Photos by Robert Richard, Todd Dziadosz, NHRA
Competition Plus’ Water-Cooler Topics From The NHRA Norwalk Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio..
1 – CORY REED GETS HIS FIRST – He might have given the appearance of a rugged caveman, but once Pro Stock racer Cory Reed crossed the finish line ahead of Dallas Glenn on Sunday to win his first NHRA national event, the former Pro Stock Motorcycle rider found it perfectly appropriate to cry like a baby.
Who could blame him?
After years of trials and tribulations, Reed now owns his elusive first Wally.
“I had a lot of emotions. I tried not to cry pretty much the whole time right now,” Reed said. “All I know is I got Dallas off the tree, which was a very big accomplishment for myself. I struggled all day with lights, so I was proud of myself for coming around like that. I kind of knew I had to step up against that guy – he’s tough.
“I’ve got a great team behind me and great people. I mean, my buddy Joey (Gladstone), my mom and dad, family, everybody at KB is amazing. They all taught me so much and helping me every day, getting me through personal struggles and all that stuff. It’s incredible.”
To reach the final round, Reed defeated Troy Coughlin Jr., Greg Stanfield, and No. 1 qualifier Greg Anderson.
Reed left the starting line with an impressive .012 reaction time, and rolled to the victory with a run of 6.648 at 207.30 in his J&A Service Chevrolet Camaro. Glenn suffered tire shake almost immediately, Reed cruised to the victory in his fourth career final round.
Glenn reached the final round for the seventh time in eight races this year with round wins against Val Smeland, Cody Coughlin, and Matt Hartford, who won Saturday’s GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout. He trails points leader Anderson, who won the GESi No. 1 Qualifier Award this weekend, by 50 points at the halfway mark of the season.
2 – ASHLEY WINS A SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST – Justin Ashley was impressed in seeing the determination of Clay Millican’s Rick Ware Racing team. He watched as his final-round opponent overcame last-minute breakage in their pit area between rounds yet still made it to the starting line.
And how did he treat the driver he believes has the friendliest personality in drag racing?
He strapped an .027 light on him and led him to the stripe, winning at 3.931 seconds, 317.34 mph to edge Millican’s quicker 3.922, 322.34 effort.
“I actually got my Top Fuel license here in Norwalk, and (Millican) was one of the people that signed it,” Ashley revealed. “I spoke about it after the semifinals. He’s got this positive, infectious personality that you just can’t help but love. With that being said, I was happy to see that they made it up to the final.
“No one wants to win a race that way. We would’ve waited as long as they would’ve let us wait to run it heads up. He’s a really tough competitor. He’s a great guy, he’s a great driver. I can continue to learn a lot from him. Being able to get past him was really, really special. They got a great team over there. It was an awesome final round.”
Ashley now has 17 career Top Fuel wins, and the win helps him to check off another bucket-list item. He wanted to win at Norwalk to match what his dad, Mike, accomplished nearly two decades ago in Funny Car.
“Norwalk means a lot to me personally,” Ashley said. “My father won in Funny Car here in 2007, and ever since we started racing in Top Fuel, it was a dream of mine to win right here – and that’s what we did today. It’s special, and the team did a great job all weekend. We qualified No. 1, navigated our way down the racetrack, all race-day long, on a surface that was very slippery and very tricky.
“The people who win these races are the ones that go A to B, and that’s what we did today. I’m just glad it worked out. Really proud of Mike Green and Tommy DeLago, and our whole team. They really deserve this win, and I’m happy they could be along for the ride.”
3 – PROCK KEEPS ROCKETING — There are two ways that defending NHRA Funny Car series champion Austin Prock wins a race. He either, by his actions, makes it clear the rest of the field is racing for second place. Or , alternately, he struggles and claws his way to the winner’s circle.
As he puts it, either way works for him because they are all sweet.
Sunday’s Norwalk win was an interesting combination of the two.
“Anytime you can hold a trophy at the end of the day, it’s the same gratification,” Prock said. “Everyone puts so much effort into this away from the racetrack, at the racetrack, especially in conditions like this where it’s hot. These guys are dying out there bolting this race car together eight times over a weekend. They all taste the same. It’s a feeling, because you never know when you’re going to get another one, and you never want to lose that taste, and we’ve been doing a good job of not losing it.”
Prock ran 4.064 seconds at 318 mph to beat Matt Hagan for his fourth win of 2025 and 16th of his career. His four wins have all been back-to-back on two occasions.
This year’s atmosphere at Summit Motorsports Park was much different than last year’s at the track located in Norwalk, Ohio. Last year’s race was the first following John Force’s horrific crash in Richmond, where Prock’s team owner crashed and suffered a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury).
“The energy was definitely in a better place this year,” Prock said. “Last year, I probably shouldn’t even have been behind the wheel. Some of those runs, my mental state was not in the best capacity, but we still had a fast hot rod and ended up coming short to Bob Tasca in the semis last year. But to get it done with the Force family back in the house, that was a big deal.”
Prock’s road to the final included wins over Dale Creasy Jr., Bob Tasca III, and Ron Capps.
Prock now has 12 wins in 30 races since replacing Robert Hight in 2023.
“Stats like that definitely make you grin, but it just says a lot about the team behind me,” Prock said. “This race car has been phenomenal ever since I sat in it, and it’s given me a great opportunity to learn behind the wheel and get a lot of stabs at the throttle and getting in those pressure situations. It’s definitely shortened my learning curve.”
Hagan advanced to the final round for the first time this season and the 94th time in his career by defeating J.R. Todd, Jack Beckman, and No. 1 qualifier Cruz Pedregon. Prock leads Jack Beckman by 127 points after 10 races.
4 – JOHN HALL GETS HIS WIN – Some things are worth waiting for, and for Pro Stock Motorcycle rider John Hall, it didn’t feel like a 12-year-long drought.
Hall won his third career national event using Matt Smith Racing horsepower to chase down Richard Gadson in the final, stopping the timers in 6.880, 196.67. Gadson got the jump with a .021 reaction time, but Hall had enough power to catch him at the finish line, recording his first victory since the U.S. Nationals at Indy in 2013.
Hall’s trek to the final started from the No. 3 spot, where he then defeated Wesley Wells, Marc Ingwersen, and points leader Gaige Herrera to reach the finals. Herrera, Gadson’s Vance & Hines teammate, had a rare red-light start in the semis.
“It’s special because you never know if you’re going to get another one. I won twice in 2013, including the U.S. Nationals,” Hall said. “You know, 12 years goes by and you just realize how hard it is to get one of these. Matt Smith Racing is one of the hardest-working teams out here, and they get you to the winner’s circle if you do your job.
“I ride the bike and he (Matt Smith) tells me to do my job. I hit the button, cut a good light, and that’s my mindset. But they tune the bike. They’re constantly tuning the bike for the weather, and it paid off.”
Gadson’s road to the finals included wins over Chase Van Sant, Angie Smith, and No. 1 qualifier Matt Smith. Herrera retains the points lead, holding a 96-point advantage over Matt Smith.
5 – A PYRRHIC VICTORY FOR STEWART – Tony Stewart has probably never been so happy to run a 3.908. That’s precisely how many seconds it took to win a second-round match against Steve Torrence on Sunday without blowing the engine to smithereens.
In the first round, against Kyle Wurtzel, Stewart grenaded an engine for the third time of the weekend.
