Pep Boys
Paul Lee Takes Pep Boys Challenge Win at Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals
INDIANNAPOLIS – Paul Lee – Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout Winner
4.243 seconds, 234.86 mph
NOTE: Paul Lee collected the Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout win on Sunday at the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals when he defeated Bob Tasca III in the final round of the specialty race.
video courtesy of NHRA
PAUL LEE WINS PEP BOYS FUNNY CAR ALL-STAR CALLOUT AT TOYOTA NHRA U.S. NATIONALS
B. Force, Prock, Anderson & Herrera also all qualify No. 1 at The Big Go
INDIANAPOLIS – Funny Car’s Paul Lee won a specialty race for the first time in his NHRA career on Sunday at Lucas Oil Indianapolis 
Raceway Park, defeating Bob Tasca in the final round of the Pep Boys Funny Car All-Star Callout as part of the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals.
In other racing action, Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all qualified No. 1 at the 14th of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Lee, who was seeded eighth in the eight-car field and appeared in a specialty race for the first time, went 4.243-seconds at 328.38 mph in his 11,000-horsepower McLeod Racing/FTI Performance Dodge Charger to slip past Tasca’s 4.255. Both cars drove into smoke near the finish line, but Lee had enough to coast to the victory, which nets the veteran the $80,000 prize. Lee beat Ron Capps and defending world champion Matt Hagan earlier on Sunday to reach the final round of the specialty race.
He left first on Tasca and held on for the win, which is certainly Lee’s biggest moment in the Funny Car ranks. Lee has made impressive strides this year with Jonnie Lindberg as his crew chief and John Medlen offering guidance as well. Continue reading
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR PEP BOYS FUNNY CAR ALL-STAR CALLOUT DRIVERS AT TOYOTA NHRA U.S. NATIONALS
Bob Tasca III is the top seed in loaded eight-car specialty race, which provides a memorable chance for big money and bragging rights at The Big Go
INDIANAPOLIS – For eight Funny Car drivers competing at the prestigious 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals, the world’s biggest 
drag race provides a chance to do something incredibly special.
Eight standouts – Bob Tasca III, Ron Capps, Matt Hagan, Chad Green, J.R. Todd, Cruz Pedregon, Alexis DeJoria and Paul Lee – are all part of the Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout specialty race, which takes place on Sunday and offers a big purse and major bragging rights as part of the world’s biggest drag race.
It’s also a chance for drivers to double-up on drag racing’s biggest stage, something Ron Capps did two years ago when he won the Callout and then The Big Go for the first time. Capps has a chance to replicate that this weekend, while a trio of drivers – Hagan, Green and Todd – have the unique opportunity to win a remarkable three times in a single weekend.
All three are part of the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday, with the bonus race serving as another opportunity for Indy glory at the Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals. Continue reading
PEP BOYS NHRA NATIONALS KICKS OFF 2024 COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS
READING, PA – At the beginning of every NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, drivers have their sights on a championship and 
the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway will kick off that playoff hunt to open the Countdown to the Championship.
The 39th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals takes place Sept. 12-15 and the historic, fan-favorite track is the first stop of the NHRA’s six-race playoff race. Setting the tone in Reading can make for celebration or heartbreak come the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals in Pomona and drivers will be laser-focused as they take to the track at Maple Grove Raceway.
The tradition-rich facility is known for being one of the quickest on the NHRA tour, providing an epic backdrop for incredible runs and memorable action on a must-see weekend that includes two rounds of qualifying on both Friday and Saturday, leading into eliminations on Sunday.
Last season, Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all claimed wins in their respective categories and this year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1 and FOX, including elimination coverage on FOX on Sunday, Sept. 12 beginning at 2 p.m. ET. Overall, the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals is the 15th event during the 20-race season and it promises to deliver a weekend of thrilling action at a facility always packed with fans. Continue reading
FIELD SET FOR PEP BOYS NHRA FUNNY CAR ALL-STAR CALLOUT AT TOYOTA NHRA U.S. NATIONALS
Bob Tasca III gets top seed in loaded eight-car specialty race, which provides bonus money and bragging rights at The Big Go
INDIANAPOLIS – The world’s biggest drag race includes a standout Funny Car showdown, as the field is now set for the eight-car Pep Boys 
NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout on Sunday, Sept. 1 as part of this year’s 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals.
The Big Go takes place Aug. 28-Sept. 2 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park and one of the major highlights of the Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals is the Funny Car specialty race that offers up bragging rights and big money on drag racing’s grandest stage.
For the first time, Bob Tasca III earned the top seed in the Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout, with the rest of the eight-car field including, in order, 2022 Callout winner Ron Capps, defending world champion Matt Hagan, Chad Green, J.R. Todd, Cruz Pedregon, Alexis DeJoria and Paul Lee. Both Green and Lee are making their first appearance in the specialty race, while Todd returns to the Callout this year after just missing out a season ago.
Lee was ninth in the Callout standings and moved into the final field with John Force unable to participate following his June crash in Richmond. Continue reading
BROWN WINS PEP BOYS TOP FUEL ALL-STAR CALLOUT; LANGDON, PROCK, ENDERS & HERRERA QUALIFY NO. 1 AT AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE, FL – Antron Brown picked up the victory in the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout on Saturday at Gainesville 
Raceway in front of a capacity crowd, knocking off Brittany Force in the final round of the specialty race as part of this weekend’s 55th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all qualified No. 1 at the first of 21 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
Brown went 3.709-seconds at 332.43 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Matco Tools Toyota dragster, taking down Force’s 3.730 at 328.70. It gave Brown, who defeated Langdon and Steve Torrence earlier in the day, his first Pep Boys All-Star Callout victory, a big payday in the specialty event and a stellar way to start his 2024 NHRA season.
