NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

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

Qualifying is complete and another sellout crowd is expected as the 13th annual NHRA New England Nationals races to a conclusion on Sunday at New England Dragway.

Friday leaders Doug Kalitta, Austin Prock, and Erica Enders managed to hold on to the top spots in Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock, respectively, and they’ll be among the favorites to capture coveted NHRA Wally trophies this afternoon.

Kalitta, who has won at every track on the tour except New England Dragway, will begin his quest to check that box with a round one match against Scott Farley. Kalitta’s side of the ladder is stacked with talent including his own teammate, Shawn Langdon, Chicago winner Antron Brown, Tony Stewart, and Billy Torrence.

Steve Torrence qualified No. 2 and won Saturday’s Mission Foods #FastTasty Challenge. The four-time world champion will begin his day with a race against Smax Smith but will also have to contend with a ladder that includes Justin Ashley, Brittany Force, Clay Millican and eight-time champ Tony Schumacher.

Prock qualified No. 1 in Funny Car for the fifth time in seven events this year with a 3.837 and he’ll race Mike Smith in round one. The marquee match-up in Funny Car will feature a pair of multi-time world champions as Chicago winner Matt Hagan is set to face off against Ron Capps in a match generally reserved for the later rounds.

John Force’s “Fountain of Youth” tour continues as the 16-time champ is the No. 2 qualifier and won Saturday’s Mission Foods #2Fast2tasty Challenge. Force will look to win his second event of the season beginning with a round one match against Buddy Hull. Force also faces a possible Mission Challenge rematch with Blake Alexander in the second round. Another key match-up in Funny Car will feature Cruz Pedregon and defending event winner Bob Tasca III.

Erica Enders nearly set the track record during Pro Stock qualifying on Friday with a 6.488 that was not challenged on Saturday. Coming off a rare round one loss in Chicago, Enders faces Fernando Cuadra Jr. in round one. The top side of the ladder also includes a must-see battle between current leader Greg Anderson and Aaron Stanfield, who is coming off a pair of runner-up finishes in Pro Stock and Factory X in Chicago.

Dallas Glenn won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday and he’ll race against Brandon Foster in round one. The No. 2 qualifier is Troy Coughlin Jr., who will be paired against Brandon Miller, the current world champion in the Right Trailers Top Sportsman class. One other match that bears watching will feature No. 6 qualifier Kenny Delco, who is taking on five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr.

Sunday’s action will also feature the Congruity Pro Mod Series presented by LearnEV+ as well as seven Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series sportsman categories and the special Street Car Shootout featuring cars from Hot Rod Magazine’s Drag Week.

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; 335.57 mph by Brittany Force, May '24.
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.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.627 sec. by Gaige Herrera, Oct. ’23, Ennis, Texas; 205.04 mph by Matt Smith, July ’21, Sonoma.

SCHEDULE

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

TELEVISION

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).