“The reason I wouldn’t do an interview after the first round is that I wouldn’t have a lot of good things to say,” said crew chief Neal Strausbaugh. “It’s been frustrating. We’ve blown the thing up three times, and it’s been three different reasons. Those crew guys headed back to the pits are buried in work.
“They still got their heads up, and they want to win.”
Stewart was upbeat despite the level of carnage.
“This is nitro racing – you are going to get parts bills like that sometimes,” Stewart said. “Like we said back in the trailer, we’ve had a good run on parts attrition up until now. It’s just catching up all in one weekend for us. I guess in times like this is when I appreciate my team. It’s been a hard two weeks for my team.”
5A – THAT LEFT A MARK – Dan Wilkerson had a car to beat this weekend, until he didn’t. An inexplicable foul start in the second round against Funny Car No. 1 qualifier Cruz Pedregon totally took the wind out of Wilkerson’s sails.
“That was by far the biggest mistake I’ve made in my driving career,” Wilkerson said. “This whole team was positive we had the car to beat this weekend, and I let them all down. I’m so disappointed for Scag, Summit, Ford and everyone that has a hand in helping us. We have an excellent machine, and we will be right back at it in Seattle.”
6 – RACING ON THE SURFACE OF THE SUN – The temperature of the racing surface kept ramping up until it reached its peak in final round. The E2 round was 38 degrees, up by 20 degrees from the opening session. By the semifinals, it was 144. By the time the final round rolled around, it crested close to 150.
7 – YOU AGAIN? – Opposites attract, but not like Justin Ashley and Shawn Langdon. Last weekend, the two met in the Virginia NHRA Nationals finals of Top Fuel. Langdon took the win light, but NHRA later disqualified his run because of a tech violation, and Ashley was awarded the victory.
“I don’t know it is about our teams, they cannot seem to escape one another,” Ashley said ahead of Sunday’s semifinal match. “He’s tough”
Ashley beat Langdon in their meeting back in 2020, during the first race in the pandemic-ravaged season.
They have since raced 27 times, with Langdon holding a one-round advantage over Ashley.
CLICK HERE – READ THE QUALIFYING TEN
8 – PAWUK GETS HIS OHIO WIN – Veteran drag racer Mark Pawuk captured an emotional victory at his home track Sunday, capturing the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown during the NHRA Summit Nationals for his second national-event win in a row.
Pawuk, who began racing at the facility in the 1970s, qualified No. 2 and drove his Empaco Dodge Challenger Drag Pak to four round wins. He collected the coveted Wally trophy and a commemorative ice cream scoop he said had long been a goal to obtain as a Norwalk victor.
“I’ve wanted this ice cream scoop all my life, since I started racing,” Pawuk said. “It was on my bucket list. I got it done.”
Pawuk credited longtime supporters and track operators for the win and reflected on the significance of the moment.
“I loved Bill Bader Sr. dearly, and I love Bill Jr., and Bobbie,” he said. “They have the best facility in the country. I have so many friends and family rooting us on.”
After failing to qualify until the final session Saturday, Pawuk jumped from No. 19 to No. 2 with the first pass down the track in a delayed evening run. He compared the comeback to a similar scenario from his Pro Stock career.
“We got moved about four times, and the track started going away. I was very concerned I wasn’t going to get in,” Pawuk said. “In Columbus, in 2000 when I was racing Pro Stock, we weren’t in going into the last session, and we qualified ninth and won the race. We kind of did the same thing today.”
On Sunday, Pawuk opened eliminations by defeating David Davies II with a 7.833-second run at 175.98 mph. He advanced past Kevin Skinner in Round Two with a nearly identical 7.848-second pass at 176.30 mph. In the semifinals, Pawuk outran Lee Hartman with a 7.826-second pass, earning lane choice for the final against Scott Libersher.
The final proved to be the most competitive round of the day. Libersher posted a .034-second reaction time to Pawuk’s .050, but overpowered the track and spun the tires. Pawuk stayed hooked up and crossed the stripe for a clean win.
“Last year I made it to the final, and I did a big wheel stand against Stephen Bell and lost the race,” Pawuk said. “I have so many sponsors from this area to thank. … I am just so lucky.”
The victory extended Pawuk’s round-win streak to eight and ensured the Flexjet bounty placed on his head will double to $2,000 at the U.S. Nationals. He praised his team and engine builders for the recent momentum.
“I have to thank Ray Barton and David Barton for tuning our car,” he said. “It’s just awesome that I can represent a brand like Dodge.”
Pawuk, the reigning series champion, said the Norwalk win ranks among the most meaningful of his Hall of Fame career. His next target is a long-sought victory at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, scheduled for Labor Day weekend.
9 – DEFLORIAN IS DE-MAN – The Mountain Motor Pro Stock final-round came down to a battle of the large-displacement titans.
The class, which was once a staple at IHRA races, was won by John DeFlorian running a 6.360, 221.23 run, beating Johnny Pluchino’s 6.405.
The victory moved DeForlian into the championship point lead.
10 – McKENNA’S BOLD SPORTSMAN VICTORY – NHRA crowned a full complement of Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series champions on Sunday.
McKenna Bold, who qualified No. 1 on Saturday, added her name to the list of drivers who have won a national event under the tutelage of Randy Meyer. She led the quickest blown alcohol dragster driver in the world, Shawn Cowie, from start to finish, recording a 5.313, 271.57.
Shane Westerfield beat defending Top Alcohol Funny Car champion Sean Bellemeur off of the starting line, but it was nowhere enough to fend off the Bartone Funny Car as it ran a 5.544 elapsed time at 261.93 miles per hour. It marked career win No. 46 for Bellemeur.
In the final round of the high-winding, stick-shifting Factory X division, Connor Statler drove to a 7.118, 193.24 pass, and outran Lenny Lottig’s 7.140, 193.71. Sunday’s win was the second of Statler’s career with the other coming in Stock.
Defending Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown champion Mark Pawuk quickly overcame a Scott Libersher holeshot as he thundered to a 7.86 to pick up the win. Libersher coasted to a 10.802 when he spun the tires at the hit.
Second-generation Comp racer Dave Duppes, who had only won in Super Stock up to this point, took home the title beating John Frech in the final round. Duppes ran an 8.127, 165.01, to run down Frech’s 8.023, 162.04. The margin of victory was .013.
Sportsman veteran Kevin Helms ran a 9.502, 131.33, to fend off the top-end charge of Peter D’Agnola in the Super Stock title. The victory was the 29th of Helms’ career.
Joe Santangelo ran a 10,593, 107.86, to fend off the stick-shift Pontiac of Caleb McFarland in the Stock final. It was the second consecutive win for Santangelo, who also won last week’s Super Stock title in Richmond.
Two of NHRA Division 3’s heavy-hitters, Jeremy Mason and Devin Isenhower, met in the Super Comp final, but it was over at the hit. Isenhower went .003 on the red side to hand the win to Mason.
Jake Elrod won his fifth career NHRA national event crown, running a 9.91 to win Super Gas over Jim Repka. The key for Elrod was a .0019 reaction time.
Former NHRA Pro Comp racer turned Top Dragster competitor Al Kenny scored the automatic victory when Tony Elrod turned on the red light.
In a show of sportsmanship, Top Sportsman racer Chris Osborn waited on Keith Castle to fix his car when it wouldn’t start. Osborn remained on the good side of his dial-in while Castle broke out.
