All posts by ARP Trish

CheVY Racing–NASCAR–Talladega Advance

October 22, 2025 ARP Trish

Now officially aligned in the Round of Eight, all three NASCAR national touring series will head to Alabama to take on arguably the biggest wild card stop of the playoffs – Talladega Superspeedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

Fresh on the heels of a strong points day, Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson will carry that momentum with him as he seeks his first career superspeedway victory and an early berth into the Cup Series Championship Four. In the Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series, the playoff rankings see a strong contingency of three Team Chevy drivers above the cutline in each division heading into the penultimate race of the round.

Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega: One year ago, Chevrolet conquered the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway with a tripleheader weekend sweep. Among those triumphs included a playoff upset by Hyak Motorsports’ Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who drove Chevrolet to its 45th all-time win in NASCAR’s top division at the track. The victory added onto Chevrolet’s already stellar showing in the Next Gen era at the Alabama venue – leading its competitors with wins in four of the seven races since the car’s competition debut. Earlier this season, the manufacturer fell just one spot short of a trip to victory lane but proved to be a force to be reckoned with as nine drivers from five different Chevrolet organizations earned top-12 results, including a pair of podium finishes by playoff contenders Kyle Larson and William Byron.

BYRON, ELLIOTT LOOK TO TAP INTO SUPERSPEEDWAY SUCCESSWhile a disappointing trip to Las Vegas Motor Speedway put William Byron and Chase Elliott in an unfavorable position below the cutline, the Hendrick Motorsports duo will look to tap into their superspeedway success this weekend. This season alone, each driver has earned a victory on a drafting-style track including Byron’s DAYTONA 500 victory and Elliott’s first win of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Elliott’s Alabama accolades include two trips to victory lane in NASCAR’s top division, including the track’s fall event in 2022 that led him to a berth into the Round of Eight. While still seeking his first Talladega triumph, Byron has yet to finish outside of the top-15 in seven races during the Next Gen era at track. The regular season champion currently sits on a streak of five-straight top-seven results at the Alabama venue, including back-to-back podium appearances in the past two races.

TEAM CHEVY TRIO BOOSTS DOUBLE-DIGIT POINTS CUSHION In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, three Team Chevy playoff drivers cashed in on a strong points result to find themselves sitting above the playoff cutline with a double-digit cushion heading into the Talladega race weekend. The JR Motorsports pairing of Connor Zilisch and Justin Allgaier rounded out the podium in Las Vegas to not only maintain their one-two playoff positions, but further build onto their points lead to now 82-points (Zilisch) and 44-points (Allgaier) above the cutline. Making the biggest move up the rankings was Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love, who turned a two-point deficit to a 20-point advantage over the bubble heading to the track that delivered his first career Xfinity Series win.

ENFINGER EYES CHAMPIONSHIP FOUR POTENTIAL The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series playoff rankings are closer than ever with just a single-digit points margin separating the seven title contenders vying for the three remaining Championship Four spots. Heading into the Talladega race weekend, the Bowtie brigade occupies each of those three positions with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Tyler Ankrum in second and Daniel Hemric in third, as well as Spire Motorsports’ Rajah Caruth who sits in the fourth and final provisional points position.

PINK CORVETTE STINGRAY PACE CAR TO HIGHLIGHT 2025 ‘MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER’ CAMPAIGNThis season, Chevrolet celebrates 15 years of supporting the American Cancer Society and its ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ initiative with the return of a specially-themed pink Corvette Stingray that will serve as the official pace vehicle for two NASCAR Cup Series races this month, including this weekend in Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Once again helping drive donations for the initiative, every caution lap the pink Corvette Stingray completes in Sunday’s race will generate a donation of $500 (up to $25,000). A special addition has been added to this year’s campaign with Chevrolet also pledging to donate an additional $1,500 (up to $25,000) for each Team Chevy driver that earns a top-10 finish in the two participating events.\

BOWTIE BULLETS:·        Chevrolet will serve as the official pace vehicle for the tripleheader weekend at Talladega Superspeedway: NASCAR Cup Series: Specially-themed pink Corvette Stingray in support of the American Cancer Society and its ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ initiative NASCAR Xfinity Series: Silverado RSTNASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Silverado RST
·        Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Talladega Superspeedway: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – two wins (2017 & 2024)Kyle Busch – two wins (2023 & 2008)Chase Elliott – two wins (2022 & 2019)Ross Chastain – one win (2022)
·        In 112 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Talladega Superspeedway, Chevrolet has recorded 45 victories – four of which have come during the Next Gen era to lead its manufacturer competitors.

·        Chevrolet holds a winning percentage of 68.4 percent in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Talladega Superspeedway with 26 wins in 38 races. The manufacturer enters the weekend with 12-straight NXS wins at the Alabama venue – a streak that dates back to the April 2018 event.   ·        Chevrolet has earned at least half of the top-10 finishing results in 14 of the 33 points-paying races thus far this season, including a season-high seven top-10 finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.
·        In 141 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 66 victories – a winning percentage of 46.8%.

·        With its 43 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 880 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

FOR THE FANS: ·        Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Talladega Superspeedway, which features a variety of Chevrolet vehicles including: 2026 Tahoe Z7, 2026 Silverado 1500 ZR2, Trax Activ, Traverse RS, Silverado 2500 HD, Silverado EV, Equinox EV, Corvette Z06 and a Chase Elliott No. 9 Show Car.

·        Fans will also have access to a special showing of the Eagle Lunar Terrain Vehicle.  GM brings three areas of expertise to the Lunar Dawn team: electrification, autonomous vehicle technology and chassis development.GM’s expertise in electric vehicle technology will leverage EV performance, quality and durability synergies from its experience back on Earth to applications on the Moon.GM’s ongoing work on autonomous vehicles technology is being applied to the rover and to its unique environment.

Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display: Friday, October 17Rajah Caruth: 10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Daniel Hemric & Connor Mosack: 10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Grant Enfinger: 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Corey LaJoie: 10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Andres Perez, Bayley Currey & Matt Mills: 1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Saturday, October 18Carson Kvapil: 9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Sammy Smith & Connor Zilisch: 9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.Jeb Burton: 9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.Justin Allgaier: 12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.Nick Sanchez: 12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 19Shane van Gisbergen: 9:20 a.m. – 9:35 a.m. Justin Haley: 9:35 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.Kyle Larson: 9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.Chase Elliott: 10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.William Byron: 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation: Friday, October 17: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.   Saturday, October 18: 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Sunday, October 19: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of Eight: Race TwoYellaWood 500Sunday, October 19, at 2 p.m. ET(NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90) NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs Round of Eight: Race TwoUnited Rentals 250Saturday, October 18, at 4 p.m. ET(CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90) NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs Round of Eight: Race TwoLove’s RV Stop 225Friday, October 17, 4 p.m. ET(FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

