NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

For drag racers and drag racing fans, there is no event bigger, more important, or more prestigious than the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals. A Labor Day tradition at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park since 1961, an Indy win can define a career.

The U.S. Nationals also signifies the end of the regular season in the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing series. It is the 14th of 20 events on the calendar and sets the field for the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

When it comes to wagering and the PlayNHRA initiative, Justin Ashley and Tony Stewart are the co-favorites in Top Fuel, while defending champ Austin Prock leads the way in Funny Car. Greg Anderson and Dallas Glenn are favored in Pro Stock, while championship leader Gaige Herrera is a sizable favorite in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

PlayNHRA, NHRA’s partnership with leading sports books and fantasy sports providers, has allowed fans to sign up for free and legally wager on national events and other outcomes in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, including this weekend’s event in Indianapolis.

NHRA fans have the opportunity to engage in fantasy games, gaming, and betting for this event. Betting markets feature Professional classes where fans can wager on event winners, low elapsed time of the event, head-to-head matchups, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, and season champions.

Below are the opening odds as provided by Alt Sports Data.

(Note: In American sports betting, odds are typically expressed with a plus (+) or minus (–) symbol followed by a number. For example, +200 signifies the amount a bettor could win if wagering $100. If the bet works out, the player will receive a total payout of $300; $200 profit + $100 initial stake.)

TOP FUEL

In a bit of irony, neither Tony Stewart nor Justin Ashley has won the U.S. Nationals, yet the oddsmakers have them as co-favorites to win this week’s event. Ashley has two wins this season in five final rounds, while Stewart also has two wins in four finals. They are both priced at +650 for openers, which means a $10 wager would return $75.00 should either of them win.

Stewart and Ashley are the favorites, but they’re only marginally ahead of a large pack of contenders that includes championship leader Shawn Langdon and his Kalitta Motorsports teammate Doug Kalitta at +700. Brittany Force, defending Indy winner Clay Millican, and Antron Brown could also be considered among the favorites at +800, while Steve Torrence and TJ Zizzo are priced at +850.

The list of long shots is impressive, and it includes eight-time world champ Tony Schumacher, who is making his debut with the Rick Ware Racing team as well as Jasmine Salinas, who is also returning after a brief hiatus. Schumacher opened at +1,800, while Salinas is +1,200. Another driver who figures to draw some attention is Jordan Vandergriff, who is making his second straight start as a replacement driver for Shawn Reed. Vandergriff performed well in his debut in Brainerd two weeks ago and can be had at +2,500.

FUNNY CAR

Once again, John Force Racing teammates, Austin Prock and Jack Beckman, are the favorites to win in Funny Car, with Prock a sizable favorite at +180 after winning six of the first 13 events and three of the last four. Beckman hasn’t won since Chicago, but he has two wins in three finals this season.

NHRA Rookie of the Year favorite Spencer Hyde is among the favorites at +800, and that could largely be due to the past success of his car owner, Jim Head, who has won Indy twice as a driver.

There is a logjam near the top of the Funny Car standings as Bob Tasca III, Paul Lee, Matt Hagan, J.R. Todd, Ron Capps, Chad Green, Daniel Wilkerson, and Blake Alexander can be had for between +900 and +1,500. Lee, Hagan, Todd, Capps, and Green have all won at least one race this season.

Included among the long shots are past Top Alcohol Dragster world champ Julie Nataas, who has been impressive in a pair of outings in Del Worsham’s car, and Alex Laughlin, who is subbing for Buddy Hull in the Jim Dunn entry.

PRO STOCK

The Pro Stock field is impressive with 21 entries vying for just 16 qualifying spots, and there are more than a handful of drivers capable of going the distance on Monday.

Despite the size of the field, KB Titan Racing teammates Greg Anderson and Dallas Glenn remain the favorites with the PlayNHRA oddsmakers. Anderson, the six-time world champion, opened at +260, while Glenn, the current points leader, is a shade behind at +280.

With Anderson and Glenn as big favorites, there is value down the line with the rest of the field, including past Indy winner Aaron Stanfield, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Matt Hartford, and Erica Enders between +1,000 and +1,100. Greg Stanfield, the winner in Sonoma, also comes in at +1,200.

When it comes to long shots, there are plenty to choose from, including Eric Latino at +2,000, Mason McGaha at +2,200, and his father, Chris, at +2,500.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

After sitting out the recent Brainerd event, the Pro Stock Motorcycle class returns at the U.S. Nationals, where Gaige Herrera remains a big favorite against a large field. Herrera’s opening price is -160, which means a $10 bet would return a modest $16.25. Herrera has done his part by winning four of the first eight races this season.

Matt Smith, who often does some of his best work in Indy, comes in at +260, while Richard Gadson, a two-time winner this season, has odds of +450.

One rider who definitely bears watching is Brayden Davis, who is making his third start with the Vance & Hines team. Davis went to the semifinals in his first two races and is a definite threat to win at a price of +1,100.

Another rider with a lot of value is John Hall, who won in Norwalk and went to the final round in Sonoma. Hall is also a past Indy champ with odds of +1,800.

Opening odds provided by Alt Sports Data (Odds are subject to change). 

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