Damien Hazelton picked up the Super Street title, winning his second NHRA national event title in as many finals. He ran a 10.937 at 128.60 miles per hour to beat Carl Saari, who turned in a losing 10.962, 115.24.
SATURDAY NOTEBOOK – HARTWORD WINS – WILKERSON, TOO – IN A DAY FULL OF CARNAGE AND STORYLINES
1 – HARTFORD TAKES THE GETTRX SHOOTOUT – No wonder Matt Hartford loves Summit Motorsports Park, the picturesque dragstrip located in Norwalk, Ohio. He tends to do well here, and he hit paydirt in Saturday’s GTTRX Pro Stock Callout.
Hartford recorded a 6.609-second elapsed time at 207 mph to defeat low qualifier Greg Anderson in the final round in a rematch of last year’s final.
“This is Bader country here,” Hartford said. Bill Bader Jr. “has the best track in the country. He has the best staff, the best people. Everything about this facility is top-notch, so to come here and be able to race, first of all, is just a great feeling.”
“Second of all, to be able to win here is even better. But to beat Greg Anderson in the final as well as Eric Latino and Dallas Glenn is a challenge in itself. They’re three really tough competitors that all have the same power that we have. Or who knows exactly what they have? But I can tell you it’s at least what we have.”
Hartford, who leases his engines from KB-Titan, a program Anderson heads, says Saturday’s result speaks multitudes about his engine supplier.
“It just shows that KB, they’re really fair with what they do for their lease customers. They give us power that can go out there and beat them, run after run – or lose to them. But today, we were fortunate enough to win.”
Adding to the prestige of taking him a good bit of loot — $40,000 — winning a sponsor’s race goes a long way towards the value of the victory.
“GETTRX has been a really good partner with ours for the last several years,” Hartford said. “Obviously, Total Seal’s a major sponsor on the car this year; GETTRX is an associate. But just to have them here and have Pat Galvin here, it’s a real honor. And Steve Bryson, for him to put up the purse that he does – there’s no points here, this is all money and a belt. So, just the fact that he puts up all that money and we get a chance to come out here and win it, all of us, it’s pretty astounding.”
Saturday’s race was a steep challenge in terms of mechanical and physical demands.
“These conditions out here are very difficult,” Hartford said. “We got a 140-plus-degree racetrack, it’s gummy, and then they put us out as first pair out for the final, and first pair out in Pro Stock’s never what you’re looking for. It’s no fault of the track or the prep or anything else, it’s just when you have that big ball of fire in the sky shining down like it is, it makes it very tricky for everybody. We made some really good calls today. We ran consistent today, and I think that’s what it’s going to take” for race day Sunday.
“We won this race two years ago and we were consistent in qualifying,” Hartford added, “and if we can go out and be consistent on the tree and make good laps, we’re looking for a long day tomorrow.”
2 – WILKERSON GETS ANOTHER #2FAST2TASTY – Tim Wilkerson said it just moments before his son Daniel accepted his second consecutive #2Fast2Tasty trophy: “I can’t be responsible for what my kid says down there.”
While the younger Wilkerson kept his words to a minimum, what he didn’t do was mute his enthusiasm about beating Austin Prock in the final round.
Wilkerson took a slight starting-line advantage against the reigning NHRA champion, and went on to make a clean pass and the third quickest run of the final qualifying session at 4.151 at 305.56. Prock lost traction and shut off, coasting across the finish line in 5.015 seconds.
“It’s really exciting to go back-to-back. I knew that was in there. I knew this racecar could do this – it’s been there the whole time, we just had a few bugs,” Wilkerson said. “When it’s on, I’m off, and when I’m on, it’s off, but I knew we had this potential this whole time and it’s starting to finally click, so I think we’re going to be dangerous.
“For this team, these wins are a serious morale boost and a serious confidence boost, and getting a taste of racing on Saturday, actually, I think is starting to help me a little bit too,” Wilkerson added. “The only way to practice this crap is to do it, and on Sunday, for whatever reason, it is different. It’s a different feeling in your gut, the atmosphere is different. Everything’s different, so to get to practice racing, this is going to and has helped me a lot.”
Also joining Wilkerson as #2Fast2Tasty victors were Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
Kalitta’s fourth #2Fast2Tasty win came at the expense of Top Fuel points leader Tony Stewart. Kalitta had more than just the final round on the line as his 3.95, 294 run was a last-ditch effort to qualify. He took the 15th spot in the field on that pass.
“We have Applied Innovation on our car this weekend, it’s our home track, our pits are full with all of our guests. So as you can imagine, the timing was good to just get down the track and get into the show,” Kalitta said. “I have such confidence in my group. You have Alan Johnson tuning and making the final adjustments on my car; it’s very reassuring for a guy like me to have somebody like him doing what he does, and all my Applied Innovation guys putting that thing together. I was just really hoping to get the win and make it down on the track, so that’s where my mindset was.
“We definitely appreciate everything Mission Foods does. … I think I can speak for everybody else when I say we appreciate what they do for us. To be able to race on Saturday, the whole concept is good, and it’s just real fortunate that we got down the track. It seems a little tricky out there right now; it was just one of those lucky moments in life. We have this one under our belt, so we’ll see what we can do tomorrow.”
Herrera picked up his third #2Fast2Tasty crown of the season, running a 6.831, 198 to beat Angie Smith in the finals. It was a rematch of last Sunday’s Virginia NHRA Nationals and the same result.
“I’m very thrilled,” Herrera said. “Yesterday we came out, we thought we should go a mid-80 something, we ran a .90. So we were kind of scratching our heads yesterday, especially after the last two runs.
“We actually were here pretty late working on the bikes, just trying to figure out what we needed to do because the weather was a little nastier yesterday and it definitely hurt us, so we just didn’t have a solid tune-up for it.
“But I was actually glad today for the second run. The air got a little worse and it gets us ready for tomorrow.”
3 – THE PRESSURE OF REPLACING DAD – Daniel Wilkerson was given an incredible opportunity two years ago, but it came at a cost.
Wilkerson was to replace the one person who taught him everything he knew about Funny Cars – his father, Tim Wilkerson.
“It was very intimidating,” Wilkerson said. “And to be perfectly honest, at first Tim kept telling people, ‘I got to let my kid drive because I think he’ll do better.’ I said, ‘You got to stop telling people that. I don’t know that that’s going to be a fact, bro. Pump your brakes on this better-than-me thing.’”
The second-generation Wilkerson said his father excelled at the things people couldn’t see.
“You couldn’t see unless you had a RacePak,” Wilkerson explained. “I mean, the thing would shake the tires and he’d barely lift, he’d lean back on it. He didn’t tell anybody about that because he’s a humble cowboy.”
Wilkerson reiterated he doesn’t admire his father because he’s his elder, but for the fact that his father has been a great teacher.
“I’m not saying I was nervous because once you get this stuff in your blood, you would give almost anything to keep doing it,” Wilkerson said. “So when I got the chance to do it, I wasn’t going to give it up obviously. But there was pressure there.”
4 – QUALIFYING LEADERBOARD REMAINS UNTOUCHED – Friday night’s provisional low qualifiers agreed on one thing: There was more than a good chance their runs would hold. In the sweltering heat of Saturday qualifying, their predictions all came true.
It marked Justin Ashley’s first No. 1 qualifier since Reading 2023.