QUOTABLE QUOTES:Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletHow do you approach Talladega?“Talladega is such a wild-card. You truly have no idea how it’s going to go for you. You can be the fastest car but that doesn’t guarantee you’ll win. You need to be a little bit lucky to avoid the accidents so you can even have a shot at winning at the end. There really hasn’t been a pattern for me at this track. I’ve won it from a last lap pass to ending up wrecked making a high-risk move for position, you just truly don’t know what is going to happen. That’s why the fans like it so much, you just never know who is going to win.” Your car has a little bit different look this weekend.“I hope I’m going so fast that it’s hard to see me with the Busch Light Hunting scheme. Busch Light does a great job with their specialty schemes, and I can’t think of a better track to run a Hunting scheme than Talladega. I had fun shooting content in the woods for it. “ Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat’s Talladega Superspeedway like compared to Daytona International Speedway?“Talladega Superspeedway is a big speedway, a fast place, with a lot of space. You get four wide, five wide, and you’ve got to be really on point with your spotter. You’ve got to give you good, clear communication during the race. It does race a lot differently than Daytona International Speedway because of how wide the track is. Daytona’s a little rougher, but as the years have gone on, Talladega has started to develop a couple of places that can be trouble spots on the track.” Do you look at Talladega Superspeedway as an opportunity or challenge?“Talladega Superspeedway is an opportunity for the No. 3 BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Chevrolet team. Speedway racing can be tough sometimes and you can be on either side of the thought process going into it. But it does shake up the Playoffs with being where it’s at in the Round of 8. It’s anybody’s game. There are certain guys who rise to the top even at superspeedways, though.” Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletLarson on returning to Talladega Superspeedway: “Hopefully we can go to Talladega and do what we’ve done on superspeedways for a while now by scoring stage points and get good finishes by getting to the checkered flag like we have been doing this year. We’ll just try to execute again; have a good points day at Talladega and be in a good position heading into Martinsville (Speedway).” Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletYou’ve been impressive on superspeedways throughout your career. What is the key to being successful at a track like Talladega?“I have just always really enjoyed superspeedway racing. I’m not sure why that is, but it has just come easier to me and fits my style of racing better. I try to be very patient in the car, wait for the right moment to make the pass and I think that’s why I tend to do better on the bigger tracks. Talladega and Daytona are really just tracks that test your patience. You want to go and be at the front but you know that anything can happen at any moment. It’s a balance of knowing what is needed to get to the front but making it to the end. The Spire cars have been really good at superspeedways this year and I think we can continue that this weekend.” Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletThe racing has changed a lot at Talladega. Going into this Fall race, how do you race at Talladega now, compared to years past?“You run them more part throttle now more than you ever have before. The fuel mileage game, and the saving of the fuel, and things like that. Trying to get yourself into that leap-frog strategy. It seems like everybody is doing that, where you want to spend the least amount of time on pit road to pick off spots, because it seems like it is more difficult to pass. When the first two lanes, the bottom lane and the middle lane lets call it, when they are sitting there side-by-side saving fuel, the third lane can open up and go more throttle on and make up some time and get the third lane going. But then once the bottom lane and middle lane are wide open, there is no top lane. The bottom just gets too fast, and the top is too far around. You don’t see enough of that speed gain down the backstretch coming off the banking to give you that the propel forward and making up rows, so it’s tougher to pass. When you come down towards the last 10 laps, eight laps, six laps, everybody is scared to pull out of line because you know if you pull out of line, and no one goes with you, you are literally going to pull back to last. So it seems like everybody is a bit more scared to take that chance, and don’t want to take that chance to drop backwards. So they just all stay in line, until they can literally see they checkered flag out of their windshield, and then they all go crazy, and that’s about when the wrecking ensues. So try to miss that one.” Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletElliott on Talladega Superspeedway: “I don’t see anyone being a standout. Everybody’s just really close and whoever gets themselves in a good spot and positions themselves well and has some good fortune, you know, is going to have a good day.” William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletByron on Talladega Superspeedway: “Obviously last weekend didn’t end the way we hoped. We were going to be in a good position for the rest of this round and that shows how quickly things can change. Talladega is where anything and everything can happen and change quickly. We would like to collect stage points but also strategy will be big when it comes to fuel. Plus, you don’t want to put yourself in a situation where your race could end early all because you pushed too hard for stage points. It’s going to be a very fine balance and all we can do is execute and see where the chips fall at the end.” Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet“I’m excited to head to Talladega again this weekend with Jack Link’s on the car. Last year’s win was huge for our team and it’s one of those moments you don’t forget. I’m hoping we can get the #47 back in victory lane this year.” Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletBowman on going to Talladega Superspeedway: “Talladega is unpredictable and all about survival. A lot of it is mental as well. You have to be mentally sharp throughout the whole race and especially towards the end when it gets hectic. We had a decent finish last weekend at Las Vegas (Motor Speedway) and hopefully we can keep that momentum going.” Anthony Alfredo, No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet“Talladega is definitely one of my favorites,” he said. “I have a really good track record there with top-five finishes in Xfinity, and multiple Cup Series top-10 finishes. I feel like I know what I need to do behind the wheel to execute, or to at least position myself to leverage the draft and make moves. From there, it’s a matter of seeing what happens. Sometimes all you can do is put yourself in position and hope that it works. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletHow do you balance being aggressive while racing for the win and not ruining a playoff contenders’ day? “When it comes to playoff contenders, you do think about them at most of the races, but not Talladega. There’s just no way of actually doing that, because you can’t help what’s going to happen at Talladega. That’s actually one of the less stressful races because of that. You can’t control the big one, when it’s going to happen, or who it’s going to take. So, for us, we don’t have any pressure but to go there and try to win the race. So, it’s low pressure and low stress going into it. We’re not in a spot where we have to worry about the cutoff.  We’re not in a spot where we’re worried about points. We can just go and try to run up front and win the race.” Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletSpire Motorsports as a whole has been strong on superspeedways this year. What have you learned since the season opener at Daytona that you can apply in Sunday’s race?“For me, I think I’ve gotten more comfortable with pushing for position during a superspeedway race. I had always been so worried about just making it to the end and staying out of trouble, and learned early this year that if I wanted a shot at a win that just wasn’t going to work. We had a good run at Talladega earlier this year and if all goes right, we should be able to knock out a top five.” Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWhat do you think about Talladega?“It’s crazy and very different than a traditional oval. We are doing 320 kilometers in a pack of 40 cars. It’s amazing how fast we are going, all squeezed together. Talladega is one of the most difficult races that we do. Hopefully this weekend we can prove that we are getting better at that (superspeedway racing) too and get a good result.”
There are only ovals left on the schedule this season. Is there a certain oval you like the best?“I like the challenge of all of them. I like how different they all are. The intermediates, they look the same shape on paper, but when you go there, they all drive so differently. I really like the challenge of finding all the little integrities on the track and what makes the cars work.” You have received massive amounts of support from the people of New Zealand, and even Australia this season. How special is that to you?“The support I’ve gotten coming over here (United States) has been great! As I always say, when New Zealanders or Aussies go overseas, the support we get is amazing. It’s in all different series, like IndyCar, Formula 1 and Formula E, it’s so cool to see the support we get and it’s really appreciated. Every track I go to, there are always some Kiwis or Aussies there to support me. It’s really special.” Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletYou have been able to run inside the top-10 consistently in recent races at Talladega. Does that make you optimistic about this weekend? “The racing at Talladega can get so crazy but it’s a lot of fun when you can stayout of trouble and have a good day. We’ve been able to do that quite a bit inthe last few races there. It was an up-and-down day for our team in the springrace. I thought our car had speed, but we needed to improve the balance. Ourguys on pit road executed well when it counted the most late in the race.Everyone at Trackhouse does a great job preparing our Freeway InsuranceChevrolet and ECR gives us great engines, especially at Talladega and Daytona.I certainly think we can have another strong run this weekend.” Do you like racing at Talladega?“I love Talladega. At first, I really didn’t like superspeedway racing but themore I did it the more I started to enjoy it. We have been so close so manytimes on the superspeedway. One of these days we are going to win one of theseraces and I hope it is Sunday.” Connor Zilisch, No. 88 JR Motorsports ChevroletHow do you approach Talladega since it is such a wild card race?“A lot of times you don’t have much to control at Talladega. A lot of things that happen at those types of tracks that are out of your control, so you just have to do what you can to put yourself in the right spots. But sometimes what you think is the right spot can easily turn out to be the wrong spot, and you find yourself in trouble.” You enter Talladega 82 points above the cutline. Is there comfort being that far above the elimination line?“Plus 82 is not bad. It could be a lot worse for sure. Having another win sticker on this car definitely would have been better.”

