When multi-time NHRA nitro Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan opened his post-race press conference Sunday, he didn’t hide his feelings.

“I said it before and I'll say it again, ‘All greatness comes from God.’ It was kind of weird that NHRA edited that out of the TV deal last time, but I think it's important because you have to believe,” Hagan said shortly after winning the Midwest Nationals in St. Louis. “You have to believe in something, and it gives you hope, and it gives you something to dig towards and that you're pushing something in the right direction.”

Hagan was truly digging in St Louis, and it culminated with him winning in by defeating reigning world champion Ron Capps in the finals of the third race of the six-race Countdown to the Championship.

Just when the door was closing on any chance of winning a championship for Clay Millican, the fan favorite Top Fuel driver kicked it open Sunday.

Millican powered his way to the Midwest Nationals victory before a sold-out crowd at World Wide Technology Raceway. He clocked a 3.758-second elapsed time at 331.94 mph to defeat Leah Pruett’s 3.775, 327.66.

“Man, what a day,” Millican said. “It's huge (to get this win). For the last week, we have been watching the weather because Jimbo (Oberhofer, his crew chief) has been dangerous when it's hot. Chicago was hot. Denver's always just ... it is Denver. It was like the man upstairs was looking out for us, and He gave us a hot weekend. Man, Jimbo just showed again when it's hot out, look out. I don't know what he's doing. It doesn't matter because I don't know how to tune one of these things, but I can tell you this. If it's hot, he can get down. I mean, we got away with one, actually, probably kind of sort of two. But we outperformed the cars we raced, and I am so proud.”

No disrespect to anyone racing in the Pro Stock Motorcycle division, but at this point, it's become apparent they are racing for second place at the remaining events on the NHRA tour. And even if Pomona accounted for triple the championship points, it still wouldn't matter. 

Gaige Herrera might as well be crowned the series champion. His latest conquest, the NHRA Midwest Nationals, has been like eight of his other victories; i.e., sheer domination. The four times all season that he has lost, though another driver has been credited, something had to happen to him or his bike to cause it. In other words, the only person who has been able to beat Herrera this season is Herrera. 

The NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship points championship was starting to level off in a straightforward direction when two good ‘ol country boys left almost everyone scratching their heads following the Midwest Nationals outside of St. Louis, the third stop in the six-race playoff series. 

Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Clay Millican (Top Fuel) secured victories at World Wide Technology Raceway Park and, in doing so, helped them to climb the ladder of championship points.

Joining them in the winner’s circle was Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

Hagan’s win marked the fifth for the Tony Stewart Racing season, which could easily be described as feast or famine. His victory over defending NHRA Funny Car champion Ron Capps marked his 48th career victory. 

Point standings (top 10) following the 12th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, the 18th of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series - 

Final round-by-round results from the 12th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, the 18th of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series:

History awaits NHRA Pro Stock star Erica Enders and she put herself in an even better position to make history Sunday.

Enders, the reigning Pro Stock world champion, who is one national event win away from becoming the all-time winningest female driver in NHRA history, qualified No. 1 at the Midwest Nationals in St. Louis.

Enders clocked a 6.549-second run at 209.75 mph Friday, and that held through Saturday’s two qualifying sessions at World Wide Technology
Raceway. She kept the No. 1 slot based on her mph. Matt Hartford had a 6.549-second lap in Q3, but came across the line at 207.75 mph.

As dominant as Gaige Herrera’s 2023 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle season has been, it is not surprising that he added his name to the sanctioning body’s record books on Saturday.

Herrera clocked a 6.716-second elapsed time at 201.79 mph on Friday on his Vance & Hines / Mission Foods Suzuki, and it held through Saturday for him to grab the No. 1 qualifying spot at the Midwest Nationals in St. Louis.

“It felt really good. We were kind of expected to go like a 72, so to go out there and run at 71, I'm happy with that,” Herrera said.

Bob Tasca III has never led the NHRA point standings in his Funny Car driving career. But after securing his sixth No. 1 qualifying, he’s hoping heading into race day as the top seed at the NHRA Midwest Nationals will put him atop the championship race.

The leaderboard remained unchanged after substantially warmer Saturday's conclusion of qualifying at World Wide Technologies Raceway Park. Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Erica Enders (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

Tasca’s 3.852 elapsed time at 324.90 mph on Friday was never in jeopardy. 

“Very exciting, but one round at a time, one run at a time,” Tasca said. “We really don’t pay as much attention to what the cars around us are running. We have enough data now with this car and enough track information to go up there and try to go as quickly as we can for the conditions that are presented.