NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

After two days of qualifying at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, the fields are nearly set for the 70th annual Toyota U.S. Nationals. After Saturday’s two pro rounds, Brittany Force, Austin Prock, Greg Anderson, and John Hall are the provisional leaders in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle respectively.

The Top Fuel field is already otherworldly as Force leads with a 3.69 run from Friday, but the entire 16-car field is separated by a little more than a tenth of a second as Jasmine Salinas is currently No. 16 with a 3.81 and 15 cars are in the 3.7s or quicker. With two runs remaining on Sunday, and a significant improvement in weather conditions, the bump spot is sure to change.

Reigning world champ Doug Kalitta and his Kalitta Motorsports teammate, Shawn Langdon, are among those not qualified so it’s extremely likely that the bump will get even quicker before the final 16 qualifiers are determined.

In Funny Car, Austin Prock is the leader after three runs with a 3.855, just ahead of Bob Tasca III’s 3.877. The Funny Car field is also quick with Buddy Hull on the bump with a respectable 4.099 in Jim Dunn’s Dodge. So far, 12 different drivers have run in the threes and the two drivers not currently qualified are Dave Richards and Justin Schriefer.

On Sunday, Funny Car racers will also have a chance to race for big money in the final Pep Boys Allstar Funny Car Callout of the season. The Callouts were made on Saturday and Bob Tasca III had the first pick and called out two-time world champion Cruz Pedregon. The rest of the pairings include Ron Capps and Paul Lee, Matt Hagan and Alexis DeJoria, and J.R. Todd and Chad Green.

Not surprisingly, the Pro Stock field is also extremely close with all 16 provisional qualifiers sandwiched between Greg Anderson’s 6.588 and Deric Kramer’s 6.640. It takes a 6.616 to make the quick eight and the drivers who are yet to qualify include Erica Latino, Derick Reese, Larry Morgan, Chris McGaha, and Kenny Delco.

Yesterday, Dallas Glenn claimed the win in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, and he’s currently one of the favorites with a sixth-best 6.609 in his RAD Torque Systems Camaro.

Coming off a strong showing at the most recent Pro Stock Motorcycle event in Sonoma, past Indy winner John Hall continues to impress. Hall won Saturday’s Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, and is presently the No. 1 qualifier at 6.830, just ahead of teammate Matt Smith’s 6.836.  Gaige Herrera, the defending Indy winner and reigning world champ, is third with a 6.850.

Qualifying was also completed in the Congruity Pro Mod series where Justin Bond took the top spot at 5.756, just ahead of Khalid alBalooshi’s 5.759. The Pro Mod bump is Scott Wildgust at 5.866.

Saturday’s jam-packed schedule will also feature action in the Holley EFI Factory X class, FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown, and the continuation of eliminations in the Lucas Oil Sportsman Drag Racing Series.

2023 EVENT WINNERS: Antron Brown, Top Fuel; Ron Capps, Funny Car; Matt Hartford, Pro Stock; Pro Stock Motorcycle, Matt Smith.

MOST VICTORIES: Tony Schumacher 10, TF; John Force, Ed McCulloch 5, FC; Bob Glidden, 9, PS; Dave Schultz, 6, PSM.

TRACK RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.640 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept., ’22; 337.75 mph by Brittany Force, Sept. ‘22.
Funny Car – 3.799 sec. by Matt Hagan, Sept, ’17; 338.77 mph by Hagan, Sept. ‘17.
Pro Stock – 6.538 sec. by Jason Line, Sept. ’11; 211.13 mph by Mike Edwards, Sept. ’12.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.746 sec. by Gaige Herrera, Sept. ’23; 201.16 mph by Matt Smith, Sept. ‘22.

SCHEDULE

SUNDAY, Sept. 1
LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations at 8 a.m.
NHRA MISSION FOODS SERIES qualifying at noon and 2:30 p.m.
PEP BOYS ALLSTAR FUNNY CAR CALLOUT at 1 p.m.

MONDAY, Sept. 2
Pre-race ceremonies, 9 a.m.
NHRA MISSION FOODS SERIES eliminations begin at 10 a.m.

TELEVISION
Sunday, Sept. 1, FS1 will televise two hours of professional qualifying at 1 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 1 FOX TV will televise 90-minutes of the Pep Boys Allstar Funny Car Callout at 5 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 1, FS1 will televise two hours or professional qualifying at 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 2, FS1 will television two hours of eliminations at noon
Monday, Sept. 2, FOX will televise two hours of finals coverage at 2 p.m.