their service centers and we expected to have more this weekend. We’ve delivered to ourselves because we’ve been trying very hard to run 2.10 to the 1/8 mile and we were able to do it a couple times. We’ve been trying to improve our incremental times. The better incremental times you have, overall you’ll have a quicker ET. We had a setback Friday night when a valve train part malfunctioned and caused colossal damage. It was not an over-tuning situation or over-driving, so we had to be a bit more conservative on Saturday to make sure all our system checks were right. There’s nothing like being the first pair out on Sunday with the national anthem in the great state of Texas. You can feel all that goes into this race. You can either feel it and be afraid of it, or feel it and encompass that, which I feel I did and we all did. I’m very impressed with shallow staging and cutting one of my best lights in eliminations. I was so focused on going straight down the track because the left lane is tricky and it wants to pull you to the left toward the wall. I saw my blue win light and knew we were on a good run. Talk about processing a lot of information at a high rate of speed. All of a sudden, it was over. We had an electronic issue that made the burst panel electric communication deploy the chutes and shut off the car. We got lucky on Sunday and got to the second round. We tuned the car up a bit more and had a solid race. We went up against Austin Prock, who also did a great job on the tree. We blew a blower belt that broke and we’re still dissecting the cause of that. It aborted our run sooner and would’ve been an even closer race than it was. I definitely don’t feel defeated because we’ve made extreme improvements. We finally feel like we have a racecar and are racing and competing. We’re a force to be reckoned with. We’re focused on Vegas and testing after Vegas and keeping forward momentum.”

Matt Hagan, Driver of the Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car

“It was a very strong weekend. We ran a .82 out there on Friday and were No. 1 qualifier. Dickie Venables, Mike Knudsen and Alex Conaway put a great Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car underneath me all weekend. We had everything it takes to win the race, we were just on the back side of it a little bit. It’s so competitive out there right now and it’s kind of like splitting frog hairs. It was a great job and my crew did a phenomenal job. They serviced the car in 30 minutes to get ready for the final, which was exceptional. We were pressed with rain all day and we knew the turnarounds would be quick. The guys didn’t let that phase them and we had a great car. We’re still in the hunt and I know we have the capability and means to do it, we just have to have a little luck fall our way.”

Next Up

The next event on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule is the NHRA Nevada Nationals Oct. 28-30 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It is the fifth event in the Countdown to the Championship and the penultimate race of the season.

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
NHRA TEXAS FALLNATIONALS
TEXAS MOTORPLEX IN ENNIS, TEXAS
OCT. 16, 2022

Chevrolet drivers step up at Texas FallNationals

• Erica Enders ties career best with ninth Pro Stock win of season, moves closer to title

• No. 1 Top Fuel qualifier Austin Prock is runner-up; Brittany Force sets track record

• David Barton drives Chevrolet COPO Camaro to second Factory Stock Showdown title

ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 16, 2022) — Erica Enders took large step to claiming her fifth National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Pro Stock world championship, driving the Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro SS to victory in the NHRA Texas FallNationals.

Austin Prock, driving the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster, was runner-up in the Top Fuel race at the Texas Motorplex. Prock, who won the Countdown to the Championship opener, earned the No. 1 qualifier honor for the first time in his career.

In a battle of Nos. 1 and 2 in the Funny Car standings, Robert Hight’s AAA Texas Chevrolet Camaro SS lost traction early in the run and the front-runner lost to eventual event winner Ron Capps. Hight, an eight-time winner this season, retained his advantage in the standings, though his lead was sliced to 10 points.

John Force, driving the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS, lost in the Funny Car quarterfinals in the 121st career race day matchup with Capps.

Brittany Force broke her own Top Fuel track speed record, recording a pass of 336.30 mph in the Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster in the first round of eliminations. The 2017 Top Fuel champion ran low elapsed time of the weekend (3.676 seconds) in the quarterfinals but fell on a holeshot when her opponent tripped the light at .039 of a second to her .097 reaction time. She is second in the standings.

In a metaphoric passing of the torch, Enders defeated reigning and five-time Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson, driving the HendrickCars.com Camaro SS, in the final with a pass of 6.537 seconds. Enders, the No. 1 qualifier, matched her 2015 career high with her ninth victory of the season and secured her 42nd Pro Stock win overall in 72 finals. She extended her points lead to a whopping 166 with two Countdown events left.

Enders swept the two events in her home state this season.

