2024 NHRA FALL NATIONALS - EVENT RESULTS
SUNDAY FINAL - ASHLEY, HAGAN, JEGGIE, HERERRA EMERGE VICTORIOUS AT NHRA FALLNATIONALS
Justin Ashley claimed the Top Fuel points lead on Sunday at Texas Motorplex, winning the 39th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals. He edged out Clay Millican in the final round, marking his third victory in Dallas in four years.
Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won at the event, which was the 18th of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and the fourth of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Ashley posted a time of 3.773 seconds at 327.99 mph coupled with a .026 reaction time to defeat Millican, who recorded a quicker 3.762 at 328.40. This victory is Ashley’s fourth of the season and the 15th of his career, as he previously outpaced Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon, and Tony Schumacher.
He qualified 12th after only making a single qualifying pass due to Yom Kippur. With this win, Ashley now holds a 44-point lead over Brown with two races remaining in the season.
“This just speaks volumes of the kind of team we have,” Ashley said. “When I went up to them and told them my plan, the team rallied around me, and we rallied together as a group. We’re one team and one family, and for them to understand my principles and have only one lap down the racetrack – I don’t think we had lane choice once today; our backs were against the wall, but Mike (Green, crew chief) and Tommy (DeLago) did an awesome job.
“It’s not over until it’s over; that much is for sure. You just have to keep swinging, and it’s best for us to not even look at the points. If we don’t take care of our business, it’s not going to matter anyway. It’s important to enjoy it, but once we leave here our focus has to immediately shift to Vegas. No matter what, this is far, far from over. We took a major step today, but it’s going to become more and more difficult. Just like it always does, it’s going to come down to Pomona.”
Millican advanced to the finals for the third time this season, defeating Doug Kalitta, Shawn Reed, and Steve Torrence.
Defending Funny Car champion Matt Hagan won for the second consecutive year in Dallas, defeating Ron Capps with a run of 3.943 seconds at 327.65 mph. This marks his third victory of the season and 52nd overall, moving him to third in points, 168 behind leader Austin Prock.
After qualifying second, Hagan eliminated Bobby Bode, Cruz Pedregon, and Daniel Wilkerson to reach the finals, utilizing a .064 reaction time to hold off Capps’ quicker run of 3.934. Hagan expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, especially after recent struggles.
“I was really on the chip,” Hagan said. “To get this win for Jason Johnson and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage was huge.”
“I was really on the chip, and I love Capps to death, but I was ready to cut his head off,” Hagan said. “You’re going in like a gladiator. You get to get on this crazy machine, and you never know what it’s going to do, but this is one of the cool things we get to do, drive something so unpredictable.
“But that’s why we love doing it. To get this win for Jason Johnson and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage, to pull down the win was huge. Life is about the people and the relationships we build along the way; that’s what really matters. We’ve surrounded ourselves with really smart people and I believe in my guys and my crew. Those core group of guys really mattered and I’ve been lucky to keep my core group together for so long.”
Capps reached the finals for the fifth time this season and 152nd in his career, defeating Dave Richards, Blake Alexander, and Prock. Despite the loss, Prock maintains a substantial points lead heading into the final races.
In Pro Stock, Jeg Coughlin Jr. defeated rival Greg Anderson, securing his first victory at Texas Motorplex in over 20 years. Coughlin’s run of 6.592 at 208.10 in his Scag Power Equipment car brought him his fifth win of the season and the 69th of his career.
Coughlin advanced past Cory Reed, David Cuadra, and Matt Hartford before facing Anderson. He was excited for the team’s first double-up victory for Scag Power Equipment.
“This feels fantastic,” Coughlin said. “For us, the cherry on top was for Justin Ashley and me to get our first double together as Scag teammates. I’m really eager to go celebrate with our team. It should be a big one. This Wally is going back to Mark Ingersoll. It’s quite remarkable what he’s gone through He’s on a good path to recovery, and he’s as strong as an ox for sure. We miss having him out here and look forward to him coming back more.
