NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Despite a second-round loss last weekend in Seattle, Justin Ashley remains on track to peak at perhaps the perfect time during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, still bringing plenty of momentum into this weekend’s Denso NHRA Sonoma  Nationals presented by PowerEdge at Sonoma Raceway.

Before that race, Ashley had won back-to-back events in his 12,000-horsepower Scag Power Equipment dragster, advancing to the final round at six of the previous seven races. Ashley still remains red-hot heading to Sonoma, staying in contention for the regular-season championship — which nets the winner $150,000 in the nitro ranks — and getting him Countdown to the Championship ready.

He trails Shawn Langdon, who won in impressive fashion in Seattle, by 93 points heading into Sonoma, feeling momentum at a track that has served him well. Ashley won at the spectacular facility in 2023 and would love to add another on a weekend where marquee runs could be plentiful with standout weather expected.

“We love Sonoma,” Ashley said. “We’ve had success there in the past, and it’s also one of the most beautiful places we race. The Friday night session, in particular, is one of the best generally on the entire tour. I think if the conditions are what they could be, it could be a record-setting session. It’s a place that we love to go. 
 
“Now that we’re 10-plus races in, everyone has gotten themselves into a groove. I think for us, it’s about how we can put ourselves in a position going into Indy where we can make a run in that No. 1 position heading into the Countdown. That’s where the focus is right now.” 

Last season, Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Bob Tasca III (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock), and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won in Sonoma, while Shawn Langdon, Austin Prock, and Troy Coughlin Jr. won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge. This year’s event will again be broadcast on FS1 on Friday and Sunday, with coverage of the popular Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on FOX on Saturday.

It is the 12th of 20 races during the 2025 season, meaning only three races remain before the start of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. The weekend in Sonoma is loaded, too, with qualifying under the lights on Friday, the GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday, and eliminations on Sunday.
 
Ashley plans to take full advantage against a talented Top Fuel field that includes Langdon, Tony Stewart, who is second in points, Brittany Force, who went a record-breaking 341.85 mph in Seattle, reigning champ and event winner Antron Brown, and veteran Doug Kalitta.
 
“I think what we try to focus on is the individual race and let the points take care of themselves,” Ashley said. “But the regular-season championship is something that’s definitely in our minds, especially with the $150,000 purse. That plays a big role in everything. In addition, we also want to seed ourselves in the best possible position when we go for the championship at the end of the year. Every position matters, and we want to give ourselves a good shot at going in there No. 1.”

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:30 and 6:45 p.m. PT on Friday, July 25, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, July 26, at 11:45 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. PT on Sunday, July 27. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, 2 p.m. on Sunday, and eliminations at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday. A broadcast of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge takes place on FOX at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday.

To purchase tickets to the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals, fans can visit www.sonomaraceway.com or call 800-870-7223.