Torrence and Tucker qualify No. 1 at Brainerd International Raceway

BRAINERD, MN – On the final Funny Car pass of the day at Brainerd International Raceway, points leader Austin Prock powered to the No. 1 spot and claimed his sixth straight victory in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday at the 42nd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.

Antron Brown (Top Fuel) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, while Steve Torrence (Top Fuel) and Jerry Tucker (Pro Stock) also qualified No. 1 at the 13th of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Prock went a stellar 3.860-seconds at 334.07 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS to close out qualifying and win the specialty race against Ron Capps in the process. It gives Prock an incredible seven victories in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, which is the most in the history of the program that started a year ago.

He’s earned 23 bonus championship points as well, while the run hands the points leader and first-year Funny Car driver an equally incredible nine No. 1 qualifiers in the first 13 races of the season. Like he’s done several times in 2024, Prock will look for a clean sweep of the weekend on Sunday, opening eliminations against Jim Campbell. Continue reading →

BRAINERD, MN – Four-time Top Fuel world champion Steve Torrence powered to the provisional No. 1 position on speed at Brainerd International Raceway, taking the top spot over Tony Stewart on Friday at the 42nd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.

Blake Alexander (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 13th of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Torrence and Stewart both went a blistering 3.688-seconds during the second qualifying session at Brainerd, but Torrence had the faster run, going an impressive 335.32 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Capco Contractors dragster. If that holds, it would be Torrence’s third top spot of the season and the 40th in his career. After winning in Seattle, things are continuing to come around for Torrence, who is currently third in Top Fuel points.

“We’ve been working on trying to make power,” Torrence said. “At the end of the day, power is speed, and the high mile an hour is just an exhibition of power and being able to get it down. These conditions here are different than a lot of places we go, so it’s rather difficult to make power here. I was a little surprised to see .68 being low. Continue reading →

BRAINERD, MN – As the winningest Pro Stock driver in NHRA history, Greg Anderson is no stranger to the winner’s circle, including at Brainerd International Raceway, which serves as the host of this weekend’s 42nd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.

Anderson, originally from nearby Duluth, Minn., has 105 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series wins to his credit, more than any other Pro Stock driver. At this weekend’s event in Brainerd, he’ll have his eye on his third win of the season and fourth at Brainerd for KB Titan Racing.

As the penultimate race of the regular season before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin, Brainerd remains a critical event during the NHRA season and Anderson will look to win at the fan-favorite facility for the first time since 2011.

“Brainerd is important for a lot of reasons,” said Anderson, who is currently second in Pro Stock points. “Obviously, with the playoffs coming up, it’s time to be on your A-game and hit your peak. You have to peak at the right time of the year, and this is the time – the time to get everything right.” Continue reading →

BRAINERD, MN – After nearly four years away, Jack Beckman is thrilled to return to Funny Car racing in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and he is even more excited with the opportunity in front of him, which begins with this weekend’s 42nd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

Beckman was named the fill-in driver for 16-time Funny Car champion John Force following Force’s crash at Virginia Motorsports Park in late June. Beckman will now pilot the 11,000-horsepower PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS for the final eight races of the 2024 campaign, earning points – and a possible 17th championship – for Force.

The magnitude of the moment isn’t lost on Beckman, a former world champion and 33-time event winner, who is thrilled to get behind the wheel for the first time since 2000 at this weekend’s event in Brainerd.

“Brainerd will mark a literal ‘Second-Chance’ in many ways,” Beckman said. “I am thrilled to be a part of the return of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS back to NHRA competition. It has been nearly four years since I made a run that earned championship points, and more than 16 years since driving a Funny Car while also working a full-time job.”

Continue reading →