by Bobby Bennett, Jerry Bonkowski, Photos by Rhona McCole, Chris Haverly, Josh Moss
SUNDAY NOTEBOOK – THE TEN: 4 – WIDE NATIONALS EDITION
1 – ASHLEY’S TRIPLE-LINDY SETS THE STAGE – Justin Ashley delivered another strong showing on the starting line Sunday, using his quick reaction times to win the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals.
The final-round run of 3.784 seconds at 329.83 mph in his Scag Power Equipment dragster was his fourth of the season, and his second in the last three races. It also moved him back into the thick of the Top Fuel championship hunt with just four events left.
The final round was one of the most competitive of the season. Ashley and Doug Kalitta posted identical elapsed times, but Ashley’s advantage came on the starting line with a .043-second reaction time. That slight edge – easily the quickest move of the quad – allowed him to outrun Kalitta, Shawn Langdon, and Clay Millican to the stripe, and capped a day that showcased both his driving ability and his team’s preparation.
Ashley’s march to the winner’s circle also carried a piece of NHRA history. In the semifinals, he pulled off the first triple-holeshot win ever in Top Fuel competition, advancing over Langdon, Brittany Force, and Tony Stewart despite turning in the slowest pass of the quad. His .036 reaction time made the difference and kept him alive for the event title.
The win was Ashley’s 19th career triumph and his second at zMAX Dragway, where four-wide racing often amplifies the margin for error. He now trails Kalitta by just 38 points, a manageable deficit as the series heads to the St. Louis area for the NHRA Midwest Nationals next weekend (Sept. 26-28).
“To win it right here for the first four-wide race in the fall that NHRA has ever had, especially where it’s positioned in the Countdown, this was a critical day for us,” Ashley said. “These races are hard to win, so I’m a firm believer you have to enjoy them when they come before shifting your focus over to the next one.”
Ashley credited his own growth and the experience of his crew as reasons for his ability to thrive under pressure. He said the lessons from the past three years of championship contention are proving priceless.
“You can’t buy experience, and now we’ve really been in contention for a championship the last three years,” Ashley said. “At the end of the day, it really comes down to one lap, one race at a time, and just let the points take care of themselves.”
While Ashley has built a reputation for lightning-quick reaction times, he stressed that results only come when the car and driver are in sync. “If the car’s not fast, all of it’s irrelevant,” he said. “Everyone sees the stat sheet, but you have to collectively look at the combination together. Hopefully it leads to results, and obviously we did it today.”
Ashley also admitted this particular win felt different. Known for his calm demeanor, he showed more emotion than usual while celebrating with his crew.
“These races are hard to win. I probably need to do a better job of enjoying them, so, yeah, I enjoyed that one,” he said.
Looking ahead, Ashley said his focus is on maintaining consistency as the playoffs tighten.
“Our approach is one lap, one race at a time, try and collect bonus points and qualifying and then see where we end up,” he said. “This Countdown is about consistency. You have to win races, you have to stack round wins, and put yourself in a good position for Pomona.”
2 – PROCK AIN’T ONE OF THEM THINGS THIS WEEKEND – Austin Prock made history Sunday at zMAX Dragway, winning the first four-wide playoff race in NHRA history. He defeated Matt Hagan, Chad Green, and Dan Wilkerson in the final of the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals with a run of 3.912 seconds at 332.43 mph in his Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet SS.
The victory was Prock’s eighth of the year, his 16th since moving to Funny Car last season, and the 20th of his career. It also capped a sweep of all three four-wide races in 2025, making him the first Funny Car driver to accomplish the feat.
Prock’s weekend showed a sharp rebound from Reading, Pennsylvania, last weekend, where he lost in the second round and crossed the centerline. At Charlotte, he advanced through the first two quads, chased down Wilkerson in the championship round, and then edged Hagan at the stripe to keep control of the points standings.
“That was a big win, especially after everything that went on in the semifinals,” Prock said. “A few of the frontrunners went out and we capitalized on it. To get the win for the points was awesome. Extended our lead a little bit going into St. Louis next weekend.”
For Prock, the four-wide format seems to fit both his car and his approach. He credited the consistency of his team and the quality of the SMI-owned racetracks in Charlotte and Las Vegas for the success.
“Our package just seems suited for [the late] Bruton Smith’s racetracks,” Prock said. “I wasn’t my typical self on the starting line this weekend. I was good but not where I wanted to be, but the car ran good enough and our total package was good enough to win.”
The Charlotte result also marked Prock’s third straight win at zMAX Dragway, a facility he said has been central to his career. “Even in Top Fuel, I had success here,” Prock said. “So to come here and do a good job for some circle-track [NASCAR] fans is always pretty special.”
Prock also admitted he was not at full strength physically, saying he entered the weekend under the weather. He stressed, however, that circumstances can never be an excuse in a sport where precision determines success.
“No matter what’s going on in your life, what’s going on in your day to day or with the race car, you still are paid to come out here and perform and execute,” Prock said. “I was good but I wasn’t great, and I want to push myself to be great all the time in all scenarios because I think that’s what creates a champion.”
That drive, he added, comes in part from watching his father and crew chief, Jimmy Prock, excel at his craft. Their mutual determination has helped establish John Force Racing as a perennial contender. “We both, I feel like, respect our abilities at what we do, and when we’re both on we’re really tough to beat as a family and as a team,” Prock said.
With the victory, Prock extended his lead in the Countdown to the Championship to 79 points over Hagan. While others focus on milestones, Prock said he tries to keep his perspective on execution. “It was just brought to my attention I have 20 wins now, and that’s a pretty good feat,” he said. “I just try and go up there and be the best of my ability. I have a few things I need to worry about and those things are very important to execute perfectly every time.”
3 – THE SURGE OF GLENN – Pro Stock points leader Dallas Glenn continued his postseason surge Sunday at zMAX Dragway, scoring his second straight Countdown to the Championship victory and sixth win of the year. Glenn posted a 6.554-second run at 209.95 mph in his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro to defeat a quad that included teammate Greg Anderson, Erica Enders, and Aaron Stanfield.
The win marked Glenn’s 19th career triumph and his third straight at Charlotte, where he has now swept both four-wide events held at zMAX. The victory also gave him a 79-point lead over Anderson in the championship standings.
Glenn credited his team’s consistency while reflecting on an earlier mistake in Indianapolis.
“I knew I had a fantastic car coming in, so I really just wanted to try to keep the momentum,” Glenn said. “I really felt like I let everybody down in Indy when I let my foot up a little against Erica [Enders]. I made that mistake. So, I just wanted to come into this race and step it up just a little bit more and be a little more aggressive.”
He said nothing came easy despite its appearance.
“You look at the ladder and you’re like, ‘This is going to be a tough day,’ so you just got to try to bring your A-game,” Glenn said. “I made a small pedal [adjustment] and went up there, and just tried to do everything I could to kind of throw a Hail Mary and hope it stuck.”
Glenn said his mindset is to keep pressure on the competition through the final races.
“I think I have 79 points right now, so I still count that as basically three rounds, because that’s what it’s going to be in Pomona,” he said. “I want to keep my foot on their throats and keep pressure on until they hand me a trophy.”
Anderson finished runner-up with a 6.562, reaching his eighth final round of the season. Stanfield placed fourth in the quad and moved to third in points, though he trails Glenn by 172.