Now officially aligned in the Round of Eight, all three NASCAR national touring series will head to Alabama to take on arguably the biggest wild card stop of the playoffs – Talladega Superspeedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics Manufacturers Championships:Total (1949-2024): 43First title for Chevrolet: 1958Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)Most recent: 2024 Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Drivers Championships:Total (1949-2024): 33First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)Most recent: Kyle Larson (2021) Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021 Event Victories:Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007) 2025 STATISTICS: Wins: 14Poles: 11Laps Led: 3,573Top-Fives: 61Top-10s: 135Stage Wins: 25 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 880 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 764Laps led to date: 256,284Top-Fives to date: 4,430Top-10s to date: 9,142 Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date: General Motors: 1,214 Chevrolet: 880 Pontiac: 154 Oldsmobile: 115 Buick: 65 Ford: 846 Ford: 746 Mercury: 96 Lincoln: 4 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467 Dodge: 217 Plymouth: 191 Chrysler: 59 Toyota: 202

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Berry, eero Team Ready for Talladega Return

October 15, 2025 ARP Trish

The last time Josh Berry and the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing team took on Talladega Superspeedway back in April, they had the speed to contend for the win — even after a dose of early hiccup.

In the opening laps of that race, Berry’s Mustang struck a bird while running at full speed, but the team quickly regrouped and stayed in the mix. From there, Berry methodically worked his way to the front, leading five different times for a total of 15 laps.

A late-race speeding penalty on pit road derailed the team’s shot at victory, leaving Berry with a 28th-place finish despite having one of the strongest cars in the field.

Now, as Berry and the No. 21 eero Ford Mustang Dark Horse return to the 2.66-mile Alabama superspeedway for Sunday’s YellaWood 500, the team’s focus is on execution — and putting together a complete, mistake-free day.

“Our team has been really strong on the superspeedways this year,” Berry said. “We were in a good spot in the spring before that late-race speeding penalty, so hopefully we can avoid the chaos, execute and come away with a great result in the eero Ford Mustang.”

Per NASCAR rules for drafting tracks such as Talladega, there will be no practice session this weekend. Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET on truTV, while Sunday’s 188-lap, 500.08-mile race is set to go green shortly after 2 p.m. ET on NBC.

Stage breaks are planned for Laps 60 and 120.

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Boothill Victory Has Gustin Back on Track Heading Into World Finals and Beyond

October 15, 2025 ARP Trish

CONCORD, NC (October 15, 2025) – If you didn’t pick Ryan Gustin to win last weekend’s Bayou Classic at Boothill Speedway, he wouldn’t have faulted you.

Gustin’s 2025 season with the World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision has brought some of the highest highs of his career, topped by his first Late Model crown-jewel victory at USA Nationals. It has also included plenty of struggles, like his streak of 10 races without a top 10 following that $100,000 payday.

The stat sheet suggested Boothill could be the place where Gustin got back on his feet considering he won in his Late Model debut there with the World of Outlaws in 2024. But come Friday night, the No. 19R didn’t look anything like the one that snatched the lead and drove to victory one year prior. Damage to the nose sent Gustin to the work area late in the Feature and resulted in a 24th-place finish, but the pace was lacking long before that issue. Gustin qualified seventh in his group and finished fifth in his Heat Race, meaning he needed to resort to a Last Chance Showdown to lock in a starting spot for the Feature.

The team knew they needed a reset after Friday’s program, and after seeking out a few words of wisdom from some supporters, Gustin looked like a new man on Saturday.

“Really, we didn’t have any notes from last year,” Gustin said. “I thought we did, but we got here and we didn’t. Didn’t really know where to be, and obviously we’ve been off. Todd [Cooney] called [Saturday], and we got on the phone with Eric Wells, and he got us really, really good obviously. This is Todd and Eric that made this deal happen, I just did what they said, and it worked.”

The gains were evident as soon as cars hit the track on Saturday night. Gustin improved to fourth in Qualifying, putting him on the front row of his Heat Race that he won over Mike Marlar and Nick Hoffman.

After drawing the pole and keeping a hungry Brian Shirley at bay through the first half of the race, Gustin got the best of Series points leader Bobby Pierce in a 10-lap slider fest that the Boothill fans won’t soon forget.

“We all needed it bad,” Gustin said. “This deal, when you get down like that, it’s hard to mentally get yourself back up. Getting your butt kicked, running 10th place feels like a good run, you know? To go out here and win $50,000 and put on a show like that for the fans and everything, it feels damn good.”

Confidence wasn’t the only thing that the Boothill win helped Gustin rebuild – his points margin was rapidly shrinking as well. The “Reaper” left Cedar Lake third in the standings, more than 120 points ahead of his closest challenger, Tim McCreadie. But Gustin’s two-month slump combined with a stretch of two wins, four podiums and eight top 10s in nine races for McCreadie eradicated the gap down to only four points after Friday’s show. Gustin had been trying to swing the momentum back in his favor for weeks, and it finally came to fruition with a victory on the same night McCreadie failed to finish due to a crash and subsequent suspension damage.

That outcome expanded Gustin’s cushion back to 50 points with only World of Outlaws World Finals (Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 5-8) left to go. Some drivers prefer to ignore the points until the very end and let the cards fall where they may, but not Gustin. The battle is one he’s been paying attention to all year long, and one he’s determined to win next month.

“That’s money at the end of the year,” Gustin said of the $15,000 difference between third and fourth in the World of Outlaws standings. “That’s how most of us racers get through winter. That’s how I get through winter anyway, you’re relying on that point fund check. I’m not sure what happened to [McCreadie], it’s unfortunate, you don’t ever want to see that happen to anybody. All in all, it was a great night for us, and hopefully we can keep this momentum rolling into Charlotte.”

With three Features left to run, Gustin needs to ensure McCreadie beats him by no more than nine spots per night on average to lock up the third spot. It’s an attainable goal for a driver of Gustin’s caliber, but achieving it will likely necessitate a step up over his past record at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. Gustin has traveled to World Finals six times in his career, including every year since 2021, but has never recorded a top 10. On the flip side, McCreadie is a five-time Charlotte winner, including four with the Super DIRTcar Series between 2002 and 2011 and one in a Late Model in 2020.

But Gustin wants to do more than simply end the season on a high note at World Finals – he’s looking further down the road. The Cooney Motorsports team has already announced their plans to follow the World of Outlaws tour full-time again in 2026 with the goal of taking a step forward in performance and consistency.

Gustin has shown in 2025 that he’s capable of beating the best Late Model drivers in the nation when he’s on top of his game, but he knows he needs to start doing so on a more regular basis if he wants to contend for his first World of Outlaws championship next season. How does he get there? That’s a code that can only be cracked with blood, sweat and tears.

“If I knew the answer to that question, I’d have done it this year.”

The 2025 World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision season concludes at The Dirt Track at Charlotte as part of World of Outlaws World Finals, Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 5-8, alongside the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the Super DIRTcar Series. Get your tickets in advance by clicking here.

Boothill Victory Has Gustin Back on Track Heading Into World Finals and Beyond

CONCORD, NC (October 15, 2025) – If you didn’t pick Ryan Gustin to win last weekend’s Bayou Classic at Boothill Speedway, he wouldn’t have faulted you.

The team knew they needed a reset after Friday’s program, and after seeking out a few words of wisdom from some supporters, Gustin looked like a new man on Saturday.

“If I knew the answer to that question, I’d have done it this year.”

