Photos by Ron Lewis, Mike & Jeff Burghardt, Brian Losness
SATURDAY NOTEBOOK – DELAGO REDEEMS, PROCK DOMINATES, FORCE, ANDERSON & HERRERA TOP VEGAS QUALIFYING
1 – SEVEN YEARS OF REDEMPTION – Tommy DeLago made the SCAG Racing team look as if the recent turbulence was little more than a ripple in a lake. Seven years after last leading a nitro operation, the veteran tuner returned to the spotlight as crew chief for SCAG Racing’s Top Fuel entry, replacing Mike Green and restoring calm to a program in flux.
DeLago, who spent the past four seasons assisting Justin Ashley’s team, took over the reins at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with newly hired assistant Jason McCulloch. The move came quickly, but for DeLago it felt like a long-awaited second act. “It’s been seven years since I’ve been in that role,” he said. “Even though I’ve been here for four years, it’s a totally different role. Once we got to knock the rust off and got such an awesome group of guys here and a pretty good baseline to work from, I laid in bed last night and just … I was emotional. This is what I wanted.”
The timing wasn’t ideal, but DeLago viewed the change as a professional reset. “It does kind of suck in certain respects that we didn’t get to finish the year together,” he said. “But this is business, and once the owners figure out what they want to do, then you got to do what you got to do. So here I am just trying to do the best job that I can, working with Jason and fricking enjoying it, man.”
His path back came with perspective. “Everybody knows I used to be a pretty big drinker, partied a lot,” DeLago said. “When I got a chance to really grow up and think about it, it’s like, ‘Okay, I want to make all these life changes.’ I’ve got a way clearer mind than back in the past, way more focused. This is all I want to do, and I appreciate it way more than I ever have.”
Even his humor resurfaced. “My eyesight is so bad, I thought it said ‘74’ on the first run, so I was pretty damn excited,” he laughed. “Then I got back here, and it said ‘79.’ I was like, ‘Well, better than a stick in the eye.’ Just to go down the track, I was pretty happy.”
For DeLago, the weekend marked more than a return to tuning—it marked a return to himself. “Seven long years worth of it,” he said. “This is all I want to do, and I appreciate it way more than I ever have.”
2 – PROCK TAKES BACK HIS – Austin Prock capped qualifying at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with authority Saturday, powering to the top Funny Car spot at the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection. His 3.885-second, 335.23-mph run in the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS was rewarded with his seventh No. 1 qualifier of the season and 22nd since joining the class a year ago.
Prock, who leads the championship standings, will open eliminations against Jason Rupert as he pursues a third straight Las Vegas victory.
“NHRA drag racing is the most unpredictable sport in the world,” Prock said. “You never know what’s going to happen. We just try to do the same job every time and not get caught up in anything else.”
Jack Beckman qualified second with a 3.892, 331.61, while Matt Hagan followed in third at 3.897, 329.75.
In Top Fuel, Brittany Force held her Friday provisional No. 1 with a 3.697-second, track-record 338.85-mph pass in her Chevrolet Accessories dragster — her sixth of the season and 58th career top qualifier. “I never would have imagined I’d have 58 No. 1 qualifiers,” Force said. “I’ve been out here for years with amazing crew chiefs and sponsors who’ve helped me get here. I’m proud to carry the No. 1 spot, and hope for a strong day tomorrow.”
Points leader Doug Kalitta qualified second with a 3.711, 337.24, and Shawn Langdon was third at 3.715, 336.57.
Greg Anderson surged to the top of Pro Stock with a 6.572 at 206.76 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. It marked his eighth No. 1 of 2025 and the 140th of his career.
“Yesterday we were a little off, but today was picture perfect,” Anderson said. “For me, this race is everything. I have to gain ground on Dallas Glenn here, or Pomona just will be another race.” Anderson will face Troy Coughlin Jr. in round one, while Aaron Stanfield (6.593) and Cory Reed (6.594) followed in second and third.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Gaige Herrera kept the No. 1 spot with Friday’s 6.800 at 199.17 aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki. “I don’t really count points,” Herrera said. “I just go up there and let the cards play out.”
Eliminations begin at 11 a.m. PST Sunday.
3 – DEL WORSHAM’S WONDERFUL TRAVELING SHOW – Del Worsham isn’t winding down his racing season, he’s ramping it up with a coast-to-coast three-week marathon that feels straight out of drag racing’s barnstorming days.
