NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Welcome to day three of the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill.

This event is the sixth of 20 races this year in the Mission Foods NHRA pro series, and it includes Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock Motorcycle along with the Holley EFI Factory X series, the FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown, the Top Fuel Motorcycle class, and Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series sportsman competition in five categories. Also on tap is the third edition of the popular Peak Street Car Shootout that features some of the world’s quickest street legal vehicles.

On Friday, professional qualifying kicked off under extremely windy conditions which presented a challenge for drivers and crew chiefs alike. Kalitta Motorsports teamamtes Doug Kalitta and J.R. Todd managed to best navigate the tricky conditions.

Kalitta managed a 3.788 in his Mac Tools dragster to lead a strong field of Top Fuel dragsters while Todd’s 3.982 in the DHL Toyota leads the way in Funny Car. There are 19 Funny Cars on the grounds so today’s final two qualifying runs will take on an increased importance.

The Pro Stock Motorcycle class received just one run due to the windy and Angie Smith was quickest with a 6.792 on her Denso Buell. Today’s schedule has been adjusted to allow for three qualifying runs for the bike class in order to make up for yesterday's lost run.

Given the vastly improved conditions, the quickest elapsed times from Friday will almost certainly be bettered during Saturday's final qualifying runs.

Saturday’s schedule will also include the latest round of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge of the season, which will pit the semifinal finishers from the recent Charlotte event in a race for bonus cash and additional points. These rounds are run concurrently with Saturday qualifying.

Finally, the Peak Street Car Shootout will continue on Saturday. The special event features “Drag and Drive” stars Alex Taylor, Tom Bailey, Bryant Goldstone, Nick Taylor, Craig Groebner, Dave Schroeder, Ed Ensor, and Tom McGilton.

2024 EVENT WINNERS
Antron Brown, Top Fuel; Matt Hagan, Funny Car; Gaige Herrera, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

MOST EVENT VICTORIES
Tony Schumacher, 5 TF; Matt Hagan, Tony Pedregon, 4, FC; Andrew Hines, LE Tonglet, 3, PSM.

TRACK RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.667 sec. by Steve Torrence, June ’18; 336.65 mph by Torrence, May ’24.
Funny Car - 3.831 sec. by Robert Hight, May ’23; 335.07 mph by Hight, May ’23.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6. 672 seconds by Gaige Herrera, May ‘23; 202.45 mph by Herrera, May ’23.

NATIONAL RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.623 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. ‘19, Reading; 341.59 mph by Brittany Force, April. ‘25, Charlotte
Funny Car - 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. '17, Brainerd; 341.68 mph by Austin Prock, Nov. ’24, Pomona
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.627 sec. by Gaige Herrera, Oct. ’23, Dallas; 205.04 mph by Matt Smith, July ‘22, Sonoma

SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, May 17
Lucas Oil Series eliminations at 9:00 a.m.
PEAK Street Car Shootout at 11:45 a.m.
Mission Foods Series Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifyingat 1:15 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.
Mission Foods Series Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying at noon and 2:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, May 18
Lucas Oil Series eliminations at 8:45 a.m.
Pre-race ceremonies, 9:30 a.m.
Mission Foods Series eliminations begin at 10:30 a.m.

TELEVISION
SATURDAY, May 17, FS1 will televise one and half hours of qualifying highlights at 9:30 p.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, May 18, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 11 a.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, May 18, FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at 2 p.m. (ET)