Antron Brown Wins Pep Boys All-Star Callout at 2024 NHRA Season-Opener
GAINESVILLE, FL – Antron Brown’s 2024 campaign got off to a hot start on Saturday night at the NHRA Gatornationals when he powered 
to victory in the Pep Boys Top Fuel All-Star Callout specialty race. Brown defeated three world champions to capture his first win of the year during the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season-opener, winning an $80,000 bonus purse and a special wrestling-inspired champions’ belt trophy.
The AB Motorsports team’s 2023 qualifying performance allowed them to secure a berth in the race-within-a-race, which featured a gauntlet of eight Top Fuel heavy-hitters with a combined 11 world championships between them. Brown faced his Toyota teammate Shawn Langdon in the opening round, which was contested during the event’s third qualifying session. Both drivers encountered traction issues and pedaled down the track with the three-time world champ crossing the finish line stripe first to advance. Next up was another Toyota driver, Steve Torrence.
Brown moved first and took his 45th anniversary Matco Tools Toyota dragster down the track in 3.761 seconds to defeat his friend’s 3.765 E.T. Despite winning the first two rounds of the Callout race, Brown went into the final round of qualifying, which also served as the showdown of the Pep Boys race, sitting in the No. 14 spot. There he faced his third world champion in his opponent Brittany Force. Against Force, Brown laid down a stout 3.709 E.T. at 332.43 MPH to defeat her 3.730-second attempt and moved up to fourth on the Gatornationals elimination ladder in the process.
Josh Hart Exits Early in Bid to Win Second Pep Boys All-Star Callout
GAINESVILLE, FL – After a lengthy rain delay Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster team were eager to defend their 2023 Pep 
Boys Allstar Callout title. Earlier in the day Hart, the No. 8 qualifier, was called out by No. 1 qualifier Steve Torrence in a made-for-TV event in the Top Eliminator Club at Gainesville Raceway. All eight Top Fuel competitors were vying for the $80,000 top prize that Hart collected last year when he turned on three win lights outrunning Austin Prock, Brittany Force and Mike Salinas.
Today, racing Torrence as the last pair of Top Fuel land rockets Hart was the first off the line with a strong .030 reaction time. Unfortunately, his 12,000-horsepowered R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster overpowered the track and had to watch Torrence cruise to the finish line for the round win. Torrence’s time of 3.708 seconds was the quickest pass of the third round of the Top Fuel qualifying session.
“We got a little too aggressive chasing that $80,000,” said Hart, who won the 2021 NHRA Gatornationals his rookie season. “It was tricky for everyone after the rain delay, but Steve made a strong run. Last year we on this deal and then went home early on Sunday. I am going to try and flip that script and win the Gatornationals again. We have a solid team and I am looking forward to race day.”
DEFENDING EVENT WINNER JOSH HART JOINS PEP BOYS NHRA TOP FUEL ALL-STAR CALLOUT FIELD IN GAINESVILLE
GAINESVILLE, FL – Top Fuel standout Josh Hart will have the opportunity to defend his victory in the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star 
Callout, which takes place on Saturday, March 9 as part of the 55th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at legendary Gainesville Raceway.
Hart, the defending event winner in the big-money specialty race, moved into the final spot after Leah Pruett opted not to compete in the Callout. A year ago, Hart won out of the No. 8 spot in the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout, and he’ll try to repeat that effort at his home track to kick off the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
“I have always believed ‘Anything’s Possible’ and this turn of events proves that you have to stay ready because anything can happen,” Hart said. “I am excited to get to mix it up with these other seven drivers. We won from the No. 8 spot last year and we will try and do it again. This R+L Carriers Top Fuel team learned a lot at the end of the season and over the off-season. We will be ready.”
SCHEDULE UPDATES MADE TO BIG-MONEY PEP BOYS NHRA TOP FUEL ALL-STAR CALLOUT IN GAINESVILLE
GAINESVILLE, FL – NHRA announced today a pair of scheduling updates for the upcoming Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout, 
which takes place on Saturday, March 9 as part of the 55th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.
The autograph session for the participants will now take place at 12:30 p.m. ET on Friday at the Pep Boys display, while the first-round Callout selections will be made at 10 a.m. ET in the Top Eliminator Club. Steve Torrence is the top seed in the big-money specialty race and has the first pick to call out his opening-round opponent.
The rest of the current lineup, in order, includes Doug Kalitta, Brittany Force, Mike Salinas, Justin Ashley, Leah Pruett, Antron Brown and Shawn Langdon. If Kalitta isn’t called out, the veteran picks next, going down the line until all four first-round matchups are set. Then, the driver who makes the quickest winning run that round selects their semifinal opponent, locking in the other matchup.
After qualifying sixth for the Callout, there is the chance Pruett wouldn’t race in the shootout if team owner Tony Stewart, who is making his Top Fuel debut in Gainesville, is not deeply qualified in the Gatornationals field after Friday’s two qualifying sessions.
