NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

First things first. This is NOT just another drag race. The Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals is NHRA’s oldest and most prestigious event, and fittingly, it has attracted a field of nearly 950 entries for its 68th edition.

There isn’t a single one of those 950 drivers who wouldn’t love to leave Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park with a U.S. Nationals Wally, but the reality is that only 19 champions will be crowned on Monday, including NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Pro winners in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Reigning world champ Steve Torrence is the defending champ in Indy, and he’s also coming off his first win of the season in Brainerd two weeks ago. The Indy Top Fuel field is one of the biggest in recent memory with 25 entries, including Brittany Force, Justin Ashley, Mike Salinas, Tripp Tatum, Leah Pruett, Antron Brown, and Tony Schumacher, all of whom have won at least one race this season.

The U.S. Nationals also marks the final event in the regular season, so it’s the final opportunity for racers to lock up their spots in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Force comes into Indy as the seed, followed by Salinas, Torrence, Ashley, and Josh Hart.

The Funny Car field isn’t any less competitive with 18 entries vying for just six available spots. The leading contenders include Robert Hight, Matt Hagan, Bob Tasca III, Ron Capps, and John Force.

Tasca has been dominant lately with five final-round appearances in the last six events, including three wins. Hight is also having one of the best seasons of his career with six wins in eight finals through the first 15 races.

Capps has won 70 NHRA professional titles, but he is still seeking his first U.S. Nationals victory. He returns to Indy as a team owner for the first time and has two wins in four finals with his NAPA Toyota.

The main storyline in Pro Stock revolves around Erica Enders, who is the defending Indy champ and the championship leader with her Elite Camaro. Enders has dominated this season with six wins in 12 events. Enders hasn’t left much room for anyone else, but Troy Coughlin Jr., Aaron Stanfield, Matt Hartford, and Dallas Glenn also have wins.

Reigning world champ Greg Anderson is still seeking his 100th career win while the list of quality Pro Stock drivers still seeking their first victory includes rookie Camrie Caruso, Mason McGaha, and the Cuadra family entries of Fernando Cuadra Sr. and his sons, Fernando Jr. and Cristian.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Joey Gladstone comes to Indy as the hottest rider in the class with wins at the last two events, so he’s got to be considered the favorite. Gladstone will have to deal with a host of competitive rivals, including reigning world champ Matt Smith and defending Indy winner Eddie Krawiec.

There are 22 bikes entered in the class, and some of the other contenders include Angelle Sampey, Karen Stoffer, Jerry Savoie, Steve Johnson, and Angie Smith.

The U.S. Nationals also offers a host of special features, including the Pep Boys All-Star Callout events for Top Fuel and Funny Car racers along with racing in the FuelTech Pro Mod Series presented by D-Wagon, the Constant Aviation NHRA Factory Stock Showdown, JEGS Allstars, Mountain Motor Pro Stocks, the Dodge Hemi Challenge, and Top Fuel Harley-Davidson motorcycles to go along with a full compliment of NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Sportsman racing.

You can catch the action all weekend on FOX TV, FOX Sports 1, and NHRA.tv.

You can follow NHRA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to get a closer look at the action.

2021 EVENT WINNERS

Steve Torrence, Top Fuel; Tim Wilkerson, Funny Car; Erica Enders, Pro Stock, Eddie Krawiec, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

TRACK RECORDS:

TOP FUEL
3.645 seconds by Brittany Force, Sept. 2019; 334.57 mph by Brittany Force, Sept. 2021
FUNNY CAR
3.799 seconds by Matt Hagan, Sept. 2017; 338.77 mph by Hagan, Sept. 2017.
PRO STOCK
6.538 seconds by Jason Line, Sept. 2011; 211.13 by Mike Edwards, Sept. 2012.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
6.789 seconds by Scotty Pollacheck, Sept. 2020; 200.53 by Pollacheck, Sept. 2020.

SCHEDULE:
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round of professional qualifying at 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 2, two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1:15 p.m. and 5 p.m., and the final two rounds on Sunday, Sept. 4 at noon and 3:30 p.m.  Final eliminations are scheduled for noon on Sunday, Sept. 5.

TV SCHEDULE
SUNDAY, Sept. 4, FS1 will televise 2 hours of qualifying and the Pep Boys Top Fuel Allstar Callout at 1 p.m. (ET).
SUNDAY, Sept. 4, FSI will televise 90 minutes of the Pep Boys Funny Car Allstar Callout at 4 p.m.
SUNDAY, Sept. 4, FS1 will televise 90 minutes of pro qualifying at 5:30 p.m.
MONDAY, Sept. 5, FS1 will televise two hours of final round coverage at noon.
MONDAY, Sept. 5, FOX TV will televise three hours of final round coverage at 2 p.m.