Justin Ashley started the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship in first place in the Top Fuel class. However, he has fallen to fourth place, watching first Doug Kalitta, then Steve Torrence and Leah Pruett, take turns seizing the spotlight. He remained optimistic as Friday qualifying opened, despite piling up a 108-point disadvantage with only two chances to make up ground.

The first opportunity is this weekend’s Nevada Nationals. After that, the Auto Club Finals at Pomona, Calif., will close the season.

“Last year, we were in and out of the points lead during the Countdown, and there were always several teams grouped together, trying to take the top spot. The field is more competitive than it has ever been, and it has shown throughout the first four races of the Countdown,” Ashley said. “If we can find success in Las Vegas, I believe we’ll have an opportunity for the championship in Pomona.

Angie Smith said, “I'm not one to sit around and not do anything.” So it’s no surprise that not only is she back at the dragstrip following her vicious spill from here Pro Stock Motorcycle at the recent St. Louis race, but that she’s ready to race this weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Cleared to race late this morning by NHRA Medical Director Dr. Phillip Surface, Smith spent Friday prepping to return to action during Saturday qualifying for the Nevada Nationals. Smith is wearing walking casts on both feet because she has eight broken toes, and she has undergone two surgeries to repair damage from a serious arm burn. She became separated from her bike past the finish line during qualifying two races ago, at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Time isn’t on Robert Hight’s side.

If the veteran John Force Racing driver wants to win a fourth nitro Funny Car world championship, he knew there was no better time than the present – the Nevada Nationals this weekend – to make his move.

He came to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in third place in the points standings, 69 points behind leader Matt Hagan.

Top Fuel owner/driver Mike Salinas arrived at the Nevada Nationals with an NHRA world championship dream still within reach.

However, the highly-successful San Jose, Calif., businessman had to start making up ground fast as he was sitting in sixth place in the season standings,131 points behind leader Leah Pruett.

Salinas took a small step in moving up the standings Friday. He took the provisional No. 1 qualifying spot with his 3.699-second elapsed time at 332.75 mph in Q2 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

There have been tougher championship scenarios.

Third-generation drag racer Aaron Stanfield needed only to make his first qualifying to clinch his third Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown world championship at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

Stanfield did his heavy lifting two weeks ago at the Texas Motorplex when he stopped his closest challenger, Stephen Bell, in the first round of the NHRA FallNationals and followed up the win by taking out contender and No. 1 qualifier Lenny Lottig in the second round. From that point on, Stanfield only needed one run at the NHRA Nevada Nationals to seal the deal. 

Robert Hight, who lost his Funny Car points lead to Matt Hagan, fired a salvo across the bow Friday night as he drove his Cornwell Tools-sponsored Funny Car during first day of qualifying at the NHRA Nevada Nationals in Las Vegas.

Joining Hight were Erica Enders (Pro Stock), Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle), and Mike Salinas (Top Fuel).

Hight stopped the clocks with a 3.851-second pass at 327.51 mph. If his performance holds up, Hight will clinch his sixth No. 1 qualifier this season and his 83rd overall. With only two races left in the Countdown to the Championship, Hight understands a strong showing is of the utmost importance this weekend. 

There’s no question Steve Torrence has a passion for drag racing – his four NHRA Top Fuel world championships are evidence to that fact.

However, the Kilgore, Texas, driver does have a passion for a sport outside the dragstrip – rodeo.

“This is just awesome opportunity to go outside the motorsports industry and into something I have a real passion for and that’s the Western industry,” Torrence said on the latest Chute Bosses podcast, the podcast of the PRCA.

In celebration of OWI's 50th anniversary, John Force and his crew will don a special gold and black scheme on the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet. This scheme is a nod to OWI's first venture into motorsports sponsorship with the PEAK brand of Kyle Petty. The crew uniforms will be fashioned after the ones originally worn by Petty's crew in the late 1980s, adding a touch of nostalgia to the event.

Brian Bohlander, the Director of Marketing – Sports & Partnership, expressed enthusiasm about the timely celebration of Old World Industries' 50th anniversary. The event aligns with the upcoming AAPEX show and serves as a fitting precursor. Bohlander highlighted the significance of OWI's acquisition of the PEAK brand in 1986 and their subsequent entry into motorsports sponsorship with Kyle Petty. To mark the company's milestone, John Force and Kyle Petty, along with racing legends Michael Waltrip and Danica Patrick, will join forces at the AAPEX show next Wednesday afternoon.

Back in 2020, Troy Coughlin Jr. had the pleasure of being a Pro Stock teammate with his uncle Jeg Coughlin at Elite Motorsports owned by Richard Freeman.

However, Troy Jr. still didn’t see this coming. Jeg, a five-team Pro Stock world champion (2000, 2002, 2007-2008 and 2013), is joining the Elite Motorsports team for the final two races of the 2023 season – Las Vegas (Oct. 26-29) and Pomona, Calif. (Nov. 9-12).

And Troy Jr. is thrilled to have his uncle in the fold.

Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB), the first dynamic bracket competition for drag racing fans is gaining momentum as it enters the final two Countdown playoff races of the 2023 season. Following the Texas Fall Nationals, which witnessed a surge in participation, DRBB looks to build on its record-setting success. The upcoming Nevada Nationals, taking place from October 27-29, will be followed by the highly-anticipated World Finals at In-N-Out Burgers Dragstrip in Pomona on November 10-12. Thousands of fans are currently relishing the free and enjoyable bracket-style online gaming experience offered by DRBB.