If you can’t make it to the track, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

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JOHN FORCE RACING SIGNS JOSH HART TO DRIVE ITS CHAMPIONSHIP TOP FUEL DRAGSTER

October 15, 2025 ARP Trish

JOHN FORCE RACING SIGNS JOSH HART TO DRIVE ITS CHAMPIONSHIP TOP FUEL DRAGSTER

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (OCT. 15, 2025) – John Force Racing has signed multiple-time U.S. Nationals winner and two-time NHRA Top Fuel winner Josh Hart to a multi-year contract to drive for the 23-time world championship organization beginning with the 2026 NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 5-8, which kicks off the National Hot Rod Association’s 75^th anniversary season. The Huntington, Ind., native will step into the cockpit vacated by two-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Brittany Force who announced Sept. 12 she will be stepping away from competition at the conclusion of the season to focus on starting a family. The team will continue to be led by crew chiefs Dave Grubnic and John Collins with primary sponsorship coming from Hart’s Ocala, Florida-based Burnyzz Speed Shop. “I have always said ‘Anything’s Possible’ and this opportunity proves that statement. I want to thank John Force and the entire John Force Racing team for being open to this endeavor,” said Hart. “No one can replace Brittany Force and what she has done for the sport and this organization. I have been building my program on my own for five seasons and I learned a tremendous amount. I want to continue to learn from the best and John Force Racing is the best drag racing team in the history of the sport. My goal is to continue learning, winning races and Top Fuel championships as a driver and teammate.” Hart will become just the third driver to race in the highly competitive Top Fuel class under the John Force Racing banner. He will join Force and current John Force Racing Funny Car driver Austin Prock on a short list of Top Fuel competitors. He will carry on the tradition of excellent driving skills, family values and a sponsor-first mindset as he acclimates himself to the organization. “I have been talking to Josh for a while and every time we talked it just made sense for our team to add someone like him,” said John Force, CEO and 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion. “He is a family guy, and he is a businessman. John Force Racing is evolving, and we have to feed the monster. Josh runs a huge operation in Florida, and I was impressed when I saw it a few years ago. Our team is going to keep growing and winning championships with Austin and Jack and Josh. Our focus now is on winning this season’s Top Fuel and Funny Car championships and then we will start working on 2026.” Hart started his own race team for the 2021 season and earned the first of his two NHRA Top Fuel victories in his series debut at the Gatornationals. He won again later that year at the Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway near Charlotte, N.C., and won the 2023 NHRA Top All-Star Callout in Gainesville. Hart is currently 10^th in the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Top Fuel point standings with two races remaining in the Countdown to the Championship. His NHRA career began in 2011, racing in multiple sportsman categories before earning his Top Alcohol Dragster license in 2015. Hart won three Top Alcohol Dragster NHRA national events, including consecutive U.S. Nationals titles (2018-19), and eight NHRA regional events from 2017-2019 before earning his Top Fuel license in 2020. A consistent Countdown qualifier who is on his way to another Top 10 finish this year, Hart is aiming to finish the current season on a high note. “There have been a lot of rumors about my future since my announcement to sell my racing operation, but I had a plan the whole time,” said Hart. “I hope making this announcement, the first of many, will answer some questions. I have been blown away by the support and interest in my driving future, and I hope this announcement answers a lot of questions. I want to stay focused on winning races for the rest of the season.” Further announcements about the program will be made at the conclusion of the season. Round 19 of 20 of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is the Oct. 30 – Nov. 2 NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

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JOHN FORCE RACING SIGNS JOSH HART TO DRIVE ITS CHAMPIONSHIP TOP FUEL DRAGSTER

October 15, 2025 ARP Trish

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (OCT. 15, 2025) – John Force Racing has signed multiple-time U.S. Nationals winner and two-time NHRA Top Fuel winner Josh Hart to a multi-year contract to drive for the 23-time world championship organization beginning with the 2026 NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 5-8, which kicks off the National Hot Rod Association’s 75^th anniversary season.

The Huntington, Ind., native will step into the cockpit vacated by two-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Brittany Force who announced Sept. 12 she will be stepping away from competition at the conclusion of the season to focus on starting a family. The team will continue to be led by crew chiefs Dave Grubnic and John Collins with primary sponsorship coming from Hart’s Ocala, Florida-based Burnyzz Speed Shop.

“I have always said ‘Anything’s Possible’ and this opportunity proves that statement. I want to thank John Force and the entire John Force Racing team for being open to this endeavor,” said Hart. “No one can replace Brittany Force and what she has done for the sport and this organization. I have been building my program on my own for five seasons and I learned a tremendous amount. I want to continue to learn from the best and John Force Racing is the best drag racing team in the history of the sport. My goal is to continue learning, winning races and Top Fuel championships as a driver and teammate.”

Hart will become just the third driver to race in the highly competitive Top Fuel class under the John Force Racing banner. He will join Force and current John Force Racing Funny Car driver Austin Prock on a short list of Top Fuel competitors. He will carry on the tradition of excellent driving skills, family values and a sponsor-first mindset as he acclimates himself to the organization.

“I have been talking to Josh for a while and every time we talked it just made sense for our team to add someone like him,” said John Force, CEO and 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion. “He is a family guy, and he is a businessman. John Force Racing is evolving, and we have to feed the monster. Josh runs a huge operation in Florida, and I was impressed when I saw it a few years ago. Our team is going to keep growing and winning championships with Austin and Jack and Josh. Our focus now is on winning this season’s Top Fuel and Funny Car championships and then we will start working on 2026.”

Hart started his own race team for the 2021 season and earned the first of his two NHRA Top Fuel victories in his series debut at the Gatornationals. He won again later that year at the Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway near Charlotte, N.C., and won the 2023 NHRA Top All-Star Callout in Gainesville. Hart is currently 10^th in the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Top Fuel point standings with two races remaining in the Countdown to the Championship.

His NHRA career began in 2011, racing in multiple sportsman categories before earning his Top Alcohol Dragster license in 2015. Hart won three Top Alcohol Dragster NHRA national events, including consecutive U.S. Nationals titles (2018-19), and eight NHRA regional events from 2017-2019 before earning his Top Fuel license in 2020.

A consistent Countdown qualifier who is on his way to another Top 10 finish this year, Hart is aiming to finish the current season on a high note.

“There have been a lot of rumors about my future since my announcement to sell my racing operation, but I had a plan the whole time,” said Hart. “I hope making this announcement, the first of many, will answer some questions. I have been blown away by the support and interest in my driving future, and I hope this announcement answers a lot of questions. I want to stay focused on winning races for the rest of the season.”

Further announcements about the program will be made at the conclusion of the season.

Round 19 of 20 of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is the Oct. 30 – Nov. 2 NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

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WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Fall Nationals Close 2025 DIRTcar Season Honoring Newest Champions

October 15, 2025 ARP Trish

LINCOLN, IL (October 15, 2025) – The 2025 DIRTcar National Points season celebrates a season full of racing around the United States in the “Land of Lincoln” to crown its newest champions.

The sixth annual DIRTcar Fall Nationals at Lincoln Speedway on Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 16-18, will award the newest National points champions of the Super Late Models, Pro Late Models, UMP Modifieds, Pro Modifieds, and Stock Cars.

Thursday marks the start of the weekend with open practice for all five divisions, taking place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. CT. Racing begins on Friday with the Super Late Models, Pro Late Models, UMP Modifieds, and Pro Modifieds, then Saturday’s finale adds the Stock Cars into the mix for racing around the 1/4-mile track.

FALL NATIONALS INFO

FALL NATIONALS COMP GUIDE

REGISTER YOUR CAR

Here are the top storylines to follow:

High Side Titles – Jason Feger wanted to close out a season full of lasts at the top of the board, and he’s done exactly that in the 2025 DIRTcar scene.

The Bloomington, IL driver claimed five wins around his home state that helped lead him to his second DIRTcar Summer Nationals championship, then added eight MARS Late Model scores for his third consecutive title.

After competing in a total of 77 DIRTcar events, scoring 57 top-10s, 39 top fives, and 17 wins, the “High Side Hustler” bested World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Models presented by DIRTVision points leader Bobby Pierce for his third straight National title.

The decorated Late Model veteran heads to Lincoln Speedway with a history of success, including three “Hell Tour” wins in the last four years and his first Fall Nationals finale triumph in 2024.

Falloway’s Shine – The Blue Grass State has another UMP Modified frontrunner to claim as Cole Falloway broke out onto the National scene in 2025.

After claiming his first five career Golden Gators in his debut visit to Volusia Speedway Park for Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, the Owensboro, KY native took the storm into the MARS Modifieds, scoring two wins at Fairbury and Spoon River en route to his first career Series title.

At Lincoln, “Payday” Falloway has a Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals win from 2024 and picked up a top five in his last visit to the facility in June.

