by Briar Starr; Photos courtesy of NHRA Mon, 2024-09-16 12:43
For the first time in over a year, dating back to the Norwalk Nationals last summer, Hector Arana Jr returned to the winner circle after winning over the last Vance and Hines rider, Richard Gadson, in the Pep Boys Nationals final round at Reading. The victory also marked Arana Jr's first of the season despite being close at Richmond and Sonoma over the summer months.
Arana Jr. took out Jianna Evaristo, Angie Smith, and the 2023 Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion and No. 1 qualifier of this event, Gaige Herrera, to make it to the finals before winning against the rookie Gadson. Even though he did his part on the rider, Arana Jr. credited his team and his dad, Hector Arana Sr, for getting the victory.
by Bobby Bennett Jr.; Photos courtesy of NHRA Sun, 2024-09-15 23:46
If the Funny Car field hasn't realized it yet, they have been hustled by a so-called rookie intent on winning every accolade in the class, including a series championship.
Austin Prock, in the Mission Foods Countdown to the Championship opener, secured his sixth victory this season, stopping teammate Jack Beckman in the final round of the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.
Joining them in the winner's circle was past champion Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock), and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
Prock recorded a 3.896-second pass at 332.51 mph in his Chevrolet Camaro SS, beating Beckman's 3.951 at 330.88. The victory gives Prock a 10th career win and strengthens his points lead by 86, a little over four rounds, over Bob Tasca III with five races remaining.
by Bobby Bennett Jr. Sun, 2024-09-15 23:09
by Bobby Bennett Jr. Sun, 2024-09-15 23:03
by Tracy Renck: Photos courtesy of NHRA Sun, 2024-09-15 08:44
A year ago, Pro Stock star Dallas Glenn entered the NHRA’s six-race Countdown to the Championship in the No. 1 position in the points standings.
Unfortunately for him, he didn’t end up on top – he came in sixth in the points standings after losing in the first round in four of the races.
Glenn has a chance to erase the 2023 Countdown memories this year as he once again starts the Countdown in the No. 1 spot. He took the first step in changing his narrative by qualifying No. 1 with a 6.530-second elapsed time at 209.43 mph in Q3 Saturday at the Pep Boys Nationals in Reading, Pennsylvania.
by Tracy Renck: Photos courtesy of NHRA Sun, 2024-09-15 08:42
Since Gaige Herrera joined NHRA powerhouse Vance & Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle team at the beginning of the 2023 season his results have been mind-boggling.
That trend has continued in the start of the six-race Countdown to the Championship at the Pep Boys Nationals.
Herrera, riding the RevZilla/Mission/Vance & Hines Suzuki, clocked a blistering 6.743-second elapsed time at 200.20 mph in Q3 on Saturday. That was stout enough to earn the No. 1 qualifying spot at the Pep Boys Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania.
by Bobby Bennett Jr.; Photos courtesy of NHRA Sat, 2024-09-14 23:01
Justin Ashley secured his first No. 1 qualifier of the 2024 NHRA season on Saturday at Maple Grove Raceway during the 39th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals. He led the Top Fuel category in front of a sellout crowd.
Austin Prock (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also earned top qualifying spots at the 15th of 20 races in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. This event marks the first of six in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Ashley’s 3.713-second pass at 333.49 mph from Friday in his Scag Power Equipment/Toyota dragster held up through Saturday’s qualifying. The former Rookie of the Year, currently second in points, will face Smax Smith in Sunday’s eliminations.
by Tracy Renck; Photos courtesy of NHRA Sat, 2024-09-14 07:06
There’s no question Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley has unfinished business.
The last two seasons Ashley won nine races – six in 2023 and four in 2022 – but only one of those wins [Dallas] came in the Countdown to the Championship.
As a result, Ashley came up short of winning the ultimate prize of an NHRA world championship.
Ashley is trying to change that narrative in 2024, and he took a baby step toward that goal, snaring the provisional pole Friday at the Pep Boys Nationals with a 3.713-second elapsed time at 333.49 mph in Q2 at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa. It’s the first race in the six-race Countdown to the Championship.
by Tracy Renck; Photo courtesy of NHRA Sat, 2024-09-14 07:04
The dream continues for Austin Prock.
Just 11 days after winning the prestigious U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Prock shows no signs of slowing down.
Prock captured the provisional No. 1 position at the Pep Boys Nationals on Friday with a 3.849-second elapsed time at 338.43 mph in Q2 at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa.
This is the first race in the six-race Countdown to the Championship.
by Bobby Bennett Jr.; Photos courtesy of NHRA Fri, 2024-09-13 21:26
Austin Prock, Funny Car points leader, recorded the fastest run of his career Friday at Maple Grove Raceway, taking the provisional No. 1 spot at the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals.
Prock stopped the timers at 3.849 seconds at 338.43 mph in his Camaro Funny Car.
Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Erica Enders (Pro Stock), and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also hold provisional No. 1 qualifying spots at the 15th race of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. This race marks the start of the Countdown to the Championship, the six-race playoff that determines season champions.
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