NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The 2019 season was full of exciting moments, but which were the most memorable? NHRA fans took part in a vote and selected the 19 Most Memorable Moments of the season, which will be revealed in reverse order through the end of the year. 

No. 1. Mr. 150

John Force continued to defy age, odds, and logic by taking his Peak Chevy Camaro to victory for the 150th time in his career at the NHRA Northwest Nationals, joining the fans in the stands for good measure. He went on to win No. 151 shortly thereafter.  

No. 2: Triple Crown

Erica Enders joined a small list of three-time champions after she took down tough competitors in Pomona to earn her third title. 

No. 3: John Force wins Indy

John Force continued his resurgent season with a win at the world's biggest drag race, just weeks after winning his 150th race in Seattle. That put him in prime position for another big playoff push.  

No. 4 Queen of Speed

Brittany Force set the elapsed time record (3.623) to open the NHRA Countdown to the Championship in Reading and went one step further by claiming the speed record in Las Vegas (338.17 mph) at the penultimate playoff stop.  

No. 5: Jianna Salinas’ first win

Rookie rider Jianna Salinas defeated Andrew Hines, Steve Johnson, Matt Smith and Jerry Savoie en route to winning her first race. That culminated one of the most improbable and incredible days of Pro Stock Motorcycle racing of all time.  

No. 6: Brittany Force sets national e.t. record

Brittany Force kicked off the NHRA Countdown to the Championship by going quicker than anyone had ever gone in a Top Fuel dragster. David Grubnic-tuned her Advance Auto Parts machine to a staggering 3.623-second burst in Reading to get her team off to a quick start.  

No. 7: Doug’s Day

Doug Kalitta finally, mercifully, won the U.S. Nationals. He defeated Billy Torrence to earn his first Big Go Wally after years of coming up just short for his Mac Tools Guys.  

No. 8: John/Brittany No. 1 Houston

John Force and Brittany Force became the first father/daughter duo to start in pole position when they did so in Houston, a sign of what was to come in a standout season for both Forces in Funny Car and Top Fuel, respectively. 

No. 9: Historic Day to Start the Playoffs

Three women took pole position in the Professional categories at the Dodge NHRA Nationals for the first time in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series history. Brittany Force, Erica Enders, and Angelle Sampey continued to set a high mark for racers, regardless of gender, in their respective classes. 

No. 10: Erica gets 150th win by a woman

Erica Enders earned the 150th win by a woman in the NHRA Mello Yello Series in St. Louis as she moved closer to her third Pro Stock world championship, defeating Elite Motorsports teammate Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the process.  

No. 11: Austin Prock scores first win

Rookie Top Fuel racer Austin Prock defeated soon-to-be back-to-back champion Steve Torrence on the same day John Force won his 150th race. That was the highlight of a great season of driving for Prock, who was a standout driver in the dragster class.  

No. 12: Top Torrence

Steve Torrence joined his buddy Antron Brown as a back-to-back Top Fuel champion, putting together another dominant season in his Capco Contractors dragster. He won two more rounds (60) than in 2018 and edged out Doug Kalitta by three points.

No. 13: New Hights for Robert

The President of John Force Racing held onto first place in Funny Car for nearly the entire 2019 campaign, culminating in his third Funny Car world championship.  

No. 14: Marvelous Ms. Meyer

Megan Meyer stormed her way to the Top Alcohol Dragster world championship, becoming the first woman to do so, capping off a season that included a U.S. Nationals victory. She fought off an incredibly tough field and defeated Troy Coughlin Jr., who finished second in points, to clinch her title.  

No. 15: Robert Hight gets 50th win

Robert Hight earned the 50th win of his Funny Car career at Sonoma Raceway en route to his third world championship. The John Force Racing driver started his career as a crew member for John Force and worked his way up to become one of the winningest drivers in the sport.  

No. 16: Jianna Salinas crash

Jianna Salinas tumbled off her bike in Chicago at the Route 66 NHRA Nationals, but managed to get up and walk away from the incident. She returned to action shortly thereafter and went on to win her first race later in the season. 

No. 17: Erica Enders set Pro Mod national record

Erica Enders set the Pro Mod national elapsed time record but not in the fashion she wanted to. The Elite Motorsports racer powered through the finish line and her Camaro burst into flames, prompting a quick exit.  

No. 18: Ron Capps runs fastest speed of 2019 in Reading

Ron Capps came close to resetting the Funny Car speed record during qualifying in Reading with the flames up to kick off the NHRA Countdown to the Championship. He settled for the fastest speed of the season and some qualifying bonus points.  

No. 19: First win for Mike Salinas

Mike Salinas earned his first career win at the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, becoming the first racer of 2019 to earn their first win. 

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