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It’s Raceday at the NHRA Northwest Nationals and with just this event and three more remaining in the regular season, wins today may have big implications for the Countdown to the Championship playoffs that start in mid-September.

The big storyline, as it has been all season, is Gaige Herrera’s unbeaten streak in Pro Stock Motorcycle. The Vance & Hines RevZilla Suzuki rider hasn’t lost a round of points competition since last September and is riding a 43-round, 11-event winning streak, both NHRA records.

Herrera comes into Sunday hot off of a victory in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge Saturday where his prime opponent, Matt Smith, fouled against him. Herrera will also face a stiff challenge from his teammate, Richard Gadson, and fast-rising Chase Van Sant

Top Fuel points leader Doug Kalitta holds a healthy lead over Justin Ashley, but Ashley will come into Sunday with the momentum of a big win in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge Saturday. 

Four-time world champ Steve Torrence would also like a big day to propel him to a possible fifth title, he hasn’t won since this race last year and a victory will help him make a major move. Torrence was the low qualifier Friday in the cool conditions that should be in place for at least the first round Sunday, and then, should he win in round one, he’ll get a bye in round two for the 14-car field.

Austin Prock continues to dominate the Funny car class, winning his fourth straight Mission Challenge title Saturday and qualifying No. 1 for the eighth time in 11 events so far this season. His primary competitors, Bob Tasca III and Matt Hagan, both struggled in qualifying, with neither reaching the three-second zone of four attempts, so they’ll have work to do to slow down the ”Prock Rocket.”

Prock, who won this race in Top Fuel in 2019, is seeking to become just the fourth driver in history to win the Northwest nationals in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.

Reigning Pro Stock world champ Erica Enders qualified No. 1 for the fourth time this season, making her mark in Friday’s cool conditions, then spent Saturday working on a raceday tune-up that she hopes will pay off with her long-awaiting milestone 50th career win,

Archrival Greg Anderson outperformed her Saturday while he was testing, so he’ll come into final eliminations looking to capitalize on that while red-hot Aaron Stanfield, who won the Mission Challenge Saturday, will hope to best both Anderson and his Elite Motorsports teammate Enders.

2023 EVENT WINNERS: Steve Torrence, Top Fuel; Tim Wilkerson, Funny Car; Gaige Herrera, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

MOST VICTORIES: Tony Schumacher and Joe Amato, 5, TF; John Force, 9, FC; Bob Glidden, 6, PS; Gaige Herrera, 1, PSM.

SCHEDULE

SUNDAY, July 21
Pre-race ceremonies, 9:45 a.m.
NHRA MISSION FOODS SERIES eliminations begin at 10:30 a.m.

TELEVISION

Sunday, July 21, FS1 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 1:00 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 21, FOX will televise three hours of live finals coverage at 4 p.m. (ET).

TICKETS

To purchase tickets to the NHRA Northwest Nationals, fans can  or call 800-884-6472