Glenn admitted some good fortune has helped along the way.
“If I’m leaking oil in E1 instead of Q4, this whole Countdown looks completely different for me,” he said. “Luck’s when preparation meets opportunity. So you definitely kind of create your own luck as well.”
4 – ALL BUSINESS GADSON DELIVERS – Richard Gadson came into Sunday’s NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals final round knowing he would face three Matt Smith Racing entries in Pro Stock Motorcycle. By the end of the round, he was the new points leader.
Gadson powered his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki to a 6.803-second pass at 199.55 mph, defeating Matt Smith, Angie Smith, and Jianna Evaristo. The victory was his first in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, his third win of the season, and his third in as many months.
“Call me Tricky Richard,” Gadson said.
In reality, there was nothing tricky about it — he left ahead of two of his three opponents and outran them to the finish line by .02 seconds or more.
The win marked another breakthrough for the veteran rider, who admitted the moment felt surreal. “To be in the points lead of Pro Stock Motorcycle, sometimes I read my name twice because I just can’t believe it’s real,” Gadson said. “I owe all of those thanks to the boys, to Vance & Hines, and to our sponsors for putting me in this position to live this dream.”
Teammate Gaige Herrera’s shocking first-round loss created an opening, and Gadson took advantage by winning his first two quads before delivering a decisive performance in the final. The result gave him an eight-point lead over Smith in the standings – slim, but one that underscores his rise as a title contender. Racing against three bikes from the same team heightened the challenge.
“You just don’t want to beat yourself and you’re the Lone Ranger up there racing for your team,” Gadson said. “You carry it with pride, but you also don’t want to be antsy. These bikes are really easy to do something stupid on.”
Gadson also noticed Angie Smith pre-staging early, but didn’t let it rattle him. “I think Angie did that as a ploy to hopefully mess me up,” he said. “It’s all fair. It’s racing. She didn’t do anything wrong, but I’m a little sharper than I look.”
For Gadson, the focus now is on consistency. “Stay humble, stay prayed up and keep trying to do whatever is getting me these wins,” he said. “I know it’s going to be a dogfight, but I don’t want to be a weak link.”
5 – PSM SHOCKER: HERRERA GONE EARLY – So much action happened in the opening round of Pro Stock Motorcycle that you would think this is a full-race recap for the two-wheel class.
First, the shock of the day was the first-round loss by PSM points leader Gaige Herrera. The Vance & Hines rider, who is seeking a threepeat PSM season championship, had shifting issues and was ousted, leaving NHRA.TV announcers to respond with one word answers after witnessing the shocking outcome: Jason Galvin (“Unbelievable”) and Ida Zetterstrom (“Wow”).
Herrera had one of his worst reaction times of the season, .084. Then came the shifting problem, ending his ride at 7.370 seconds, 141.31 mph.
“It’s disappointment, it’s a heartbreak,” Herrera said. “I don’t know what happened. It was shifting from second to fourth and then went into false neutral. After that, I pushed the (shifter) button and there was nothing there.”
Even worse, the loss caused Herrera to drop from the top spot in the PSM standings to fourth place, 71 markers behind new leader and event winner Richard Gadson. But Herrera is confident going forward that he can rally, something that should scare his rivals because when the usually soft-spoken Herrera gets mad, he rides even better than he usually does.
“We’ll bounce back,” he said. “We’ve got four more races after this. We’re not giving up. We’re going to put up a fight. It’s ‘game on’ now. We’ll be back.”
Marc Ingwersen won the quad that included Herrera at 6.863, 195.36). But that wasn’t the end of first-round upsets. In his first race of the season, North Carolina native Marcus Hylton (7.055, 187.83) finished second in his quad to advance to the semifinals, the first time in his career that he’s advanced out of the first round in PSM.
When asked if he ever thought he would have reached the second round, Hylton – choking up and on the verge of happy tears – said, “Never. I was like, ‘Just make it to Sunday.’ That was our biggest thing, to just make it to Sunday. To actually have my first-ever … round win on Sunday – oh, my God, this is such a blessing.”
Unfortunately, Hylton and Ingwersen were ousted in the semis.
Lastly, veteran Ron “The Rat” Tornow lost in the first round, effectively ending his PSM career. Tornow had already announced he would be retiring from racing after the event.
6 – THAT WON’T BUFF OUT – Three-time Funny Car champ Ron Capps suffered an engine explosion in the second round of the 4-Wide Nationals that sheared off the back half of his car body.
Capps was approaching the 330-foot mark when the engine detonated, and in a flash, his NAPA Toyota was converted into a convertible.
It was fortuitous that when the body blew off, it also activated the parachutes on Capps’ car, allowing him to maintain control. He slowly coasted to a stop – unlike the ending of a similar incident early in the season when the car slammed into the wall at Phoenix.
“My God, that was probably as big a concussion because it knocked the wind out of me this time,” a shaken Capps said at the top end of the track. “Even though the body left, I couldn’t breathe for a little bit – but other than that, I’m fine.
“I tried to get out and wave to my mom; tried to find out which camera was closest, to show her I was alright. But, man, I’ve gotta stop doing that.”
Capps leaves Charlotte third in the standings, 94 points behind Sunday’s race winner and defending Funny Car champ Austin Prock; Lastly, “Fast Jack” Beckman didn’t come close to living up to his nickname, with an uncharacteristically slow .138 reaction time that effectively ended his run before it even got started. Ironically, Beckman still wound up with the quickest run of his quad, even in a losing cause, at 3.939 seconds. Beckman is now fourth, 98 points behind Prock.
7 – CRUZ AND THE RAIDERS – Cruz Pedregon has been drag racing for over 40 years, so he’s seen the highest of highs and lowest of lows – and how quickly fortunes can shift from one race to the next.
The two-time NHRA Funny Car champion gave himself an early 62nd birthday present with a convincing win in the opening round of this year’s Countdown to the Championship last week at Maple Grove Raceway.
But such was not the case in the second Countdown race. Pedregon lost in the opening round of the 4-Wide Nationals, but he’s still excited about his chances in the four remaining events and his opportunity to win a third NHRA Funny Car crown.
“That’s the obvious,” Pedregon said when asked if he’s having a good playoff. “The car ran real good this weekend. For us to come back and qualify fourth after qualifying seventh and winning the race in Pennsylvania, and to come back here and really go down the track every run, we’re happy.
“Obviously, we got beat the first round, but we dropped a cylinder. So that’s the equivalent of fighting with one hand tied behind your back, and we were still giving those guys a run. Yeah, we’re back.”
Pedregon leaves Charlotte sixth in the Funny Car standings, 152 points behind Prock, heading to the third race of the six-race Countdown, next weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis.
8 – STEWART: WE’RE STILL IN THE THIS – It’s been a busy week – and in some instances, a tough one – for Tony Stewart. First, he announced that wife Leah Pruett will be returning to drive her Top Fuel dragster for Tony Stewart Racing starting next season. Tony has said numerous times that he was merely “keeping the seat warm for Leah” when he took over driving duties on the TSR Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Top Fuel dragster when his wife went on hiatus after the 2023 season so she and Stewart could start a family.
With Leah now having announced her plans to return, many fans and fellow competitors assumed that the 54-year-old Stewart might decide to end his brief drag racing career.