“Our first No. 1 qualifier of the year and it’s important,” Ashley said. “We try to use qualifying the right way. It’s used as an opportunity to set ourselves up for Sunday. We feel like we did a good job of that, and also, we ended up qualifying No. 1, which is really good for seeding.
“Now, all that (hero) stuff really gets thrown away tomorrow. It doesn’t matter who you’re racing, whether you’re one, No. 16 or somewhere in between. Anybody can win, especially in today’s Top Fuel class, but it speaks volumes to the guys that we have. They like qualifying No. 1. Our goal is always to qualify, No. 1 and to turn on win lights. Great job all the way around by our group.”
Cruz Pedregon also ended a No. 1 drought, but his went back to April 2023 at the spring NHRA Las Vegas 4-Wide Nationals.
“It really means a lot to the team and to all of our sponsors. You get to say you’re No. 1 before the race. So, yeah, we enjoyed it,” Pedregon said. “I’m confident we’ll get our heads together and make the right adjustments. We’re starting to get there and there’s nothing like turning on win lights on Sundays.”
Greg Anderson not only maintained the provisional top qualifier position, he improved on it Saturday with a 6.594-second run at 206.78 mph in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. The four-time No. 1 qualifier this season will take on No. 16 seed Derrick Reese into Sunday’s first round of eliminations.
Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Matt Smith also improved on his Friday run. He ran a 6.816 elapsed time to pick up his first No. 1 of the season and 59th in this career.
“We ran really good,” Smith said. “We’ve ran good all weekend. We tried a couple things on different bikes that time to see what would work, what didn’t work, and it looked like none of it worked. So we’ll go back to what we know how to run; what we did in Q3. We’ve had some strong runs this weekend, and can’t say enough about our team. I mean, I think we qualified five bikes in the top seven, so that’s pretty impressive.”
5 – THE BADER FACTOR – From the time Bill Bader Jr.’s father kept him out of school to work the inaugural IHRA World Nationals at then-Norwalk Raceway Park, his elder was grooming him to take the reins.
Bader Sr. was actually told in 1980 by the NHRA’s Division 3 management he’d never get a national event. NHRA had an event in Columbus, Ohio, and it was considered one of the major events then on the tour.
Bader turned to IHRA, which had no events in Ohio, and convinced its President, Larry Carrier, that his small track – then lacking a paved return road – could host a national event. It seemed like a longshot by even the most-seasoned optimist.
Ted Jones, who was then the vice president of the IHRA, arrived at the track early during that first race week to watch the whirlwind of activity created as Bader struggled to get the work done and comply with a number of construction codes.
“He saw it was under construction,” Bill Bader told CompetitionPlus.com in a 2014 interview. “We weren’t scheduled to open the gates until Friday morning, but we had lots and lots of work to do. There was no guardrail in place for the first 600 feet. There was no chain link fence, and the grandstands were just being finished.
“Ted said to me, ‘Bill, how’s it going? The race is this week, you know.’ I told him the race is Friday and this is Monday, so get the hell out of my way so I can get it finished. I think Ted was very nervous at that point,” Bader said.
Bader and his gang even had to wash the track down because the racing surface had become a staging area for the newly purchased grandstands. On Thursday evening, the construction was still underway, which prompted Jones to remind Bader that they needed the track on Friday.
“I assured him it would be ready by morning,” Bader said.
And it was.
“I think dad had the vision and the foresight, but even he had to think he’d bitten off more than he could chew in the early going,” Bader Jr. said.
Bader pulled his son out of middle school for the entire week prior to the first event to assist in the preparation. “It was a skeleton crew,” Junior recalled. “We literally worked around the clock. I can remember dad picking me up at 6 a.m. and getting home at 2 a.m. the next day. It went on over and over. I was supposed to work the E.T. shack, and I missed the first day or two because I was sleeping from pure exhaustion.
Was Bader a slave driver in those early days?
“His idea of a lunch break was a bag of cheeseburgers that sailed out of the driver’s side window of his truck as he drove by,” Junior said. “Everyone had to grab a burger as they worked.”
Junior recalled his favorite story of the first week.
“We had an old, rusted-out pickup truck with no doors,” he said. “We took a drum of VHT and an old pump and put them on the back. We took turns driving and spraying. I remember the overspray was so bad that my pant legs were actually glued to my boots. They all had to come off in one piece.”
That track prep yielded IHRA’s first 250-mph Funny Car run when Billy Meyer went 254. The inaugural event yielded five or six professional records as well.
“That first year was memorable, exciting and taxing all at the same time,” Junior said.
That said, it also lost more than $50,000.
In 2007, when Norwalk was awarded its first NHRA national meet, Junior said to his dad, “I got you your NHRA event, Dad.”
6 – ASHLEY APPROACHES CHAMPIONSHIP STRATEGY DIFFERENTLY – Traditionally, the regular season has been Justin Ashley’s playground. He’s been no lower than fourth in the last four seasons leaving Norwalk.
This season, Ashley is third heading into this weekend. He admits that he’s trying to find the right balance so that he can peak during the Countdown to the Championship.
“It’s about being patient, really,” Ashley explained. “I think patience, a lot of times, comes with experience. So when you look at Mike Green, you look at Tommy DeLago, you look at the guys that we have working on the car, they’re a patient group because they’re an experienced group. But they know that there’s a plan in place, and eventually our goal is to make sure that plan comes together.
“Obviously, it doesn’t mean that it will, but we’re planning out accordingly with the hopes that it will. The guys, they know how to find the right competitive balance. We want to win each and every race. We’re not going to sacrifice that, but at the same time, we are tinkering with different things to be ready for later on in the year.”
7 – FOLEY: TIM LEWIS WAS THE GLUE THAT KEPT US TOGETHER – Top Fuel racer Doug Foley feels the absence of Tim Lewis every time he enters the pit area.
Lewis, a quiet but influential figure behind Foley’s drag racing career, died in March 2025. Lewis was, Foley said, “the glue that held it together.”
“He was the quiet guy that kind of sat back,” Foley said. “When he had an opinion on something, he’d call me. Very rarely, even at the track, we would just talk and have fun at the track, but he’d call me and we’d talk about it. And he was very insightful. He was a quiet guy, he was a funny guy. But this pit is totally different without him.”
Foley and Lewis began their professional relationship with a shared passion for drag racing that evolved into a long-term commitment to Top Fuel competition. According to Foley, their decision to move into Top Fuel came after a moment of clarity on a return flight from Dallas, where they had failed to qualify in their A/Fuel car.
“We realized that the A/Fuel cars were taking over, and we were like, ‘What the hell are we doing?’” Foley said. “Tim just said to me, ‘I don’t care what we do, but sell the car.’ So I sold the car, and we just kept talking about it.”
In 2003, Foley attended an IHRA race in Rockingham, N.C., and began conversations with drivers and team owners like Clay Millican and Bruce Litton. From those chats, he began to see a path into Top Fuel and brought the idea to Lewis.
“I went to Tim and I said, ‘What do you think about Top Fuel?’ And he goes, ‘I think you’re nuts.’ I showed it to him on paper, and he gave me the blessing. And the rest is history,” Foley said.
Lewis’ approval marked a turning point for Foley, who described Top Fuel as something to which he had always aspired. Though Lewis had his reservations, his support set Foley on a trajectory that would define his professional career.
