Kalitta extends lead with TF triumph, FC’s Hagan pulls within 20 points of Prock, Anderson gets sixth PS win of 2025, Herrera gets back on track with PSM victory

ST. LOUIS – Four-time Funny Car world champ Matt Hagan defeated Jack Beckman in the final round on Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway, picking up the victory for Tony Stewart Racing and staying alive in the championship mix in front of a huge crowd at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals.

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the 17th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the third of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

In the final round, Hagan went 3.979-seconds at 329.34 mph in his 12,000-horsepower American Rebel Beer Dodge//SRT Hellcat, holding off Beckman’s 4.036 to win for the second time this season and the 54th time in his career. After qualifying second and running well all weekend, Hagan defeated Alex Laughlin, Cruz Pedregon and Daniel Wilkerson to advance to the final round. Continue reading →

ST. LOUIS – Reigning Funny Car world champion Austin Prock locked up his fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season on Saturday at the 14th annual NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals in front of a sold-out crowd at Worldwide Technology Raceway.

The Funny Car points leader is looking for his first win at the fan-favorite race track and second of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. With the momentum from his win just six days ago, Prock has confidence in his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team.

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” said Prock. “We figured out what not to do today and we’ll be able to get after it tomorrow. I feel good. I’m excited. I never have a doubt in my mind even when we stumble that we can’t just get right back to running low ET the next round.”

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Eric Latino (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also secured No. 1 qualifiers at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals as the NHRA Countdown to the Championship continues. Continue reading →

ST. LOUIS – The NHRA and World Wide Technology Raceway announced on Saturday a sellout at the 14th annual NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals.

“Today’s sold-out crowd at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals in St. Louis showcases the unmatched passion of our drag racing fans,” said NHRA President Glen Cromwell. “World Wide Technology Raceway’s significant investments in expanding the facility, upgrading grandstands and suites, and elevating the fan experience have transformed this venue into a premier destination for motorsports. Today’s enthusiastic turnout is a powerful testament to the value of our fans and the strength of this track within the NHRA community.”

World Wide Technology Raceway implemented a variety of upgrades including a brand-new East Grandstand as well as additional video screens for an enhanced viewing of the races for the Nitro 2 and West Grandstands. The new East Grandstands, which were completed the week of the race, provide fans with improved views.

The 2025 NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals serves as the midway point in the NHRA Mission Foods Countdown to the Championship and is a critical stopping point. “Everything changes in St. Louis” is a common saying among the drivers at this stop, and it has continued to show Continue reading →

ST. LOUIS – Top Fuel’s Doug Kalitta landed in the provisional No. 1 spot at the 14th annual NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals as the Countdown to the Championship playoffs continued at World Wide Technology Raceway.

The Top Fuel points leader clocked a 3.675-second pass at 334.82 mph in his Mac Tools dragster. If that holds for best of the class, it will mark his eighth No. 1 qualifier of the season. With two wins so far in 2025, Kalitta is looking for his first win in the playoffs.

The highlight of Friday night’s qualifying session was the “2025 Friday No. 1 Qualifier Top Hitter” bat from Rawlings. Low qualifiers were awarded custom bats from the St. Louis-based bat company as part of the St. Louis race.

“That was really cool to end up with the bat; it’s engraved and the whole deal,” said Kalitta. “It was an interesting round. I was sitting back there thinking man, I sure hope my car goes down the track because everyone is running really well. Got down there and it felt good. Real fortunate to be able to pull off a good run and come out No. 1 so far.” Continue reading →

ST. LOUIS – Friday night under the lights at World Wide Technology will have an added bonus for top qualifiers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle as part of this weekend’s NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals.

World Wide Technology and NHRA officials announced the low qualifiers during the second session on Friday will receive a special “2025 Friday No. 1 Qualifier Top Hitter” bat from Rawlings, adding to the Friday night festivities, which begin at 7 p.m. CT.

The bat will play into a fun baseball-themed top end that will include additional Rawlings items. The driver who makes the quickest pass in each class during the Friday Primetime session will then receive the Rawlings “Top Hitter” bat.

It’s another way to add to the excitement for the weekend, which starts with two qualifying sessions on Friday – including the always thrilling night session – two more qualifying sessions on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday at the key Countdown to the Championship playoff race. It’s also the first time since 2019 the fan-favorite facility will host two qualifying sessions on Friday. Continue reading →

ST. LOUIS – For the first time in his career, Pro Stock Motorcycle standout Richard Gadson is the points leader as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series travels to World Wide Technology Raceway for this weekend’s NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals and the third race of the 2025 Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

At the beginning of the year, Gadson had yet to win an NHRA race, coming up just short in his standout rookie season. But this year, he’s enjoyed a breakout campaign on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki, winning three races and taking over the points lead following his victory last weekend in Charlotte.

As Gadson and the rest of the Pro Stock Motorcycle field gear up for the final event of a three-race swing to open the NHRA playoffs, Gadson knows that during the Countdown, every point is valuable and the stakes are high.

“At this point, I know I need to stay humble and just try to keep doing whatever the heck I’m going to get these win lights on Sunday.” said Gadson. “One of my biggest things lately is just trying to be mentally and physically prepared for it. I know I can ride a motorcycle, but it’s everything that happens before I even get to the racetrack that’s been helping me to be consistent. Continue reading →

ST. LOUIS – World Wide Technology Raceway has treated three-time Funny Car champion Ron Capps well over the years, something he hopes to replicate at this weekend’s NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals for multiple reasons.

A victory would keep him alive in the loaded Funny Car championship chase and the addition of NAPA Auto Parts – Capps’ longtime sponsor – as the title sponsor of the race adds another layer of motivation as well.

He’s done well in St. Louis in recent seasons, advancing to the final round in each of the last three years at the standout facility in his 12,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Car Toyota GR Supra. Capps remains the winningest Funny Car driver in St. Louis history, winning four times at World Wide Technology Raceway, but his last victory came in 2017.

Capps, who enters the weekend third in points and 98 points back of reigning champ Austin Prock, would love to change that and pull closer to Prock in the process Continue reading →

ST. LOUIS – Coming off a standout performance in Charlotte, if Top Fuel title contender Justin Ashley can close out this stretch of three straight races to open the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs with another strong performance at this weekend’s NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, he’ll find himself among the Top Fuel world title favorites.

Ashley, though, isn’t looking that far down the road, only what his team can accomplish this weekend in St. Louis. Fresh off celebrating the win in the NHRA’s first-ever four-wide race, Ashley is focused on performing well in his 12,000-horsepower Scag Power Equipment dragster.

He’s never won in St. Louis during his standout career, but Ashley is riding high with wins in two of his past three races. Ashley won the prestigious U.S. Nationals in Indy to close the regular season and then again in Charlotte, bringing plenty of momentum to the critical playoff race in St. Louis. Continue reading →