NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to rustic New England Dragway for the NHRA New England Nationals, the seventh of 20 events on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series calendar.

The New England Nationals became a reality in 2013 and immediately became a favorite of fans in the Northeastern U.S. and many others across the globe.

Last year’s event was interrupted by rain and completed in Bristol, where Justin Ashley and Bob Tasca III scored nitro wins, while Justin Bond earned a win in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+. This year, Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Mod have returned along with the Pro Stock class.

Ashey returns to Epping as the championship leader in his Scag Power Equipment dragster. The New York native has a 71-point lead over Shawn Langdon, while reigning world champ Doug Kalitta is ranked third, 111 points back.

Ashley, Langdon, and Kalitta have each won this season, along with Antron Brown, who is coming off a victory at the most recent event in Chicago.

The leading contenders also include the father-son team of Billy and Steve Torrence, Clay Millican, and three-time NASCAR Cup series champ Tony Stewart, who will be making his first Professional start at New England Dragway.

New England native Tasca remains one of the favorites to capture the Funny Car title, along with current leader Austin Prock and Matt Hagan, who is coming off a win in Chicago. J.R. Todd and John Force have also banked victories this season.

The Funny Car class is also ripe for a new winner this season as Ron Capps, Cruz Pedregon, Chad Green, Daniel Wilkerson, Alexis DeJoria, and Blake Alexander have yet to close the deal this season.

Greg Anderson, the incoming Pro Stock leader, is looking to maintain momentum after a win at the GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock All-Star Callout event in Chicago. Anderson will be favored alongside Chicago winner Dallas Glenn and runner-up Aaron Stanfield.

Reigning and six-time world champ Erica Enders is also looking to bounce back following a rare round-one loss at the last event.

One other Pro Stock driver who should be a center of attention is Jeg Coughlin Jr., who has yet to win in New England but has a victory earlier this year in Las Vegas.

The Congruity Pro Mod series once again features a robust entry list, which means the most important battle of the weekend might just be making the 16-car field. After three events, Jose Gonzalez is the leader by a narrow 75-point margin over Ken Quartuccio, while Billy Banaka, Kevin Rivenbark, and Kris Thorne round out the top five.

2023 EVENT WINNERS
Justin Ashley, Top Fuel; Bob Tasca III, Funny Car; Justin Bond, Pro Mod

TRACK RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.664 seconds by Steve Torrence, June '22; 334.90 mph by Brittany Force, June '22.
Funny Car - 3.822 seconds by Robert Hight, June '17; 336.74 mph by Hight, June '17.
Pro Stock - 6.485 seconds by Shane Gray, June '14; 214.72 mph by Greg Anderson, June '15

NATIONAL RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.623 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. ‘19, Reading; 338.94 mph by B. Force, Nov. ‘22, Pomona.
Funny Car - 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. '17, Brainerd; 339.87 mph by Hight, July ’17, Sonoma.
Pro Stock - 6.450 sec. by Erica Enders, Mar. ’22, Gainesville; 215.55 mph by Enders, May ’14, Englishtown.

SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, May 31: Lucas Oil Series qualifying and time trials at 9:30 a.m.; Pro Stock qualifying at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

SATURDAY, June 1: Lucas Oil Series eliminations at 9:30 a.m.; Pro Stock qualifying at noon and 2:30 p.m; Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

SUNDAY, June 2: Pre-race ceremony, 10 a.m.; Professional eliminations at 11:00 a.m.

TELEVISION

FRIDAY, May 31: FS1 will televise 90 minutes of qualifying highlights at 7:30 p.m. (ET)
SATURDAY, June 1: FS1will televise 60 minutes of qualifying results at 7 p.m. (ET)
SATURDAY, June 1: FS1 will televise 60 minutes of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge at 8 p.m. (ET).
SUNDAY, June 2: FS1 will televise one hour of eliminations at 1 p.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, June 2: FS1 will televise two hours of finals at 7 p.m. (ET).