There was a time when the NHRA U.S. Nationals used to boast a 32-car field for Top Fuel. Some 40 years later, a field of 25 cars is cause for celebration. For the first time since 2013, as many as 25 Top Fuel Dragsters will compete at drag racing’s most prestigious major league drag racing event, the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals.

But, let’s first put this in perspective.

The dollar had an average inflation rate of 3.09% per year between 1980 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 259.56%. This means that today’s prices are 3.60 times higher than average prices since 1980, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.

Additionally, there are 18 Funny car entries which is the most since 2016. Overall, NHRA has confirmed there are nearly 950 entries competing in the event, which runs from next Wednesday, August 31, 2022, and concludes on Tuesday.

One person who is stoked with the larger-than-usual car counts is four-time Top Fuel champion, Steve Torrence.

“There’s a lot of cars that are really good and I like it,” Torrence said. “It’s exciting to me to pull up to the staging lanes and see it full of Top Fuel cars and know that you’ve really got to work for it. This is the biggest race in our sport and to have that many cars, I look forward to it and I’m excited about it. There’s so much at stake. You can’t struggle to get in because so many cars are going to be there battling it out.”

Add in the fact there’s a special event with the Pep Boys All-Star Call-out, the first race-within-a-race at Indy since 2017, which means there will be constant moments all weekend long.

“I absolutely love it and I think it naturally brings out the best in you as a driver and as a team,” Funny Car standout Justin Ashley said. “At the same time, the pressure is on to put your best foot forward. We’re trying to win the Callout, we’re trying to win the U.S. Nationals. You have to make sure you bring it each and every time, and I think we’ll see a really quick field and a lot of competitive racing.”

In the Camping World Pro Stock divisions, the cars are even at 18 from last year and only the bike division is down by one entry.