NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The eight spots in the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout are now set, but the fun is only just beginning for the thrilling specialty race set to take place on March 12 at the upcoming Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at historic Gainesville Raceway.

After Steve Torrence, the four-time defending Top Fuel world champ who automatically earned a spot in the field, the drivers seeded second through eighth are former world champ Brittany Force, Phoenix winner Mike Salinas, Pomona winner and 2020 NHRA Rookie of the Year Justin Ashley, three-time champ Antron Brown, nine-time race winner Leah Pruett, 49-time event winner Doug Kalitta, and former world champ Shawn Langdon.

But the unique twist for this specialty race is the callout aspect that will take place before the first round of qualifying in Gainesville at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 11. Torrence will make the first selection to call out his opening-round opponent, getting his choice of the seven other star drivers. Force would get the next pick if she were not called out by Torrence, followed by Salinas until the first-round matchups are set. 

The first round of the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout will take place at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, March 12, with the semifinals set to follow at 1:30 p.m. The final round is slated for 3:15 p.m. and will be shown live on the FOX broadcast network. FOX will have coverage of the entire Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star callout starting at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 12. For his part, Torrence, driver of the Capco Contractors dragster, isn’t giving any hints on his choice for the first round.

“I’m going to let everyone think about it for a week or two, and then I’m going to tell you who it’s going to be [in Gainesville],” Torrence said last weekend on stage in Phoenix. “There’s no weak competition, so it’s going to be pretty stout. It’s going to be pretty cool to watch. We’re going to try to do our jobs, [but] we’ve got our work cut out for us.”

The exciting callout aspect doesn’t stop after the first round, either. After what’s set to be a memorable first round of action, the driver who makes the quickest winning run in the opening round will get the chance to select their semifinal opponent, automatically locking in the other matchup as well.

The Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout is the first time that unique twist has taken place in an NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series specialty race, and the rest of the field also can’t wait to see how it all goes down in Gainesville.

Brittany Force, driver of the Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac dragster: “It’s definitely different, and that’s the exciting part about it. The callout gives it an edge, makes it exciting, and I think you’ll see some rivalries, for sure.” 

Mike Salinas, driver of the Scrappers Racing dragster: “There’s a lot of fast cars out here, and everybody is no joke. You’ve got to cut lights, and you better have your A game or you’re going to be left behind. This is going to be fun.”

Justin Ashley, driver of the Phillips Connect powered by Vita C Shot dragster: “There’s no weak competition, and it’s going to be fun. We want to put on a good show for the fans, and thanks to Pep Boys for helping put this on. It’s going to be a good deal.”

Antron Brown, driver of the Matco Tools/Toyota dragster: “You don’t know what’s going to happen, and that’s what is going to make it so exciting. It’s so awesome that Pep Boys is putting this on, and the fans are going to be in for a treat.”

Leah Pruett, driver of the Dodge Power Brokers dragster: “I’m excited for the fans because it brings a little different variety to the sport. I couldn’t be more proud for our team to be a part of it. By the time we get to Gainesville, and we get called out, we’re going to bring it. It’s going to be great to spice it up a little bit.”

Shawn Langdon, driver of the DHL dragster: “It’s neat to get in, and it’s awesome having the shootouts back with Pep Boys on board. It’s something different, and it’s going to bring a new element to what we do with being able to call someone out, and maybe it gets some rivalries going. We’re going to have fun with it, and the fans are going to enjoy it, and that’s the most important part.”

Doug Kalitta, driver of the Mac Tools dragster: “We’re real proud to be in the Pep Boys All-Star Callout. We came into Phoenix hoping we could get in, and the team put together a string of good runs to get in. We’re happy to be in it."

Full schedule for the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout (ET):

Friday, March 11:
2:00 p.m. – Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout group photo in the staging lanes
5:00 p.m. – Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout first-round selections. Steve Torrence gets first selection, followed by the next highest seeded driver until all matchups are set.

Saturday, March 12
10:00 a.m. – Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout autograph session at the Pep Boys midway display
11:30 a.m. – Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout opening ceremony
11:45 a.m. – First round for Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout 
12:00 p.m. – Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout for round two. This will be conducted at the top end. The winning driver who makes the quickest run in the first round earns the right to select their semifinal opponent.
3:15 p.m. – Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout final round

The FOX broadcast network will have complete coverage of the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout beginning at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 12, which will also include live action of the final round.

Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout Final Standings
1.    Steve Torrence
2.    Brittany Force
3.    Mike Salinas
4.    Justin Ashley
5.    Antron Brown
6.    Leah Pruett
7.    Doug Kalitta
8.    Shawn Langdon

(Note: Torrence will get first selection for the opening round, followed by the next-highest seeded driver until matchups are set.)

To purchase tickets to the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, where the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout will take place, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or visit touch here. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general-admission areas with a paid adult.