PHOENIX – Officials with NHRA, Firebird Motorsports Park and the Gila River Indian Community are excited to announce a multi-year extension for the annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at the popular track, showcasing the incredible support and commitment for NHRA drag racing at the fan-favorite facility.

It also sets the stage for a memorable celebration for next year’s 40th anniversary of the NHRA Arizona Nationals, which takes place March 21-23 as the second race of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Tickets will go on sale on Oct. 14 for the annual “Duel in the Desert” and the long-term extension ensures the storied history of NHRA drag racing at the track will continue well into the future.

“When we announced last year that we were carrying on the legacy and tradition of over 40 years of motorsports here at the Firebird Motorsports Park, our goal was to prove our commitment to our racing community and show them that we are in this for the long-haul,” Firebird Motorsports Park Track Manager Casey Buckman said. Continue reading →

LAS VEGAS – As the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series nears the finish line, drivers have their sights set on a NHRA world championships as they approach the penultimate event of the year, the 24th annual Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 31 – Nov. 3.

The Ford Performance NHRA Nationals marks the fifth of six races in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs and the 19th of 20 races in 2024, as drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will be focused on every captivating round of racing – which could put them a step closer to championship glory.

Loaded with specialty classes and an electric Las Vegas atmosphere where every 330-mph run is critical, the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals is a thrill ride from start to finish. The race, which always draws a massive crowd, opens with a pair of qualifying runs on both Friday and Saturday, leading to a memorable Sunday of eliminations where the intensity will be at a fever pitch in Sin City. Continue reading →

ST. LOUIS – Funny Car’s Jack Beckman picked up his first victory since taking over for legendary driver John Force, defeating Ron Capps in the final round of the 13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, also winning his first race in nearly four years on Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the 17th of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the third of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Beckman went 3.856-seconds at 315.86 mph in his 11,000-horsepower PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS, holding off Capps’ 3.882 at 329.42 to record his 34th career win and first since 2020. Beckman was named the substitute driver for Force following Force’s crash in June, collecting points for the 16-time champ as Beckman attempts to win another title for the iconic Force.

To reach the final round, Beckman defeated J.R. Todd, Daniel Wilkerson, and points leader and teammate Austin Prock, snapping Prock’s streak of 14 straight round wins. Beckman moved into second in points and heads into the final three races trailing Prock by 105 points. Continue reading →

ST. LOUIS – For the first time in history, NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series race day will include four female drivers in the Top Fuel ranks at the 13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis.

The Top Fuel field at the NHRA Midwest Nationals will see former champion and No. 3 qualifier Brittany Force taking on Josh Hart in the first round of eliminations. No. 7 qualifier Jasmine Salinas will meet up with points leader Antron Brown while No. 9 Ida Zetterström will face off with former champion Steve Torrence. Finally, reigning Top Alcohol Dragster champion Julie Nataas – who qualified No. 15 – will battle with eight-time champion Tony Schumacher in her Top Fuel debut.

NHRA has a rich history of female competitors. The 100th different female winner was crowned earlier this season in Seattle. Shirley Muldowney paved the way, winning three Top Fuel championships in the 70s and 80s. Pro Stock’s Erica Enders is the winningest female throughout all of motorsports with six championships to her credit. The Pro Stock Motorcycle division has seen five female riders qualify at St. Louis in 2022. Continue reading →

ST. LOUIS – Funny Car points leader Austin Prock rolled to his 12th No. 1 qualifier of the season for John Force Racing in front of a capacity crowd on Saturday at World Wide Technology Raceway, as he looks to stay unbeaten in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs at the 13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals.

T.J. Zizzo (Top Fuel), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also qualified No. 1 at the 17th of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the third of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Prock just missed the track record set by Robert Hight in 2017, going 3.836-seconds at 330.72 mph in his 11,000-horsepower AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS. His 12th No. 1 qualifier this season also pulls him to within one No. 1 spot of tying John Force for the most top qualifiers in a single season in Funny Car history. Continue reading →

ST. LOUIS – NHRA and World Wide Technology Raceway officials announced that due to continuing inclement weather, Friday racing has been canceled at the NHRA Midwest Nationals.

With the continued precipitation and heavy winds on Friday, along with the time needed to dry and prep the track, it became not feasible for cars to get on track in St. Louis.

Racing will begin on Saturday at 8 a.m. CT with the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. The two qualifying sessions in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series are set to take place as scheduled at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., starting with Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, and continuing with the 11,000-horsepower Top Fuel and Funny Car categories.

Racing action on Saturday will also take place in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown and Holley EFI Factory X. Eliminations for the 13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals are still slated to begin at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday. Continue reading →

Pro Stock’s Greg Anderson is hopeful for more success at NHRA Midwest Nationals

ST. LOUIS – For the first time in the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, the Pro Stock Motorcycle class has a new points leader. That rider is none other than six-time champion Matt Smith and as the series heads to St. Louis for this weekend’s 13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, Smith will look to extend that points lead in hopes of earning his seventh world title.

Smith, rider of the Denso Auto Parts Buell, took over the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead from reigning champion Gaige Herrera following his win last weekend at the NHRA Carolina Nationals. As Smith and the rest of the riders set their sights on the halfway mark of the playoffs in St. Louis, he’ll be ready to carry his momentum into the third race of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship.

“I feel good about St. Louis,” Smith said. “I’ve won that race a lot and I think we have good momentum. We have to get a couple of our other bikes running better in our camp, to help out and get up here in the points, too. I think St. Louis is going to be hard. We’re in a dog fight. We all know that the Vance & Hines group is tough. I think you’ll see them step their stuff up a little bit more come St. Louis.” Continue reading →

ST. LOUIS – Due to weather, NHRA and World Wide Technology Raceway officials announced a schedule change for Friday qualifying in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series at the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.

The opening round of qualifying will now begin at 12 p.m. CT on Friday, starting with Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock, and Funny Car and Top Fuel set for 1 p.m. CT. The second round of qualifying is now scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. CT in PSM and PS, with the nitro categories to follow at 3:30 p.m. CT.

Tickets may be purchased at the WWTR ticket office, by phone at (618) 215-8888, or online at www.wwtraceway.com. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. For more information on NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.