Foley said Lewis was a close friend and confidante who provided guidance with a calm demeanor and sharp insight. Their final meaningful conversation came as Foley drove to the PRO Superstar Shootout in Bradenton earlier this year.
“We spoke like we were buddies … and we actually even said it, ‘Why don’t you jump on a plane?’” Foley recalled. “And he’s like, ‘Ah.’ And that was the last good conversation. I had a couple afterwards that weren’t as quality and he wasn’t really there, but we had a great conversation. He was excited to start the season and all of that.”
Lewis reportedly died of multiple health complications, and Foley was quick to point out that his friend was at peace in the final days.
“I think in his mind he lived a really good life, and was very content with what he accomplished and all of that,” Foley said. “And I wish he would’ve waited until he got our first NHRA win. I really wish he would’ve, but he just felt it was time to go, and it was a decision he made.”
As Foley continues the 2025 NHRA season without his longtime collaborator, he carries forward not only Lewis’ memory but also the foundation they built together. The team remains on track, though its dynamics have changed permanently.
“He was really the glue,” Foley said. “There’s no other way to put it.”
8 – OH CHUTES, CAPPS RESPONSIBILITY GOES BEYOND DRIVING – Long after the engine noise dies down, Ron Capps can often be found behind his Funny Car, methodically packing his own parachutes—a task most current drivers leave to their crew.
“The No. 1 reason is, I don’t think my guys need to be doing my job,” Capps said.
For Capps, the ritual dates back to his childhood and is rooted in family tradition. “I grew up packing them when we worked on my dad’s car,” he said. “My mom drove race cars when I was a kid, but she also packed my dad’s parachutes on his race car. I learned from her when I was old enough, so I’ve just always done it.”
Before becoming a driver, Capps was a crew member and brought the same hands-on mentality to the cockpit. “Throughout the years that I was a crewmember on different cars, I’ve always done it. And then fast-forward to being a driver, I just kept going.”
Capps sees parachute-packing as a matter of personal responsibility. “If something goes wrong, you don’t want to turn around and try to blame somebody else, you know what I mean?” he said. “If you’re jumping out of an airplane, wouldn’t you wanna pack your own chute?”
While many drivers opt to delegate the task, Capps insists it’s essential. “There are drivers and owners that don’t ever pack their chutes. It’s just the way it is, and that’s their prerogative,” he said. “I’ve just always felt like it’s part of my job. It’s important to me—as important as putting my firesuit and my helmet on, in a sense.”
That importance is amplified at certain tracks with limited shutdown areas. “Some of the tracks that we go to don’t have much shutdown, and your chutes better open or you’re going to get hurt, or worse,” Capps said.
Capps does allow for exceptions. “There are times that Matt on my team will pack them—sometimes on a Friday, if I’m pulled away on something or if I’ve gotta run to a sponsor dinner,” he said. “I have people I completely trust, but I feel like they’ve got enough on their plate with what they do on the team.”
His approach hasn’t changed even after becoming a team owner. “I’ve always been this way, even when I drove for Snake (Don Prudhomme) or (Don) Schumacher,” Capps said. “But now as an owner, the same thing. It’s never changed.”
Capps’ technique has remained consistent over the years, but like most racers, he’s adapted and learned from others. “Everybody has their own way. Of all the drivers, I don’t think you could, from start to finish, say that anybody does it exactly the same,” he said. “I just have a way that I’ve always done it, and – knock on wood – I’ve had pretty good luck with not having issues.”
He credits the late Bill Simpson, founder of Simpson Performance Products, with influencing some of his methods. “It was always cool to have the legend Bill Simpson come over and ask me to try something,” Capps said. “He would watch me and tell me how different it was than he even did it when he made them for the first time.”
Though Capps doesn’t formally train his crew to pack chutes, they learn by watching. “I’m not sure if I actually sat down and taught them, I think they kinda just learn from watching,” he said. “Guido (crew chief Antonelli) is no exception. He’s always on top of everything. The crew guys were basically taught by myself and Guido.”
For the younger crew members, Capps’ approach can be unexpected. “It’s funny when they hear the stories of me when I was starting out,” he said. “I also had a CDL, I drove the truck, I worked on the car, as well as driving. Some of them don’t believe it when they first hear it.”
Capps isn’t sure if packing his own chutes earns him extra respect from his crew — but he hopes it does. “I think they like the fact that their driver and owner jumps in and helps on the car at any given time,” he said. “I would imagine that’d be pretty cool for a younger crewmember.” – Allie Hartman
9 – NATAAS ENJOYING THE FUNNY CARS – Reigning NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster champion Julie Nataas is embracing the steep learning curve that comes with driving a nitro Funny Car, even after failing to qualify this weekend.
The Norwegian driver is in her rookie season behind the wheel of a Funny Car after years of success in dragsters. She said the transition brings a fresh challenge and renewed motivation.
“It’s a lot of fun, a lot of excitement, I guess I should say,” Nataas said. “Definitely different than a dragster, but I do love the challenge that a Funny Car brings.”
Nataas said she made the move after feeling she had grown stagnant in the A/Fuel class. She believes her background in go-karts, formula cars and dragsters prepared her to take the next step.
“I kind of felt like I was doing the same thing over and over, so I needed that challenge,” she said. “With my experience in go-karts, formula cars, and other types of racing, I feel like I can definitely handle a Funny Car.”
Preparing for the switch wasn’t just mental. Nataas spent the past year and a half improving her physical condition to meet the demands of the new category.
“Over the last year and a half, I’ve lost 25 pounds and gotten a lot stronger,” she said. “I did that because I knew I was eventually going to be in a Top Fuel dragster or a Funny Car, so I just wanted to be physically the best prepared that I could be.”
Though the cars are more unpredictable, Nataas said she was not surprised by the physical demands.
“Driving the A/Fuel Funny Car, I kind of already knew what a Funny Car feeling was going to feel like opposed to a dragster,” she said. “Obviously these Funny Cars are wild, they’re never going to do the same thing twice.”
Nataas has leaned on veteran Funny Car driver Del Worsham and 2024 Funny Car champion Austin Prock for guidance. Their combined experience helps her refine her skills.
10 – SMITH BALANCES THE ROLE OF SERIES OFFICIAL AND DRAG RACER – Will Smith spends most of his professional life as the marketing and advertising director for the Professional Drag Racers Association, but his true passion is found behind the wheel of a Top Fuel dragster.
When the eighth-mile PDRA doorslammer series is not in session, Smith trades boardrooms for burnouts. He returned to the driver’s seat this weekend in Norwalk, piloting a dragster owned by veteran racer Luigi Novelli, but failed to qualify.
“I love my job at PDRA, but at heart I’m a crew guy and a driver, and that’s what I love to do,” Smith said. “So I miss it. I’m glad to be back out here.”
Smith has been driving Novelli’s dragster in recent events, stepping in for the longtime racer who had a health scare years ago at the same Norwalk facility. The opportunity is one Smith says he does not take for granted.
“I’m blessed to be able to be out here and do this,” Smith said. “I’ve got great people helping me out, and a great opportunity with Luigi and his crew.”
While Smith maintains a full-time position with PDRA, he said the pressures of marketing and the demands of racing – while vastly different – are equally intense.
“I honestly feel like I’m more pressured on the PDRA side, on the marketing side, making sure we’re doing everything we’re supposed to do and me personally for our sponsors,” Smith said. “But when I’m in a race car, I’m very relaxed and I feel like it’s where I need to be, where I belong, and it’s where I’m most comfortable.”