“I hope they keep coming. You never know when it’s going to be your last, so we never want to let up,” she said. “Being here in my home state of Texas, my sister reminded me right before that final round that if you can get this done you’ve accomplished the Texas two-step for the last time since Houston is going away. So, that cowboy hat is going to mean the world to me. I love Texas.”

Anderson, who earlier in the week was recognized as a Texas Motorplex Legend, dispatched Aaron Stanfield, driving the Janac Brothers Camaro SS, and Enders upended teammate Troy Coughlin Jr., driver of the JEGS.com Camaro SS, in the semifinals.

David Barton of Robesonia, Pennsylvania, clinched his second Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown championship in the Saw Mill Auto Chevrolet COPO Camaro.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet. It is hard to believe we came out on top amongst all these people who are trying so hard to accomplish the same goal,” said Barton, who picked up his first title in 2017. “It has been a lot of work from all our teammates and all our employees and all our families. This whole operation is like a big travelling family circus. It has been great, and I am honestly speechless.”

Drivers of the COPO Camaro have won the past three Showdown titles, including Aaron Stanfield in 2020 and ’21. Stanfield, of Bossier City, Louisiana, gave Chevrolet its fifth victory in the eight races in the series this season, driving the Janac Brothers COPO Camaro to a 7.764-second pass at 165.mph.

“I’m just happy for all of our guys. It’s been a lot of hard work and maybe we got our mojo back.” he said.

The penultimate race in the Countdown to the Championship is scheduled for Oct. 28-30 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. FS1 will telecast eliminations at 5 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 30. Dallas Glenn won the Pro Stock race in the RAD Torque Systems Camaro SS on the way to the rookie of the year title. Brittany Force was the No. 1 Top Fuel qualifier in the Chevrolet dragster.

An interview with Pro Stock winner ERICA ENDERS, ELITE MOTORSPORTS, MELLING PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS:

YOU HAD AN AMAZING CAR THIS WEEK.

“It speaks volumes for the talent that’s in our crew chief lounge. Those guys are just bad to the bone and even when I’m not confident they are, and they carry me.”

YOU SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WE’RE RACING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. YOU ARE IN A NICE SPOT FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.

“We are and we’ll take it. The fashion we lost last year gave us all the motivation that we needed in the race car shop, in the engine shop and my mental state behind the wheel of that Melling Performance Chevy Camaro. We have been mean, we’ve lost a few that I wish I had back but what a tremendous season we’ve had up to this point. We’re headed to Vegas and I’m looking forward to that. I hope the wins keep coming. You never know when it’s going to be your last, so we never want to let up.”

YOU WON BOTH AT HOUSTON AND HERE.

“Being here in my home state of Texas, my sister reminded me right before that final round that if you can get this done you’ve accomplished the Texas two-step for the last time since Houston is going away. So, that cowboy hat is going to mean the world to me. I love Texas.”

CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT

TOP FUEL

BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET DRAGSTER: “There are still two races left in this Countdown to the Championship and weekend to weekend things can change so much. We can pick up points during qualifying, we have been all season. That’s going to remain this Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac team’s plan going into Las Vegas, qualify well and go rounds on race day. It’s not over yet. It will end in Pomona at the Auto Club Finals so we’ll keep on fighting.”

AUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRAND/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER: “Outstanding weekend for this Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist team. We just missed it in the final round and came up short of sweeping the weekend. I was proud of the team, and the crew chiefs. They made progress each and every lap and it showed. We showed up when we needed to. We’re in good hands for the rest of the season, we’re definitely back and we can’t wait for Vegas.”

FUNNY CAR

JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “I’m going to leave here and head into Vegas to win. I never give up. This PEAK Chevy team doesn’t give up. We just don’t have a mindset like that. There wasn’t anything left on the tree; I stole it all. I got away with the light and I was trucking on through there, but it got over into the wall. I had to lift and got back on it, but it was too late. He got around me. We never give up and it’s not over until we say it’s over.”

ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AAA TEXAS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “Tough way to go out. This AAA team had been on a great streak of solid A to B passes. Disappointing to get that loss in the semifinals. We wanted to try and grow our points lead, but luckily we did have a lead and we had a good two days of qualifying where we took some points. So, with two races left, we’ll head to Vegas still ahead. We have to continue to do what we know how to do. Pick up those small points in qualifying and then continue to go rounds on Sunday. Just two races left, we really need to be on our game.”

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in nearly 80 countries with nearly 2.7 million cars and trucks sold in 2021. 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.