Then, only a few days later, and saying he wouldn’t want to race Leah if she was a TSR teammate, Stewart shocked the sport when he announced that he would continue racing in Top Fuel next season – not for his own team, but for the Richard Freeman-owned Elite Motorsports. TSR and Elite had recently announced a joint marketing effort, but having Tony drive for Elite wasn’t originally mentioned.
When TSR came to Charlotte for the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals this weekend, things started and ended rough for the NASCAR Hall of Famer. On Friday, the team had to abort its first qualifying attempt due to a mechanical malfunction. He eventually qualified No. 4 (3.760 E.T., 329.67 mph) in Friday’s Q2 session and carried that time/speed through Saturday.
Things looked promising Sunday until he lost in the semifinal quad to eventual event winner Justin Ashley. For a driver who came into the event just 18 points behind Top Fuel standings leader Doug Kalitta, Stewart – the regular-season champion – has dropped to fourth place in the standings, 68 points behind Kalitta with four races left in the Countdown.
But Stewart isn’t giving up. He’s ready to throw down the gauntlet.
“We have four more races to go dig and try to gain ground back,” Stewart said. “We’re not out of this thing by any means. We have the bit in our teeth, so we’ll go bust our butts next week and see what we can do to keep gaining some of these points back.”
9 – HYDE STILL SEEKING – Funny Car driver Spencer Hyde continues to make his case for NHRA Rookie of the Year honors with another strong performance in this weekend’s 4-Wide Nationals.
The driver of the Head Inc. Ford Mustang got off to a good start in the opening round, turning in an effort of 3.944 seconds at 325.06 mph, which sent him into the second round along with Chad Green. The other two drivers in that opening round, Cruz Pedregon and Alexis DeJoria, fell short in their respective efforts to advance.
“We had a little pow-wow in the lounge this morning,” Hyde told NHRA.TV. “We said, ‘We’ve just got to go down the racetrack, make good A to B runs.’
“We came up here with a plan of going 3.93 [or] 3.94, and that’s exactly what we did. And I’m pretty confident these boys will make it happen two more times today, and hopefully we can put this baby in the winner’s circle.”
Unfortunately, the Stratford, Ontario, Canada native, who came into Sunday’s action eighth in the Funny car standings, wasn’t able to get past the semifinal round.
Still, Hyde, who also holds dual NHRA licensing with a Top Fuel endorsement, has been enjoying a very good debut year in Funny Car.
Since making his debut in the class at the season-opening Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, it didn’t take long for Hyde to win his first specialty event, capturing the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge in April in Las Vegas. Continuing on, the 34-year-old Hyde reached his first final round at Epping, New Hampshire, and then did so again at Sonoma, California.
More recently, he earned his first No. 1 qualifier in the Countdown to the Championship playoff opener last week at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Hyde leaves Charlotte still eighth in the Funny Car standings, 166 points behind Prock.
It’s clear that Hyde continues to improve. To date, he has reset his career-best speed three times this season: Chicago (331.61 mph), Epping (333.08 mph), and Sonoma (333.58), the latter which remains his fastest performance. Meanwhile, his quickest E.T. to date this season has been 3.863 seconds.
10 – CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE – NHRA and zMAX Dragway received a number of congratulatory plaudits for track preparation of the four-lane track.
That had to make officials feel good, especially since this weekend marked the first time a four-wide event has been part of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
It was both a different yet also exciting change to the usual two-lane Countdown playoff format.
The lanes were so evenly prepared all weekend that there was a marked reduction in drivers smoking the tires coming off the starting line compared to usual two-lane events.
“A lot of people talked about that being down there,” Top Fuel racer Ida Zetterstrom, who was in the broadcast booth Sunday, said on NHRA.TV. “Sometimes it may look like it might spin the tires in one lane, but it was actually to be pushing more to try and find the limit.
“And the reason they could do that was because the lanes were so even, and they wanted to try and find that baseline.”
SATURDAY NOTEBOOK – AN EXPLOSIVE DAY AS LEADERBOARD REMAINS UNCHANGED
1 – NO EXTRA OOOPMHH FOR BRITTANY TO WIN THIRD TITLE – Don’t ask Brittany Force if winning a championship in her final season will mean more. Or if she’s already thinking about ending her career with a title run.
The two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion said her focus remains on race day, round wins, and putting herself in position to stay alive in the Countdown.
“There’s always that push to be a champion,” Force said. “So that would be saying that a few years ago in 2020, were we kind of just halfway pushing? No, we’re always pushing because why else would we be out here if we’re not pushing for that No. 1 spot?”
Force dismissed the idea of easing off in any season. “If you’re coming out here with a team that, ‘Oh, if we win, okay. Awesome. If we don’t, oh well, we’ll pack up and go home,’ then you’re with the wrong group of people,” she said.
She pointed to last year’s championship battle, which remained open until the final two races.
“I stood on that stage with five other drivers. … We fully went in believing we are going to do everything we can, we are going to push for that number one spot,” Force said. “We fell short, but we never doubt this team. We never doubt ourselves. We’re always pushing to go to the top.”
Force resisted looking too far ahead about her prospects of winning a third title.
“To me, to be already looking at Pomona, that’s far too down the road,” she said. “I need to focus on this weekend, looking at race day tomorrow, turning on some win lights, and ending up in that winner’s circle.”
Her immediate attention is on qualifying positions, bonus points, and race-day execution.
“We want qualify top three, top five would be awesome, picking up bonus points and really going rounds on race day,” she said. “That’s where we keep on struggling.”
2 – LEADERBOARD REMAINS UNCHANGED – Matt Hagan powered to the No. 1 spot in Funny Car at zMAX Dragway, taking his second top qualifier of the season and the 54th of his career at the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals. He was joined by Brittany Force in Top Fuel, Dallas Glenn in Pro Stock, and Gaige Herrera in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Hagan’s Friday night run of 3.891 seconds at 329.67 mph in his Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat held through Saturday. The four-time Funny Car champion, currently fifth in points, will open eliminations in a tough quad with J.R. Todd, Jack Beckman, and John Smith.
“We’ve been down the racetrack all four times in every lane, and I think that’s a real positive,” Hagan said. “I truly feel like maybe we found that problem that’s cost us a couple blow-ups with the ignition switch, so everything’s looking good on the graphs and the crew chief seems to be pretty confident about everything.”
Ron Capps moved to second with a 3.899 at 329.67 mph, while points leader Austin Prock qualified third with a 3.900.
Force secured her fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season in Top Fuel with Friday’s 3.698 at 338.85 mph in her HendrickCars.com dragster. The two-time world champion also made the quickest run of Saturday in warmer conditions, adding confidence heading into eliminations against Tony Stewart and Shawn Reed.
“Qualifying was outstanding for us this weekend,” Force said. “We had four solid, consistent runs down the dragstrip and we were in the heat both days. The heat is always when we struggle. We’re all very happy with that.”
Doug Kalitta was second with a 3.700, followed by Steve Torrence at 3.720. Reed, fresh off a win in Reading, Pennsylvania, a week ago, had the quickest Saturday run at 3.767.