Though his role with PDRA is a weekday commitment, Smith continues to build a versatile résumé in the driver’s seat. In addition to Top Fuel, he holds licenses in nitro Funny Car, Alcohol Funny Car, and Nostalgia categories.
“I went ahead and got the competition numbers for alcohol and nostalgia and all that,” Smith said. “As well, I had everything on the dragster side. So I’m willing and able to wheel anything for any opportunities that come up.”
Despite not making the field in Norwalk, Smith remains undeterred. His passion for drag racing is clear and unshaken.
“Growing up, and even to this day, I tell everybody I eat, sleep and breathe drag racing and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said. “That and then some.”
FRIDAY NOTEBOOK – OF FLYING STEALTH, DELIVERING THE BUNKER BUSTER AND NEW SCHEMES
1 – ASHLEY BACK UNDER THE RADAR AGAIN – Justin Ashley delivered a 3.752-second pass at 330.88 mph to take the provisional No. 1 qualifying position Friday during the 19th annual NHRA Nationals. The run in his Scag Power Equipment dragster marked his quickest of the season and positions Ashley for his first top spot of 2025.
Ashley, a six-time No. 1 qualifier in his career, held off Antron Brown and points leader Tony Stewart to lead the Top Fuel field after Friday’s qualifying session. He enters the weekend having reached the final round in five of the last six events.
The momentum includes a win last weekend in Richmond, where he was awarded the victory following the disqualification of Shawn Langdon in the final. The result added another highlight to what Ashley considers a quietly strong season.
“Unlike in years prior, I feel like we’ve kind of flown under the radar a little bit this year,” Ashley said. “When you look at the first nine races, we’ve been to a total of five final rounds, and that’s a really difficult thing to do in today’s Top Fuel class.”
Ashley emphasized his team’s focus on building consistency through the middle of the season. “We want to win races. It’s our goal to win races, but we also want to pick up steam here, you know, midway through the year and make sure that we’re in a good position going into the Countdown,” he said.
Friday’s evening run gave Ashley and his team a positive start heading into the rest of the weekend. “That was a really good lap for us tonight. Tomorrow and Sunday, obviously it will be different conditions, but a nice job all the way around by the team,” he said.
Defending series champion Antron Brown took the second spot with a nearly identical run of 3.755 seconds but posted the top speed of the session at 333.33 mph. Tony Stewart, who also ran a 3.755, ended the night third after a first-session engine explosion limited his early progress.
2 – MOVE OVER PROCK ROCKET, IT’S THE BUNKER BUSTER – Cruz Pedregon said he doesn’t mind the dominance of the John Force Racing Funny Cars, especially the one driven by Austin Prock. That because he’s got a secret weapon of his own.
Pedregon has the Bunker Buster, something he’s named after his crew chief Steven Bunker.
“We have the Bunker Buster, and that’s what we unleashed on those guys tonight,” Pedregon explained. “So my crew chief’s last name is Bunker, so I figured that would be fitting for this time.”
If Pedregon’s 3.890 elapsed time at 318 miles per hour run holds, it would be his first No. 1 of the year and first since 2023. But it was the potential to become the 65th in his career that had Pedregon excited.
“Man, I cherish every one of those,” Pedregon admitted. “It’s really an honor to be the best at this time. And I love this racetrack. The Baders put on a great track, and I knew coming into here even though the heat was on, but I figured Bader, he’s a detail guy, the owner, the guy that runs this track. He knows everything about ice cream, the hot dogs that they sell, the track conditions, the temperature, all that. So, thanks, Bader, for giving us a good track.”
Equal kudos goes to his crew that rolled the dice and gambled on the run.
“I was really nervous going up there … We thought you’re either going to see a good run or a whole lot of tire smoke, and it stuck,” Pedregon said. “When I was in the car, I could replay the run going down there. When it made it past the tree, I thought, ‘This thing might mess around and rip down there and run a good run,’ and it did. So I couldn’t be happier for the team.
“I know I’ve said this, and you guys, everybody’s probably tired of hearing me say this, but we’re right there. We just have not really had the best of luck. And you need a little racing luck. I’ve been doing this long enough to know that a little bit of racing luck goes a long way.”
3 – ANDERSON NO. 1 HEADED INTO SATURDAY – The evening before there’s a big money shootout on the line, defending NHRA Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson set himself up for a big payday. The winningest Pro Stock driver went to the top with a run of 6.594 at 206 miles an hour. If that holds, it would be his fourth No. 1 of the season and the 136th in his career.
“It gives you as much confidence as you could possibly take,” Anderson said. “If all these cars can run within .02, anybody can win. (It’s) certainly not hard for me, anyway, to give out .02 on the starting line, so it can absolutely be done. You never know who’s going to win tomorrow.
“The good news is we’ve got a lot of KB Titan cars. We’ve got four of them in the Callout and they’re all fast. And looking forward to trying to get the GETTRX money tomorrow. It’s going to be a fun day. Going to be a little bit cooler, which I’ll love that. I was kind of melting out there today.
“It was a good day. Good day. My race car made two very nice runs. That’s all you can ask. I’ve got a great horse again. I’ve got a race-winning horse if I can just jockey it right. So we’ll see what I can do tomorrow.”
4 – MATT SMITH TO THE TOP OF QUALIFYING, FIRST TIME THIS YEAR – Multi-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Matt Smith is No. 1 for at least tonight, and as far as he’s concerned that’s a move in the right direction. Smith’s No. 1 qualifier efforts this season have been more none than slim.
Smith ran a 6.824-second elapsed time at 200 miles per hour, and if it holds, it will be the 59th in his career.
“We’ve gotten beat up this year with No. 1 qualifiers and just the performance of those Vance & Hines bikes,” Smith said. “We’ve been a little bit behind two, .03, but that’s all it takes to get that No. 1 spot. And typically when we qualify Friday night, it’s good conditions and they really get after it and they go 1.03 – 1.04 (60-foot times).
“Today, we’re very humid. Weather’s really bad, but the track’s really good. So I think that kind of saves us, because normally we don’t go 1.06. If we go 1.07 and I went 1.06 there, so all in all made a nice run. I’m No. 1, John’s No. 2, our think Ron’s No. 3. Our other bikes, we’ve got five good bikes and hopefully we can continue that this weekend.”
5 – CONNIE’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY SCHEME DAZZLES – Connie Kalitta’s Kalitta Air is celebrating 25 years in business, and NHRA Top Fuel driver Shawn Langdon will mark the milestone with a special livery for the remainder of the season.
Langdon debuted the silver-anniversary Kalitta Air paint scheme during Friday qualifying at Norwalk, posting a 3.789-second pass at 324.59 mph – the second-quickest of the session.
Kalitta, a former driver and NHRA icon, started Kalitta Air in 2000 after securing DOT and FAA certification. The airline has grown into one of the world’s largest cargo carriers, operating Boeing 747 and 777 aircraft.
“I could not be happier for everyone at Kalitta Air to celebrate 25 years of what we have built together,” Kalitta said. “It makes me very happy to see both the aviation and racing businesses embrace one another and continue to build a strong relationship that benefits both businesses tremendously.”
Kalitta’s aviation career began in 1967 with a twin-engine Cessna 310 transporting automotive parts. Using earnings from drag racing, he expanded from one airplane to a global fleet.