The veteran Funny Car driver and team owner is racing this weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, then heading east to compete in the IHRA season finale in North Carolina before returning to Pomona the following week for the NHRA Finals.
“It’s going to be fun,” Worsham said.
For most teams, the travel alone would be daunting, but Worsham’s operation has resources on both coasts. “Luckily, it’s all air time because we’re going to use our other truck and trailer and all of our other stuff we have back East for that,” he said. “This stuff’s all going to stay here. So we’re not driving back and forth, but we are racing both.”
That setup allows Worsham to manage the tight turnaround while still getting valuable seat time. It also marks a rare moment where the former NHRA champion will compete in both the NHRA and IHRA series within the same span.
It’s a busy close to a year that Worsham once thought might be a slower one. After years of balancing driving with team management and mentoring other racers, he said getting back behind the wheel has brought renewed energy.
“I’m just having fun,” Worsham said. “It’s been enjoyable this year, and we’re at the end of the year and we’re on the West Coast. It’s where I started racing. My family’s out here, and I thought it’d be fun to come out and run these last couple races out here – so here we are.”
4 – WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS – James Day has made a career out of saying yes when opportunity knocks. But at the NHRA Nevada Nationals, opportunity didn’t just knock, it kicked the door down.
Day arrived at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway expecting to spend the weekend as a clutch specialist for the Bill Windham–owned “Shakedown” team. By Saturday morning, he found himself suiting up as a replacement driver.
“With my lifestyle, I never know what I’m doing from one day to the next,” Day said. “Yesterday I was a clutch guy. Today I’ll be a clutch guy and a race car driver on two different teams. It’s all fun.”
The call came after Todd Miller — who normally drives Don Nelson’s “California Hustler” Funny Car in the Legends Nitro Series — was sidelined by health issues, leaving a sudden vacancy. “They needed a little bit of extra help this weekend, so I jumped on over,” Day said. “We heard Todd was having some health issues last night and they needed a driver, so they called me.”
Stepping into the cockpit on short notice took some quick improvisation. “Thank God for Buddy Hall and Ron Capps, because I look like their love child in this thing,” Day joked. “I got Buddy’s fire suit and Capps’ helmet on.” NHRA officials cleared him after checking all his safety gear and paperwork.
Despite his best efforts, Day qualified No. 7 and lost in the first round to Geoff Monise. But his willingness to jump in under pressure added another chapter to his reputation as one of drag racing’s most dependable journeymen.
From the staging lanes to the starting line, Day summed it up best: “You just stay ready. When the phone rings, you answer.”
5 – JEG COUGHLIN JR. SAYS HE’S RIGHT WHERE HE BELONGS — When Richard Freeman bought the assets of Josh Hart Racing and began assigning Top Fuel rides to members of his Elite Motorsports camp, one familiar name was missing — Jeg Coughlin Jr. The omission didn’t bother him. In fact, he preferred it that way.
Coughlin, a five-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion, said he’s had plenty of opportunities over the years to step into a nitro-burning machine, but has never been tempted to trade his precision-based craft for a 330-mph firestorm. “I’ve made it clear in my conversations that I have a lot of love and respect for nitro and for Top Fuel and Funny Car,” Coughlin said. “But when it comes to getting behind the wheel, I’m not cut out for it. Those things, they’re pure beasts. I love them, but I’m happy driving the Pro Stock cars.”
Coughlin said his passion for naturally aspirated racing goes back to his earliest days in the family shop. “When I was a kid, I got to wash out the oil pans with gas and help knock the pistons out and put them back together with my brothers,” he said. “No question, it’s in my blood. I know if I got behind the wheel of one, I’d love it — but I’m very happy where I’m at.”
While other members of the Elite Motorsports team, including Freeman himself, have expressed interest in expanding into Top Fuel, Coughlin said the idea has never crossed his mind. “We’ve got a long lineup of people here that would probably do it, and Richard knows where I stand on the nitro side,” he said. “I’ll be the first one there. I love the smell.”
He admits the closest he’s ever come to driving a Top Fuel car was when “some of the sport’s legends” invited him to make test runs or join their programs. “That makes you pretty damn close,” he said. “And I’ve just elected to steer away from it.”
