READING, PA – In only his third season in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, Gaige Herrera is just one win away from winning at all the tracks on the Pro Stock Motorcycle circuit. If he would win this weekend at the 39th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway to open the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, he would have race wins at all Pro Stock Motorcycle facilities.

Herrera, the reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion and rider of the RevZilla/Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki, has won seven of the nine motorcycle races this season, including most recently at the prestigious Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals.

He currently leads the points heading into the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs and is on a hunt for his second consecutive world title.

“Going up to Reading, that’s the one place I haven’t won yet, so I’m really determined to try to win this weekend,” said Herrera. “We just have to not take anything for granted. Last year, we obviously had the faster motorcycle out there and I think we relaxed a little bit maybe and it bit us in Reading. This year we’re going to go in focused on the main prize and that’s to be consistent each lap and do the best we can to have the best machine possible.” Continue reading →

READING, PA – Austin Prock has enjoyed a terrific 2024 regular season in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, racking up five victories and advancing to eight final rounds in his first year in the Funny Car ranks.

Heading into this weekend’s 39th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, Prock doesn’t plan on adjusting his mindset or his approach as the Countdown to the Championship playoffs open. It’s a new position for Prock this time of year, but it would be hard to argue switching something up that has worked so well this season for the John Force Racing team.

Prock and his team, led by his father, crew chief Jimmy Prock, have been stellar in all conditions in their 11,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS and that aggressive style won’t change with everyone now chasing him in the postseason. His points lead now stands at 39 over Bob Tasca III heading to Maple Grove Raceway and with a flurry of standouts right behind him, Prock knows it’s a great challenge in front of him.

“I don’t think we need to race any different. We need to have the same mindset and fight our way through it,” Prock said. “Our lead isn’t much and you’re going to have to be on kill every single round. It’s going to be a dogfight to the finish, for sure. I’m trying to make the most of this opportunity. We’ve got a fast hot rod and I’m enjoying driving it, and I’m looking forward to trying to finish this out strong.” Continue reading →

READING, PA – The most recent race didn’t go the way reigning Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta planned, but it would be hard to deny that the current points leader still has plenty of momentum heading into this weekend’s 39th annual NHRA Pep Boys Nationals based on last year’s results at Maple Grove Raceway.

Kalitta enters the opening race of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs as the defending event winner and it was a huge victory, jumpstarting his memorable run to a first world championship and also giving the veteran his 50th career win.

The bump in the road is Kalitta failed to qualify at the U.S. Nationals two weeks ago, the first time that happened for the longtime standout in 301 races and nearly 14 years. Kalitta and the team rebounded with a successful test session in Indy in his 11,000-horsepower Mac Tools/Toyota dragster, restoring Kalitta’s confidence as he looks to defend his world title, as well as his key Reading victory from a year ago. Continue reading →

Six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs start this weekend at Maple Grove Raceway as racers start title journey

INDIANAPOLIS – The 2024 NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs are set to open at this weekend’s 39th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa., and it’s a postseason filled with excitement and plenty of intriguing storylines.

This weekend’s race kicks off three straight race weekends, as the Countdown to the Championship goes from Reading to zMAX Dragway in Charlotte for the NHRA Carolina Nationals on Sept. 20-22 and then the NHRA Midwest Nationals on Sept. 27-29 at World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis.

From there it’s a furious three-race finish, beginning with the main event of the Texas Motorplex’s “Stampede of Speed,” the 39th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals on Oct. 9-13 in Dallas. That leads into the fall stop at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 31-Nov. 3 and then the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals on Nov. 14-17 at historic In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.

Heading into the playoff opener at the fan-favorite facility in Reading, let’s look at some of the top storylines in each category in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series: Continue reading →

ST. LOUIS – At the start of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs, drivers in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series know only 24 rounds of racing remain in the season. In that mix is the 13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, which again comes at a critical juncture on Sept. 27-29 at World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis.

A mainstay in the Countdown to the Championship, the annual race at the fan-favorite facility again serves as the halfway point in the six-race playoffs, finishing off an important stretch of three straight racing weekends in September.

Fans have always packed the standout track and the action starts immediately when all the stars in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle hit the track in St. Louis on Friday. Continue reading →

CONCORD, NC – As the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series heads into its Countdown to the Championship playoffs, drivers and teams will be laser-focused on an NHRA world championship when it comes to the 16th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals, which takes place on Sept. 20-22 at the Bellagio of dragstrips, zMAX Dragway.

The NHRA Carolina Nationals marks the second event of the six-race NHRA playoffs and the race will see competitors in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series taking to the track with championship dreams on their minds.

The intense, action-packed weekend will be filled with 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph excitement. The event features two qualifying runs on Friday, including a can’t-miss night session, two qualifying runs on Saturday and championship Sunday, where all the stars in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will leave it all on the line for a playoff victory. Continue reading →

INDIANAPOLIS – NHRA and Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) announced today they have renewed their licensing agreement to develop collectible die-cast vehicles under the iconic Hot Wheels brand.

This licensing partnership will continue to expand die-cast versions of classic hot rods, including a 1976 Chevy Chevette and a 1971 Ford Mustang Funny Car. NHRA fans of all ages can tap into the history, power and speed at the heart of both brands with this seamless collaboration.

“The partnership between NHRA and Hot Wheels continues to be a perfect match,” said Jeffrey Young, NHRA Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “NHRA is committed to delivering exciting licensed products to race fans and through our collaboration with Mattel, we’ve been able to extend the excitement of NHRA racing well beyond the race track.”

The NHRA Licensing Program continues to expand focusing on lifestyle products such as apparel and accessories, toys and home décor, as well as items for the garage for the auto enthusiast like automotive accessories, automotive tools, appearance and other automotive related products.

For more information on NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

NHRA playoffs set to feature stops in Reading, Charlotte, St. Louis, Dallas, Las Vegas and Pomona

INDIANAPOLIS – After an incredible regular season in the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, the Countdown to the Championship playoffs is officially here.

Over the next six races, dreams will be realized, history will be made and excitement will be at a fever pitch as drivers across Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will be focused on nothing but NHRA championship glory.

After the points reset, the championship journey starts at the 39th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals on Sept. 12-15 at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa., kicking off an edge-of-your-seat Countdown to the Championship sure to be filled with unforgettable moments and electric atmospheres across the country.

The first stretch of the Countdown to the Championship opens with three straight race weekends, with drivers going from Reading to the NHRA Carolina Nationals on Sept. 20-22 at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte to the NHRA Midwest Nationals on Sept. 27-29 at World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis. Continue reading →