In Pro Stock, Glenn stayed on top with his 6.535 at 209.69 mph from Friday, marking his sixth No. 1 qualifier of the year and second straight in the playoffs. “It’s been such a fantastic season … to get half of my No. 1’s in one season shows how good this car is right now,” Glenn said.
Herrera picked up his sixth top spot of the year in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a 6.757 at 201.22 mph on his Vance & Hines Suzuki. “You realize you only have six races left and you’ve got to make them count,” Herrera said. “It’s just a different challenge and you have to have a different mindset going into it.”
Eliminations begin Sunday at 11:30 a.m. EDT at zMAX Dragway.
3 – AN EXPLOSIVE TOP FUEL Q3 – Saturday’s opening Top Fuel session was not one for teams with weak wallets or a low parts inventory. In two massive boomers, Justin Ashley and Clay Millican destroyed the injector hats on their engines.
In Millican’s case, the engine explosion sent shrapnel Kalitta’s way, hitting the past NHRA champion’s front wing. Kalitta was uninjured and the Mac Tools dragster appeared to escape unscathed.
Interestingly, both Rick Ware Racing Top Fuel cars, Millican and Schumacher, were MIA for the Q4 sessions.
4 – THE FROG INTO THE FRYING PAN PRINCIPLE – Matt Hagan has had his share of engine explosions in recent months, and the lessons have been sobering. He said drivers never see them coming, have little control once they occur, and must climb back into the car quickly to keep moving forward.
The four-time Funny Car champion described the experience as sudden and disorienting. “It’s like you’re trucking along, the car’s running great, and then boom!,” Hagan said.
At zMAX Dragway, he recounted how his crew spent 15 hours searching for causes after a series of “boomers.” They flew in early, checked measurements, and inspected the valve lash, but never found an obvious problem.
“I think sometimes you have little things that add up into one big thing,” Hagan said. “Unfortunately, I really feel that’s what we’ve had.”
A recent test uncovered a failing ignition switch that was intermittently shutting the car off, which Hagan believes caused his most-recent explosion.
“Anytime you turn the ignition off on one of these fuel cars and are loaded full of fuel, you better have your shield on tight,” he said.
Despite the setbacks, Hagan said the back-to-back clean runs in Charlotte were reassuring “To come out here and make two good runs back to back and then be sitting one … I really thought it would take an 86, 87 to go up there and do that, but all in all, it took an 89, and we’re glad to do that,” he said.
He credited his crew, and also acknowledged the support of Dodge representatives on site.
“Mark Whitney’s in the house, and he’s here with Dodge. They don’t get to make a whole lot of races, so when they do, we really appreciate trying to put on a show for everybody,” Hagan said.
The veteran also called the weekend a personal one, noting the proximity of family and friends. “This is hometown for me, too. We got a lot of folks just down the road here, two hours,” Hagan said. “Coming up on 20 some years of doing this, and it’s been nice to stand at the ropes – and the line never ends.”
Asked about the anxiety level when strapping in again after repeated explosions, Hagan gave a blunt analogy. “You’re riding a bomb, you know what I mean? It’s one of those things where you’re always thinking about it.”
He compared the intensity of fire in the cockpit to extreme situations people see from afar.
“One of my first fires, I realized why people jump out of a burning skyscraper,” Hagan said. “It gets so hot, and you just want out.”
Hagan said it is like throwing a frog on a frying pan. “He’s like, ‘I’m jumping out of here, man. I don’t care what’s going on, whatever’s ledge over there … whatever,’” he said.
The danger is compounded by the uncertainty. “When you have some big boomers in a row, and you come back and your guys can’t really pinpoint what’s going on, you definitely hit the pedal with a little bit of like a, ‘ooh,’” Hagan said.
The cockpit allows little room for movement, but the preparation is meticulous. “Not so much duck and cover, because there ain’t a whole lot to move around in there, but you press on that… the Stilo helmet, there’s a little clip right there and you press it down, and you’re like, ‘Get it clipped,’ and then you press it again and make sure you clip,” he said.
Hagan noted that the nature of Funny Cars makes explosions inevitable. “That’s part of driving a fuel funny car, right? We’re going to blow them up,” he said.
He dismissed criticism that teams should simply back down tune-ups.
“People say a lot of times on the internet, you go, ‘Well, just tune them to where they won’t blow up and then there’s no issue,’ but we have parts … The last two of my blow-ups have been parts failure,” he said.
The veteran said the cycle is as old as the class itself. “It’s not because the tune-up’s off, it’s not because we’re trying to push too hard. They break, man. That’s just the evolution of the sport. They’ve always blown up for decades, and they’re going to always blow up as long as the sport’s in existence with nitro in the tank.”
Hagan said toughness is a requirement to drive Funny Cars. He recalled Ron Capps once brushing off a burn while working on an exhaust vent, saying simply, “I’m a funny car driver.”
“That’s just one of those things, you got to be tough,” Hagan said. “It is going to happen and you just got to be ready for it – and hopefully, you got enough safety stuff around you to get through that situation.”
He pointed to Paul Lee’s fiery explosion Friday night as an example of the constant risk. “That was a nasty fire. Thank God he’s okay,” Hagan said. “But it’s one of those things where I think, when you crawl in, ‘Hey, that could happen today,’ so you just try to put the right gear on and hope the best comes.”
5 – TO THE COUCH YOU GO – Leah Pruett is beyond eager to return to NHRA Top Fuel competition. Though sidelined during the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, her comeback is set for 2026, marking the end of her hiatus to start a family.
Pruett stepped away after the 2023 season, delivering a son, Dominic, last November. She left with unfinished business, having finished a career-best third in the 2023 standings after contending for the championship until the final race.
“It’s a new dynamic. I’ve never done it before – being a mother back into a race car,” Pruett said. “One thing about Tony Stewart Racing is everything that we do is very methodical, and no different than my decision to get back in.”
Pruett has tested occasionally, including a session at Virginia Motorsports Park this summer that convinced her it was time to return full time.
“I’m more in tune with the race car, with the team, with our technology, than I’ve ever been in my whole life,” she said. “I look forward to what Leah, the racer, will be like back inside that race car with this exact same team.”
She admitted balancing motherhood and driving produced humorous moments.
“I did not remember that I had a son and I was a mother until I had to stop and pump and pack my pair of shoes with pumps and all of that,” she said with a laugh. “And we drove for like that’s the world’s fastest breast milk.”
One looming storyline is her possible on-track matchups with her husband, Tony Stewart. The NASCAR Hall of Famer originally said he would step aside from Top Fuel when Pruett returned, but a new deal with Elite Motorsports will put him in another dragster next season when funding is available.
“I knew my husband, and him being on the sidelines is not anywhere part of his DNA,” Pruett said. “Before going public that I was back in a car, I needed to make sure that Tony was going to be driving something.”
Pruett said she welcomes the challenge. “I want to see someone who was my student absolutely thrive,” she said, speaking of Stewart. “Of course, I want to run against [him]. So many people got to run against” him and beat him, though he did win the 2025 regular-season championship for Top Fuel competitors.
She ended with her trademark humor. “I think it is nothing but a privilege to be able to race each other. So why not? We get to live our dream competing and, if he beats me, you know, he goes on the couch.”
