Justin Ashley added his name to drag racing history Monday, winning the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals for the first time with a holeshot victory over Tony Stewart in the Top Fuel final at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Joining Ashley in the winner’s circle was a dominant Austin Prock (Funny Car), a resurgent Erica Enders (Pro Stock), and a seemingly unbeatable Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
Ashley posted a 3.839-second run at 326.16 mph to Stewart’s quicker 3.815 at 321.88, with a .027 reaction time making the difference in the closest round of the day; the margin of victory was .002 seconds. It was Ashley’s third win of the season and 18th of his career.
“I think I’m still processing everything. I’ve dreamed about this moment over and over and over again, and then to actually live it right now, right here, is truly special,” Ashley said. “When you win Indy, it’s just something that nobody can take away from you, and the fact that my father won here 18 years ago, to have him here now and to win this event in Top Fuel, it really is special. It’s just different than any other race.”
Ashley reached the final round after eliminating Antron Brown, Doug Kalitta, and Tripp Tatum, showing consistency with reaction times of .036, .035 and .034. He credited preparation during the week for his success. “The hardest thing is not to cut a good light, the hardest thing is to cut a good light over and over and over again,” he said.
Stewart, in his second full Top Fuel season, advanced to his fifth final round of the year by defeating Steve Torrence, Kyle Wurtzel, and Jasmine Salinas. With Kalitta’s loss and his semifinal win, Stewart clinched the regular-season championship and its $150,000 bonus.
“Winning the Top Fuel regular-season championship is massive for us in my eyes,” Stewart said. “It took 14 weeks to win a regular-season championship. I feel that we are in as good a spot as we can be for the next six races.” The six-race Countdown to the Championship begins in two weeks at Pennsylvania’s Maple Grove Raceway.
In Funny Car, Prock completed a nearly perfect weekend by defeating teammate Jack Beckman in the final with a 3.903 at 332.92 in his Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet SS. Monday’s win was worth $100,000, the regular-season championship came with a $150,000 bonus, and Saturday’s $80,000 PlayNHRA All-Star Callout victory ran his weekend winnings to $330,000.
Prock now has seven wins in 2025 and 19 overall, with 15 coming in his last 32 starts. “To win Indy in my rookie season [in Funny Car, 2024] was obviously really special,” Prock said. “To get a U.S. Nationals win last year and then win the championship, and then come back and win the U.S Nationals again, I don’t even know what to say.”
Beckman reached his fourth final of the year and will enter the Countdown second in points, with Matt Hagan third.
Enders delivered another milestone in Pro Stock, snapping a 30-race drought to earn her 50th career victory. In the final, she overcame a .022-second deficit at the green to chase down Matt Hartford at 6.564, 209.95 and earn her fourth U.S. Nationals Wally.
“That monkey’s been on my back since Gainesville, the season opener 2024, and it’s been grueling,” Enders said. “Without [the team], I wouldn’t be here, and I kind of wondered if I still had it, you know what I mean? We finally got number 50. As a little girl in 1994, rolling under that arch right there for my first final round at the inaugural Junior Dragster Nationals – the feelings are very similar, and here we are, 30-something years later.”
Enders qualified third and beat Greg Stanfield, Aaron Stanfield, and Dallas Glenn before the final. Hartford advanced with wins against David Cuadra, Cristian Cuadra, and Fernando Cuadra Jr. Glenn clinched the regular-season Pro Stock title and will begin the playoffs first in points.
Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Gaige Herrera continued his dominance, defeating teammate Brayden Davis on a holeshot in the final round. Herrera’s 6.834 at 199.32 held off Davis’ 6.799 at 198.93 thanks to a .003 reaction time.
“It’s very exciting, you know, especially to get a holeshot win like that,” Herrera said. “To get back-to-back wins here in the U.S. Nationals is very special to me and it was crazy. I mean, I almost was in the sand because I was more excited and cheering than being on the brakes.”
Herrera earned the regular-season title for the third straight year, entering the Countdown as the No. 1 seed as he pursues a third consecutive championship. Davis reached his first career final, advancing past Dystany Spurlock, Hector Arana Jr., and Richard Gadson, who will begin the playoffs second in points.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series resumes Sept. 11-14 with the 40th annual NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa.
