NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

There is a lot more to Brainerd Int’l Raceway than "the Zoo," pine trees, and some walleye-stocked lakes. The track also represents a crucial stop on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour as it comes towards the end of the regular season. As such, we learned a lot at this year’s Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. Here are five things that stand out.

THE ELITE MOTORSPORTS TEAM IS OFFICIALLY BACK

They weren’t able to back up their recent win in Sonoma, nor did any of their entries make it to the final round, but the Oklahoma-based Elite Motorsports team had plenty of reasons for optimism as they left Brainerd Int’l Raceway.

The biggest beneficiary of Elite’s resurgence? That had to be six-time world champion Erica Enders, who looked like the Enders of old in Brainerd. A bit of car shuffling put Enders back behind the wheel of her old car, the same one that Greg Stanfield drove to a win in Sonoma. That proved to be a good move as Enders not only qualified No. 6, but her driving was noticeably better on race day.  In three rounds, Enders was .021, .014, and .009 on the Tree, three of her best lights of the season. Ultimately, Enders didn’t have enough power to get past KB Titan Racing rival Dallas Glenn, but that did little to dim an otherwise solid weekend.

DOUG KALITTA IS GOING TO BE A HANDFUL IN THE COUNTDOWN

Doug Kalitta has won 57 races in his career, but few have been as dominant as his most recent win at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd. After some struggles earlier in the season, the 2023 world champion and his Alan Johnson-led crew took his game to another level in Brainerd. Kalitta took advantage of prime conditions in qualifying to take the top spot with a 3.655, and then he steamrolled the field on Sunday with three more 3.6-second runs, including a 3.670 in the final that took care of business against Clay Millican.

The Brainerd event has always been a crucial stop on the NHRA Mission Foods tour because it sets the stage for the upcoming NHRA U.S. Nationals and the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. The regular season matters, but the real heavy lifting begins in Brainerd, and if the Kalitta team can maintain this pace, they’ll be heavily favored to win a second title.

J.R. TODD AND THE DHL TEAM HAVE ENTERED THE TITLE CHAT

It would be difficult to describe J.R. Todd’s 2025 season as difficult because he did score a win in Epping, but with the addition of crew chief Dickie Venables this offseason, most expected there would be some sort of an adjustment period. It might be fair to say that the adjustment period ended in Brainerd as Todd was able to exchange haymakers with every other team in the field, including the class-leading John Force Racing entries.

Todd qualified fifth with a 3.907, but he really shone in eliminations, where he went to the final round with wins against Paul Lee, Ron Capps, and Jack Beckman, three drivers who have all won national events this season. It was Todd, not event winner Austin Prock or low qualifier Jack Beckman, who had the quickest run of the event with a 3.852 in round two. Todd also ran 3.863 in round one and made three runs in excess of 334 mph on Sunday.

There is parity in Funny Car right now as seven drivers have won at least one event this season. Prock will head into the Countdown to the Championship as the No. 1 seed, but when he looks over his shoulder, he’s likely to get a clear view of the yellow DHL Toyota.

THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR INNOVATION AND FOR THE LITTLE GUY

Anyone who has ever wanted to race in the Pro Stock class but feels that it is an unattainable goal should take the time to meet Joseph Wilczek, a self-proclaimed “little guy” racer who made his dreams, and the dreams of a lot of others, come true in Brainerd.

A part-time Comp eliminator racer who previously ran a turbocharged Mustang, Wilczek longed to race in the Pro Stock category, so he simply built his own car, also a Ford Mustang. Wilczek fabricated and/or machined most of the parts on the car except for the body, which came from Five Star. It wasn’t cheap, and it wasn’t easy, but Wilczek didn’t cut corners, and the end result is a masterpiece that was finished in time to make its official debut in Brainerd.

Using a Dodge Hemi engine that he got from Deric Kramer, Wilczek was able to run in the sixes before the end of the weekend, which was also a noteworthy goal. While he didn’t qualify for the 16-car field, Wilczek earned a legion of new fans. He was also rewarded for his efforts as he walked away with a trophy as he won the NHRA Best Engineered Vehicle award.

Wilczek has vowed to keep improving his program and has plans to convert to a true Ford engine program, something Pro Stock fans have longed for.  

BRAINERD FANS SURE KNOW HOW TO ENJOY THEMSELVES

Mention Brainerd to most NHRA fans anywhere in the country, and the first thing that often comes to mind is the famed Brainerd "Zoo," the massive campground that is adjacent to the world-class dragstrip. Yes, Brainerd Int’l Raceway has a long history of great on-track achievements, and has hosted NHRA’s biggest stars since 1982, but for many, "the Zoo," and the fans that fill it each year, are also an important part of the story.

Brainerd fans are simply different. Sure, they like to party, but they’re also some of the most dedicated fans anywhere in the country. They’ll decorate their campsites and build parade floats as tributes to their favorite drivers. Just ask Ron Capps, who is often referred to as the “Mayor of the Brainerd Zoo” because of the huge support group he has each year.

NHRA drivers are also quick to return the goodwill as most Pros are more than willing to make a lap through the campground after hours, signing autographs and hanging with their biggest supporters. Bottom line, Brainerd is a must-attend event for any true NHRA fan.