6 – PAUL LEE: IT’S ABOUT HONORING A GOOD MAN – Several NHRA teams arrived at zMAX Dragway this weekend carrying decals in memory of Charlie Kirk, the conservative commentator gunned down Sept. 10 while addressing an audience at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Funny Car driver Paul Lee took the tribute one step further, unveiling a mural of Kirk on the escape hatch of his car as a way of honoring a man he admired. Lee said his decision was about respect, not politics.
“I’ve been watching Charlie Kirk’s videos on Instagram for at least a year, year and a half, and it was always inspiring about how he resonated and communicated with the young people of today,” Lee said. “And I think it was super important for that, to have someone like Charlie to be able to connect with the young people, because I think that’s really missing in our world. And he filled that void of what we needed as the young people to become better character people.”
Lee explained that Kirk’s ability to speak directly to college students stood out in today’s divided culture. “I think he did that through having intelligent conversation,” he said. “He was always open, and I love the way he went to the colleges because I think the colleges today are polluted by activist teachers. And Charlie would go and have intelligent conversation with these college students, which is very healthy for our society.”
The mural has already prompted reaction, with some suggesting politics should remain separate from sports. Lee dismissed that idea, insisting his message is about honoring an individual, not advancing an agenda.
“Well, that’s what it is,” he said. “Everybody’s saying, ‘Well, you should keep … I saw a couple messages already, ‘You should keep politics out of sports.’ I said, ‘It has nothing to do with politics.’ It’s no different than having all these other stickers honoring someone. I’m honoring a good man, a Christian, a father and a husband. That’s who I’m honoring.”
Lee pointed to similar tributes the sport has embraced over the years, such as decals honoring past drivers and crew members.
“It’s no different than my Tom ‘The Mongoose’ McEwen sticker on the back. I’m honoring Tom ‘The Mongoose’ McEwen. I’m honoring good people. We have an Eric Medlen sticker on the car. I’m honoring Eric Medlen. It’s not political at all. It’s about honoring someone that’s a good person,” he said.
The loss of Kirk, who built a national following through his speaking tours, writings and youth-focused events, has reverberated far beyond politics. His presence on college campuses often sparked debate, but also drew large audiences eager to engage with him. Lee said that example of open dialogue resonated with him personally.
By choosing to memorialize Kirk on his Funny Car, Lee also highlighted the role drag racing has long played in honoring figures important to drivers, teams and fans. Tributes to Eric Medlen, Scott Kalitta, and other late racers remain part of the culture, with decals and murals often displayed long after their passing.
For Lee, adding Kirk’s likeness to his car continues that tradition.
7 – STILL BRINGING THE RESULTS – Since 1998, Drag Race Central has served as one of drag racing’s most reliable resources for fans seeking quick, accurate results. Nearly three decades later, Rick Green and Dave Rowe continue to maintain the site as the go-to source for run-by-run data, even as technology and media platforms have changed.
Green said his motivation has never wavered. “I’ve just grown up loving the sport and continue to love it, and so that’s what drives me,” he said. That passion fuels long days at the track. “Before the first car goes down the track until after the last car goes down the track, and then at least another 45 minutes. So, depending on the day at the racetrack, a long day.”
The concept began with founder Ed Dykes and software engineer Larry Sullivan, who developed the program that still powers the site. When Dykes died in a plane crash in January, Green inherited the project and turned it into a full-time job.
“Ed had just met with the Summit Racing Equipment people and was on his way home and had an airplane crash, and they called me and said they wanted to keep doing it and if I’d wanted to take it on,” Green said. “So that’s when I figured, ‘Well, I’ll jump on the boat and we’ll see if it sinks or goes.’”
Green admits Drag Race Central has stayed narrowly focused on results rather than expanding into other media.
“Drag Race Central is basically a results website. It’s nothing really more,” he said. “I put stories and stuff in there, but it’s basically where you go to get your results.”
At its peak, nearly 10 reporters contributed to the site. Sponsorship cuts and logistical changes reduced that number, but Green said the experience helped launch careers.
“Dave’s the only one that’s left out of those 10,” he said. “Some of them became division directors and some of them [were] track managers. In a way, it gave some of those younger kids a start in drag racing they wouldn’t have had without Drag Race Central.”
For Green, the mission remains clear. “I always think of trying to make Ed Dykes proud,” he said. “So far, it’s stayed afloat.”
8 – HART COMPLETING UNFINISHED BUSINESS – While Josh Hart has sold his Top Fuel operation to Elite Motorsports for Tony Stewart to drive next season, the Ocala, Florida, racer made it clear Saturday he is not stepping away from NHRA competition.
Asked before the second round of qualifying at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals if he plans to return in 2026, Hart was direct.
“One hundred percent – not a question,” he said. “It never even entered into my mind not to race. I couldn’t believe some of the press that came out of my statement. I just don’t want to and never did intend to own a Top Fuel team.”
Hart, who drives the R+L Carriers/TechNet dragster, would not disclose whether he will remain in Top Fuel or switch classes. It is likely he will align with an existing team or become a driver for hire. He entered the Charlotte event 10th in points, 132 behind leader Doug Kalitta.
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His decision to sell caught many in the sport off guard. Hart said increased obligations with his Burnyzz Speed Shop in Ocala, which builds custom hot rods and restores muscle cars, made team ownership unsustainable.
“I never intended to own a Top Fuel team, and the hand that I was dealt pushed me in that direction,” he said. “We followed the standard operating procedure on how to build a Top Fuel team. I think we did a heck of a job. Our stuff is second to none, but it’s just not working for me.”
Hart said balancing racing, his business, and his family is no longer possible.
“I feel like that business grew up at the same time that my race team did, and it’s not fair to either side for me to split the time and try to be the best I can be at either one,” he said. “So this move, to me, is very important to my future in NHRA.”
He credited Elite Motorsports owner Richard Freeman for purchasing the equipment, effective at the end of the season.
“Elite Motorsports and Richard Freeman, he’s always been good to me. They’re getting a heck of an operation where they don’t have to apologize for anything or anyone.”
Hart added that he wants to reward his current crew before the season ends.
“I pledged my allegiance to my team to make sure that they landed softly,” he said. “I love those guys. They’ve been great to me. I want to try to get them a Wally before the end of the year. Obviously, we got five more shots of doing that.”
9 – THE TOP FUEL LADDER – Short fields play havoc on the 16-car ladder, but when it comes to the four-wide format, it takes the headache to a new level. Sunday’s first round will feature two three-wide races. The No. 1 and No. 2 qualifiers will be in those three wide races, and two will advance to the second round.
10 – THE UNSUNG ESSENTIAL – In drag racing, where 11,000-horsepower engines launch cars from zero to over 330 mph in less than four seconds, grip is as critical as horsepower. Without traction compound, those runs would be impossible.
That reality has made PJH TrackBite one of the sport’s essential tools. For nearly two decades, Superior Industrial Solutions has manufactured the compound, ensuring consistency across NHRA, IHRA, and grassroots tracks. Company president Kurt Hettinga said its importance cannot be overstated.
“You could not do what they do with the horsepower they have without something sticky being on the track,” Hettinga said. “Track grip is an obsession with tuners and track specialists, and we play a very important role in making sure the traction compound being applied is the same thing every time.”
Since 2007, Superior produced PJH TrackBite under a toll manufacturing agreement. In July 2024, it acquired the brand’s formulas, logos, and business assets, moving beyond production to full commercial operations.
