NHRA will now offer four qualifying sessions at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK Performance on May 17-19, thus decreasing the number of the three-session events on the schedule to six. The NHRA reduced the number of qualifying sessions to three at select events following the pandemic-raged 2020 season.
The four qualifying sessions adds an extra run on Friday, where race fans will also witness the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday. Friday’s qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2:30 and 5 p.m. CT with the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, at 11:40 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. CT. Eliminations begin at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, May 19.
“We’re thrilled to add a fourth qualifying session to Chicago and give fans a great opportunity to see plenty of incredible racing all weekend long at Route 66 Raceway,” NHRA Vice President of Track Management and Operations Kasey Coler said. “The race in Chicago is jam-packed with action and it truly is going to be one of the biggest events we’ve ever had at this terrific facility. We’re excited to add this fourth qualifier for the pro teams, who are all looking forward to putting on an amazing show in Chicago.”
The NHRA returned to Chicago last season, and this is the sixth of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
In 2023, Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won in Chicago, while Justin Ashley, Ron Capps and Gaige Herrera secured Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge titles. Camrie Caruso won the first-ever Callout in Pro Stock a season ago.
Also slated in Chicago is the special Drag and Drive exhibition event. With star drivers like Alex Taylor and Tom Bailey, the standout street cars run in the 6-second range and quicker at speeds of more than 200 mph. The weekend also includes competition in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown division, the new Holley EFI Factory X category and the season debut of the Pingel Top Fuel Motorcycle class.
The first round of the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout starts at 11:30 a.m. CT on Saturday, with the semifinals to follow at 1:45 p.m. and the finals at 2:55 p.m. Television coverage includes qualifying action at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday and 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, leading into eliminations coverage at 4:00-5:00 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET on Sunday on FS1. A special Callout broadcast airs at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday on FS1.