TOYOTA RECORDS THIRD NITRO SWEEP IN LAST FIVE EVENTS
Ashley, Capps add to successful season with wins in Texas

ENNIS, Texas (October 16, 2022) – Justin Ashley picked the perfect time for his third victory of the season as the New York-native extended his points lead with his second consecutive win at the Texas Motorplex. Ashley continued Toyota’s recent dominance in the Top Fuel class with their sixth win in the last seven events. With the victory, Ashley holds a 82-point advantage over Brittany Force with two races remaining in the season.

Ron Capps earned his fourth victory in the Toyota GR Supra Funny Car on Sunday. The California-native ran strong all day and used a 0.035 reaction time and a 3.911 elapsed time to beat Matt Hagan in the final round. With the win, Capps closes to within 10 points of the championship lead.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series
Texas Motorplex
Race 20 of 22

TOYOTA TOP FUEL FINISHING POSITIONS

Name	Car	Final Result	Round-by-Round
Justin Ashley	Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Winner	W. 3.699 v. 3.714(Kalitta) W. 3.677 v. 5.132(Kinsley) W. 3.686 v. 3.723(Langdon) W. 3.688 v. 12.682(Prock)
Shawn Langdon	CMR Roofing & Construction Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Semi-Finals	W. 3.730 v. 3.735(Torrence) W. 3.721 v. 3.676 – (Holeshot Win –B. Force) L. 3.723 v. 3.686(Ashley)
Antron Brown	Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Semi-Finals	W. 3.684 v. 3.715(Schumacher) W. 3.699 v. 3.879(Massey) L. 3.689 v. 3.681(Prock)
Steve Torrence	Capco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	First Round	L. 3.735 v. 3.730(Langdon)
Doug Kalitta	Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	First Round	L. 3.714 v. 3.699(Ashley)

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR FINISHING POSITIONS

Name	Car	Final Result	Round-by-Round
Ron Capps	NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	Winner	W. 3.889 v. 4.343(Diehl) W. 3.885 v. 4.045(J. Force) W. 3.897 v. 7.486(Hight) W. 3.911 v. 3.923(Hagan)
J.R. Todd	DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	First Round	L. 4.092 v. 3.980(Lee)
Alexis DeJoria	Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	First Round	L. 4.471 v. 3.924(Alexander)

TOYOTA QUOTES

JUSTIN ASHLEY, Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Davis Motorsports

Final Result: Winner

How was your race day?

“It really was a great weekend – anytime you can go out there and turn on four-win lights on race day it is great. The winner of this race, where it is positioned in the season, makes it all that much more significant. There are only two more races after this and we know the past history has shown that if you win Dallas – you really put yourself in position to go after that championship. Our team did an incredible job all weekend long. It was like a bracket car. To have a Top Fuel car run that fast and run that consistently, it just speaks volumes to our entire team. I think when you look at the Top Fuel class – it’s so competitive, from drivers to teams. We are all making each other better and I think that shows throughout the year.”

RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, Ron Capps Motorsports

Final Result: Winner

What do you take away from today?

“For the fans this is big. We had a lot of nay-sayers that we weren’t getting any racing in – and we got it all in. Unbelievable. Under the lights in the final round. (Matt) Hagan and our team getting it on with flames out the side. We burned the NAPA body – Cathy and Joe Maynard, they are at home. They usually stay and toast with us – so we miss you guys. Wish you were here. NAPA AutoCare team – it’s like driving to your NAPA AutoCare down the street. You rely on them; you can count on them. Guido (Dean Antonelli) and John Medlen (crew chiefs) – this is going to Medlen. He hasn’t mentioned it in public yet, but he is going to retire off into the sunset and this trophy is well-earned by him. Toyota – we’re going to double up with Toyota with Justin (Ashley), so what a big night. Thanks everybody for staying.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 43 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With the more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, more than a quarter of the company’s 2021 North American sales were electrified.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Leah Pruett & Matt Hagan
Top Fuel | Funny Car
NHRA Midwest Nationals
Sept. 30-Oct. 2 | St. Louis

Event Recap

Leah Pruett, driver of the Sparkling Ice +Caffeine Top Fuel Dragster:

● Earned No. 4 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (3.743 ET at 325.45 mph).

● Earned No. 6 provisional qualifying position based off Friday’s Q1 run. In Q2 on Saturday, Pruett ran a 3.931 ET at 244.87 mph.

● Secured No. 11 qualifying position in Q3 on Saturday (3.729 ET at 329.18 mph).