Following the September 11, 2001, attacks, a Kalitta Air 747 was the only plane in the sky that night, carrying relief supplies across the country. In 2003, the airline received a Certificate of Appreciation for its support of U.S. military operations.
“It is such an honor to race for Connie Kalitta and the Kalitta organization,” Langdon said. “I’m proud to have Kalitta Air on my car, and I love the look of the 25th anniversary car.”
Langdon also noted the personal connection he feels racing for Kalitta.
“There’s nothing better than coming back from a good run or winning a race and seeing that smile on Connie’s face,” he said.
Kalitta Air Acting Vice President Heath Nicholl credited the company’s workforce for the airline’s success. “Whether on the ramp, in the hangar, or at the starting line, their dedication drives everything we do,” Nicholl said.
In 2023, Kalitta Air launched a recruiting initiative using Langdon’s team to help attract pilots and mechanics. That program has continued into 2025 and will remain part of the company’s outreach efforts.
Kalitta’s dual legacy in racing and aviation continues to influence both industries. “It’s the people that make both businesses successful whether that be in the air, or on the track,” Kalitta said.
5B – THERE’S A CALL-OUT ON THE HORIZON – Reigning Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson headlines the eight-driver field for the GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout, set for Saturday at Norwalk Motorsports Park.
Anderson, who earned the No. 1 seed based on qualifying performances, will choose his first-round opponent in the specialty event that awards a $40,000 top prize. The Callout begins at 11:30 a.m., with semifinals at 1:20 p.m. and finals at 3:50 p.m., all airing on FS1 at 3 p.m. ET.
The elite field includes: Anderson’s KB Titan Racing teammate Dallas Glenn; six-time champion Erica Enders; Matt Hartford; Aaron Stanfield; Jeg Coughlin Jr.; Eric Latino, and Troy Coughlin Jr.
Anderson said racing in Norwalk carries special significance. “This racetrack is like home and it’s everything that the KB Titan Racing team has been about for the last 25 years,” Anderson said.
The event also highlights a key weekend for Anderson’s longtime sponsor. “It’s Summit Racing Equipment’s backyard. They sponsor the race, the track, and now we have the GETTRX Callout on hand this weekend,” Anderson said.
After winning the inaugural Callout in Chicago in 2024, Anderson is looking to become a back-to-back victor. “I’ve definitely got my mind made up and I’ve had it made up a long time ago,” he said. “There’s no question who I’m going to call out” – and he selected Enders.
The Callout adds to an already stacked weekend schedule that includes Saturday’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, and Sunday eliminations, which will air on FOX beginning at 2 p.m. EDT.
Anderson enters Norwalk as part of a dominant KB Titan Racing campaign. He and Glenn have claimed every Pro Stock win this season, while longtime rival Elite Motorsports has yet to break through.
“It’s going to be a fantastic weekend. It will be jam-packed with action,” Anderson said. “The higher the stakes for me, the more I enjoy the weekend.”
First-round matchups for the Callout feature Anderson vs. Enders, Glenn vs. Troy Coughlin Jr., Hartford vs. Latino, and Stanfield vs. Jeg Coughlin Jr.
Anderson said he’s not looking to take the easy path. “There’s no sense trying to weed through what you would consider to be the softer of the competition,” he said. “The game plan the first round is all or nothing.”
6 – JIM AND THE GREEN OVERACHIEVER – Jim Head admits that’s he’s not much for the social scene in drag racing. That’s why when his previous driver, Blake Alexander, left the team at the end of the season, he really had no idea who would be a suitable replacement.
That’s when his son, Chad Head, called with the suggestion that a Pro Modified driver from Canada might be the perfect fit for his opening.
Sometimes, the son knows best. To date, Chad couldn’t have suggested a better fit. Hyde has performed beyond expectations, scoring a final-round finish in Epping, and a #2Fast2Tasty title and semifinal in Las Vegas.
“What I like best is he’s a good guy,” Head said. “I’m a contractor. I make my living in construction – I have my entire life. Well, Spencer and his father do exactly different things. I’m a paver. They’re vertical guys, but they’re contractors. We think alike. They’re good, honest people. And I’m an honest guy. And it’s pretty much a marriage made in heaven.”
While Head is a Hall of Fame drag racer and past NHRA U.S. Nationals champion, he is more than qualified to be a teacher for Hyde, who has been a sponge. Head admits the Funny Car itself has proven a better teacher for the former Pro Modified driver who was thrust into the limelight after winning the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Modified.
“He learned from that Funny Car a lot,” Head said. “We can only tell people so much, and it’s on-the-job training flat out from there.”
7 – JACK AND THE GREEN NITRO STOCKER – NHRA Funny Car rookie Spencer Hyde debuted a special Jack and the Green Stock-themed Jim Head Racing nitro Funny Car during Friday’s first qualifying session. The Stratford, Ontario, native posted a 4.005-second pass at 314.97 mph in the debut run, a time that was later matched by Austin Prock, who ultimately took the top spot on speed.
The livery honors Hyde’s grandfather’s cousin, Jack Hyde, who campaigned a green stocker called “Jack and the Green Stock” in the 1960s-70s. Now 83, Jack played a formative role in Spencer’s life and racing journey.
“I grew up a mile down the road from Jack, and when I was a kid, I used to go down to his place and help him cut grass,” Hyde said. “He was a farmer, so as I got older, I’d help him take crops off, combine and run the buggy for him, and then I’d go racing with him.”
Jack Hyde’s original car ran a 427 with a four-speed transmission before it was sold. When Jack returned to racing decades later, he built a nostalgia version of the car with a big block 540 and an automatic transmission.
Spencer watched that car run as a young teen, often helping the crew with basic tasks at the track. When Jack asked Spencer to race the car, it led to a win in Spencer’s first outing in the Ontario Nostalgia Drag Racers Series.
“In 2017 or 2018, I was with Jack and he said, ‘You know I’ve never watched my car go down the racetrack. Would you drive it?’” Hyde said. “We won the first race I drove it. He was pretty pleased. After that, he didn’t want to drive it anymore, he only wanted me to drive it.”
In 2022, Spencer and his father, Peter, surprised Jack for his 80th birthday by wrapping Spencer’s Pro Mod car in the classic Jack and the Green Stock design. The reveal happened at their shop, with Jack’s original nostalgia car parked beside it.
“We did it just for fun and I didn’t tell him,” Hyde said. “We had his Jack and the Green Stock car beside the Pro Mod. When we lifted the garage door to show him, he was blown away.”
The Hydes raced the cars side-by-side at the Stratford Spectacular in Ontario, where community support prompted Spencer to keep the wrap on his car for the remainder of the season. In early 2023, Hyde won the World Series of Pro Mod in that same car.
“Now that I am in a nitro Funny Car the closest we get to home is Norwalk, Ohio, so I thought it’d be cool to wrap the Funny Car with Jack and the Green Stock and surprise Jack again,” Hyde said. “He is coming to the race and we are going to surprise him in the pits on Friday.”
Hyde considers Norwalk his American home track, given its proximity to Stratford and his longtime relationship with the Bader family. The connection also runs deeper with Ohio being the home base for Jim Head Racing.
“Jim Head Racing calls Ohio home, so it’s a pretty special event for all of us,” Hyde said. “In a perfect world, it would be amazing to get my first Funny Car win in this specialty car at my favorite track in the world.”
