NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

When the clutch pedal in J.R. Todd’s Funny Car got hung up at the starting line in round two of the 2021 U.S. Nationals he could have aborted the run. But with a blip of the throttle, Todd staged the car, freed the clutch, and got the holeshot on Cruz Pedregon.

With his Pro Stock victory at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil, Greg Anderson tied Warren Johnson for the class lead in victories at 97. NHRA historian and statistician Bob Frey took a deep dive into the numbers that make up their totals.

From incredible performances, memorable storylines, and a fanbase that had the facility buzzing, these playoffs are off and running in spectacular fashion. With the next playoff race coming in days, here are five things we learned at Maple Grove Raceway.

NHRA National Dragster's photographers were at Maple Grove Raceway for eliminations at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil, chronicling the action on and off the track.

Billy got the opening jump in the Top Fuel ranks, winning the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Maple Grove Raceway with a run of 3.720 at 326.08 in the final round against Justin Ashley.

Filling in for defending Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan, who missed his second straight race due to COVID-19, Johnson drove to the win with a run of 3.926 at 330.23 to beat John Force in the final round of the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil.

The win came in the final round of Sunday’s Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Maple Grove and it came against longtime rival Erica Enders at Maple Grove Raceway, as Anderson went 6.578 at 208.30 to hit the historic mark.

Johnson capped off a tremendous Sunday at Maple Grove victory with his second victory of the season, rolling to the win in the final round of the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil with a run of 6.775 at 196.87 against Eddie Krawiec.

News and Notes from final eliminations at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil. This will be updated throughout the day with notes, quotes, photos, videos, and more from the first race of the Countdown to the Championship!

After two tremendous days of qualifying at Maple Grove Raceway, the journey towards a championship officially begins with today’s eliminations at the 36th annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil.

NHRA National Dragster's photographers at Maple Grove Raceway on the final day of qualifying at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil, chronicling the action on and off the track.

The final day of qualifying at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil delivered plenty of standout runs, as Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) earned No. 1 qualifiers.

The remembrance Foley and his team put together on their dragster was on display at 300 mph during this weekend’s Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Maple Grove Raceway, and it’s an anniversary that hits especially close to home for Foley.

Racing at Maple Grove Raceway has always been special for Angelle Sampey, but winning has taken on an even bigger meaning right now for the three-time world champion following the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in her home state of Louisiana.

The kickoff to the Countdown to the Championship featured two track speed records during Friday’s lone session, and with another spectacular day in store, all the stars in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will look make moves during Saturday’s final two sessions.

Shane Conway, Kris Hool, and David Billingsley led the champion's list as the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series West Central Division was in action at Tri-State Raceway.

NHRA National Dragster's photographers were all over Maple Grove Raceway on the opening day of the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil, chronicling the action on and off the track.

In front of a huge crowd on Friday, the NHRA Countdown to the Championship kicked off in impressive fashion, with Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Kyle Koretsky (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) racing to No. 1 at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil.

Salinas figures he’s a win waiting to happen. He’s been close, so the Top Fuel driver figures this weekend’s Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Maple Grove Raceway is the perfect time to get that victory.

The way Kyle Koretsky sees it, the best way to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss is to have success at your home NHRA track, and he gets that chance at this weekend’s Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.

Tickets for the famed Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona Nov. 11-14 are now on sale as NHRA teams gear up for the dramatic conclusion of the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. 

Casey Grisel, Terry Ruckman, and Kevin Carter led the list of second-race winners as the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Pacific Division completed a doubleheader event at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.

We’ve officially reached crunch time and the return of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. It’s where champions are made, legacies are built and historic runs are made, and it all gets started at Maple Grove Raceway this weekend.

Tricky Tipster went two-for-five at Indy when we correctly picked Steve Torrence and Erica Enders to win in Top Fuel and Pro Stock, respectively. Now, it’s time for the start of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs which means there’s little room for error and even the smallest mistake can have dire consequences.

The opening race of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship takes place at this weekend’s 36th annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Maple Grove Raceway, and Ron Capps couldn’t be in a better place.

Continuing a partnership started by his uncle, six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr., Troy Coughlin Jr. will be promoting Universal Parks and Resorts during a key stretch of NHRA national events taking place in Reading, Charlotte, and St. Louis.

Ron Capps blistered the Maple Grove Raceway timers during Funny Car qualifying in 2019, setting the still-standing track records of 3.837 seconds at 339.28 mph.

The Nitro Time Machine transports us back to the 1988 Reading event for a look at a wild pedalfest between Joe Amato and Jim Head, the quickest race in Top Fuel history, a Rusty-Billy Glidden high five, and all three Pro finals.

Matt Smith’s dominant 2021 season in Pro Stock Motorcycle included four victories and six final-round appearances, giving him the points lead as the Countdown to the Championship opens at this weekend’s Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Maple Grove Raceway.

With back-to-back wins in Bowling Green and Indy, Edmond Richardson has remerged as one of NHRA’s best super class racers and more than 30 years into his career, he’s still got something to prove.