● Ran a 3.716 ET at 327.03 mph in Round 1 of eliminations on Sunday, lost to Tony Schumacher (3.701 ET at 332.02 mph).

● Currently 11th in the Top Fuel championship standings, 179 points behind leader Justin Ashley.

Matt Hagan, driver of the Baja Vida Snacks Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car:

● Earned No. 3 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (3.896 ET at 334.98 mph).

● Earned No. 4 provisional qualifying position based off Friday’s Q1 run. In Q2 on Saturday, Hagan ran a 4.041 ET at 257.92 mph.

● Secured No. 4 qualifying position in Q3 on Saturday (3.867 ET at 335.48 mph).

● Advanced to semifinals on Sunday:

●  Round 1: 4.121 ET at 275.62 mph, defeated Jim Campbell (5.336 ET at 137.15 mph).

●  Round 2: 3.943 ET at 325.14 mph, defeated Bob Tasca III (3.968 ET at 327.51 mph).  

●  Semifinals: 3.945 ET at 330.31 mph, lost to Robert Hight (3.913 ET at 327.59 mph).

● Currently third in the Funny Car championship standings, 103 points behind leader Hight.

Notes of Interest

● Hagan advanced to the semifinals for the third week in a row.

● Hagan’s Round 2 win puts him 24-15 all-time against Tasca. It’s the fifth time this season the two have faced each other, with Hagan holding a 3-2 advantage. Tasca won against Hagan in Round 2 at Norwalk, Ohio, and in the semifinals at Topeka, Kansas. Hagan previously won against Tasca in Round 2 at Pomona, California, and in Round 2 at Reading, Pennsylvania.

● Hagan and Hight had their 43rd career meeting Sunday at St. Louis. It was the sixth time this season the two have competed against each other. Hight now leads 23-20 all-time.

● Pruett and Schumacher faced each other for the second time this season and the duo are now tied 1-1. Pruett previously defeated Schumacher in Round 1 at Epping, New Hampshire. Pruett and Schumacher had the closest side-by-side race in Round 1 of eliminations at St. Louis and had nearly identical reaction times. Pruett had a .066 and Schumacher had a .061.

Leah Pruett, Driver of the Sparkling Ice +Caffeine Top Fuel Dragster

“Gaining momentum in the Countdown has got to be one of the most challenging times of our season, so far. Last week, we pushed our machine harder than we ever had from a mechanical tune-up aspect and believed coming into St. Louis that we would find the edge. During our three rounds of qualifying, our Sparkling Ice +Caffeine machine was starting to become more reactive to our pushes and gaining improved, incremental times. We ultimately have not found a combination that works to qualify us lower in the field, which required .60s. We felt confident going into raceday that we had a reliable racecar that we could push a lot harder with, so we did. Our big moves did make our car deliver big ET improvements, as we improved our time to 3.71, but it wasn’t enough to beat out the Sarge’s (Tony Schumacher) 3.70. Our team’s package would have beat all but one other car in the first round. We ultimately were on the non-winning side of a very tight drag race. We are living in real-time the strength of this team’s commitment to delivering a highly competitive car and we have each other’s back while doing it. I’m so very proud of the quality of work my men put into this team, and we’re closer than we have been since Seattle to showing out. You can see that by the caliber of runs our competition puts up against us, knowing we’re right there.”

Matt Hagan, Driver of the Baja Vida Snacks Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car

“We have a really great racecar that is going down the racetrack. We were on the good side of a tight drag race with Tasca this morning. We seemed to come up a little short when running the points leader, Robert (Hight). We have to have those rounds to win. If we weren’t trying hard, there would be reason to be mad, but we’re all trying as hard as we can. I really believe in my team. At this point, we have to kind of wait for Robert to mess up, so that we can capitalize on that. We have to tip our hat to him because he’s been running great all year. We are the same caliber team and capable of winning. Sometimes, it just has to be your day. I was really excited to bring Baja Vida Snacks out this weekend and bring something new to the NHRA with Tony Stewart Racing. It’s great for our sport and cool to have them as a sponsor in a new environment for them.”

Next Up

The next event on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule is the Texas NHRA FallNationals Oct. 13-16 at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas. It is the fourth event in the Countdown to the Championship and the third-to-last race of the season.

• Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Funny Car driver Matt Hagan drove his Baja Vida Snacks Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car from the No. 4 qualifying position to a semifinal performance at the 11th annual National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Midwest Nationals near St. Louis, the third of six “Countdown to the Championship” playoff series events
• Hagan’s third consecutive semifinal appearance in the playoffs keeps him third in the Funny Car championship hunt and within 103 points of category leader Robert Hight
• TSR pilot Leah Pruett qualified her Sparkling Ice +Caffeine Dodge//SRT dragster 11th for eliminations at the World Wide Technology Raceway for her 190th career Top Fuel start and ran her quickest pass of the weekend in a close first round battle but came up short of advancing
• Funny Car driver Cruz Pedregon qualified sixth by recording the Snap-on Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat’s quickest speed of the season to date and then drove to the team’s second quarterfinal appearance of the playoffs

October 2, 2022, Madison, Illinois – It was a third consecutive semifinal result for Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) driver Matt Hagan and his Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) “Countdown to the Championship” at the 11th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, the third of six playoff series events.

Hagan, last year’s Funny Car event winner at the St. Louis area dragstrip, collected three bonus points in qualifying by recording the third best time on Friday, and then was second quickest in the final session with a best lap of 3.867 seconds at 335.48 mph to put the Baja Vida Snacks Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat fourth on the eliminations ladder. 

An opening round win over No. 13 seed Jim Campbell set up a quarterfinal matchup with No. 5 qualifier Bob Tasca III, against whom Hagan earned his 20th round win at the NHRA Midwest Nationals, the most for any Funny Car at this event.

Hagan’s opponent for the important semifinal showdown was Funny Car points leader Robert Hight, against whom the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat had the advantage on the tree and maintained the lead to the halfway point, but while the two had a good side-by-side battle, Hagan (3.945/330.31) saw his opponent (3.913/327.59) slip past him to reach the stripe first. 

Hagan’s third consecutive semifinal appearance in the Countdown keeps him third in the hunt for the Funny Car championship crown, within 103 markers of the category leader and event winner Hight, and 57 points behind second place, Ron Capps, with three events remaining in the season.

TSR driver Leah Pruett came into the race weekend sporting the Sparkling Ice +Caffeine livery on the Dodge//SRT dragster for her 190th career Top Fuel start and with a good track record at the Midwest Nationals event after having advanced to the semifinals in three of her last four appearances (2018, 2019 and 2021) at the St. Louis area dragstrip. A best qualifying lap of 3.729 seconds at 329.18 mph put her 11th on the eliminations ladder and paired her with No. 6 seed Tony Schumacher for the opening round.

The two were nearly even on the launch and while Pruett battled next to Schumacher the length of the track and recorded her best pass of the weekend with a 3.716-second/327.03 mph run, it wasn’t enough to beat her competitor’s 3.701 sec./332.02 mph lap to turn on win lights. While the team has shown steady improvement, it has not been reflected in their playoff results with three consecutive first round exits that have Pruett sitting in eleventh place in the Top Fuel playoff standings, 179 points behind category leader Justin Ashley.

Funny Car driver Cruz Pedregon debuted a new “Socket to Breast Cancer” livery for October on his Snap-on Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat in support of the Pink Fund^® in the U.S. and the Kelly Shires Foundation in Canada. Pedregon’s best qualifying run of 3.897 seconds at 331.36 mph, the team’s top speed of the season, put his HEMI®-powered machine in the top half of the eliminations ladder. 

The sixth place qualifier had No. 11 seed Dale Creasy Jr. in the opposite lane for the opening round and while both battled tire smoke, Pedregon came out on top and advanced to his second quarterfinal elimination of the playoffs to meet up with No. 3 qualifier Capps. The pair had clean passes with Pedregon battling hard with a solid 3.938 sec./322.81 mph effort that ultimately wasn’t quite enough to match his opponent’s 3.927 sec./328.30 mph run. With the result, Pedregon maintains his ninth place standing in the Funny Car playoff rankings but sits 245 points behind the top spot.

After a one week break from playoff action, the fourth of six NHRA “Countdown to the Championship” events, Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex, will take place Oct. 13-16, near Dallas, Texas. FS1 will present qualifying highlights on Sunday, Oct. 16, at 10 a.m. ET with race day coverage beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET.

