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Top Fuel

No one could forget the impact this race had on Doug Kalitta’s championship campaign last season. He came to Maple Grove Raceway with nary a final-round win light on his scorecard and had to switch to a back-up car in the midst of eliminations. Miraculously, Kalitta put the Mac Tools dragster in the winner’s circle here, and that began a charge forward to the first Top Fuel world title of his career. 

Kalitta enters this season’s event leading the points, as he has for much of the season, and is looking for a quick recovery after a first-round loss at the Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals to close out the regular season. Justin Ashley and his Scag Power Equipment Toyota are just behind Kalitta in second. Ashley entered the Countdown to the Championship in the top spot in each of the past two seasons and is eager to make a strong and smooth showing in this year’s rendition of the critical playoffs. 

Shawn Langdon, driving the Kalitta Air Careers Top Fueler, is No. 3, with Steve Torrence and Antron Brown filling out the No. 4 and No. 5 positions. The remaining championship contenders are U.S. Nationals winner Clay Millican in sixth, Tony Stewart seventh, Tony Schumacher eighth, with Brittany Force and Billy Torrence rounding out the top 10. Josh Hart and Shawn Reed are 11th and 12th, respectively, with a shot at the title based on their appearance at every race over the course of the regular season. 

Funny Car

Austin Prock’s performance this season has been extraordinary. When defending Pep Boys NHRA Nationals Funny Car champion Robert Hight stepped out of the seat of his Cornwell Tools/AAA Chevrolet ahead of this season, Prock slid in to keep the seat warm and has had great impact. In his first season as a Funny Car driver, Prock has put forth a dominant performance that has kept him in the points lead, and his expectations for the Countdown to the Championship are likely an extension of what he has been able to accomplish so far. He’ll have to fend off Bob Tasca III, who is No. 2 in the standings in his Motorcraft Quicklane Ford. 

Reigning world champion Matt Hagan and his Operation Healing Forces/Shelor Motor Mile Dodge SRT Hellcat enter the Countdown No. 3 in the standings, with J.R. Todd following closely behind in fourth, Ron Capps fifth, and Jack Beckman No. 6 as he competes on behalf of sidelined John Force. Blake Alexander, Daniel Wilkerson, Chad Green, and Alexis DeJoria are the remaining top 10 players, while Cruz Pedregon, Buddy Hull, and Dave Richards each also earned a shot to chase the title by attending every event. 

Pro Stock

Dallas Glenn and his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet have held the points lead since Chicago, and he is on course to abolish the memories of a disappointing 2023 Countdown. Yes, he bowed out early at the U.S. Nationals, but Glenn seems to be of an even stronger and more resilient mindset than ever before. Seven times this year, he’s won rounds on holeshots, and seven times so far he’s made his way to the final round. He has three wins on the season so far, but what he does during these next six races will be of great magnitude. 

Undoubtedly, Glenn will be strenuously challenged. Those nipping at his heels will include No. 2 in the points Aaron Stanfield and his JHG/Melling Performance Chevrolet, who won the U.S. Nationals in double-up fashion with a Pro Stock trophy and Factory X hardware to hoist. He’s become increasingly threatening as the season has gone on and claimed the Pro Stock win in four of the last six races. U.S. Nationals low qualifier Greg Anderson and his Chevrolet Camaro are starting the Countdown to the Championship in the No. 3 position, with reigning world champ Erica Enders and her JHG/Melling Camaro No. 4 and Jeg Coughlin Jr. No. 5 in his Scag Power Equipment entry. Troy Coughlin Jr., Jerry Tucker, Cristian Cuadra, Erica Latino, and Mason McGaha fill out the rest of the top 10. 

Defending Maple Grove Raceway Pro Stock winner Matt Hartford closed out last year’s regular season with a win at the U.S. Nationals, then followed up in short order with victory at The Grove. This year, though, has been a challenging one for Hartford, as performance and results have not matched up for win lights on race day very often. His GETTRX/Total Seal/Rottler Chevrolet Camaro will need a Come to Jesus moment to turn things around, and Hartford and crew chief Eddie Guarnaccia will be aiming to serve it up. He’s starting the Countdown from the No. 12 spot, with Deric Kramer just ahead in 11th and Chris McGaha lucky No. 13. 

Pro Stock Motorcycle

Defending series champion Gaige Herrera rode his RevZilla Mission Foods Vance & Hines Suzuki right into the new season without breaking stride. He’s had the points lead from day one in the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, with seven wins in eight final rounds — including two weeks ago at the Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals. 

Herrera will not be unchallenged, however, as six-time champion Matt Smith and his Denso-backed V-Twin are just 20 points behind, and Smith has a fire in his belly that has been simmering a good long while. Smith won Sonoma and has been the low qualifier four times so far this year. He’s also the defending event champion, which could instigate a swirl of momentum. 

A step behind Smith is No. 3 man Richard Gadson, Herrera’s teammate, aboard a twinning RevZilla Mission Suzuki. John Hall is holding down the No. 4 position, and Chase Van Sant is No. 5. Angie Smith, Jianna Evaristo, Hector Arana Jr., Steve Johnson, and Chris Bostick round out the top 10 who are officially in battle for the championship. 

EVENT STATISTICS

2023 EVENT WINNERS: Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel; Robert Hight, Funny Car; Matt Hartford, Pro Stock; Matt Smith, Pro Stock Motorcycle

MOST VICTORIES: Tony Schumacher, 5, TF; John Force, 7, FC; Jeg Coughlin Jr., 4, PS; Angelle Sampey, 6, PSM

TRACK RECORDS

Top Fuel – 3.623 seconds by Brittany Force, Sept. '19; 337.66 mph by B. Force, Sept. '22

Funny Car – 3.837 seconds by Ron Capps, Sept. '19; 339.28 mph by Capps, Sept. '19

Pro Stock – 6.465 seconds by Erica Enders, Oct. '14; 214.59 mph by Greg Anderson, Oct. '15

Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.672 seconds by Gaige Herrera, Sept. '23; 203.00 mph by Herrera, Sept. '23

SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, Sept. 13
LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying and eliminations at 8:45 a.m.; Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car qualifying at 12:45 and 7:15 p.m; Mountain Motor Pro Stock qualifying at 12:30 and 430 p.m.; Factory Stock Showdown qualifying at 11:30 a.m.; MISSION FOODS SERIES qualifying at 2:30 and 5:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, Sept. 14
LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations at 9:00 a.m. and 5:50 p.m.; Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car qualifying at 10:45 a.m.; Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car eliminations at 4:30 and 7:00 p.m.; Mountain Motor Pro Stock qualifying at 11:20 a.m.; Mountain Motor Pro Stock elimination at 5:25 p.m.; Factory Stock Showdown qualifying at 2:00 p.m. and eliminations and 5:30 p.m.; Factory Stock Showdown eliminations at 5:40 and 7:25 p.m.; MISSION FOODS SERIES qualifying at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, Sept. 15
Pre-race ceremonies, 9:30 a.m. MISSION FOODS SERIES eliminations at 10:30 a.m.

TELEVISION

FRIDAY, Sept. 13
FS1 will televise one-and-a-half hours of qualifying coverage at 7 p.m. (ET)

SUNDAY, Sept. 15
FS1 will televise one-and-a-half hours of qualifying coverage at coverage at 12:30 p.m. (ET)

SUNDAY, Sept. 15
FOX will televise two hours of finals coverage at 2:00 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. (ET) (check local listings)

TICKETS

To purchase tickets to the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, click or call 800-884-6472