Pressed to name names, Coughlin just smiled. “You don’t need to know names,” he said. “They’re the greatest in our sport. Some are with us and some may not be.”
Even as drag racing evolves, Coughlin’s contentment in Pro Stock remains unshaken. “When you look at the greatest of all time, I’m flattered,” he said. “It’s that simple.”
6 – ANDERSON DOESN’T WANT TOP FUEL, EITHER – Greg Anderson has watched as rival Pro Stock team owner Richard Freeman expands into Top Fuel, but count him firmly out of that movement. The five-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion says his focus — and comfort zone — remains firmly with naturally aspirated power.
Asked how long before he fields a Top Fuel operation, Anderson didn’t hesitate.
“Right about never,” he said with a laugh. “That’s not in the cards for me. They scare me. I don’t want nothing to do with that. That’s way beyond my pay grade and a little too late in life to learn how to do that right now. So that won’t be happening with me, but I’ll certainly step back and watch the other guy try it.”
Anderson, who has spent his career refining horsepower rather than inhaling it, said the lure of nitromethane never appealed to him.
“Absolutely none,” he said when asked if he’d ever had the urge to drive a nitro car. “Years back when Ken Black ran one with Hillary Will, he offered Jason [Line] and myself the opportunity to drive it, and we both politely declined. And the answer is still thanks, but no thanks.”
While Freeman has openly advocated for integrating nitro and Pro Stock teams under one pit umbrella, Anderson laughed at the idea. “It stinks,” he said. “No, I’m probably not for that. That stuff stinks. It’s obnoxious.”
Anderson’s reaction underscores his belief that Pro Stock and nitro classes serve different cultures within drag racing. For him, the art of clutch work, shifting precision, and engine development remains pure and unblended. “That’s where my heart is,” he said. “Pro Stock is my deal — that’s what I love. I’ll let the nitro guys have their fun.”
While the sport continues to evolve with crossovers and new alliances, Anderson remains one of the few content to stay in his lane — literally. “I’ll just watch from a safe distance,” he said with a grin.
7 – ONE OF THESE IS NOT LIKE THE OTHERS – Josh Hart’s calm, calculated demeanor will make him stand out when he joins John Force Racing next season. While Austin Prock and Jack Beckman are known for their sometimes animated interviews, the two veterans say Hart doesn’t need to change, but just be himself.
Beckman, who will share the pit with Hart, joked that getting his new teammate to be more excitable might take some effort. “We will bring him out of his shell,” Beckman said. “Whether we have to tug on him, pry on him, pour 70-weight around him, we will drag him out. Win lights also seem to do a good job of making better interviews.”
Beckman said fans prefer authenticity over theatrics, even in an organization led by the sport’s most animated figure. “People want genuineness,” he said. “Josh is never going to be a John Force interview. He’s never going to scream at the top end like Austin. All I can be is me, and we want Josh to be Josh.”
Prock, who has grown up under Force’s high-octane personality, echoed that Hart’s reserved nature is part of what makes him likable. “He’s very well-spoken, just a man of few words,” Prock said. “Everybody’s got their own personality. You’ve got to respect that he’s himself.”
Still, Prock couldn’t resist offering some friendly advice. “The only advice I can give him is go back and watch some John Force interviews,” he said. “He’s the best in the business at getting the attention of a crowd, and if you take some notes from him, you’ll be doing a good job behind the mic.”
Hart, meanwhile, embraces his quiet confidence. Known as “The Silent Assassin” from his Top Alcohol Dragster days, his car once carried the motto “Work hard in silence. Let your success be your noise.”
No matter how many social media critics he has, he said his focus remains simple: “If you’re a God-fearing Christian man and you try your best to do right no matter what, it’ll all work out.”
8 – HULL’S HEALED HAND PUTS HIM BACK IN THE SHOW – Buddy Hull never imagined his biggest fight in drag racing would come outside the driver’s seat. Seven races after suffering a severe left-hand injury when his Funny Car exploded at Sonoma Raceway, Hull returned to competition at the NHRA Nevada Nationals, climbing back into a car that once nearly cost him the ability to drive.
The July incident occurred when a safety tethering system — designed to keep the body attached to the chassis — inadvertently contributed to the car’s destruction. The body ripped apart and came down on Hull’s hand, causing serious damage.