“The only thing that changed was we took over the commercial responsibilities for the brand in addition to the manufacturing responsibilities,” Hettinga said. “Same great products, same uncompromising quality, now with a future that is secure.”
Distribution also shifted. Previously reliant on outside partners, Superior now sells directly through its own fleet and multiple U.S. facilities.
“Instead of them having to buy through distribution, they could just buy direct from us,” Hettinga said. “We’re able to ship the product from eight locations instead of just one.”
The formula itself has remained steady through brand transitions from VHT to PJ1 to PJH. Hettinga said consistency is key.
“By employing exacting standards in the raw materials and production of TrackBite, and verifying those specifications throughout the process with quality control testing, you’ll know that every drum has been, and will be, the same.”
Superior’s ISO 9001:2015 certification backs that process, with adhesion testing on every batch.
“When performance issues on the track come up, our customers have come to realize it’s not the glue, freeing them up to pursue other variables,” Hettinga said.
Expanding beyond TrackBite, the company now supplies cleaners used by NHRA for oil-downs, and is developing products to help tracks recover faster.
“What can we add to the product line that will help get fans into the seats by making races more competitive, making tracks more consistent, and speeding up the amount of time it takes to recover a track?” Hettinga said.
Drag racing may be defined by speed and horsepower, but Hettinga said its foundation lies in preparation. “TrackBite’s always going to be there,” he said. “That’s never going to change.”
FRIDAY NOTEBOOK – HEAD GETS INVOLVED IN THE TETHERING CHALLENGE, MILLICAN’S BLUE-COLLAR APPROACH
1 – JIM HEAD ENTERS TETHERING THINK-TANK – The debate over the National Hot Rod Association’s Funny Car tethering system has developed another storyline. Veteran car owner and crew chief Jim Head said he is working on ideas to address unintended consequences of the rule.
The system was mandated in April 2013 after Robert Hight’s engine explosion at the Charlotte 4-Wide Nationals launched bodywork over the fence surrounding the course. That incident prompted NHRA to require a dual front-latch and ballistic tethers.
While the tethers have kept bodies attached to the chassis, drivers now face new risks. Explosions have left some racers unable to see through a collapsed carbon-fiber body or forced them to try to steer while battling debris. The issue grew more urgent in July when Buddy Hull crashed during the Sonoma Nationals, and he has not raced since then because of the hand injury he suffered.
After Sonoma, where multiple drivers spoke out, tensions eased when Brainerd and Indianapolis passed without incident. But the controversy returned last weekend at Maple Grove Raceway, when an engine explosion and body collapse occurred during Matt Hagan’s first-round loss.
Head, a Hall of Famer known for innovation, is pursuing ideas he believes can reduce the hazard.
“The first thing I’m doing is I have two new bodies coming, and they’re going to have monstrous burst panels,” Head said. “Bodies won’t raise up if you let out the pressure. Common sense.”
He added that current changes have not gone far enough.
“I was disappointed when Hagan’s car, [which has] some bigger panels … mine are twice that big, my new ones. So, I’m hoping that’s going to really, really help.”
He also credited fellow tuner Tim Wilkerson – and, like Head, a former Funny Car driver – with suggesting firewall changes. “We have to let the pressure out from under the car so they won’t blow the body up, straight up.”
Even as he criticizes the current rules, Head said he will not field a Funny Car without tethers.
“Jim Head will never race a car whose body can go in the stands,” he said. “I ain’t going to Hell for hurting somebody in the stands.”
Head acknowledged the drivers’ frustration with vision-blocking wreckage, but said the hazard isn’t new. “Firewall’s not the only thing that makes you blind in a funny car,” he said. “But we need to work on it.”
He called the situation a case of unintended consequences.
“I’m not mad at the tethers. They fixed a problem,” he said. “But it’s a law of unintended consequences — to fix one problem, another problem pops up.”
His solution is to retain tethers, but prevent bodies from lifting high enough to block a driver’s view.
“Leave the tethers on, just don’t let the bodies come up,” he said.
Head also defended Hagan’s post-explosion comments from Reading as an understandable reaction.
“Let me tell you, you just get out of one of these son of a bitches having done that, you’re just likely to say anything,” he said. “Having been there, done that, you’re just, like, saying anything.”
The broader challenge for NHRA and its teams is balancing fan protection with driver survivability after a catastrophic failure. Head questioned whether NHRA officials have the technical context to dictate a fix without deeper collaboration from teams.
“They can’t figure anything out. They’re not smart enough,” he said. “I don’t mean that derogatorily. If you’ve never raced my car, how do you know how to work on my car?”
The Funny Car ranks are living with a fix that solved one problem and created another, and the pressure for answers is only building. For Head, the path forward is simple: keep the fans safe, but let the racers help shape the solution.
“We can help them if they’d work with us,” he said. “We’re smart enough – we, meaning crew chiefs that have been doing this for years, years, and years.”
2 – A TALE OF TWO BLASTS – Matt Hagan has experienced two different kinds of blasts in the past week. Last Sunday in Reading, Pennsylvania, the multi-time Funny Car champion exploded an engine that destroyed the body of his car, and sparked a tirade against NHRA’s tethering rule after he was left driving blind.
On Friday night at zMAX Dragway, Hagan delivered a different kind of explosion. He drove his Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat to the provisional No. 1 spot with a 3.891-second run at 329.67 mph – the only pass in the 3.80s during the session.
The performance was a strong recovery from Reading’s destruction and positioned him for what could be his second No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 54th of his career. The four-time titlist praised his team for quickly turning the car around after the setback.
“I was actually giving my guys a hard time in the lanes. They were pulling primary [clutch weight] off of it, and I’m wanting them to put primary on it, and they’re like, ‘Just shut up and drive,’” Hagan said. “They give me a mouthpiece for a reason. But it was a great run.”
Hagan enters Charlotte 55 points behind leader Austin Prock and sees the weekend as an opportunity to close the gap at a track where he has experienced success. His crew worked overtime to ensure the car was ready after recent struggles.
“We’ve had some pretty bad boomers here lately and they’ve been giving no warning,” Hagan said. “The guys spent 15 hours here yesterday, you know, going through everything, flying in early, doing all the measurements, making sure the [valve] lashes are right, all that kind of stuff. So, to come out here and make two good runs back to back and then be sitting [No. 1], I’m glad to do that.”
Austin Prock is second with a run of 3.900 at 327.74. Last weekend’s winner, Cruz Pedregon, made a pair of solid runs, including a 3.910 at 320.28 to put him third.
3 – MAKING HAY WHILE THE SUN IS DOWN – Brittany Force understands there’s no time like the present. The two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion made the quickest run of the day Friday at zMAX Dragway, powering to the provisional No. 1 qualifier at the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals.
Force ran a 3.698-second pass at 338.85 mph in her HendrickCars.com dragster, becoming the only driver in the field to dip into the 3.60s. The performance comes a week after she announced her retirement from full-time competition at the end of the 2025 season.
If her spot holds through Saturday, it would mark Force’s fifth No. 1 qualifier this year and the 57th of her career. The effort was also important in rebounding from a second-round loss in Reading that dropped her to seventh in points following the first event in the Countdown to the Championship.