“Greg has always been the pinnacle since he got behind the wheel of a Pro Stock program. Today, he had us outpaced, performance-wise, so we jokingly said we needed to pull a rabbit out of the hat before this final round – and fortunately, we did. I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded with some amazing teams, amazing people. I think this weekend is another testament to that. I saw that win light come on, and I couldn’t have been more excited.”
Anderson, the No. 1 qualifier, reached the finals for the fourth time this year but ultimately finished second. Dallas Glenn solidified his points lead by defeating Stanfield in the second round, maintaining a 54-point margin.
Herrera, the Pro Stock point leader, won for the second consecutive year at Texas Motorplex, defeating Matt Smith with a run of 6.816 at 200.56. This victory marked his 20th career win, the fastest accumulation in NHRA history.
Herrera has nine wins in 2024, leading Smith by 62 points as the season nears conclusion.
“Today means a lot,” Herrera said. “I had more luck on my side today than performance, for sure. I was sleeping on one of the lights and Chase went red, and in the final there, Matt would have had me. Luck was definitely on my side, and I’d rather be lucky than good any day. My bike ran well all day with the heat, considering. I made a few little mistakes, but all in all, I’m glad to go home with the win and another cowboy hat.
“This Countdown has been pretty tight. We all know there was some trash talk, so for us to not have the performance advantage and get the win, it means a lot to me. This season, it just means a lot more each round win we get. This year has been a lot more pressure for me as a rider. Each round and win means so much more this time. I’m kind of just showing my real side and not holding it in anymore.”
Smith reached his fifth final round of the season, having previously eliminated Malcolm Phillips Jr., Marc Ingwersen, and Hector Arana Jr.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will continue from Oct. 31-Nov. 3 with the 24th annual Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
SATURDAY QUALIFYING - LEADERBOARD REMAINS UNCHAGED AS FORCE, PROCK, ANDERSON, HERERRA SECURE NO. 1'S
Brittany Force secured her 50th career No. 1 qualifier on Saturday at Texas Motorplex during the 39th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals. The two-time champion Force’s run of 3.667 seconds at 338.19 mph, recorded on Friday, remained unchallenged and marked her fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season.
Joining Force at the top were Austin Prock (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle), all of whom qualified No. 1 in their respective classes. This event is the 18th of 20 in the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and the fourth of six in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Force expressed pride in achieving her milestone but maintained her focus on Sunday’s eliminations, where she will face Spencer Hyde.
“Just to hear ‘50,’ that’s such a big achievement,” Force said. “It’s a big achievement by all of John Force Racing. It’s something I’m very proud of. It seems like an impossible number, and to have that in my career, to be able to accomplish that is huge and something I’m very proud of. The cool thing is, it was a collective thing. It was done with so many different teams and crew chiefs that I’ll always look up to. They all taught me things along the way that I still use to this day. I’m very thankful to them that they’re part of my career and getting that 50.
“To see three (No. 1s) in the last (five) races, it shows that this team is gaining momentum and that we’re moving in the right direction. We’re starting to move on to something positive. But ultimately, we want to perform well on Sunday.”
Shawn Reed qualified second in Top Fuel with a 3.676 at 330.71, while Texan Steve Torrence took third with a 3.721 run at 332.03. Points leader Antron Brown will face Justin Ashley in an opening-round showdown, as Ashley sits 34 points behind.
Prock matched the record held by John Force for the most No. 1 qualifiers in a single season, achieving his 13th spot with a track-record run of 3.813 at 333.09. Prock will start against Terry Haddock on Sunday, aiming for his eighth victory of the year.
“It’s pretty special. I had no idea that there was a record until a few weeks ago, and we’ve knocked off a few more. We eventually tied them today,” Prock said. “It’s pretty special to be added to that list, and to do it in 18 races is pretty incredible. It speaks volumes about this team, my dad, my brother, Nate Hildahl, everyone that’s on this AAA/Cornwall Tools car. I’m really proud of this team and happy to be driving this race car.
