NHRA
B. FORCE, J. FORCE, STANFIELD AND JOHNSON EARN NO. 1 QUALIFIERS AT DEWALT NHRA CAROLINA NATIONALS
CONCORD, NC – Funny Car points leader John Force drove his way to the No. 1 spot for the 163rd time in his career, taking the top 
qualifying position on Saturday at the DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also qualified No. 1 at the 15th of 20 races during the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season and the second race in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
J. Force’s run of 3.860-seconds at 332.18 mph from Friday in his 11,000-horsepower PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro held up, earning his third No. 1 qualifier of the season. His daughter, Brittany, joined him at the top in Top Fuel, marking the fifth time the father and daughter have shared the No. 1 spot together in their career, and the second time in the past three races. The standout Force combo both qualified No. 1 at each of the two Charlotte races this season as well. J. Force will now look for his fourth win this season taking on a loaded Funny Car ladder.
B. FORCE, J. FORCE, STANFIELD AND JOHNSON CLAIM PROVISIONAL NO. 1 SPOTS AT DEWALT NHRA CAROLINA NATIONALS
CONCORD, NC – Both Brittany and John Force enjoyed another impressive performance in qualifying on Friday, as each raced their way to provisional No. 1 positions in Top Fuel and Funny Car, respectively at the DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 15th of 20 races during the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season and the second race in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
It marks the second time in three races the father-daughter duo have powered to the top, with B. Force tying her track record set earlier this year with a run of 3.662-seconds at 331.85 mph in her 11,000-horsepower Monster Energy dragster. She is aiming for eighth straight No. 1 qualifier and 10th this season to continue her incredible string of top qualifiers.
“It always feels good to come out and run No. 1 and right now it’s about gaining as many bonus points as we can,” B. Force said. “(Crew chief) David Grubnic set our number and we actually stepped up on it. It’s pretty impressive for our team. There’s a lot on the line and we want to win, but right now we’re focusing on one weekend at a time and run at a time.”
NHRA ANNOUNCES 22-EVENT NHRA CAMPING WORLD DRAG RACING SERIES SCHEDULE FOR 2022 SEASON
GLENDORA, CA – NHRA officials announced today the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule to include 22 national 
events throughout the course of the season. Details on Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle schedules will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
NHRA looks forward to its 22-event schedule next season with the return of fan favorite events such as the NHRA Arizona Nationals in Phoenix, the Virginia NHRA Nationals in Richmond and the Flav-R-Pac NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle, which will serve as the traditional conclusion of the annual Western Swing.
The 2022 season kicks off in Pomona for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals Presented By ProtectTheHarvest.com. For the first time in four seasons, the NHRA will host a specialty race amongst the stars of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series nitro categories. Fans will be treated to not one but two NHRA Allstar Shootout events in 2022, at the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals and the prestigious Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend. Then, teams will focus in on the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs and set their sights on an NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series world title.
NITRO STARS TACKLE ZMAX DRAGWAY AS COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP HEATS UP AT DEWALT NHRA CAROLINA NATIONALS
CONCORD, NC – This might be Justin Ashley’s first time in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series’ Countdown to the Championship, but the rising Top Fuel star isn’t letting the moment get to him. Ashley, the NHRA’s reigning rookie of the year, advanced to the final round of the first race of the playoffs and will look to keep that momentum rolling at this weekend’s DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
The strong start to his first playoff appearance bumped Ashley from seventh to fourth in points in his 11,000-horsepower Smart Sanitizer/Strutmasters.com Top Fuel dragster. The fall race at state-of-the-art zMAX Dragway in 2019 marked Ashely’s first career Top Fuel race, where he advanced to the semifinals. It was a memory Ashley won’t forget and he’ll try to create an even bigger moment at the third race in a rigorous stretch of four straight race weekends.
“I love everything about racing in Charlotte. It is a beautiful facility and since it is a Bruton Smith track you know everything will be first class,” Ashley said. “I remember my first race there in 2019. I just wanted to do my best and we raced to the semifinals and almost made the finals. I know how hard (team owner) Dustin Davis, (crew chief) Mike Green and the crew guys are working right now and it is a complete team effort.”
T. JOHNSON JR., B. TORRENCE, ANDERSON AND S. JOHNSON ALL WIN MOPAR EXPRESS LANE NHRA NATIONALS PRESENTED BY PENNZOIL
MOHNTON, PA – Filling in for defending world champ Matt Hagan, Funny Car veteran Tommy Johnson Jr. picked up a memorable win on 
Sunday, powering to the victory at the 36th annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Maple Grove Raceway.