“I don’t know why I had a good feeling about it,” Force said. “I saw the cars out ahead of us going low 3.70s and I don’t know why it popped in my head, ‘3.69.’ We’ve done it before and I felt like we could do it, and they told me 3.69 down there on the top end. Sometimes the driver is just in tune and you know what we’re aiming to run.”
She added that the atmosphere under the lights enhanced the moment. “This is such a beautiful facility,” Force said. “To pull up here and it’s dark out, you’ve got lights going all the way down the racetrack and then just to see these cars go down the track, flames coming out of the headers, there’s nothing like it. It’s still exciting for me and especially to be in the car.”
Force is no stranger to success at Charlotte, with several memorable moments at the facility in her career. She emphasized that her focus now is on putting together a strong weekend after an uneven start to the playoffs.
Doug Kalitta, the Countdown points leader, holds the No. 2 spot after a 3.700 at 332.18. Four-time NHRA champion Steve Torrence is third with a 3.720 at 331.28 as the field prepares for two more qualifying sessions Saturday.
4 – DALLAS DOES CHARLOTTE – Dallas Glenn kept his playoff surge rolling Friday night at zMAX Dragway, racing to the provisional No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock at the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals.
Glenn clocked a 6.535-second run at 209.69 mph to grab the top spot and position himself for his sixth No. 1 qualifier of the season. The result came less than a week after his victory at Maple Grove Raceway to open the Countdown to the Championship.
The points leader has also built a winning tradition in Charlotte, taking victories at the last two events at the facility, including last fall’s show. His record at zMAX Dragway, combined with his strong start to the playoffs, made Friday’s performance less a surprise than a continuation of form.
“I felt pretty good coming in here,” Glenn said. “We’ve definitely got a hot streak going, and I’ve got a great car right now. As long as we can keep going up there and keep making good rounds and keep putting pressure on [the competition], we can just let everybody else make mistakes.”
Glenn added that the four-wide format continues to challenge drivers in ways the traditional two-lane setup does not.
“The four-wides are tougher,” he said. “There is a lot going on. It’s very, very chaotic, so we just have to go up there and make sure we make good clean quality runs.”
Reigning NHRA Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson, sits right behind his teammate after posting the same 6.535 elapsed time but at a slightly slower 209.20 mph. Eric Latino is third with a 6.538 at 208.01 as the Pro Stock field looks ahead to two more qualifying sessions Saturday.
5 – NO STUMBLE, JUST RUMBLE – Gaige Herrera answered last week’s stumble with a strong statement Friday at zMAX Dragway, taking the provisional No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock Motorcycle at the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals.
The two-time reigning champion recorded the quickest pass in both sessions, highlighted by a 6.757-second run at 201.22 mph aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki. The performance came just a week after he fell in the second round at Maple Grove Raceway to open the Countdown to the Championship.
Herrera entered Charlotte six points behind Matt Smith, but Friday’s consistency put him on pace for his sixth No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 29th of his career. Maple Grove has long been a challenging venue for Herrera, but his Charlotte start suggested he is back in form.
“Coming out here and making two good runs is kind of just what we needed after last weekend,” Herrera said. “I went out in round two and Richard [Gadson, teammate] went out in the semis and it felt like we just missed it. We were ready to leave that place and come here.”
Herrera said the four-wide format brings its own challenges compared to traditional two-lane competition. “We just hope to keep that fast, consistent motorcycle all weekend,” he said. “You know, [in four wide racing] you have a different mindset going into it. You’ve got to go up there and pay attention to not only one rider, but three more.”
Gadson was second on the list after the opening day with a 6.760 at 200.26. Smith, the six-time NHRA champion and defending Charlotte event winner in two-wide format, sits third after a 6.768 at 201.01.
6 – BLUE COLLAR WORLD MEETS BLUE COLLAR RACING – Clay Millican’s Top Fuel dragster may be quick on the racetrack, but its sponsorship lineup is built on steady, blue-collar reliability.
This weekend at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, Millican carries backing from Champion Irrigation Products, along with Arrowhead Brass and Schluter-Systems, all of which are tied to plumbing and construction. Longtime partners such as Parts Plus, Edelbrock, Comp Cams, Weld Racing, and Lincoln Electric also remain central to his program.
“If you think about it, all of those companies are tied into plumbing,” Millican said. “Schluter is in the tile business. Champion Irrigation is plumbing. Arrowhead Brass makes the fittings.”
For Millican, 59, of Drummonds, Tennessee, the fit is natural.
“It’s my kind of people – plumbers, mechanics, warehouse people. I love it,” he said. “They bring customers, they bring clients, and they get to hang out here, watch the races.”
Sponsorship is critical in drag racing, and Millican credits Rick Ware Racing’s reach across multiple motorsports platforms. “Rick Ware Racing has such a reach,” Millican said. “If a sponsor comes in the door, it gets shared amongst all those platforms — NHRA Top Fuel, NASCAR, World Supercross, and American Flat Track. Companies are obviously liking it.”
He’s had a rotating look this year: Champion this week, Schluter last week, Mighty Fire Breaker earlier in the season, and Arby’s, among others.
“For me, it’s fun. It’s like, alright, what’s the car going to look like this week? And what’s my firesuit going to say?” Millican said.
A six-time IHRA Top Fuel champion, Millican continues to chase his first NHRA crown. He’s off to a strong start in 2025, having won the Winternationals and notching runner-up outings at Norwalk and Brainerd. He also claimed a No. 1 qualifier spot in the Countdown opener at Reading. His career totals stand at eight NHRA wins, 28 finals, a best E.T. of 3.628 seconds, and top speed of 338.26 mph.
Millican’s best NHRA season finish was third in 2018, but he believes this could be the breakthrough year. “Hope springs eternal,” he said, knowing rivals like Tony Stewart, Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon, Brittany Force, and Justin Ashley stand in the way.
Hospitality, he added, is a big reason sponsors stay. “This is year 14 or 15 that Parts Plus has been my major sponsor, and it’s because of what you can do with hospitality in drag racing. Racing’s what we love, and hospitality gives me a great opportunity to bench race.”
7 – STANFIELD READY FOR HIS CHAOS MOMENT – Elite Performance and team owner Richard Freeman are expanding into new territory, having this week announced the purchase of Josh Hart Racing’s Top Fuel assets effective at the end of the season. With the move, Aaron Stanfield will join teammate Erica Enders as one of the drivers set to license in the team’s first Top Fuel entry.
Stanfield, a multi-time Pro Stock winner, has built his reputation on precision driving and calm execution behind the wheel. While both classes fall under the NHRA professional banner, their differences are stark. Pro Stock requires exacting procedures in clutch operation and shifting, while Top Fuel demands a driver control 11,000 horsepower in under four seconds. He called the opportunity a long-term goal.
“I really love Pro Stock and the fact that it’s very technical, if you will,” he said. “But I know the rules currently are a pro driver can only drive one professional category. I think in the things I’ve done in my career, I’ve prepared myself to be able to do something like that and drive in two different categories. For myself, that would be the goal. But currently, right now, I’m set to test and license in a Top Fuel car.”
Stanfield made clear that Pro Stock remains part of his immediate plans.
“Pro Stock is still in my future currently,” he said, “and I really look forward to driving a Top Fuel car. It looks like a whole heck of a lot of fun.”