Prairie State Champs – While Feger and Falloway enjoy owning their titles as National DIRTcar champions, they will be joined by three new title-holders in the Pro Late Models, Pro Modifieds, and the Stock Car divisions.

Picking up 18 wins, 21 top fives, and 23 top-10s through 26 starts in the Pro Late Models, Warrensburg, IL’s Dakota Ewing smoothly sailed towards his second consecutive DIRTcar championship. Ewing is a five-time Midwest Big Ten Series winner at Lincoln and won the Fall Nationals finale in 2024.

The Pro Modifieds held a family rivalry in the 2025 season as 22-year-old Deece Schwartz outmatched his 17-year-old brother Drew to take the Pro Modified championship. While Deece was at the top with nine Feature victories for the Ashmore, IL native’s third title, Drew showed higher consistent finishes with the most top-10 finishes of all drivers (23).

Coal City, IL’s Nick Seplak burst onto the DIRTcar Stock Car radar by recording top-10 finishes in every DIRTcar appearance, along with 23 top fives and 17 wins to take his first national championship. The 21-year-old will make his first start at Lincoln for the Fall Nationals, using experience from his native Illinois tracks in Fairbury Speedway and Farmer City Raceway.

One Final Sendoff – The DIRTcar Fall Nationals welcomes the top drivers of the Midwestern United States to close out their 2025 campaigns on the Logan County Fairgrounds property through three nights filled with on-track activity.

In 2024, the event saw a mix of winners as Super Late Model winners included Illinois natives Feger and Ryan Unzicker. In the UMP Modifieds, Kenny Wallace and Ryan Hamilton bagged triumphs while Ewing and Schwartz brought out the brooms to sweep the Pro Late Models and Pro Modifieds, respectively. Crown Point, IN’s Kyle Anderson took the Saturday finale win over Nick Clubb to close the year in the Stock Car division.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Fall Nationals Close 2025 DIRTcar Season Honoring Newest Champions

LINCOLN, IL (October 15, 2025) – The 2025 DIRTcar National Points season celebrates a season full of racing around the United States in the “Land of Lincoln” to crown its newest champions.

FALL NATIONALS INFO

FALL NATIONALS COMP GUIDE

REGISTER YOUR CAR

Here are the top storylines to follow:

High Side Titles – Jason Feger wanted to close out a season full of lasts at the top of the board, and he’s done exactly that in the 2025 DIRTcar scene.

Falloway’s Shine – The Blue Grass State has another UMP Modified frontrunner to claim as Cole Falloway broke out onto the National scene in 2025.

At Lincoln, “Payday” Falloway has a Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals win from 2024 and picked up a top five in his last visit to the facility in June.

The October showdown includes activities off the racetrack, with AllNighter playing live music behind the front stretch grandstands after Friday’s schedule of events. Then, the newest DIRTcar champions will be recognized to commence Saturday’s closer in the “Prairie State.”

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Melanie Johnson Races to Semifinals with Wild Wheel Stand at Stampede of Speed

October 15, 2025 ARP Trish

ENNIS, Texas (October 15, 2025) — Melanie Johnson and the McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster team continued their strong late-season momentum with a semifinal finish at the Texas NHRA FallNationals during the Stampede of Speed at Texas Motorplex.

With 20 cars vying for 16 qualifying spots, Johnson opened qualifying with a solid 5.312-second pass at 273.76 mph on a hot track. In the second session, she improved to a 5.265-second at 275.89 mph, her best of qualifying to secure the 7th position. The team made a setup change for the final session, but the car shook the tires just past 60 feet, resulting in a 10.626-second run.

Melanie Johnson raced to the semifinals at the 40th Texas Fall Nationals, photo credit Melanie Johnson

Johnson entered eliminations with confidence and carried that momentum into race day. In round one against Matt Cummings, she took the starting line advantage and never looked back, posting a 5.231 at 271.08 mph while Cummings went up in tire smoke.

Round two saw Johnson make her quickest run of the weekend, a 5.222 at 275.87 mph, to defeat Kirk Wolf’s 5.380 at 265.50 mph. Her run earned low E.T. of the round.

In the semifinals, Johnson faced eventual race winner Joey Severance. The car experienced tire shake at 60 feet, and when she pedaled it, the front end lifted high and carried for nearly 100 feet before she got off the throttle. Severance advanced with a 5.241 at 277.38 mph.

Still image captured from NHRA TV shows the wild wheel stand in the semifinals for Melanie Johnson

Melanie Johnson Races to Semifinals with
Wild Wheel Stand at Stampede of Speed

ENNIS, Texas (October 15, 2025) — Melanie Johnson and the McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster team continued their strong late-season momentum with a semifinal finish at the Texas NHRA FallNationals during the Stampede of Speed at Texas Motorplex.

With 20 cars vying for 16 qualifying spots, Johnson opened qualifying with a solid 5.312-second pass at 273.76 mph on a hot track. In the second session, she improved to a 5.265-second at 275.89 mph, her best of qualifying to secure the 7th position. The team made a setup change for the final session, but the car shook the tires just past 60 feet, resulting in a 10.626-second run.

Melanie Johnson raced to the semifinals at the 40th Texas Fall Nationals, photo credit Melanie Johnson

Johnson entered eliminations with confidence and carried that momentum into race day. In round one against Matt Cummings, she took the starting line advantage and never looked back, posting a 5.231 at 271.08 mph while Cummings went up in tire smoke.

Round two saw Johnson make her quickest run of the weekend, a 5.222 at 275.87 mph, to defeat Kirk Wolf’s 5.380 at 265.50 mph. Her run earned low E.T. of the round.

In the semifinals, Johnson faced eventual race winner Joey Severance. The car experienced tire shake at 60 feet, and when she pedaled it, the front end lifted high and carried for nearly 100 feet before she got off the throttle. Severance advanced with a 5.241 at 277.38 mph.

Still image captured from NHRA TV shows the wild wheel stand in the semifinals for Melanie Johnson

“I’ve had the front end pick up after a pedal before, but it usually sets back down right away,” said Johnson. “This time it hiked up and carried for a while and I saw Joey drive around me so I knew he was on a clean pass and I got out of it. It all happened in slow motion inside the car, but watching the video afterward was definitely exciting.”

The semifinal finish marked Johnson’s second of the season. The McPhillips Racing team continues to show consistent improvement as they make more power with their AJPE combination heading into the final stretch of the year.

“Each race, we’re learning more about what this combination wants,” Johnson said. “We’ve made big strides in performance and consistency, and I’m really proud of the direction we’re heading.”

Johnson and the McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster team are proud to represent NGK Spark Plugs, Lucas Oil, ARP, and Alan Johnson Performance Engineering (AJPE). The team will next compete at the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection in Las Vegas before wrapping up the season at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals in Pomona, California.

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Chase for the Championship Culminates in Eldora Finale

October 15, 2025 ARP Trish

Chase for the Championship Culminates in Eldora Finale

BATAVIA, Ohio (October 15, 2025) – For the third consecutive season, the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship presented by ARP will end in a showdown at Eldora Speedway. Devin Moran, in search of his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing title, leads Ricky Thornton Jr., who is battling for his second straight title by just 15 points. Jonathan Davenport is third, followed by Hudson O’Neal and Brandon Sheppard. Drivers are pursuing their share of the record points fund of over $1.3 million. The 2025 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing National Champion will earn $250,000, while the top five drivers in the final series point standings each earn a minimum of $100,000. “Special thanks to all the sponsors of the Chase for the Championship. Big River Steel, ARP, Sunoco, UNOH, and Summit all contributed additional bonus money throughout the season as part of the Chase for the Championship. We’re grateful for their dedication to the series,” stated Wayne Castleberry, Sales and Marketing for Lucas Oil Motorsports. 2025 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Point Fund: 1. $250,000, 2. $200,000, 3. $150,000, 4.$125,000, 5. $100,000, 6. $80,000, 7. $60,000, 8. $55,000, 9. $50,000, 10. $45,000, 11. $40,000, 12. $35,000, 13. $30,000, 14. $25,000, 15. $20,000 The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will take center stage at Eldora Speedway on Friday with Dirt Draft Hot Laps, Allstar Performance Time Trials, and Heats Races. On Saturday, the on-track action will begin with Hot Laps for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at 6:00 PM. Then, B-Mains will be contested, followed by the Jim Dunn Memorial Non-Qualifiers Race and the 100-lap, $100,000 to win, 45th Annual Dirt Track World Championship presented by ARP. For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, please visit www.lucasdirt.com. Big River Steel Chase for the Championship Presented by ARP:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – YTD Earnings1 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 8965 – $344,5492 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 8950 – $562,4003 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 8850 – $473,5004 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 8600 – $363,5005 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 8045 – $268,1256 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 7895 – $205,3507 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 7465 – $168,4008 – 18D – Daulton Wilson – Fayetteville, NC – 6820 – $137,3259 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 6700 – $124,25010 – 79 – Donald McIntosh – Dawsonville, GA – 6555 – $105,00011 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 6205 – $90,57512 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 6040 – $95,10013 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 5800 – $85,55014 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 5065 – $56,325