“Hand’s really good,” Hull said. “It’s definitely stronger than it’s been since my accident, but it’s just fine. I handled the car perfectly fine yesterday. Unfortunately, we had a little mishap and it put out the rods at 400 feet. But that’s just part of drag racing. Luckily, no one got hurt, and we had enough parts to get the car back together and go back to the starting line today and get another shot at it.”
Hull said he spent the downtime attacking rehabilitation with the same intensity that made him a national-level powerlifter before his nitro career. “I worked on my hand every single day,” he said. “Physical therapy, icing, chiropractors with special lasers, massage therapy — anything I could do. I worked the hell out of my hand.”
He even created his own workout method. “I had five-gallon buckets at my house with corn in them, and I was constantly working that corn inside of the bucket, just working my hand any way I could,” Hull said. “I’d make it so sore I could barely touch it, then give it a day or two break and go back to it again.”
The result, he said, is progress and strength. “It may look a little weird, but it’s strong,” Hull said. “There were no issues in the car. I felt 100% comfortable.”
Though he admits recovery was grueling, Hull said the experience reminded him why he races. “You’ve just got to know that things happen, parts fail, and luckily we’re blessed with the opportunity to go try it again,” he said. “I’m just thankful to be back in the car, to feel that power, and to be part of this again.”
9 – TESTING FOR THE FUTURE – Richard Freeman knew before arriving in Las Vegas that Elite Motorsports’ 2025 Pro Stock championship hopes were finished.
“We have not a chance in hell of winning a championship,” Freeman said earlier this week on the Competition Plus Power Hour. “So we’re going to use these last two races to do a little testing” toward 2026.
That approach showed in qualifying, where the team spread eight cars across the 16-car field. Aaron Stanfield led the Elite group in second with a 6.593-second pass at 207.91 mph, followed by Erica Enders in fifth at 6.606 and 208.14. Greg Stanfield and Jeg Coughlin Jr. were ninth and 10th, respectively, at 6.613, with David Cuadra 12th (6.621, 207.85), Fernando Cuadra Jr. 14th (6.626, 207.34), Cristian Cuadra 15th (6.627, 207.27), and Troy Coughlin Jr. rounding out the field in 16th (6.643, 206.92).
Freeman said those results were less about performance and more about progress. “We’re going to use this to give us some direction over the winter,” he said. “I can’t go through another year of an ass whooping like I took this year.”
Elite’s 2025 season has been one of the most difficult since Freeman founded the team in 2014. After years of dominance and six world titles, the group managed just two victories — from Greg Stanfield and Enders — while rival KB Titan Racing controlled the standings.
A recent Tulsa test session boosted morale heading into Vegas. “My guys went up there and made some runs, and I told them, ‘It’s about time. We got two races left and came up with something,’” Freeman said. “That’s great.”
Freeman said that advice from former team manager Scott Woodruff still holds true.
“Woody always said, ‘What we do for a living is competitive problem solving,’ and that’s what we do,” Freeman said. “We’ve got our work cut out for us this winter, but I don’t have to worry about my guys. They’re hard on it.”
With new engine combinations in play, Freeman said the team’s in-house engine shop will drive the offseason rebound. “We’re going to use these next two races as a rolling lab,” he said. “That’s the only way to make real progress.”
10 – THE “TOP” ALCOHOL RUNNERS – Madison Payne and Sean Bellemeur wrapped up qualifying Saturday atop the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car fields at the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals, holding off strong late-session challenges under ideal conditions at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Payne, from Claremont, Calif., stayed in front with her earlier 5.181-second pass at 276.41 mph in her Copeland-Charged dragster.
Joey Severance of Woodburn, Ore., improved but remained second behind Payne with a 5.208 at 274.89 mph, followed closely by Tucson’s Jon Bradford, who turned in a 5.220, 271.41. Australia’s Cheyne Phillips and New Jersey’s Jackie Fricke rounded out the top five, each within five hundredths of Payne’s pole-setting effort. Former world champion Shawn Cowie sits sixth with a 5.248-second run, followed by Melanie Johnson, Kirk Wolf, Julio Rodriguez, and Anthony Troyer to complete the quick field.
In Top Alcohol Funny Car, Bellemeur, of Placentia, Calif., retained the No. 1 position with his 5.435, 267.11, blast in his 2024 Camaro. The defending event winner will lead a competitive field into race day.
