NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge is an exciting bonus event that pits the semifinalists from the previous race against one another for a rematch. With cash and valuable Countdown to the Championship bonus points on the line, the winner of two semifinal rematches from the previous event will race one another in the final qualifying session for the Mission #2Fast2Tasty title. All of the action takes place in conjunction with final qualifying, elevating the stakes and setting up a tricky situation for crew chiefs and drivers. 

Top Fuel's provisional low qualifier for the Menards NHRA Nationals, Steve Torrence, is set up for a first round Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge meeting with Toyota teammate Antron Brown. Torrence has been on a tear in his CAPCO Contractors Toyota dragster after claiming the Seattle Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge title, winning the event, then winning a second consecutive #2Fast2Tasty title in Sonoma. Brown, who was runner-up to Justin Ashley in Pomona, is currently the No. 12 qualifier in Topeka, and he is making his third appearance in the challenge in his Matco-backed rail. 

On the other side of the ladder, Sonoma winner Justin Ashley wears the "Most Likely to Succeed" badge as he's been a five-time winner in previous #2Fast2Tasty bonus events. The incoming points leader and driver of the Phillips Connect Top Fueler is currently qualified in the No. 3 position and will square off with Sonoma semifinalist opponent Josh Hart, who has one prior Mission #2Fast2Tasty appearance. Hart, in the R+L Carriers dragster is No. 6 in the qualifying order.

Additional Topeka qualifiers who were in the quick eight in Friday qualifying include Clay Millican, who is No. 2 on a 3.81 to Torrence's 3.76; Leah Pruett (No. 4, 3.83); Tony Schumacher (No. 5, 3.83); Austin Prock (No. 7, 4.03); and Lex Joon (No. 8, 4.10). With 17 cars on the property, the unlucky odd-man-out for the time being is Shawn Langdon. Jacob McNeal, driving Scott Palmer's Top Fuel dragster, is on the bump. 

In Funny Car, J.R. Todd was a beast in Sonoma driving his DHL Toyota. He claimed his first Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge title in his fifth appearance, then went on to win the main event on Sunday. He will race points leader Matt Hagan, who has competed in four previous challenges and won it in Denver. Todd is currently qualified in the No. 6 position on a 4.02, while Hagan – flying the colors of American Rebel on his Dodge Charger SRT – is No. 7 on a 4.04. 

Across the ladder, Sonoma runner-up Chad Green and his Bond-Coat, Inc. Ford are in the No. 15 position (5.01) and preparing for a rematch with reigning Funny Car champion Ron Capps (No. 2 on a 3.95) and his NAPA Toyota GR Supra. Green is competing in the specialty race for the seventh time, as is Capps, a three-time winner.

Robert Hight and his Cornwell Tools/AAA Chevrolet are seated on the pole in Funny Car on a quick 3.94, Bob Tasca III is third (3.96), John Force is No. 4 (3.97), Paul Lee is No. 6 (4.01), and Tim Wilkerson rounds out the top eight with a 4.04. 

Pro Stock, which hasn't been contested at the most recent two events, matches the Denver semifinalists. Points leader Dallas Glenn, who is No. 6 on the qualifying ladder in Topeka with a 6.71 in his RAD Torque Chevrolet Camaro, was runner-up at the Mile-High Nationals, and he's matched with KB Titan Racing teammate Camrie Caruso and her Tequila Comisario Camaro. Glenn will be competing in the Mission-backed event for the fifth time. Caruso, racing in the challenge for the second time, is standing in the No. 10 spot on a 6.74. 

Denver winner Troy Coughlin Jr. claimed the first Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge title up for grabs this year in Phoenix driving his JEGS.com Chevrolet Camaro, and he also won it in Denver before racing to the Mile-High Nationals title on Sunday. He'll be rematched with reigning and five-time world champion Erica Enders and her Johnson's Horsepowered Garage Chevrolet Camaro. Coughlin is No. 3 in the lineup heading into Saturday with is 6.704, while Enders, making her second Mission #2Fast2Tasty appearance is No. 2 (6.68). 

David Cuadra is standing on the outside of the 16-car Pro Stock field heading into Saturday, while Matt Hartford is on the bump. Greg Anderson and his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro have hold of the top spot after a cool 6.67 on Friday, while Aaron Stanfield (No. 4, 6.705); Kyle Koretsky (No. 5, 6.706); Cristian Cuadra (No. 7, 6.71), and Jerry Tucker (No. 8, 6.72) round out the top half of the field. 

2022 EVENT WINNERS

Antron Brown, Top Fuel; Bob Tasca III, Funny Car; Troy Coughlin Jr., Pro Stock

MOST VICTORIES

Scott Kalitta, 6, TF; John Force, 10, FC; Warren Johnson, 5, Pro Stock

TRACK RECORDS

Top Fuel - 3.660 seconds by Tony Schumacher, May '17; 334.90 mph by Clay Millican, May '18 

Funny Car - 3.802 seconds by Matt Hagan, May '17; 338.85 mph by Hagan, May '17

Pro Stock - 6.515 seconds by Erica Enders, May '15; 211.43 mph by Enders, May '15

NATIONAL RECORDS

Top Fuel - 3.623 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. '19, Reading, Pa.; 338.94 mph by Brittany Force, Nov. ‘22, Pomona, Calif. 

Funny Car - 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. '17, Brainerd; 339.87 mph by Robert Hight, July ’17, Sonoma, Calif. 

Pro Stock - 6.450 sec. by Erica Enders, March '22, Gainesville, Fla.; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May '14, Englishtown, N.J. 

EVENT SCHEDULE (Central Time)

SATURDAY, August 12

Lucas Oil Series Drag Racing Series eliminations at 8:00 a.m.
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying at 2:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.

SUNDAY, August 13

Lucas Oil Series Drag Racing Series eliminations at 8:00 a.m.
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series eliminations begin at 11:00 a.m. 

TELEVISION SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, August 12, FS1 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 7:00 p.m. ET

SUNDAY, August 13, FS1 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 1:00 p.m. ET

SUNDAY, August 13, FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at 3:00 p.m. ET

Watch all day on NHRA.tv