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Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull Catches a Wave with Jeff “The Surfer” Diehl

October 15, 2025 ARP Trish

DALLAS (October 15, 2025) — Season 2 of Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull continues tonight with a laid-back yet adrenaline-charged conversation featuring longtime Funny Car driver Jeff Diehl, known throughout the drag racing world as “The Surfer.” The episode premieres at 8 p.m. ET and 8 p.m. PT on the NHRA FAST Channel.

In this episode, host Buddy Hull sits down with Diehl to talk about his one-of-a-kind journey into the world of Funny Car racing. A Southern California native with deep roots in surf culture, Diehl shares how he first became a Funny Car driver, the surprising ways that surfing and drag racing intersect and what keeps him paddling back out, season after season, in one of the most competitive classes in motorsports. His mix of humor, humility and heart makes this an episode fans won’t want to miss.

Buddy Hull (left) and Jeff Diehl talked surfing, racing and being big guys behind the wheel in the latest episode of Talkin Funny Cars with Buddy Hull, photo credit Werner Communications

Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull Catches a Wave
with Jeff “The Surfer” Diehl

DALLAS (October 15, 2025) — Season 2 of Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull continues tonight with a laid-back yet adrenaline-charged conversation featuring longtime Funny Car driver Jeff Diehl, known throughout the drag racing world as “The Surfer.” The episode premieres at 8 p.m. ET and 8 p.m. PT on the NHRA FAST Channel.

In this episode, host Buddy Hull sits down with Diehl to talk about his one-of-a-kind journey into the world of Funny Car racing. A Southern California native with deep roots in surf culture, Diehl shares how he first became a Funny Car driver, the surprising ways that surfing and drag racing intersect and what keeps him paddling back out, season after season, in one of the most competitive classes in motorsports. His mix of humor, humility and heart makes this an episode fans won’t want to miss.

Buddy Hull (left) and Jeff Diehl talked surfing, racing and being big guys behind the wheel in the latest episode of Talkin Funny Cars with Buddy Hull, photo credit Werner Communications

“Jeff Diehl is one of the most genuine and entertaining guys in the pits,” said Hull. “He’s got this great mix of SoCal cool and Funny Car fire. His perspective on how surfing connects to racing is something fans are really going to love.”

Fans of Diehl can watch the episode on the NHRA FAST Channel, available free on 13 platforms including The Roku Channel (USA & Canada), Tubi, Samsung TV Plus, Sling Freestream and others. After the show airs tonight, it will be uploaded to the Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull YouTube channel.

“Funny Car racing gives me the same rush as catching a perfect wave,” said Jeff Diehl. “It’s fast, unpredictable and when everything lines up just right, it’s pure magic. Talking with Buddy was a blast, and I’m stoked for fans to hear a bit of my story.”

Every Wednesday throughout the rest of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, a new episode of Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull will air at 8 p.m. EST and 8 p.m. PST. Future guests will include Jim Dunn, Tim Wilkerson, Mike Neff and more.

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Dominic Scelzi Gearing Up for Trophy Cup a Year After Career-Best Outing at Event

October 13, 2025 ARP Trish

Inside Line Promotions – ANTIOCH, Calif. (Oct. 13, 2025) – Dominic Scelzi is eager to tackle one of his favorite events of the season.

Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., hosts the 31^st annual Trophy Cup this Thursday through Saturday.

“We’ve been very fast a lot of times at the event,” Scelzi said. “We’ve had great nights and great points finishes. But nothing is guaranteed and nothing is given. You just go there and hope that things go the right way.”

Scelzi’s best showing at the marquee event was last year when he ran second during the second preliminary night before charging from 22^nd to eighth during the finale. That placed him second in the event standings – only three points out of the top spot out of more than 60 competitors.

“I’m hoping that we can have a good showing and we can do something special,” he said. “I’m going in there without any expectations. I’m going to show up and see what cards we are dealt. You just know you are going into a dogfight.”

Scelzi competed last Saturday at Antioch Speedway during a NARC 410 Sprint Car Series event. He qualified second quickest, won a heat race and placed second in the dash to start the main event on the outside of the front row.

“I was the second guy out to qualify and the track was still really greasy,” he said. “I held quick time for about halfway through, but it cleaned off and got faster. Then I won the heat race. I barely won the start of the dash and they sent me back a row saying I jumped the start. I got from third to second in it.

“I ran second the majority of the main event. We had a restart halfway through and I passed D.J. (Netto) for the lead, but we didn’t complete a lap so I restarted second. We went green again for about five laps and I was all over D.J. before we had another caution. On the restart I got into turn one, hit the curb the wrong way and off it went. I felt we had a car that was capable of winning, but unfortunately it didn’t work out that way for us. I’m happy we had speed.”

Scelzi was credited with a 12^th-place result following the wreck.

QUICK RESULTS –

Oct. 11 – Antioch Speedway in Antioch, Calif. – Qualifying: 9; Heat race: 1 (2); Dash: 2 (1); Feature: 12 (2).

SEASON STATS –

51 races, 3 wins, 17 top fives, 35 top 10s, 42 top 15s, 46 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Thursday through Saturday at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., for the 31^st annual Trophy Cup

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.DominicScelziRacing.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Scelzi41

X: http://www.x.com/DominicScelzi

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Fuel Delivery Services, Inc.

Based in Stockton, Calif., Fuel Delivery Services, Inc., is a premier bulk transporter of refined petroleum products. For more information, visit http://www.FuelDeliveryServices.net.

“Mike with Fuel Delivery Services is a great guy who wants to see us do well and make it in racing,” Scelzi said. “We really appreciate his support and look forward to the continued success with Fuel Delivery Services.”

Dominic Scelzi Gearing Up for Trophy Cup a Year After Career-Best Outing at Event

Inside Line Promotions – ANTIOCH, Calif. (Oct. 13, 2025) – Dominic Scelzi is eager to tackle one of his favorite events of the season.

Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., hosts the 31^st annual Trophy Cup this Thursday through Saturday.

Scelzi was credited with a 12^th-place result following the wreck.

QUICK RESULTS –

Oct. 11 – Antioch Speedway in Antioch, Calif. – Qualifying: 9; Heat race: 1 (2); Dash: 2 (1); Feature: 12 (2).

SEASON STATS –

51 races, 3 wins, 17 top fives, 35 top 10s, 42 top 15s, 46 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Thursday through Saturday at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., for the 31^st annual Trophy Cup

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.DominicScelziRacing.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Scelzi41

X: http://www.x.com/DominicScelzi

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Fuel Delivery Services, Inc.

Based in Stockton, Calif., Fuel Delivery Services, Inc., is a premier bulk transporter of refined petroleum products. For more information, visit http://www.FuelDeliveryServices.net.