Madison Gordon qualified second with a 5.450, 265.27 mph, while former national champ Shane Westerfield claimed the third spot at 5.459, 265.12 mph. Oregon’s Brian Hough (5.478) and Colorado’s Jim Whiteley (5.481) completed the top five in the 10-car field. Rounding out the order were Annie Whiteley, Stan Sipos, Christine Foster, Bob McCosh, and Chris Foster.
FRIDAY NOTEBOOK – VEGAS CHAOS: PROCK CASHES IN, FORCE FLIES, NHRA RUMORS HEAT UP
1 – PROCK STILL OWNS VEGAS – Austin Prock kept his mastery of The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway intact Friday, making the quickest run in both qualifying sessions and claiming the $3,500 “Ted Wiens Trick or Traction Award” during the 25th annual Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection.
The Funny Car points leader powered his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS to a 3.895-second run at 334.48 mph, putting him on pace for his seventh No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 25th of his career. He now sits in prime position for a third straight Las Vegas win and a potential sweep of both events at the facility this year.
“We’ve had a lot of success here,” Prock said. “Coming back for the Countdown is exciting for us. We got the win here last year and pretty much locked up the title, so hopefully we can do that again this weekend. We came in looking for more points and we earned all of them today — No. 1 qualifier and low ET both rounds.”
Prock credited his team for staying sharp under pressure, noting that small incentives like the “Trick or Traction” bonus bring out their best. “Anytime they throw up a little extra cash or some sort of bonus, this team snatches it up,” he said. “There’s always more incentive to do a good job when you can earn that.”
The defending world champion sits ahead of Matt Hagan, who ran 3.897 at 329.75, and rookie Spencer Hyde, who posted a 3.917 at 324.75. Prock said his focus is on maintaining momentum and avoiding mistakes with only two races left in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
“This countdown is so stressful, and it’s a hell of a lot less stressful if you can go into Pomona and breathe,” Prock said. “We’ve started about as good as we could, and now we just have to finish the job.”
2 – THE SPEED QUEEN DELIVERS ANOTHER JACKPOT – Two-time Top Fuel champion Brittany Force made her next-to-last race weekend one to remember Friday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, setting a track speed record with a 3.697-second run at 338.85 mph to take the provisional No. 1 qualifying spot at the 25th annual Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection.
The run earned Force the $3,500 “Ted Wiens Trick or Traction Award” and, if it holds, would mark her sixth No. 1 qualifier of the season. Force, who will retire from full-time racing at the end of the year, said the moment was meaningful.
“That was a killer run,” Force said. “We hit our marks exactly how we wanted. To go No. 1 at one of my favorite racetracks, that’s something special. We’re proud of this team and how we’re finishing the year.”
Force has long considered Las Vegas a home away from home. She’s raced at the facility in Super Comp, Top Alcohol Dragster, and Top Fuel and has multiple event wins, including a double-up with teammate Austin Prock in 2023.
“This place has always felt like home,” she said. “The backdrop, the atmosphere — it’s pure Vegas. My first win here was special, but doubling up with Austin and having my dad back at the track after his wreck made last year unforgettable.”
As she prepares to close her full-time career, Force said she’s focused on enjoying the moment. “It’s weird to think about stepping away,” she said. “I’m trying to stay in the moment with my team and enjoy these last races. Once we get to Pomona, I’ll handle that there.”
Force’s blistering run came amid one of the tightest Top Fuel fields of the season. Points leader Doug Kalitta followed with a 3.711 at 337.24, and Shawn Langdon was third at 3.715 and 336.57.
“I want to finish strong,” Force said. “This season has been one to be proud of — the records, the wins, the 340-mph runs. Fans ask if I’ll go faster, and I tell them, ‘343 is good enough until someone takes it from me.’”
Force smiled when asked what she wants fans to remember about her. “If I’ve inspired someone to chase their dream, that’s a win for me,” she said. “I’ve been lucky to live mine.”
3 – REED SETS THE PRO STOCK PACE – Cory Reed closed out Friday qualifying at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in commanding fashion, running a 6.597-second pass at 206.32 mph to take the provisional No. 1 spot in Pro Stock at the 25th annual Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection.