“I did talk to John last night and he was he was so ecstatic to see our race car and his daughter’s race car go No. 1 qualifier. He was watching all evening long, and he was really proud. It was nice to hear his voice and know that he was watching and he’s proud, and hopefully we can make them proud the rest of the season.”
Defending event winner Matt Hagan took second with a 3.823 pass, and Jack Beckman, currently in second place in points, qualified third with a 3.825 run.
Greg Anderson’s 6.524 at 208.99 in Pro Stock secured him his sixth No. 1 qualifier this season and the 130th of his career. Anderson, who is fourth in points, emphasized the importance of a strong performance on Sunday.
“Three of us are one side. Erica happened to end up on the other side, and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing for her. We’ll see how it plays out tomorrow,” Anderson said. “There’s only going to be one of the three left in the semifinal on our side of the ladder. Without something like that happening at one of these races, I probably wouldn’t have a chance to make up ground because if we all four keep making the semifinals, you’re not going to make up much ground. It’s really the only chance I’ve got.
“We’ll see how the cards fall tomorrow, but it’s an opportunity. I like that. We’re going to be fast. I’m excited to race, and it could be a turning point of the season. It’s time to either get it done or go home.”
Erica Enders and David Cuadra qualified second and third in Pro Stock with runs of 6.526 and 6.532, respectively. Aaron Stanfield and points leader Dallas Glenn are fourth and fifth, respectively, setting the stage for potentially pivotal matchups.
Herrera improved his position in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a run of 6.749 at 202.52, securing his eighth No. 1 qualifier in 2024. He will aim for a second consecutive victory in Dallas.
“The only thing that made it possible was tail wind,” Herrera said. “You just had to catch it at the right time. It was a cross tail, so I didn’t think being in the right lane would affect us as much as it did, but it did. That was a good pass. Tomorrow, we’re going to be racing in this kind of weather. I think it’s going to be a direct, straight tail wind instead of across. Probably see a pretty good mile an hour tomorrow and it’ll be a good day of racing.
“The biggest thing I focus on is the here and now. You can’t predict what’s going to happen. You can’t try to make stuff happen. You just have to go out there and do what you have to do, and it’s going to turn out how it’s going to be.”
Matt Smith qualified second in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a run of 6.756 at 201.77, while Jianna Evaristo secured third with a 6.777 at 201.81.
Eliminations for the Texas NHRA FallNationals begin at 12 p.m. CT on Sunday at Texas Motorplex.
FRIDAY QUALIFYING - JOHN FORCE RACING SWEEPS FRIDAY NITRO IN DALLAS, ANDERSON AND HERRERA ALSO QUALIFY NO. 1
Austin Prock, the current NHRA Funny Car points leader, recorded the fastest Funny Car run in seven years on Friday at Texas Motorplex. Prock’s time of 3.813 seconds at 333.09 mph not only set a new track record but also secured the provisional No. 1 spot for John Force Racing at the 39th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals.
Prock’s performance highlighted a competitive evening, as Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also claimed provisional No. 1 qualifiers. This event marks the 18th of 20 races in the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and the fourth of six in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
A “Friday Night Live” event offered over $40,000 in bonus money for top qualifiers. Low qualifiers in Top Fuel and Funny Car received $15,000 each, while $7,500 went to Pro Stock’s fastest qualifier and $5,000 to the leading Pro Stock Motorcycle racer.
Prock dominated the Funny Car category with a run that eclipsed the previous track record by a significant margin. If his time stands, it would mark his 13th No. 1 spot of the season, tying him with John Force for the most No. 1 qualifiers in a single Funny Car season.
“I was definitely jacked up for this one,” Prock said. “I knew the conditions were there, and this AAA team was going to push. I’m really proud of them. This track is really difficult to drive, especially at night, [but] I stood on the gas and felt like I was pretty centered up. I think I got a little close to the center line, but it was still a pretty great run.