ADDITIONAL NOTES and QUOTES: 

Leah Pruett, Sparkling Ice +Caffeine Dodge//SRT Top Fuel Dragster  

(No. 11 Qualifier – 3.729 seconds at 329.18 mph)

Round 1: (0.066-second reaction time, 3.716-second elapsed time run at 327.03 mph) loss to No. 6 Tony Schumacher (0.061/3.701/332.02)

“Gaining momentum in the Countdown has got to be one the most challenging times of our season so far. Last week, we pushed our machine harder than we ever had from a mechanical tune-up aspect and believed coming into St. Louis that we would find the edge. During our three rounds of qualifying, our Sparkling Ice +Caffeine machine was starting to become more reactive to our pushes and gaining improved incremental times. We ultimately have not found a combination that works to qualify us lower in the field, which required .60s. We felt confident going into race day that we had a reliable racecar that we could push a lot harder with and so we did. Our big moves did make our car deliver big ET (elapsed time) improvements, as we improved our time to 3.71, but it wasn’t enough to beat out the Sarge’s (Tony Schumacher) 3.70.  Our team’s package would have beat all but one other car in the first round. We ultimately were on the non-winning side of a very tight drag race. We are living in real-time the strength of the fabric of this team’s commitment to delivering a highly competitive car and have each other’s back while doing it. I am so very proud of the quality of work my men put into this team, and we are closer than we have been since Seattle to showing out. You can see that by the caliber of runs our competition puts up against us, knowing we are right there.”

Matt Hagan, Baja Vida Snacks Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car  

(No. 4 Qualifier – 3.867 seconds at 335.48 mph) 

Round 1: (0.084-second reaction time, 4.121 seconds at 275.62 mph) defeats No. 13 JIm Campbell (0.127/5.336/137.15)

Round 2: (0.069/3.943/325.14) defeats No. 5 Bob Tasca III (0.047/3.968/327.51)

Round 3: (0.058/3.945/330.31) loss to No. 1 Robert Hight (0.079/3.913/327.59)

“We have a really great race car that is going down the race track. We were on the good side of a tight drag race with (Bob) Tasca III this morning. We seemed to come up a little short when running the points leader, Robert (Hight). We have to have those rounds to win. If we weren’t trying hard, there would be reason to be mad, but we’re all trying as hard as we can. I really believe in my team. At this point, we have to kind of wait for Robert to mess up, so that we can capitalize on that. We have to tip our hat to him because he’s been running great all year. We are the same caliber of a team and capable of winning. Sometimes, it just has to be your day.”

Cruz Pedregon, Cruz Pedregon Racing Snap-on® Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

(No. 6 Qualifier – 3.897 seconds at 331.36 mph)

Round 1: (0.099-second reaction time, 4.324 second elapsed time run at 249.49 mph) defeats No. 11 Dale Creasy Jr. ().087/5.805/122.38) 

Round 2: (0.095/3.938/322.81) loss to No. 3 Ron Capps (0.066/3.927/328.30)

“All things considered, it was a good weekend for us. Yeah, we lost to Capps in the second round, but it was a good race. It could have gone either way, 3.92 to 3.93. We did drop a couple of cylinders near the finish line, which cost us, but it was a good close race. We obviously want to win these races and go to the semis and go more rounds. But, we did make a great qualifying effort at 3.89, right off the trailer at 331 mph, our top speed of the year, which is a great indication. We did bring in a consultant to our team, Lee Beard, who worked with the guys and I think we got  a little bit of more speed out of the car. My guys are great and I believe in (crew chiefs) JC (JohnCollins) and Rip (Reynolds) and Ryan (Elliot), but I think bringing in Lee Beard, who’s a Hall-of-Famer crew chief in his own right and that’s been around a lot of years, is good for us. Overall I feel good about the Snap-on team and where we’re headed. Obviously there’s three events left to go and we just want to do better. Dallas is coming up and we’ll be ready for that. I’ve won several times there in Dallas through the years, so I’d like to put another Wally on the mantle for that race.”

NHRA CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS:

Following the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway

FUNNY CAR (season wins in parentheses)

1.  Robert Hight 2404 (8)

2.  Ron Capps: 2358 (4)

3.  Matt Hagan (Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat): 2301 (3)

4.  John Force: 2290 (1)

5.  Bob Tasca III: 2234(3)

6.  Alexis DeJoria: 2187 (1)

7.  J.R. Todd: 2185

8.  Tim Wilkerson: 2175

9. Cruz Pedregon (Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat): 2159

10. Jim Campbell: 2085

11. Blake Alexander: 2064

TOP FUEL (season wins in parentheses)

