NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Last week’s Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals in Bristol will be a hard act to follow, but if history has taught us anything, crew at Summit Motorsports Park, the host of this week’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, will be up to the task. Since 2007, the Norwalk track, billed proudly as “America’s Track” has provided NHRA fans with countless hours of drama and excitement as well as $1 ice cream.

This year promises to be no different as all four pro eliminators are on the docket as the 2022 season nears the mid-way point.

In Top Fuel, there is a massive field of 21 cars headed for Norwalk which means that the competition just to make the 16 car field will be fierce, and it’s entirely possible that the list of non-qualifiers will include at least on tour regular.

Last week, Justin Ashley won his second race of the season when he beat Shawn Langdon in the Bristol final. Langdon looked great at that event and Ashley looked even better. Those two figure to be in the mix and the same goes for Epping winner Mike Salinas and Brittany Force, who sit atop the Camping World standings.

And then there is Steve Torrence, who somehow is still searching for his first win of the season. Torrence is the defending event winner in Norwalk, which should be a big boost to the Capco team.

The Funny Car field is no less competitive with a host of former and current world champs in the mix including Ron Capps, Matt Hagan, John Force, Robert Hight, J.R. Todd, and Cruz Pedregon. Capps is coming off a big win in Bristol while Hagan and Hight have each notched multiple wins this season.

Pedregon comes into Norwalk as the defending event champ while Tim Wilkerson is also hot, coming off a runner-up in Bristol. Blake Alexander is also someone to keep an eye on. Alexander won his first race in Top Fuel at this track and his Head Contractors Ford has been very competitive this season.

In Pro Stock, its true that anyone who qualifies can win but so far this season, the bulk of the wins have gone to four-time champion Erica Enders. Only a broken engine last week in Bristol prevented what likely would have been a fifth win. Given the resources of the Elite team, they figure to be at or near full strength when they get to Norwalk.

Other leading Pro Stock contender should include Bristol winner Aaron Stanfield, Greg Anderson, Dallas Glenn, Kyle Koretsky, and Troy Coughlin Jr., who is long overdue for some good luck.

The Pro Stock Motorcycle class is also wide open with a number of leading championship contender among the favorites to score the coveted ice cream scoop that accompanies a Norwalk victory.

Defending event champ Matt Smith has an excellent shot to repeat and the same goes for his wife, Angie, who had the quickest bike in Bristol.

Eddie Krawiec, Karen Stoffer, and LE Tongelt are former Bristol winners and Jerry Savoie is fresh off a Bristol win. Two-time winner Steve Johnson should also be in the mix.

In addition to the Camping World NHRA Series pros, the Summit  Nationals will also feature the FuelTech Pro Mod Series, Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown and a solid roster of Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series action.

You can catch the action all weekend on 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; Cruz Pedregon, Funny Car; Erica Enders, Pro Stock; Matt Smith, Pro Stock Motorcycle.  

TRACK RECORDS:

TOP FUEL
3.696 seconds by Brittany Force, June 2021; 332.67 mph by Clay Millican, June 2018
FUNNY CAR
3.865 seconds by Matt Hagan, June 2017; 334.65 mph by Robert Hight, June 2017.
PRO STOCK
6.523 seconds by Erica Enders, July 2014; 2012.63 mph by Enders, July 2014
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
6.782 seconds by Matt Smith, June 2021; 201.58 by Matt Smith, June 2021.

SCHEDULE:

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two round at 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, June 24, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, June 25 at 12:30 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 26.

TV SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, June 24, FS1 will televise one minutes of qualifying at 10:30 p.m. (ET)
SATURDAY June 25, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 1:30 p.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, June 26, FOX network television will televise 3 hours of finals coverage at 3 p.m. (ET)