NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

It's Race Day.

When the gates swung open Sunday morning at Maple Grove Raceway, it wasn't just another eliminations day. The Reading Nationals are the starting line for the Countdown to the Championship—the moment where every round counts. If Indy is the wedding, Reading is the honeymoon, where fresh vows of speed, risk, and reward get tested in front of one of NHRA’s most loyal fan bases. Yesterday’s sellout crowd proved once again that the hills of Pennsylvania don’t just echo horsepower; they absorb the stories that define a season.

Top Fuel: Millikan’s Statement, Torrence’s Warning, Brittany’s Charge

Clay Millican, the people’s car-guy racer, set the tone with an early No. 1 qualifying blast, then reminded everyone of nitro’s cost with a thunderous engine failure in Q3. Still, he enters race day as a fan favorite capable of stringing together four lights-out passes. Just behind him lurks Justin Ashley, the reaction-time assassin, Doug Kalitta with Alan Johnson horsepower, and a phalanx of disruptors: Shawn Reed, Shawn Langdon, Tony Schumacher, and Steve Torrence—teams with equal parts scars and swagger.

And then there’s Brittany Force. Announcing her retirement at season’s end has unlocked a new fire, and the possibility of her writing the closing chapters as a three-time champion feels almost cinematic. In a class this deep, eliminations Sunday could tilt the Countdown board before lunch.

Funny Car: Prock Quietly Loud, Beckman’s Big Shoes, Hyde’s Arrival

Funny Car has never been more unpredictable. Spencer Hyde, the Canadian Pro Mod standout now strapped into Jim Head’s fuel coupe, delivered the weekend’s most surprising No. 1. He’s proving to be the lion tamer that team has needed for years.

Austin Prock sits quietly in second, though nothing about his team suggests “quiet.” Jack Beckman, filling in for John Force, has handled the weight of history with enthusiasm and precision—an impossible role he’s made look natural. Paul Lee’s race-winning Funny Car combination has returned to shine, while J.R. Todd carries the confidence of his Epping win into familiar green surroundings. Don’t overlook the trio of Matt Hagan, Bob Tasca III, and Ron Capps, each capable of wrecking the ladder in one run.

Pro Stock Car: Glenn vs. Elite, Every Point Matters

Dallas Glenn leads the class, but his advantage is measured as much in bonus points as elapsed time. He’s playing championship chess. Behind him, Aaron Stanfield and Erica Enders are tightening the vise, while names like Corey Reed, Cody Coughlin, and Craig Henderson add fresh edges to the bracket. 

Pro Stock Motorcycle: Herrera Leads, Smith Shadows

If Gaige Herrera is the inevitable No. 1, Matt Smith remains the immovable object in his path. Richard Gadson, Braden Davis, Angie Smith, and Chase Van Sant fill a ladder bristling with upset potential. Herrera wants his first Reading Wally, but no one expects him to cruise.

Beyond the Racing: Shifts in the Sport

Leah Pruett’s announced return to Top Fuel, Josh Hart’s sale of his operation, and the Elite Motorsports–TSR strategic partnership promise to reshape the nitro and Pro Stock landscapes. And at John Force Racing, Brittany’s departure signals an era where Prock, Beckman, and multi-car strategies may form the next Force dynasty.

The Schedule

9:15 a.m. – Sportsman Eliminations

9:30 a.m. – Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Eliminations, Round 2

9:45 a.m. – SealMaster Track Walk and Driver Introductions

11:00 a.m. – Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Eliminations begin with Top Fuel

🎟️ Get Your Tickets to Experience It Live

Be part of the action at Maple Grove Raceway! Secure your seats for today and tomorrow’s eliminations at the NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish by visiting sitickets.com/maple-grove-raceway
.

📺 Watch Every Pass Live on NHRA.tv

Can’t make it to the track? Stream every qualifying session and elimination round live on your TV, laptop, or smartphone at NHRA.tv
and catch all the championship-chasing action as it happens.

NHRA on Fox Sports 1 Tune-In Times

Sunday, Sept. 14: Qualifying coverage at 12 p.m. ET (FS1)

Sunday, Sept. 14: Finals coverage  at 2 p.m. ET (FS1)