1.  Justin Ashley: 2305 (2)

2.  Steve Torrence: 2291 (2)

3.  Brittany Force: 2275 (4)

4.  Mike Salinas: 2270(4) 

5.  Antron Brown 2262 (3)

6.  Josh Hart: 2241 (1) 

7.  Doug Kalitta: 2217

8. Clay Millican: 2179

9. Shawn Langdon: 2162

10.  Austin Prock: 2161 (1)

11. Leah Pruett (Dodge Power Brokers): 2126 (1)

12. Tony Schumacher: 2118 (1)

DodgeGarage: Digital Hub for Drag Racing News

Fans can follow all the NHRA action this season at DodgeGarage, the one-stop portal for Dodge//SRT and Mopar drag-racing news. The site includes daily updates and access to an online racing HQ, news, events, galleries, available downloads and merchandise. For more information, visit www.dodgegarage.com.

@DodgeMoparMotorsports on Instagram

The @DodgeMoparMotorsports Instagram channel continues to share content capturing Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers on the track. Fans can see action from the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series and NHRA Sportsman grassroots racers, competing in classes such as Factory Stock Showdown, Stock and Super Stock, as well as additional motorsports series.

Dodge//SRT

For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge shifts into high gear with a lineup that delivers unrivaled performance in each of the segments where they compete.

Dodge drives forward as a pure performance brand, offering SRT Hellcat versions of the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger and Dodge Durango, as well as an R/T plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) version of the all-new 2023 Dodge Hornet, representing the brand’s first-ever electrified performance vehicle. Dodge delivers the drag-strip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock; the 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world; and the 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, the most powerful SUV ever; and best-in-class standard performance in the compact utility vehicle segment with the Dodge Hornet. Combined, these four muscle vehicles make Dodge the industry’s most powerful brand, offering more horsepower than any other American brand across its entire lineup.

In 2022, the Dodge brand ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market), making it the only domestic brand ever to do so three years in a row. In 2020, Dodge was named the “#1 Brand in Initial Quality,” making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS). 

Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Mopar

This year marks the 85th anniversary of Mopar.

A simple combination of the words MOtor and PARts, Mopar offers exceptional service, parts and customer-care. Born in 1937 as the name of a line of antifreeze products, Mopar has evolved over 85 years to represent both complete vehicle care and authentic performance for owners and enthusiasts worldwide.

Mopar made its mark in the 1960s during the muscle-car era with performance parts to enhance speed and handling for both on-road and racing use. Later, Mopar  expanded to include technical service and customer support, and today integrates service, parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance customer and dealer support worldwide.

Complete information on Mopar is available at www.mopar.com and the newly redesigned Mopar blog at blog.mopar.com. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Dodge, Mopar and Stellantis news and video on:

Company blog: blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Dodge brand: www.dodge.com

Mopar brand: www.mopar.com

DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com

Mopar blog: blog.mopar.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge and www.facebook.com/mopar

Instagram: @DodgeMoparMotorsports, @DodgeOfficial and @OfficialMopar

Twitter: @Dodge, @OfficialMopar and @StellantisNA

YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge, https://www.youtube.com/c/mopar and www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS
WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY IN MADISON, ILLINOIS
OCT. 2, 2022

Chevrolet drivers keep rolling in third round of Countdown

• Robert Hight stretches Funny Car points lead with eighth win of season in Camaro SS
• Erica Enders wins at the track for fourth year in a row, extends Pro Stock points lead
• Brittany Force break her national speed record with 338.43 mph in Chevrolet dragster

MADISON, Ill. (Oct.2, 2022) — Halfway through the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Countdown to the Championship and the Chevrolet drivers who have ruled their respective professional classes throughout the season continued to pile up points in the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Robert Hight increased his Funny Car points lead to 46 with his eighth victory of the season and 61st of his career in the third event of the Countdown. Hight, the No. 1 qualifier in the AAA of Missouri Chevrolet Camaro SS, defeated 2021 class champion Ron Capps in the final on a holeshot. Hight, with a better reaction time, ran 3.911 seconds at 331.61 mph to his opponent’s 3.908.

It was the 155th Funny Car victory for Chevrolet since 1967 and the 75th with the Camaro body.

“We just have to keep doing what we’ve done all year long, not change a single thing,” said Hight, who has 26 wins with Chevrolet. “We had a little hiccup last week but we’re right back. We qualified well and we win a race.”

Erica Enders picked up her sixth Pro Stock win at the track, including the past four years driving the Melling Performance Chevrolet Camaro SS. Enders, who holds a 44-8 elimination round record this season, stretched her points lead to 120 with a victory over Dallas Glenn in a rematch of the 2021 final.