Scelzi would like to thank Red Rose Transportation, Inc., Scelzi Enterprises, Whipple Superchargers, System 1, Fuel Delivery Services, Inc., Red Line Oil, FK Rod Ends, Schoenfeld Headers, Roth Motorsports, K&N Filters, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, NAPA Auto Parts, Todd Jorgensen, Sparco, Bell Helmets, Sander Engineering, Wilwood, Mettec, Tel Tac, Kenny’s Components and Worldwide Bearings for their continued support.

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Randy Meyer Racing Battles Tough Loss at Dallas FallNationals and JEGS AllStars

October 13, 2025 ARP Trish

Oct 13, 2025 | Featured, Julie Nataas, Race Results

Randy Meyer Racing wrapped up a busy weekend of competition at the Dallas NHRA FallNationals and JEGS AllStars at the Texas Motorplex, fielding all three Top Alcohol Dragsters for one final time this season. The team entered the weekend with high expectations following their recent success in St. Louis, but the results in Dallas were a mix of valuable lessons.

The highlight of the weekend came during Saturday’s JEGS AllStars competition, where Matt Cummings drove the GUNK dragster to the final round in his first season with Randy Meyer Racing. Cummings advanced past teammate Julie Nataas in the opening round after she lost traction early, then defeated Jared Dreher in the semifinals with a 5.25-second pass at 275 mph before falling just short in the final against Joey Severance.

“There was so much excitement and expectation going into the weekend with three dragsters entering the field,” said Cummings. “We know that Randy knows how to make the nitro engines fast in the Texas heat. I had the luxury of qualifying in the top half of the field all season long until this race and it was ultra important because the track turned into a one lane beast. The right lane turned out to be our demise for not only me but our whole team. We couldn’t keep the tires planted through the entire run in the finals against Severance after getting through two tough rounds. We gave it our best effort and I really wanted to keep the AllStars in Randy’s camp.”

Texas NHRA FallNationals

For Julie Nataas, who entered the weekend fresh off a win in the Hedinger’s Equipment dragster, the AllStars did not go as planned. Her opening-round matchup against Cummings ended with tire smoke at the hit, a rare setback for the four-time AllStars champion. “We came out here this weekend to try and get 5 Jegs AllStar wins in a row,” said Nataas. “Losing to my teammate in the first round was tough, but that’s part of racing.”

McKenna Bold made her first career appearance in the JEGS AllStars, representing the Central Region in the Diezel Excavating dragster. She made a clean and consistent pass but came up short against Shawn Cowie in the opening round. “It was a battle of Western Canada, we left together but unfortunately my 5.32 was not enough to drive around his 5.27,” said Bold. “It was a huge honor to compete in my first AllStars, I didn’t get the outcome I wanted, but just being part of that field was special. I’m grateful for the opportunity and proud of what our team accomplished this season.”

Texas NHRA FallNationals

Following the AllStars, the team rolled straight into the NHRA FallNationals, where all three cars qualified solidly, but in the bottom-half of a stacked field. However, eliminations proved challenging as each of the RMR drivers were eliminated in the opening round. Despite the disappointment, the team remains proud of its season-long performance and the growth shown throughout 2025.

“It wasn’t the finish we were aiming for, but this team has worked incredibly hard all season long,” said team owner Randy Meyer. “We’ve learned a lot, and I’m proud of Matt, Julie, and McKenna for being professional drivers. We’ll regroup and come back stronger next year.”

Randy Meyer Racing Battles Tough Loss at Dallas FallNationals and JEGS AllStars

Oct 13, 2025 | Featured, Julie Nataas, Race Results

Texas NHRA FallNationals

The Dallas event marked the final race of the year for Matt Cummings in the GUNK dragster, closing out a successful first season with RMR that included multiple No. 1 qualifying efforts, 4 wins, and a runner-up finish in one of the sport’s most prestigious events. McKenna Bold will continue her 2025 campaign with RMR at two remaining NHRA national races to close out the year of her rookie year in Top Alcohol Dragster.

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Pink Corvette Stingray Pace Car to Highlight 2025 ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ Campaign

October 13, 2025 ARP Trish

Celebrating 15 years of Chevrolet support for the American Cancer Society

DETROIT – Chevrolet is showing its support in the continued fight against breast cancer with the return of a specially-themed pink Corvette Stingray that will serve as the official pace vehicle for the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway and Martinsville Speedway. This season, Chevrolet will celebrate 15 years of supporting the American Cancer Society and its ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ initiative.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

“We are proud to celebrate 15 years of working with the American Cancer Society,” said Todd Christensen, Director, Motorsports Marketing & Activation, for Chevrolet. “It’s always an honor to carry the ACS logo on the pace car during the month of October and continue to be able to leverage our motorsports platform to raise awareness and donations for the fight against breast cancer.”

The specially-themed pink pace car will once again help drive donations for the ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ initiative with every caution lap it completes in the Talladega and Martinsville races for NASCAR’s premier series generating a donation of $500 (up to $25,000). A special addition has been added to this year’s campaign with Chevrolet pledging to donate an additional $1,500 (up to $25,000) for each Team Chevy driver that earns a top-10 finish in the two participating events. In 2024, 54 total caution laps were completed among the two races – raising a $18,900 donation for the American Cancer Society. The pink Chevrolet Camaro SS pace car that participated in last year’s campaign is set to be auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Fall Auction on Friday, October 17, with 100% of the hammer price benefitting the American Cancer Society. The first of two races in this year’s campaign will take place this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, with the pink Corvette Stingray making its on-track debut for the NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 on Sunday, October 19 – the penultimate race of the Round of Eight.

Pink Corvette Stingray Pace Car to Highlight 2025 ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ CampaignCelebrating 15 years of Chevrolet support for the American Cancer Society

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

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Larson Opens NASCAR Cup Series Round of Eight with Runner-Up Finish at Las Vegas

October 13, 2025 ARP Trish

NASCAR Cup SeriesLas Vegas Motor SpeedwayRound of Eight: Race OneTeam Chevy Post-Race ReportOctober 12, 2025

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

·        A valiant effort by Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team ended with a runner-up finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to open the NASCAR Cup Series Round of Eight. The finish – Larson’s 13th top-five result of the season – came with a strong points day that puts the 2021 champion in the top provisional points positions in the playoff rankings with a 35-point cushion heading to Talladega Superspeedway.
·        Kyle Larson led a lineup of three Team Chevy drivers with top-10 results at the 1.5-mile Nevada oval, with Alex Bowman crossing the line in seventh and the Las Vegas native, Kyle Busch, driving from the 32nd starting position to a strong eighth-place finish.
·        To get the NASCAR Cup Series Round of Eight underway, all three Team Chevy playoff contenders unloaded with speed that translated into top-six qualifying efforts – led by Chase Elliott, who lined up his No. 9 Chevrolet in the fourth position to take the green-flag at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Settling into the fourth position on the opening lap, Elliott was quickly challenged for position by his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, William Byron, who also earned a top-five starting position. With an early report of a good handling Chevrolet, Byron steadily made his way up into the runner-up position by Lap 29. The first green-flag pit cycle began shortly thereafter, with Crew Chief, Rudy Fugle, calling his driver down pit road for four tires and fuel on Lap 34. With a masterful 9.6-second stop by the No. 24 pit crew, Byron took advantage of a pit road mishap by then-race leader, Chase Briscoe, to inherit the lead once the pit cycle was complete. Byron’s long run speed prevailed as the Charlotte, North Carolina, native paced the field until a late-stage caution fell with nine laps to go. With the lead pack making the trip down pit road, the No. 24 pit crew put Byron on the front-row for the restart with the Team Chevy driver going on to pick up his seventh stage win of the season.
·        It was as an all-Hendrick Motorsports front-row with William Byron and Kyle Larson leading the field to the green-flag for Stage Two. A stellar start positioned Larson in the top spot to lead his first laps of the day. Sitting comfortable at the top of the leaderboard, Larson pulled away to nearly a two-second lead over teammate, Byron, at the 30-lap marker of the stage. With yet another green-flag pit cycle near the halfway mark of the stage, a clean stop by the No. 5 pit crew kept Larson in the top position once the field cycled through. Quiet on the radio, Larson went on to maintain an average one-second gap to second en route to a Team Chevy stage sweep at the 1.5-mile Nevada oval.
·       The first to exit pit road under the stage break, Kyle Larson resumed position in the lead, but saw a hard-charging William Byron in his rear-view mirror. Byron held the margin of Larson’s lead to under one-second for most of the run as the third green-flag pit cycle of the day was on the horizon. A 9.7-second stop for the No. 24 team was enough for Byron to make the pass on his teammate during the cycle that ultimately put him at the top of the leaderboard as the driver crossed the line to mark 45 laps to go. But his journey to an early Championship Four berth ended when a massive hit with a lap car ended the No. 24 team’s day early. Varying pit strategies among the lead pack saw Larson lineup in the fourth position as the first car with a set of four fresh Goodyear tires for the restart. With a short-run to the checkered-flag, Larson went on to cap-off a strong day with a runner-up finish.