"I’m looking forward to getting back to the pit, scoping it out, and seeing what I can learn from it.
“We’re always on kill, I would say, but we know we have to be at our absolute best these last three races to try to wrap this deal up. We’ve put a lot of hard work in this year, but three races, that’s a long way to go in this Countdown. We have to keep making smart decisions, play off our notebook, and try to do the best we can and see how everything plays out.”
Defending event champion Matt Hagan secured second place with a run of 3.823 seconds, while Jack Beckman, currently second in points, closely followed at 3.825 seconds.
Force’s run of 3.667 seconds at 338.19 mph in Top Fuel earned her the $15,000 bonus. This performance is the second fastest of the year in Top Fuel, positioning her for a potential fourth No. 1 qualifier of the year.
Force expressed gratitude for her team’s efforts and the momentum of the evening, and she was looking to secure her first victory since 2022.
“That was just an amazing run for our team to come out here. We’ve had a tough year, and that 3.66 and 338 mph, that’s David Grubnic and this HendrickCars.com team,” Force said. “We’ve been pushing all season long to have a run like that. Getting the check and the cowboy boots really boosts the team morale, and we’re ready to attack the rest of the weekend.
“We won’t give up until it’s done. We’ll keep on pushing. Our game plan is to win this event here. We try not to get too far ahead of ourselves, we’re focused on moving up on that ladder and getting back in that winner’s circle. It’s been far too long. When I head back to my pits right now, I know the guys are going to be pumped. We all kept pushing. It gets hard, but we continue to push to be the best that we can. To do that today, it gives us a boost. We want to keep doing that.”
Shawn Reed is second in Top Fuel after a run of 3.676 seconds, while Steve Torrence placed third at 3.721 seconds.
In Pro Stock, Anderson finished qualifying on a high note, earning the $7,500 bonus and the provisional No. 1 position with a run of 6.524 seconds at 208.99 mph. This sets him up for a potential sixth No. 1 qualifier this year and the 130th of his career.
Anderson noted the personal significance of the Texas Motorplex venue.
“I love coming here, I absolutely love it,” Anderson said. “It’s all the Meyer family. They make it special, and it matters to us. It makes you rise to the next level. We got it done by .002 and how fitting. That’s the battle we’ve been having lately, it’s who makes the sweetest, most perfect run. That was pretty mean. I knew that was the target and it was going to be close, and it certainly was. Fortunately, we were able to keep her in the center of the racetrack and got the check by .002. It all ended up great, it’s a great night in Texas.
“These bonus points mean everything. It’s going to be extremely hard to make up ground on any one of them, let alone three of the four of them. They’re not making mistakes. They’re racing error-free, they’re fast. It’s going to be very hard to make up some ground. I’m not in a great spot, but I’m not going to give up. I’m going to keep trying. Mission accomplished today, a perfect Friday.”
Erica Enders and David Cuadra take the second and third positions in Pro Stock, with times of 6.526 and 6.532 seconds, respectively.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Herrera solidified his lead with a 6.757-second run at 201.21 mph. This performance could secure him his eighth No. 1 spot of the season.
“You come here, you get a different vibe,” Herrera said. “It’s a very welcoming, ‘have fun’ vibe, and that’s what we’re doing. We’re having fun and getting to race at the same time. It’s awesome to get that bonus money on Friday night. I can’t thank the Meyer family enough for all they do for us racers at Texas Motorplex. My bike ran good coming off the trailer, so we were happy to get that and get a little extra change.
“There are a lot of fast motorcycles right now between the whole class. We just have a consistently fast motorcycle at the moment. We’re trying to get every little point that we can. It’s all about consistency right now.”
Jianna Evaristo and Angie Smith are currently second and third in Pro Stock Motorcycle, clocking 6.777 and 6.808 seconds, respectively.
Qualifying resumes at 12 p.m. CT on Saturday for the Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex.
SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER (Q2)
1 7 TA/D Mike Coughlin, Dublin OH, Hadman-HEMI 5.216 272.28 272.98
2 13 TA/D Karen Stalba, Hammonton NJ, Dan Page-HE 5.239 278.48 278.48
3 5 TA/D Jackie Fricke, Flemington NJ, Copeland- 5.243 279.07 279.64
4 3 TA/D Shawn Cowie, Langley BC, Hadman-BRAD 5.243 278.91 278.91
5 450 TA/D Kirk Wolf, Odessa TX, Copeland-Noon 5.252 275.68 275.68
6 4 TA/D Matthew Cummings, Pompano Beach FL, Had 5.258 277.83 277.83
7 491 TA/D Angelle Sampey, Mathews LA, Spitzer-HEMI 5.262 278.55 278.55
8 212 TA/D Joe Maynard, Clarksville TN, Dragster-N 5.268 275.35 275.35
9 613 TA/D Joey Severance, Woodburn OR, Indy-NOON 5.275 276.16 276.16
10 703Y TA/D Shaunda Blinzler, Scottsdale AZ, MLR-AJ 5.285 274.96 274.96
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR (Q2)
1 2 Sean Bellemeur, Placentia CA, '22 Camaro 5.459 269.04 269.04
2 238 Mick Steele, Kodak TN, '23 Mustang 5.461 263.47 263.47
3 9 Annie Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, '22 Camaro 5.490 268.18 268.18
4 3 Bob McCosh, Columbia MO, '23 Camero 5.492 266.76 266.76
5 32 Chris Foster, Davenport IA, '19 Camaro 5.494 268.13 268.13
6 4 Brian Hough, Junction OR, '22 Camaro 5.500 265.19 265.19
7 750G Madison Gordon, Paso Robles CA, '20 Camaro 5.503 267.51 267.51
8 8 Kyle Smith, Valley Center KS, '09 Mustang 5.525 258.99 258.99
9 34 Phil Esz, Amelia OH, '24 Camaro 5.531 262.65 262.96
10 744 Shane Westerfield, Fullerton CA, '18 Camaro 5.537 264.46 266.82
COMP ELIMINATOR (FINAL)
1 590 A/ED Clint Neff, Arvada CO, Clack-Ford 6.504 7.22 -0.716
2 5161 A/ND Brian Wegner, Broken Arrow OK, Hadman-Che 6.830 7.52 -0.690
3 52 E/A Matt Harris, Bellevue NE, '05 Grand Am 7.609 8.29 -0.681
4 16 C/DA Steve Szupka, Northampton PA, Spitzer 6.895 7.57 -0.675
5 5233 C/SM Taylor Chomiski, Dallas TX, '08 Cobalt 8.145 8.81 -0.665
6 357 B/TA Rick Brown, Weatherford TX, '00 S-10 8.155 8.81 -0.655
7 510U A/A Scott Linder, Hedrick IA, '04 Gran Am 6.506 7.16 -0.654
8 4548 F/A Keith Mawhee, Carrollton TX, '05 Cavalier 7.959 8.61 -0.651
9 43 B/DA Jeff Taylor, Sellersburg IN, Dragster 6.758 7.40 -0.642
10 4800 E/SM Keith Hall, Ravenna TX, '05 Cavalier 8.440 9.08 -0.640
SUPER STOCK (FINAL)
1 3269 SS/HA Jeff Dona, Cape Girardeau MO, '98 Firebird 9.420 10.60 -1.180
2 4749 GT/L Stan Holt, Houston TX, '66 Nova 9.706 10.85 -1.144
3 4343 GT/GA Craig Gualtiere, Amarillo TX, '02 Cavalier 9.370 10.40 -1.030
4 387 SS/CM Clayton Coughlin, Dublin OH, '06 Cobalt 8.540 9.50 -0.960
