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Top Fuel Q3/Mission Challenge Round 1

Antron Brown and Josh Hart advanced to the final of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, finishing ahead of Shawn Reed and Clay Millican while Doug Kalitta and Steve Torrence advanced out of the other quad ahead of Justin Ashley and Tony Stewart.

Kalitta’s 3.728 was low of the round with Torrence’s 3.739 second while Ida Zetterström picked up a bonus point with her 3.747 in the JCM Racing machine. Local favorite Doug Foley also looked strong with a 3.764. Brown’s 3.791 winner in the Mission Challenge was next best.

Fans hoping for an encore for Brittany Force after her 314-mph blast night were disappointed when she shut down to a 9.166.

In talking to David Grubnic on the starting line before the run, he admitted clicking off her Q1 pass to a 5.07 when he thought the engine dropped a cylinder, but that run would have been a low 3.7-second pass and set the table for last night’s historic run. “We knew we had that run in the car,” he said. “it was just up to me to get the fuel flow right downtrack.” Grubnic also corrected our earlier report about on-again/off-again use of the side air deflector, noting that since they were allowed to do so in Phoenix, they have not had them back on the car since, a total of 21 runs of gaining data. Although he believes the aerodynamic advantages of removing them are negligible, the tire temperature is well down, and they’re seeing longer life and less blistering.

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Funny Car Q3/Mission Challenge Round 1

Austin Prock and Spencer Hyde advanced to the Mission Challenge final with Prock’s holeshot-aided 3.939 finishing ahead of Hyde’s slightly quicker 3.938. Dave Richards and Cruz Pedregon finished third and fourth.

Matt Hagan, representing the event sponsor American Rebel Beer on his Tony Stewart Racing Dodge, won the other quad with a 3.99 with Paul lee second at 4.06. Daniel Wilkerson and J.R. Todd finished third and fourth.

Behind Prock and Hyde, Ron Capps had the next best pass, a 3.97 in the NAPA 100th Anniversary car with Alexis DeJoria (3.979) and Hagan rounding out the three-second runners.

We’re still sitting at 14 three-second qualifiers with Buddy Hull (4.010) and John Smith (4.064) giving us hope in Q4 for the first all-three-second field, Richards and Dale creasy Jr., qualified 17th and 18th, also have three-second-capable cars.

Pro Stock Q3/Mission Challenge Round 1

There wasn’t much improvement during the third session of Pro Stock but that doesn’t mean it lacked for drama.

Matt Haftford, Greg Anderson, Deric Kramer, and Matt Latino, advanced to the final quad in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge while a number of other drivers pushed as hard as possible to make the tough 16-car field.

Hartford won the first quad against Anderson, Cristian Cudra and Cory Reed. Anderson finished second, and made the quickest run of the session with a strong 6.514.

In the second quad, past four-wide winner Deric Kramer turned on the win light while rookie Matt Latino advanced over Mason McGaha and Dallas Glenn. Kramer drove to a solid 6.561 in his GetBioFuel Camaro to reach the final.

Aaron Stanfield, who has been one of the most consistent drivers in the class over the past few seasons, finds himself in a most unfamiliar position as he’s currently not qualified and needs to find three-hundredths of a second in order to do so.

“The struggle is real,” said Stanfield. “Last night was an important run. It’s going to be the one that sets the field, and we didn’t make a great run. We’ve got one more shot, and give it all we’ve got, and hopefully we get in.”

Six-time world champion Erica Enders is also facing the prospect of a second-straight DNQ after an early shutoff run in Q3.

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Pro Stock Motorcycle Q3/Mission Challenge Round 1

The final quad in the Mission Foods #2Fast2tasty Challenge will feature Matt Smith, John Hall, Richard Gadson, and Gaige Herrera.

The first quad featured all four of the Matt Smith Racing entries, including Matt and Angie Smith along with teammate Jianna Evaristo and John Hall. Matt made the best run with a 6.798 to advance while Hall used a holeshot to hold off Evaristo, 6.891 to 6.879.

Vance & Hines teammates Richard Gadson and Gaige Herrera moved on from the second quad after wins over Kelly Clontz and Chase Van Sant, who was pushed from the starting line when his bike would not start. Gadson won the quad with a 6.760 over Herrera’s off pace 6.838.

Gadson and Matt Smith were the only two riders in the 6.7s while Steve Johnson continued his string of strong performances with a 6.821.

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Gatornationals Alcohol final rounds

Taking care of a bit of unfinished business, Matt Cummings earned his first win as a member of the Randy Meyer Top Alcohol Dragster team when he defeated Jackie Fricke in the final round of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. After an even start, Cummings pulled away Fricke to post a 5.188 to 5.386 victory. Cummings has now won seven events in Top Alcohol Dragster including his first victory at zMax Dragway in 2021.

A few moments later, reigning world champion Sean Bellemeur scored his 44th national event win in the Top Alcohol Funny Car class when he downed Chip Beverette, 5.429 to an early shut off. Bellemeur also becomes the first driver to win an NHRA national event title using the recently approved injected nitro engine combination.�� Bellemeur is now tied with Bob Newberry for third place on NHRA's all-time wins list in the Top Alcohol Funny Car class. Frank Manzo is the leader at 104 while Pat Austin has 70.

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