Billy Torrence (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won at the 14th of 20 races during the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season and the first race in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
With Hagan recovering from COVID-19, Johnson stepped in for his Don Schumacher Racing teammate at last week’s U.S. Nationals and this weekend’s playoff stop at Maple Grove Raceway, and he took full advantage of the opportunity. He went 3.926-seconds at 330.23 mph in the 11,000-horsepower Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, taking out John Force’s 3.946 in a thrilling side-by-side duel in the final round. Racing at the site of his first career Funny Car win, which came in 1999, Johnson took down Jim Campbell, Ron Capps and J.R. Todd to reach the final round. All the points Johnson gained this weekend went to Hagan per the NHRA’s replacement policy for medical reasons, but the veteran was thrilled to race.
PEDREGON, B. FORCE, ENDERS AND SAMPEY EARN NO. 1 SPOTS AT MOPAR EXPRESS LANE NHRA NATIONALS PRESENTED BY PENNZOIL
MOHNTON, PA – For the first time in more than six years, Cruz Pedregon is the No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car, as the veteran claimed the top spot on Saturday to close out qualifying at the 36th annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Maple Grove Raceway.
Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also qualified No. 1 at the 14th of 20 races during the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season and the first race in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Pedregon last qualified No. 1 in 2015, but that changed during Saturday’s final qualifying session, as he powered to a run of 3.875-seconds at 326.00 mph in his Snap-On Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. It is the 62nd career No. 1 qualifier for Pedregon, who is seeking his third career victory at Maple Grove Raceway.
B. FORCE, HIGHT, KORETSKY AND SAMPEY GRAB PROVISIONAL NO. 1 SPOTS AT MOPAR EXPRESS LANE NHRA NATIONALS PRESENTED BY PENNZOIL
MOHNTON, PA – Looking to qualify No. 1 for the seventh straight race, Brittany Force powered to a great start, taking the provisional top spot and setting the track speed record at Maple Grove Raceway on Friday at the 36th annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil.
Robert Hight (Funny Car), Kyle Koretsky (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 14th of 20 races during the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season and the first race in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Force rocketed to No. 1 on Friday in her 11,000-horsepower Flav-R-Pac dragster with a run of 3.666-seconds at 335.57 mph, making the fastest run in Maple Grove Raceway history in Top Fuel. If that holds, the former world champ would qualify No. 1 for the seventh straight race, the ninth time in 2021 and the 29th time in her standout career. It would also mark a great start to the Countdown to the Championship for Force, who entered the playoffs second in points behind defending three-time world champ Steve Torrence.
GREG ANDERSON AND MATT SMITH BOTH AFTER FIFTH NHRA WORLD TITLE AS COUNTDOWN TO CHAMPIONSHIP OPENS WITH MOPAR EXPRESS LANE NHRA NATIONALS PRESENTED BY PENNZOIL
READING, PA – Matt Smith’s dominant 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season in Pro Stock Motorcycle included four victories and six final round appearances, giving him the points lead as the Countdown to the Championship opens this weekend’s 36th annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Maple Grove Raceway.
Even after a brief hiccup last weekend in Indy, where an electrical issue led to his only first-round loss of the NHRA regular season, Smith remains confident on his Denso Auto Parts/Stockseth/Matt Smith Racing EBR as he looks to win back-to-back world titles and his fifth overall world championship. He’s impressed at every turn over the past two season and Smith is hopeful that will continue as the playoffs get underway at Maple Grove Raceway, where he has two career victories.
NITRO POINTS LEADERS LOOK TO START NHRA COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP ON STRONG NOTE AT MOPAR EXPRESS LANE NHRA NATIONALS PRESENTED BY PENNZOIL
READING, PA – The opening race of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship takes place at this weekend’s 36th annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Maple Grove Raceway and Ron Capps couldn’t be in a better place. The Funny Car veteran has the points lead heading into the first of seven playoff races and he will look to get off to a strong start as he aims for his second career world championship.
His regular season was built on consistency in his 11,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, turning in a brilliant first 13 races that included one victory and four appearances in the final round, as well as qualifying No. 1 at four different events. But it’s a tight field in the loaded Funny Car class, so Capps knows this is not the time to relax. Coming off a final round at the U.S. Nationals in Indy, Capps wants to keep things pushing forward at the same pace that led to a fantastic regular season.
JEFFERY BARKER GETS FIRST WIN IN FIRST E3 SPARK PLUGS NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES ACTION AT INDY
BROWNSBURG, IN – On drag racing’s biggest stage, Jeffery Barker picked up his first career victory in the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod 
Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service, racing past back-to-back world champ Stevie “Fast” Jackson in the final round at the prestigious Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.
The Pro Mod race, which was presented by ProCharger, was the seventh of 11 events during the 2021 E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service season.
In a thrilling final round, Jackson left first but Barker tracked him down in his nitrous-powered Bahrain 1 Racing/Lowe Toyota Camry, going 5.742-seconds at 251.67 mph to beat Jackson’s 5.785 at 248.29.
“This is absolutely perfect,” Barker said. “There’s so many people to thank, including Khalid alBalooshi and Stevie Jackson. I would not be here if it wasn’t for Stevie Jackson. This is the best weekend ever.”