5 339L FSS/K Randi Lyn Butner, Clarksville IN, '10 Mus 9.592 10.55 -0.958
6 444 SS/GA Tim Snively, Fayetteville AR, '15 Camaro 9.638 10.55 -0.912
7 63 SS/OA Troy Olsonawski, Edgewood WA, '66 Malibu 11.396 12.30 -0.904
8 4601 GT/HA Brittany Blackmon, San Antonio TX, '05 Co 9.598 10.50 -0.902
9 23 FGT/E Don Barber, Hohenwald TN, '96 Avenger 9.120 10.00 -0.880
10 6108 FGT/C Ty Gaynor, Vancouver WA, '08 Cobalt 8.941 9.80 -0.859
CLICK HERE FOR FULL RESULTS
STOCK (FINAL)
1 6633 G/SA Joe Sorensen, Woodburn OR, '69 Camaro 10.917 12.00 -1.083
2 423 FS/A Jeff Hefler, Santo TX, '16 Mustang 8.727 9.70 -0.973
3 541 FS/C Larry DeForrest, Polk City FL, '10 Mustang 9.338 10.30 -0.962
4 420X FS/D John Alonzo, Lubbock TX, '23 Camaro 9.641 10.60 -0.959
5 46 E/SA Jimmy Hidalgo Jr., Donaldsonville LA, '04 10.751 11.70 -0.949
6 42 I/SA Parker Devore, Blanchard OK, '77 Volare 11.371 12.30 -0.929
7 4041 G/SA Verne Buchanan, Conway AR, '73 Mustang 11.072 12.00 -0.928
8 4744 F/SA Charles Ford, Spring TX, '73 Duster 10.930 11.85 -0.920
9 43 A/SA Will Emmons, Friendswood TX, '69 Camaro 10.088 11.00 -0.912
10 4116 AA/SA Justin Hutto, Conroe TX, '69 Corvette 9.791 10.70 -0.909
TOP DRAGSTER (FINAL)
1 4099 Matt Exner, Pasadena TX, '19 Spitzer 6.106 240.58 240.58
2 487 Joey Luttrull, Ponder TX, Spitzer-HEMI 6.106 236.11 236.11
3 42 JR Baxter, Waxahachie TX, Miller-RCEE 6.106 230.70 232.22
4 4608 Michael Kile, Westlake LA, Spitzer-REHR 6.108 225.58 225.58
5 R405 Ron Scott, Watauga TX, Miller-Chevy 6.111 224.76 224.76
6 3505 Jim Prevo, Mundelein IL, VRN-REHE 6.122 212.73 225.69
7 401 David Johns, Floresville TX, Dragster-Chevy 6.125 227.14 227.14
8 478E Mark Ellis, Graham TX, Miller-Chevy 6.131 228.04 229.00
9 4455 Bill Swann, Terrell TX, Monden-SUNS 6.146 219.58 219.58
10 46 Rusty Baxter, Beckville TX, Racecraft-Chevy 6.148 195.66 195.66
TOP SPORTSMAN (Q-2)
1 409 Kamron Wright, Odessa TX, '19 Camaro 6.131 232.98 232.98
2 4656 Monte Weaver, Idalou TX, '63 Corvette 6.228 225.35 225.35
3 4880 Jimmy Lewis, Forney TX, '10 GXP 6.232 228.35 228.35
4 4204 Scooter Hampton, Odessa TX, '06 GTO 6.277 225.24 225.24
5 4059 Jim Thorp, Mertzon TX, '20 Camaro 6.284 226.59 226.59
6 404M Florentino Martin Rodriguez, New Braunfel TX, 6.286 228.31 228.31
7 406 Glenn Wright, Odessa TX, '20 Camaro 6.344 223.84 224.80
8 51 Allen Firestone, Velma OK, '16 Camaro 6.447 215.02 215.02
9 4147 Greg Lair, Canyon TX, '15 Camaro 6.520 215.47 215.47
10 5167 Curt Fredrich, Burlington WI, '68 Camaro 6.567 212.71 212.71
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