SEATTLE – Things are heading in the right direction for two-time Funny Car world champion Cruz Pedregon and he would like to keep it that way at this weekend’s 36th annual Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways.

The longtime standout appears to be over a rough patch that plagued most of his 2024 season in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, showing improvement and potential early this season. He added to it at the most recent event in Norwalk, picking up his first No. 1 qualifier in two years and advancing to the semifinals, the third time he’s done that this year. Pedregon also jumped three spots in the point standings, moving up to eighth in the loaded Funny Car category.

The key for Pedregon now is taking the next step – or two – and pick up his first victory since the 2022 finale. He’s trending in the right direction in his 12,000-horsepower Snap-on Dodge Hellcat and continued progress to kick off the second half of the 2025 season is the main goal this weekend in Seattle – along with putting on a stellar 330-mph show for the fans. Continue reading →

SEATTLE – Top Fuel driver Shawn Reed feels like he’s been on the cusp of a breakout performance all year. This weekend would be the perfect time for it to come true, as Reed heads to his home track, Pacific Raceways, for the 36th annual Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals.

It’s the track where Reed grew up racing, watching his idols in the nitro ranks, and years later, Reed is now making 330-mph runs in his 12,000-horsepower Shawn Reed Racing dragster. All that’s missing now is a victory in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and Reed believes his team is fully capable of that this weekend in Seattle.

The team has qualified well for most of the year in the talented Top Fuel category, but putting together four strong rounds on raceday is never easy. This weekend, though, would certainly be the ideal one for it all come together for Reed.

“All I ever wanted is a Wally, so to get that in Seattle would be the most amazing thing ever,” Reed said. “I don’t necessarily think the stakes are higher being I’m at my home track, but I do put the pressure on myself to perform and yes, I hope to be successful in front of my hometown, friends and family and coworkers.” Continue reading →

SEATTLE – The NHRA FanFest presented by Explore Auburn is back for a third consecutive year on Thursday, July 17, bringing an impressive NHRA driver lineup to officially kick off the race weekend for the 36th annual Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways.

The event takes place from 5-7 p.m. PT on Thursday, July 17 in front of Dave & Buster’s at The Outlet Collection (1101 Outlet Collection Dr. SW, Auburn, WA 98001), with autographs and a meet and greet with NHRA standouts taking place from 6-7 p.m.

Scheduled to appear is an impressive list of drivers in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, including Top Fuel stars Ida Zetterstrom and Jasmine Salinas, Funny Car standouts Chad Green, Hunter Green, Alexis DeJoria, Buddy Hull, rookie Dylan Winefsky, Pro Stock’s Cory Reed, Mason McGaha and Chris McGaha, as well as Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader Gaige Herrera, Richard Gadson, defending event winner Chase Van Sant and Chris Bostick.

The NHRA FanFest also includes a Drag & Drive Hot Rod Show, car displays, live music and door prizes. It leads into the weekend’s Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways, which kicks off with nitro under the lights on Friday, continues with three nitro qualifying sessions and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday. Continue reading →

Nearly $400,000 on the line for new regular season championship across NHRA’s four professional categories

INDIANAPOLIS – Just four races remain in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series regular season and a strong finish in the remaining events has never meant more with the new NHRA regular season championship, which was introduced for the 2025 season.

NHRA will award nearly $400,000 to the regular season champions in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle, with $150,000 going to the driver in both Top Fuel and Funny Car who finishes atop the points standings at the conclusion of the prestigious Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on Aug. 27-Sept. 1.

With regular season races remaining in Seattle (July 18-20), Sonoma (July 25-27), Brainerd (Aug. 14-17) and Indy, let’s take a look at the top challengers for the regular season championship before the start of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Continue reading →

SONOMA, CA – A yearly highlight on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season tour is picturesque Sonoma Raceway and the 37th annual Denso Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge, which takes place this year on July 25-27.

It is the 12th of 20 races during the season and as NHRA teams head to wine country, they will have their sights set on a coveted Wally and the historic Sonoma Raceway wine chalice trophy, all while racing at one of the fastest tracks on the NHRA circuit.

With an incredible backdrop and the awe-inspiring sights and sounds of the 12,000-horsepower, 340-mph nitro machines on the track, the weekend in Sonoma has been a memorable one for nearly four decades. The rabid area fanbase gets an opportunity to witness a variety of highlights during the weekend, too, including can’t-miss night racing on Friday night, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and the GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday. Continue reading →

SEATTLE – The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series’ annual trip to Pacific Raceways for the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals on July 18-20 promises to be one of the most thrilling in the event’s storied 36-year history.

From nitro at night on Friday to three rounds of 12,000-horsepower, 340-mph action on Saturday to eliminations on Sunday, Pacific Raceways will host one of the most unique and memorable weekends on the NHRA tour.

Nestled in the Pacific Northwest, the race at Pacific Raceways kicks off the second half of the year. After an incredible night racing debut last year, the track will once again feature a Friday Primetime qualifier. Deecell Power Systems will sponsor the “After Dark Low Qualifier,” awarding a bonus to the low qualifier of the must-see night session in the four NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series categories.

That leads into a can’t-miss Saturday that features three nitro qualifying sessions – along with the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge – as the 11th race of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season will be action-packed from start to finish. Continue reading →

NORWALK, OH – Funny Car points leader Austin Prock won back-to-back races for the second time this year for John Force Racing, taking down Matt Hagan in the final round of the 19th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals on Sunday at Summit Motorsports Park.

Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Cory Reed (Pro Stock) and John Hall (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the 10th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Prock went 4.064-seconds at 318.54 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet SS to slip past Hagan’s 4.099, as the points leader earned his fourth win of the 2025 campaign. It is the reigning world champion’s 16th career win and, amazingly, the 12th in the last 30 races since joining the Funny Car ranks at the start of the 2024 campaign.

To reach the final round, Prock defeated Dale Creasy Jr., Bob Tasca III and Ron Capps, setting up a marquee matchup with Hagan. The four-time world champion left first, but Prock had enough to track him down and earn his first career victory at Summit Motorsports Park. Continue reading →