Brittany Force, the No. 5 qualifier in the Flav-R-Pac/Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster, broke her own national speed record with a pass of 338.43 mph in the first round of Top Fuel eliminations.

Force, who holds the top 10 national event speed marks of all time in the class, previously set the record of 338.17 mph in November 2019 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Teammate Austin Prock, the No. 12 qualifier in the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster, was the unlucky opponent. Force, the 2017 Top Fuel champion, is 16-2 in first-round matchups this season. She fell in the quarterfinals when the dragster lost a cylinder early in the run and remains third in the standings – 30 points out of the lead.

John Force, the No. 2 qualifier in the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS, advanced to the semifinals for the fourth consecutive race and remains fourth in the Funny Car standings.

Enders earned her eighth victory of the season and 41st of her career in defeating Glenn, driver of the RAD Torque Systems Camaro SS.

“This is definitely a really fun ride,” she said. “We started off the season with the attitude that we weren’t going to take any crap from anybody, and my guys have done just that, and I’ve done my best to do that in the cockpit. We’re super stoked to be parking this Melling Performance Camaro in the winner’s circle at St. Louis for the umpteenth time.”

Enders eliminated No. 1 qualifier Kyle Koretsky, driver of the Lucas Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS, in one semifinal. Glenn defeated Matt Hartford, runner-up a week earlier at zMAX Dragway in the Total Seal Camaro SS, in the other semifinal.

After three weeks in a row of racing to start the Countdown to the Championship, Chevrolet teams will regroup before heading to suburban Dallas for the Texas NHRA FallNationals on Oct. 14-16. Top qualifier Greg Anderson won the Pro Stock race at Texas Motorplex in 2021, while Brittany Force was the No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel.

An interview with Funny Car winner ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AAA OF MISSOURI CHEVROLET CAMARO SS:

WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT?

“We just have to keep doing what we’ve done all year long, not change a single thing. We had a little hiccup last week but we’re right back. We qualified well and we win a race.”

FROM QUALIFYING TO RACE DAY, THIS WAS A GREAT WEEKEND FOR YOU.

“This was a 40-point swing. Capps gets me in the final and it’s a single-digit lead. You don’t want that with three races left. Good job to the Triple A of Missouri team. They got it done, kept digging every round. One thing is pretty cool, I get to celebrate this year. 2018 wasn’t much fun. That’s the only win that I’ve ever had that I didn’t get to celebrate in the winner’s circle.”

FINAL FOUR IN FUNNY CAR REPRESENTED 572 COMBINED FINAL-ROUND APPEARANCES. THAT’S DIVING INTO THE DEEP END OF THE SHARK TANK.

“This whole class is amazing. The final four is pretty impressive. We know who has the most wins obviously and no one is ever going to catch that. But Capps and I are battling it out for No. 2. This is amazing.”

An interview with Pro Stock winner ERICA ENDERS, ELITE MOTORSPORTS, MELLING PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS:

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS SEASON?

“I’m just a blessed girl. This is definitely a really fun ride. We started off the season with the attitude that we weren’t going to take any crap from anybody, and my guys have done just that, and I’ve done my best to do that in the cockpit. We’re super stoked to be parking this Melling Performance Camaro in the winner’s circle at St. Louis for the umpteenth time. This is just awesome.”

THIS PLACE HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT TO YOU.

“Steve Torrence and I were talking and we’ve been coming here since we were 15 years old with our Super Comp dragsters hauling them up from Texas. We love St. Louis and we’ve had a to of success here. This is super meaningful because it’s my crew chief Mark Ingersoll’s home track. It’s always fun to win in front of a hometown crowd.”

QUALIFIED NO. 4 AND IT WAS SO TIGHT.

“We were in the No. 4 hole but we’re only one-thousandth of a second out of the first position. We didn’t run the way we wanted to in qualifying and didn’t accumulate any baby points there, but we made up for it by going four rounds on Sunday. Beating my teammate Troy Coughlin in the second round and watching my other teammate Aaron Stanfield go out in front of him, that was just a huge point swing for us. We made up some ground today but obviously have our work cut out for us. We’re going to Texas next and my next-favorite track is Vegas. Vegas and St. Louis we always seem to win there, so I’m hopeful to keep the drive for five alive.”

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in nearly 80 countries with nearly 2.7 million cars and trucks sold in 2021. 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.