The J&A Service Chevrolet Camaro driver also earned the $2,000 “Ted Wiens Trick or Traction Award” for his efforts, continuing a breakout year that already includes his first career Pro Stock victory in Norwalk. Reed, who sits fifth in points, has been steadily improving, with back-to-back top-three qualifying efforts in St. Louis and Dallas before topping the charts Friday.
“It’d be nice to knock it out and get it done with,” Reed said of securing his first career No. 1 qualifier. “It’ll be tough, though. Erica’s running good again, Greg and I are really tight, and anything can happen tomorrow. Hopefully the weather gets really tricky.”
Reed’s smooth, confident approach reflects how far he’s come since entering the class. “I hope this momentum keeps going,” he said. “I want to move back forward in the championship, not backward. Having a good attitude helps — it makes it easier to go to bed and wake up happy.”
The 30-year-old admitted he’s been refining his technique after a few self-inflicted setbacks.
“Just myself, doing stupid stuff,” he said. “Thinking too much, flickering the bulb trying to be real shallow, hesitating on the gas. I’m trying to get that out of my system, and it’s getting better.”
Reed said his car’s performance Friday was helped by small mechanical changes and freshened power. “They moved some shift points up and bumped some lights for me,” he explained. “They took the engine out after the last race to freshen it, and I didn’t want them to. But they did a good job — it’s running strong.”
For Reed, who also recently shaved his head to donate hair, it’s been a season of both personal and professional growth.
“I’m just trying to improve mentally,” he said. “Once you get around 100 runs, things start to click. I’ve learned a lot from mistakes and just want to finish strong.”
With a smile, he added his final goal for the year: “I want to win the last two races. I’ll give it the best shot I can.”
4 – HERRERA REGAINING MOMENTUM – Gaige Herrera began his comeback bid in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championship chase with a powerful Friday performance at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, taking the provisional No. 1 qualifier and earning the “Ted Wiens Trick or Traction Award.”
Herrera made the quickest run in both sessions, highlighted by a 6.800-second pass at 199.17 mph on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki. The effort netted him a $1,000 bonus and tightened the gap on teammate and points leader Richard Gadson, who entered the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection 72 points ahead. Angie Smith followed with a 6.824 at 198.82, while Gadson ranked third at 6.834, 198.06.
“I’m definitely happy with the start of the weekend,” Herrera said. “Getting those extra little bonus points and that check from the Wiens family just adds to it. Coming into this race, I had a different mindset — just going out there trying to be consistent as a rider. I feel like I’m kind of back to how I used to be.”
Herrera, the two-time defending world champion, said he isn’t interested in calculating scenarios. “I don’t really count points,” he said. “Every time I’ve been in a situation like this and started thinking about what I need to make up, it bites me. I just go out there and let the cards play how they’re going to play.”
While Gadson holds the upper hand in the standings, Herrera acknowledged that both riders have kept the rivalry friendly — for now. “We really haven’t talked much beef,” he said with a grin. “Right now, we’re focused on what we need to do. Going into Pomona, it’s going to be a different story. Points and a half there — it’s going to get interesting.”
Herrera, who won eight events in 2023, admitted this season’s challenge has given him renewed perspective. “I got a lot of wins very quick, and the two championships. This year’s been different, but it’s been good for me mentally,” he said. “Like my grandpa always told me, once you’re at the top there’s only one way you can go — down. I’ve had some downs this season, but it’s made me stronger.”
5 – BONUS TIME IS PROCK TIME – Austin Prock continued his Friday-night dominance, adding another bonus award to his growing list as NHRA’s “Ted Wiens Trick or Traction” program made its debut during the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The new incentive, sponsored by Ted Wiens Complete Auto Service, offered cash bonuses to the quickest drivers in the second qualifying session for each of the four NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series categories. The Top Fuel and Funny Car winners each received $3,500, while Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle low qualifiers collected $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.
Friday’s winners included Brittany Force in Top Fuel, Prock in Funny Car, Cory Reed in Pro Stock, and Gaige Herrera in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Among the group, only Prock remains undefeated in Friday bonus rounds this season.
“Anytime they throw up a little extra cash or some sort of bonus, this team snatches it up,” Prock said. “Dave told me last night that there’s going to be a little extra money on the line, and anytime there’s more incentive to go do a good job and earn that, it’s really cool.”
Ted Wiens Brand Manager Jennifer Wiens said the partnership was designed to blend the spirit of Halloween with a celebration of drag racing performance. “The ‘Ted Wiens Trick or Traction Award’ is a perfect way to celebrate Halloween and recognize the driver who lays down the quickest pass in Q2 on Friday,” she said.
