91°µÍø

Following a memorable event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series moves eastward to zMax Dragway for the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, the second of three four-wide events this season.

This weekend’s event features racing in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle and also features the Congruity 91°µÍø Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, Johnson’s Horsepowerd Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock, Holley EFI 91°µÍø Factory X, and FlexJet 91°µÍø Factory Stock  Showdown, as well as a full slate of NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Sportsman categories.

The event kicks off with two qualifying sessions Friday and two more on Saturday to set the field for Sunday’s final eliminations.

In Las Vegas, Tony Stewart etched his name in the record books with his first Top Fuel victory. Stewart now stands alone as the only driver with wins in NASCAR, IndyCar, and NHRA competition, as well as a variety of other dirt and asphalt racing series. Stewart is also the fourth different winner in four events this season, joining Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon, and Clay Millican as 2025 victors.

The Charlotte winner will also earn a significant place in history as this is NHRA’s 1,000th Top Fuel race dating back to the category’s official debut at the 1963 NHRA Winternationals in Pomona.

The Funny Car class is also wide open this season with Chad Green, Paul Lee, Jack Beckman, and defending champ Austin Prock taking victories so far this season. Not surprisingly, those four drivers lead the standings, and the top five drivers are separated by just 100 points as the season hits the quarter mark.

In Pro Stock, KB Titan Racing teammates Greg Anderson and Dallas Glenn have combined to win the first four events of the season, and they currently enjoy a big lead in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series standings. The zMax Dragway field is massive with 25 cars on the pre-entry list, so it will be a major achievement just to qualify for Sunday’s final eliminations.

The Pro Stock Motorcycle category has been idle since the season opener in Gainesville more than a month ago, but NHRA’s two-wheel stars will quickly make up for lost time. In Gainesville, reigning and two-time champ Gaige Herrera scored a convincing victory, and he’ll be among the favorites this week, along with North Carolina native Matt Smith.

The event will also include the fourth Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge of the season, which will pit the quarterfinalists from the Las Vegas event in two four-car quads in the opening round, leading to a four-car finale. These rounds are run concurrently with Saturday qualifying.

2024 EVENT WINNERS
Justin Ashley, Top Fuel; Matt Hagan, Funny Car; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock; Gaige Herrera, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

MOST EVENT VICTORIES
Antron Brown, 7 TF; Robert Hight, 7, FC; Greg Anderson, 5, PS; Andrew Hines, 8, PSM.

TRACK RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.647 sec. by Mike Salinas, Sept. ’23; 338.00 mph by Salinas, Sept. ’23.
Funny Car - 3.820 sec. by John Force, April ’24; 338.34 mph by Bob Tasca III, April ’24
Pro Stock - 6.4552 seconds by Jason Line, March '15; 215.48 mph by Greg Anderson, March '15.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6. 671 seconds by Gaige Herrera, April ‘24; 203 49 mph by Eddie Krawiec, May ‘21

NATIONAL RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.623 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. ‘19, Reading; 338.94 mph by Brittany Force, Nov. ‘22, Pomona
Funny Car - 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. '17, Brainerd; 341.68 mph by Austin Prock, Nov. ’24, Pomona
Pro Stock - 6.443 sec. by Greg Anderson, March ’25, Gainesville; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ’14, Englishtown

SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, April 25
NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series qualifying and time trials at 8:30 a.m.
Top Alcohol qualifying at 2:35 p.m. and 5:55 p.m.
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Pro Stock qualifying at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Mission Foods Series Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying at 5:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.

SATURDAY, April 26
Lucas Oil Series eliminations at 8:00 a.m.
Top Alcohol qualifying at 10:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.
Mission Foods Series Pro Stock qualifying at 1:10 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.
Mission Foods Series Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

SUNDAY, April 27
Pre-race ceremonies, 11:00 a.m.
Mission Foods Series eliminations begin at 12:00 p.m.

TELEVISION
SATURDAY, April 26, FS1 will televise one and half hours of qualifying highlights at 10 p.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, April 27, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 12:30 p.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, April 27, FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at 7 p.m. (ET)