The program’s roster will also include NASCAR and IndyCar champion Tony Stewart, who has made a high-profile shift into drag racing. Stanfield praised Stewart’s approach. “Of all the things he’s accomplished in motorsports, and to see how humble he is, and the student approach he takes to motorsports, it’s incredible to me to be able to get to be a part of that and see it. I’m just looking forward to our future.”
On the workload differences, Stanfield admitted the comparison is difficult until he makes a run. “You’re pretty busy in these Pro Stock cars. And I haven’t driven a Top Fuel car, so I don’t know what it’s going to be like, but I’m sure it’s intense. I can imagine.”
He understands there’s a precedent for competing in both Pro Stock and Top Fuel in the same event, an outing that earned Kenny Koretsky the nickname ‘Captain Chaos.’
“Yep. I know Kenny raced my dad [Greg]. I know Johnny Gray bounced back between the two. I think it can definitely be done, just need NHRA to allow it,” he said. “And I think I’ve prepared myself for something like that. I’ve showed I can drive two different cars in the same weekend and do them both justice.”
Stanfield emphasized the value of his team. “Especially when we have the group of guys around us that we do, we have an incredible team. And I’m sure knowing Richard Freeman, he’s going to build an incredible Top Fuel team as well.”
Respect, he said, will guide him as he adjusts to the sport’s fastest class. “No, I’m going to respect it, but I don’t think you can hop in a car like that and be intimidated. I’m confident. I’ve learned how to drive many different cars. With time, I’m sure there’s going to be challenges and things I didn’t expect, but I’m sure I will be able to learn how to drive that as well.”
For Stanfield, the move represents both continuity and change, building on his Pro Stock foundation while taking on drag racing’s most powerful category. As he put it, “With the people we have around us and the opportunities ahead, I feel like I’m ready for whatever comes next.”
8 – THE REED EFFECT – Three days after the worst crash of his brief NHRA career, Tony Stewart quipped that the best way to recover from the bumps and bruises is “to get right back into it.”
Last Sunday, Stewart and Doug Kalitta collided in the second round of Top Fuel eliminations at Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania. “To get right back into it” means sliding back into the driver’s compartment of his Top Fuel dragster this weekend in the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
In a sense, Stewart was following Shawn Reed’s example. Reed, the 60-year-old Defiance, Missouri, resident was sidelined for six weeks following a crash in Seattle that broke ribs and caused the loss of his left index finger.
Reed returned last weekend at Reading – a week after he won the IHRA’s event at Hebron, Ohio – and turned his comeback into the highlight of his career. Reed beat former NHRA champ Doug Kalitta to earn his first NHRA Wally. The victory marked a dramatic turnaround from one of his lowest personal moments to one of his greatest professional achievements.
“To go from one of the lowest moments of my career to one of the greatest moments of my life was confirmation that I still have it,” Reed said. “And maybe in a strange way I came back better than before.”
His performance also vaulted him into a tie for fifth in the standings with Clay Millican, the highest position of Reed’s NHRA career. Reed said his focus is already on Charlotte. “I don’t think I’ll ever stop celebrating this, but at the time we’ve got to think about today and tomorrow and Sunday,” he said.
Reed joked about his missing finger, saying Friday, “I was pointing with the wrong finger again.” The humor underscored his determination to move forward. Doctors, fans, competitors and NHRA on FOX pit reporter Jordan Vandergriff, who filled in as driver to keep Reed’s Countdown eligibility intact, all played roles in his recovery.
“As much as I was eager to get back out there, I knew it was important not to rush it,” Reed told National Dragster. “My doctors all agreed that Reading seemed like it could be a realistic timeline. I’m happy to report that all 55 stitches and the pin in my thumb have been removed, and I have officially been given the all-clear.”
Confidence grew after crew chief Rob Wendland assured him prior to his first run at Maple Grove, “We’re going down the track.”
Reed’s path to NHRA followed a decorated career in drag boat racing, where he captured numerous championships before shifting to land-based competition. After a four-year hiatus, he committed to a full NHRA season in 2024, and now, in his first complete campaign, he finally earned a Wally.
“It’s been a pretty dang good year,” Reed said, “and it’s not over yet.”
9 – DEFENSIVE DRIVING ON DISPLAY – Defensive driving was definitely a virtue Friday night during Funny Car’s Q2 session. When Paul Lee’s car suffered a massive explosion in the lights, he and J.R. Todd did a high-speed dance to avoid one another. Both escaped with their cars unscathed.
“I saw Paul driving away from me, then I saw it blow up,” Todd said. “Of course, he disappears. Get the chutes out and coasting. Then the next thing I know, he’s rolling by me on fire, and then comes over into my lane, so I grab a handful of brake. At the same time, get on that MPI steering wheel and turn it to the right. And then here he comes to the right, so I got to get back on the brake, try and get the thing stopped, damn near, and back to the left at the same time.
“I had my eyes on him the whole time he’s on fire because, obviously, I mean, he couldn’t see. I’m not sure what was going on. But either way, just making sure I didn’t get into him.”
Lee was unsure what had caused the massive fireball.
“In all the years I’ve been driving, I’ve had very few, but that was definitely the worst one,” Lee said. “It was going a good run, going down there, and right in the lights, right before the finish line, it just let go, and I couldn’t see anything. And I was just worried about getting into J.R.’s lane. You can’t see anything, and the car’s bouncing all over the place.
“Hey, you know what? We got an extra body, and we got some more parts, and we’ll go back and fix it, and come back out for tomorrow.”
10 – THE SPORTSMAN REPORT – Jamie Noonan, Sean Bellemeur and Dean Carter posted the top performances Friday in Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series action at the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
Noonan led the way in Top Alcohol Dragster with a 5.221-second run at 277.94 mph. The Spartanburg, S.C., driver narrowly edged Matthew Cummings, who recorded a 5.224 at 274.89, and Will Smith, who is third with a 5.232 at 279.44.
Melanie Johnson placed fourth after a 5.237 at 270.10, followed by Jackie Fricke with a 5.269 at 277.83. Jon Bradford ran 5.286 at 272.28 for sixth, with Taylor Januik close behind at 5.299. McKenna Bold, Joey Severance and Angelle Sampey rounded out the top 10.
In Top Alcohol Funny Car, Bellemeur claimed the top spot with a 5.481 at 265.64 in his ’24 Camaro. Phil Esz followed with a 5.527 at 261.47, while Chip Beverett placed third after going 5.567 at 261.37. Bob McCosh sits fourth with a 5.636 at 260.66, while Bruce Mullins was fifth at 5.779 and Melinda Green-King sixth at 5.806. Mick Steele and Brian Hough filled out the top eight.
Carter set the pace in Competition Eliminator, earning the No. 1 position with a 6.772-second pass in his Chevy-powered dragster, .648 seconds under his index. Glen Treadwell was second with a 7.744, .616 under, and Melissa Murphy landed third after a 6.769, .611 under.
Monty Bogan placed fourth with an 8.509, .591 under, while Wes Leopold and Larry Pritchett followed in fifth and sixth. Marion Stephenson and Dave Dupps Jr. completed the top eight, both making runs more than a half-second under their respective indexes. Jared Kimbrough finished ninth with a 7.387, .513 under. Keith Roberts and Charles Myers closed out the top 11.