Ted Wiens Complete Auto Service also sponsors Top Fuel driver Kelly Harper and supports multiple family entries in the sportsman ranks, including Top Dragster, Super Comp, and Super Gas.
6 – OF RUMORS AND THE TBA – After weeks of speculation, NHRA officials have confirmed that the fall 2026 Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will not convert to a four-wide format. The event will remain a traditional two-lane race, despite internal discussions to expand it.
Rumors of a four-wide format began circulating earlier this month, suggesting that Las Vegas would mirror the spring four-wide event held annually at Charlotte’s zMAX Dragway. According to NHRA Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations Jeffrey Young, the idea was seriously considered before the sanctioning body opted against it.
“Next year will not be a four-wide,” Young said. “It’s going to be a normal event. We checked out Charlotte and wanted to test how it did with ticket sales and made a decision that for next year we’ll go two-wide for Vegas.”
Meanwhile, attention has shifted to the lone “TBA” slot remaining on the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule. Industry sources told CompetitionPlus.com the new event is likely headed to a historic track in the Carolinas that has been sanctioned by the NHRA, IHRA, and the now-defunct AHRA — a description that fits Rockingham Dragway.
Rockingham, which has undergone extensive renovations under new ownership, is widely considered the leading candidate. When asked about the timeline for an announcement, Young said it could come soon. “I would expect an announcement in the next couple of weeks on that,” he said.
If confirmed, the return of Rockingham would mark the NHRA’s first national event at the North Carolina facility since it hosted the Winston Invitational in the 1990s.
7 – THE KINETIC CHESS OF DRAG RACING – Before the first pair of nitro cars fired for the NHRA Nevada Nationals, a different kind of training session took place in town — one where drivers learned what it means to stay calm when instinct says run.
MMA legend Randy Couture, a member of the SCAG Racing organization and longtime drag racing fan, hosted a group of racers that included Pro Mod championship contenders Mike Stavrinos and J.R. Gray, along with nitro drivers Dan Wilkerson and Dave Richardson. The retired fighter called it “kinetic chess,” a blend of discipline and instinct that he believes applies as much to the drag strip as it does to the octagon.
“The only place they really intersect is right between your ears,” Couture told the group. “There’s a huge piece of driving that’s mental — shutting down your fight-or-flight instinct. Nobody wants to stand there and have things coming at their face, but you have to train through that.”
Couture compared the focus needed to launch a Pro Mod to stepping into a cage for a title fight. “You’re strapped into this thing and there’s something in your brain screaming, ‘What am I doing here right now?’” he said. “Staying calm, cool and collected with that kind of horsepower at your disposal is what it’s all about.”
The demonstration got physical quickly. Wilkerson, who tunes and drives a Funny Car, said Couture tossed him around before he had a chance to react. “I told him, ‘You’re just throwing a bean bag around,’” Wilkerson laughed. “I didn’t even have time to defend myself. I’d rather be in my Funny Car — at least I know what to do when it goes wrong.”
Richardson agreed, despite his 6-foot-2 frame. “I felt small,” he said. “That guy’s just got something to him. At least in the race car I’ve got a helmet and belts. In there, I didn’t know what was coming next.”
Pro Mod racer Mike Stavrinos said the mental crossover made sense. “A lot of similarities between the two sports,” he said. “The mindset is the same — control the chaos, stay composed, execute.”
Couture wrapped up the session with advice that could apply to any racer staring down the Christmas Tree. “You have to overcome that instinct to get the hell out of there,” he said. “Control the chaos, execute, and don’t let the fear drive you.”
8 – WELCOME BACK BUDDY – Buddy Hull’s long-awaited return to NHRA Funny Car competition didn’t go exactly as planned, but the Jim Dunn Racing driver was simply grateful to be back behind the wheel.
Making his first run since a left-hand injury sidelined him for six national events, Hull’s comeback at the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection ended early when his KGC Construction-backed Funny Car caught fire during Friday’s opening qualifying session at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“Coming back after my hand injury, I wanted that first hit in Vegas to be clean and smooth — but racing doesn’t always go as planned,” Hull said. “We made it about 400 feet before the car lit up. It’s not the comeback story I pictured, but it’s part of the journey. Every time you strap into one of these cars, you’re reminded how unforgiving they can be … and how lucky you are to climb back out and get another shot at it.”