He enters Norwalk just outside the Top Ten in points and is looking to gain ground this weekend.
8 – CORRADI’S BALANCING ACT – Brian Corradi, longtime NHRA Top Fuel crew chief for Antron Brown, balances high-stakes tuning with running a family-owned pizza and ice cream shop.
Corradi’s side venture began when his children proposed starting a breakfast spot. But his experience under pressure led him in a different direction.
“My kids, they wanted to start a restaurant, which was a breakfast restaurant at the time,” Corradi said. “I was more like, ‘Let’s do pizza. I can do that.’”
The operation quickly expanded when Corradi’s daughter-in-law added her passion to the mix. “After establishing the pizza shop, we decided maybe we’ll make some ice cream,” he said.
Today, the shop serves both items under one roof — hot slices on one side and frozen treats on the other. The dual-concept business mirrors the speed and precision Corradi deals with on race day.
“On race day, everything is organized, and you have to be ready for anything. In the pizza business, you need that same readiness,” Corradi said. “It’s all about being prepared. The chaos is part of the job.”
Despite the shared demands, Corradi says nothing compares to the stress of racing. He’s quick to point out the intensity behind every pass down the dragstrip.
“When the race car gets upset, we have to fix it because the next round’s coming or the next race,” Corradi said. “This is stressful because good run, bad run, every run.”
But that doesn’t mean running a restaurant is without its moments. Friday nights, in particular, come with their own kind of heat.
“On Friday night when everybody wants to eat at five or six o’clock, yes, it’s intense,” Corradi said. “Because you got angry people going, ‘I need my pizza.’”
As the NHRA season progresses, Corradi keeps an eye on more than elapsed times. “Come around Dallas, I have my blood pressure cup in the trailer because it gets more intense when you get close to the end and it means something,” he said.
Corradi doesn’t shoulder the food business responsibilities alone. His children handle daily operations, allowing him to stay focused at the track.
“My kids really got it figured out,” Corradi said. “I don’t have to go there. They’ve got it handled.”
His wife also lends a hand behind the scenes. That family support is central to both his racing and business ventures.
Corradi says staying organized and prepared is what keeps everything moving. “I try to keep everybody grounded,” he said.
Whether managing race-day strategy or a busy kitchen, Corradi brings the same calm and discipline to both arenas. And through it all, family remains at the center of his success.
“It’s all about keeping everything running smoothly,” he said. – Allie Hartman
9 – FROM HOT SHOE TO HOTSAW – Funny Car driver Chris King claimed victory in the first-ever United States Open Hot Saw Championship Pro/Am event Friday at the NHRA Summit Nationals. King, a full-time firefighter from Chicago, teamed up with a professional lumberjack to take the overall win.
Five NHRA drivers participated in the debut Pro/Am, including King, Clay Millican, Buddy Hull, Spencer Hyde, and Matt Hagan. The unique exhibition paired each NHRA driver with a seasoned hot-saw competitor in a chainsaw-powered head-to-head cutting contest.
King advanced from a five-driver qualifying cut-off, claiming one of four available spots in the Pro/Am round. Hull was eliminated during qualifying when his attempt failed to produce a complete cut.
“I’m pretty comfortable with chainsaws — we use them on roofs for firefighting — so I knew I would be okay,” King said. “Learning the technique for the racing was interesting, but I’ve got to give it to Clay. He got me in that last round by a couple seconds.”
Millican, a Top Fuel driver, edged out King in their final individual showdown to win the driver-versus-driver bracket. King and his lumberjack partner, however, secured the overall Pro/Am team win based on combined times.
“It was a blast to participate, and I hope I get to try again next year,” said Hull, who likened the strength and finesse needed to that of piloting a nitro Funny Car. “Sometimes you just have to muscle it.”
The event was held in conjunction with the NHRA Summit Nationals and featured chainsaws powered by high-octane fuel and capable of producing 45 to 70 horsepower; chain speeds exceed 230 mph. Sponsors included Stihl, Real American Hardwood, Troyer Hardwood, Sunoco Race Fuels, and Jarrett Logistics.
The Pro/Am competition was a new environment for King, who admitted he had only seen hot-saw events on television prior to Friday. “These things are insane,” he said. “Seeing them up close, and the size and strength of the pros — we’re talking guys built like Matt Hagan.”
King added that lifting one of the hot saws felt like handling 70 pounds of raw power. Despite that, he’s already eyeing a return to defend his title in 2026.
Chainsaw competition at the United States Open Hot Saw Championship continues through the weekend in Norwalk. The event brings together elite competitors from both motorsports and lumberjack disciplines for a one-of-a-kind blend of horsepower and raw strength.
10 – BOLD STATEMENT – McKenna Bold posted a 5.256-second run at 268.17 mph to lead Friday’s Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying. Bold edged out Shawn Cowie by .002 of a second in Q2 to claim the top spot.
Cowie, who recently became the quickest blown alcohol dragster driver in the country, followed with a 5.258 at 274.83 mph. Jamie Noonan slotted into third with a 5.287 at 269.78 mph.
Melanie Johnson and Todd Bruce rounded out the top five with passes of 5.302 and 5.304 seconds, respectively. All 10 dragsters in the session ran quicker than 5.41 seconds.
Sean Bellemeur continued his run at the front of the Top Alcohol Funny Car field with a 5.541-second effort at 262.39 mph. Shane Westerfield was close behind at 5.557, with Madison Gordon third at 5.563.
Phil Esz clocked in at 5.567 and Chris Foster at 5.580, as the pair completed the top five. Bob McCosh, Chip Beverett, Ryan Stack, Ray Drew, and Mick Steele finished out the top 10.
Lenny Lottig led Factory X with a 7.023-second pass at 195.05 mph in his 2024 Camaro. Conner Statler was second at 7.062, and Chris Holbrook ran third at 7.131 in his 2025 Mustang.
In Factory Stock Showdown, Jason Dietsch claimed the provisional No. 1 spot with a 7.856-second pass at 174.91 mph. Jonathan Allegrucci followed at 7.894, just ahead of Scott Libersher at 7.895.
Taylor Dietsch and Kevin Skinner tied at 7.919, sitting in a tightly grouped mid-pack. David Janac rounded out the top ten with a 7.936 at 174.77 mph.
Doug Engels took the top position in Comp Eliminator with a .684 under-index run, posting a 7.306 on a 7.99 index. Thursday leader Cali Neff was second at .677 under with a 6.603 on a 7.28.
Patrick Nahan, Scott Linder, and Brian Browell completed the top five with passes under their respective indexes by at least .562 seconds. Greg Kamplain, David Dupps, and Joe Carnasciale were also among the top performers.
Tony Elrod held on to the lead in Top Dragster with a 6.149-second pass at 196.16 mph. Blake Peavler remained close in second with a 6.177, while Prescott Dean, Darian Boesch, and Dane Ward rounded out the top five.
Top Sportsman qualifying was paced by Glenn Butcher, who ran 6.198 at 224.88 mph in his ’69 Camaro. Darian Boesch placed second at 6.267 and clocked the fastest speed of the day at 227.96 mph.
Dennis Dawson turned in a 6.341 for third, followed by Scott Wasko and Jeff Brooks. The top 10 included strong runs from Ronnie Proctor, Wesley Goddard, and Belva Brinegar.
