NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

With each passing race, things seem to get better and better for Funny Car’s Chad Green, who made his first career final-round appearance at the most recent race in Sonoma.
 
Heading into this weekend’s Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor, which marks the final NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series national event at Heartland Motorsports Park, Green is third in points in the loaded category and seemingly on the cusp of his first career Funny Car victory.
 
It’s been an enjoyable progression for Green in his 11,000-horsepower Bond Coat Ford Mustang, and he’s been one of the most consistent drivers in the category this season. Before Sonoma, Green had advanced to the semifinals in seven of the first 11 races of the season, picking up his first career runner-up to close out the Western Swing. Green can sense the momentum building, and he is eager to keep it going this weekend in Topeka.

 
“It’s been very exciting. We started out the season well in Gainesville, had a good start, and it’s one of those things where success breeds success,” Green said. “I’ve watched the confidence in my team grow, and there’s nothing better than going rounds on Sunday. I’ve been saying all year you haven’t seen the best of us yet, and it seems like we’re turning the corner. We’re really looking forward to Topeka. It’s going to be warm, and we always seem to run well when it’s hot, so we’re excited. It’s definitely been a lot of fun this year so far.”
 
Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Bob Tasca III (Funny Car), and Troy Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) won the pivotal regular-season race in 2023, and this year’s event will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), including live eliminations coverage starting at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 13. It is the 13th of 21 events during the 2023 season, and Green appears to be on a good path with the Countdown to the Championship approaching.
 
The groundwork for that started last year when Green raced the bulk of the season, picking up valuable Funny Car experience. That has paid dividends this year as Green continues to get more comfortable behind the wheel, and his team, led by crew chief Daniel Wilkerson, continues to impress.

 
The only thing missing now is a victory, and Green is more than ready for that. To get it in Topeka, he’ll have to get past points leader Matt Hagan, back-to-back world champ Ron Capps, J.R. Todd, who beat him in the final round in Sonoma, John Force, Cruz Pedregon, Tasca, Tim Wilkerson, and Robert Hight.
 
Green is also racing in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge in Topeka, a bonus race he won in Pomona. He’ll take on Capps on Saturday at Heartland Motorsports Park, while Todd races Hagan, and Green views it as another chance to pick up a specialty event win and add to his team’s confidence level.
 
“Every week it’s a battle out there, and trying to hold those positions in the points is tough,” Green said. “The way we ended the Western Swing was awesome, and hopefully, we can just keep going rounds. But we’re going into every race thinking we could go win that sucker. A race like Sonoma gives us more excitement and more hope we can do it, but every race we’ve gone to, it seems like our momentum just keeps building. This year has just been gangbusters, and I expect our team to go rounds now.”

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round at 7:15 p.m. CT on Friday, Aug. 11, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Aug. 12 at 2:15 and 4:45 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, Aug. 13. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, and then eliminations at 3 p.m. ET Sunday.
 
To purchase tickets to the final NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series national event on Aug. 11-13 at Heartland Motorsports Park, fans can visit www.nhra.com/tickets.