The fire was likely caused by a head gasket being pushed out, ending Hull’s first qualifying attempt. He was uninjured, but finished the day outside the field, setting up a critical Saturday for the Jim Dunn Racing team to secure a spot in eliminations.
“You get knocked down, you get back up, and you light it off again,” Hull said. “That’s what this sport is all about.”
9 – REMEMBERING KEN BLACK – The NHRA and The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway paid tribute Friday to late Pro Stock team owner and Las Vegas businessman Ken Black by naming the facility’s return road “Ken Black Way.”
The dedication came during the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals, marking a permanent tribute to the man whose KB Racing and KB Titan Racing organizations shaped two decades of Pro Stock dominance. The newly named stretch of pavement runs in front of the left-side grandstands – the same path KB Titan Racing drivers will continue to take after each pass down the racetrack.
Moments after the unveiling, crew chief and former Pro Stock standout Dave Connolly piloted a specially designed KB Titan Racing Chevrolet Camaro in honor of Black. The car carried a paint scheme replicating the original Vegas General Construction Pro Stocker that Greg Anderson drove in the team’s early years — complete with the vintage KB Racing logo. Each KB Titan driver also raced this weekend with Black’s name on their windows and the old KB Racing emblem on their cars.
“This is huge,” Connolly said. “This is probably the biggest honor I’ve had since starting my Pro Stock career. I’ve always had nothing but respect for Ken Black, his wife Judy, and this team that he started. He was such a good guy, and he did so much for this sport. He changed the class, there’s no doubt about it.”
Anderson, who has driven for the organization since its inception in 2002, wore a throwback KB Racing uniform as part of the tribute. “Obviously, we lost Ken a couple of months ago, and he meant everything to this race team,” Anderson said. “Not one of us out here would be here if it wasn’t for Ken Black. This is his racetrack, his town, and we want to do everything we can to make the family proud.”
Standing beside Black’s widow, Judy, Anderson reflected on their shared journey. “Everybody knows I would not be out here today if it wasn’t for Ken Black,” he said. “This entire KB team would not be here, and Pro Stock wouldn’t be what it is today. He would be so proud looking at that sign.”
10 – PRO MOD CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE INTENSIFIES – Four drivers roll into The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend knowing a single round could decide everything.
The 2025 Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series championship comes down to Billy Banaka, Mike Stavrinos, J.R. Gray, and Derek Menholt — four men separated by just 24 points heading into the season finale. Banaka leads Stavrinos by 11 points, with Menholt 16 back and Gray 24 in arrears.
“It’s a very tight race,” said Stavrinos. “There’s about seven or eight of us fighting for a championship. It’s going to come down to the final round, in my opinion.”
Gray, who led the list of regular-season winners with three, said the goal is straightforward. “It’s a real easy strategy — win the race, win the championship,” he said. “You can only do that one round at a time.”
Menholt surged into contention with his St. Louis victory and believes the Countdown to the Championship format helped level the field. “Everybody that’s in that hunt is competitive,” he said. “We wouldn’t have been able to compete if it wasn’t reset.”
The Pro Mod class has seen five winners in nine events this year, including three first-timers in Banaka, Stavrinos, and Menholt. Sidnei Frigo sits fifth in points, 51 back, as part of a deep 20-car field where even veterans like Mike Janis and Rickie Smith remain mathematically alive.
Banaka’s consistency has carried him to the top, though his margin offers little comfort. One early exit could erase a season’s worth of steady results.
For Stavrinos, the moment is a dream realized. “I’ve watched those championship battles all my life, thinking maybe one day we’d be here,” he said. “It’s surreal to come to Vegas knowing we’re less than one round out of first.”
The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will conclude qualifying Saturday before eliminations begin Sunday at 9 a.m. PDT.
By the time the lights cool on The Strip, one driver will celebrate a first world title — and the others will leave knowing how close they came.
“Win the race, win the championship,” Gray said. “It’s really that simple — and that hard.”
Heading into Saturday’s final rounds of qualifying, Banaka leads the way with a 5.738, while Stavrinos is No. 6 with a 5.772. Meholt is No. 10 with a 5.782 and Gray is No. 12 with a 5.794.