Team Chevy Unofficial Top-10 ResultsPos. Driver

2nd – Kyle Larson7th – Alex Bowman8th – Kyle Busch

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 33 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:

Wins: 14Poles: 11Top-Fives: 61Top 10s: 135Stage Wins: 25

UP NEXT: The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of Eight will continue at Talladega Superspeedway with the YellaWood 400 on Sunday, October 19, at 2 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

NASCAR Cup SeriesLas Vegas Motor SpeedwayRound of Eight: Race OneTeam Chevy Post-Race ReportOctober 12, 2025

Larson Opens NASCAR Cup Series Round of Eight with Runner-Up Finish at Las Vegas

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

Team Chevy Unofficial Top-10 ResultsPos. Driver

2nd – Kyle Larson7th – Alex Bowman8th – Kyle Busch

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 33 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:

Wins: 14Poles: 11Top-Fives: 61Top 10s: 135Stage Wins: 25

Post-Race Driver Quotes: Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletFinished: 23rd“It certainly wasn’t an ideal finish today for our Tootsie’s Chevy. In the final stage of the race, we got the handling figured out and were moving forward, then we got caught up in the accident and had some damage we had to work on. But, we rallied to finish 23rd.” Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletFinished: 25th “It never fails that when we have a great day going, something happens out of our control. Our Get Bioethanol Chevrolet was really good. The balance started on the free side and then we got it a little too tight. After our green flag stops, the car would fire off good. Almost too good which is what caused us to fade at the end of the run. We were in position to get a top-10 finish but then got caught up in that multi-car wreck with less than 25 laps to go. I hate it for our No. 3 team but it’s a positive that our car had speed on an intermediate. Everyone did a great job today and this is something we can build off moving forward.” Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 2nd“I thought we did everything that we could do. The Toyota’s were really fast for the short-run there. I saw the No. 11 (Denny Hamlin, race winner) line up behind me and I knew he’d be difficult to hold off. If any one of the Toyota’s got clear and could get rolling, I knew it would be tough. He did a great job, though. He still had to make the right moves, which he did. I felt like I was doing all I could to stay in front of him, while also trying to track down the No. 19 (Chase Briscoe). We just came up a little bit short, but overall, it was a great day for the No. 5 Chevrolet team.” Are you encouraged heading into Talladega Superspeedway and Martinsville Speedway? “We did have a great points day, but it could easily change next week. We’ll just try to execute again; have a good points day at Talladega (Superspeedway) and be in a good position heading into Martinsville (Speedway).” Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletFinished: 8th “I’m proud of the entire No. 8 zone Chevrolet team for getting us to a place from qualifying 32nd to finishing eighth today at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. We worked throughout the race to correct rear grip issues and a loose-handling Chevy to get the car to a competitive pace by race’s end. Now the name of the game is consistency and continuing to finish out front the remainder of the season, and of course get our Richard Childress Racing machine back to victory lane.” Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 18th “We started our day strong. I thought we had the balance of our No. 9 NAPA Chevy in a really good spot. I was just happy with the way it was driving. Unfortunately, we got a pit road penalty in Stage Two and we just got back in traffic. I needed something pretty different, balance-wise, to be good back there. I probably missed a little bit on my first read and we only had a couple shots to try and help that. Just got behind on adjustments for track position. We’ll regroup and try again next weekend at Talladega (Superspeedway).” William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletSidelined by damage sustained in an accident in the final stage. Finished: 36th Walk us through how all of that went down and how much time you had to react when you saw the No. 10 (Ty Dillon) coming to pit road…“Yeah, I never saw him (Ty Dillon) wave. I didn’t see any indication that he was pitting. It was probably 12 to 15 laps after we had pitted, so I thought the cycle was fully over. Nobody said anything to my spotter, from what I know. I had zero idea. Everyone has been wrapping the paint really far around the corner and that’s what I was doing to have a good lap. I was watching him thinking – okay, he missed the bottom a little bit here. He just started slowing and I had no idea what was going on. I’m just devastated. I had no indication. Obviously, I wouldn’t have just driven full-speed into the back of him like that.” When you talk about the devastation, are you thinking you had a winning race car today? “We were right there with the No. 5 (Kyle Larson). I got loose a few laps before and lost the lead, which I was bummed about. But I was going to try and get my balance back to a reasonable place. I was a little bit loose that run, looser than I was expecting to be, and I was just kind of pacing it. With as good as we were and as good as the race was going, for random things like that to happen, it just sucks. I can’t believe it. Obviously I would never do that. During the cycle, you’re anticipating guys pitting. It just sucks.” Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletSidelined by damage sustained in an accident in the final stage. Finished: 33rd “Frustrating end to the day. My 88 Jockey Chevy was so good there at the start, then towards the end it was a bit tight but we were still in a position to get a good finish. Wish our result would’ve shown the race we had. Proud of my 88 team for bringing another rocket ship.”

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John Force racing–Dallas Recap

October 13, 2025 ARP Trish

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

PROCK PROUDLY WEARS TEXAS MOTORPLEX COWBOY HAT AFTER FALL NATIONALS VICTORYForce suffers mechanical issue in semifinals, Beckman bows out in Rd. 2

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

PROCK PROUDLY WEARS TEXAS MOTORPLEX COWBOY HAT AFTER FALL NATIONALS VICTORYForce suffers mechanical issue in semifinals, Beckman bows out in Rd. 2

ENNIS, Texas (OCT. 12, 2025) – The freight train that is Austin Prock and John Force Racing’s Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team continued its tear down the championship tracks with an overpowering win in the NHRA Mission Foods Texas Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex. Brittany Force was quick, fast and consistent in all four qualifying sessions and two rounds of competition before a mechanical issue with the Monster Energy Top Fuel Dragster in the semifinals during the burnout procedure shut off the engine and prevented her from competing further. Jack Beckman and the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet SS Funny Car team easily handled its Round 1 competition but fell in Round 2. The 2024 NHRA Funny Car Champion picked up his ninth win of the season, earning his first winner’s cowboy hat from the facility celebrating its 40th year of NHRA competition, with a lap of 3.959 seconds at 328.30 mph over Ron Capps, who ran 4.405 seconds at 199.80 mph after his parachute deployed shortly after leaving the starting line. Prock entered the weekend just 20 points ahead of second-place Matt Hagan but leaves 112 to the good with the victory and Hagan’s first-round departure. “I said Friday night (after setting low ET in qualifying) we’re going to be counting wins, and we went out there and won,” said Prock. “All our cards fell right today, and we were able to extend our point lead so that definitely feels really good. You know, I’m really proud of this Cornwell Tools team. We stumbled in Q1 when the track was a little green and they regrouped. The track got better throughout the weekend, and so did our race car. We were low ET every time we went down the track after Q1 and that’s an OG Jim Prock move right there: you go and just take it all.” The 2024 Funny Car Champion had a typically strong Prock Rocket run to the final round. He ran low ET of the weekend in Round 1 against Blake Alexander (3.867 seconds at 335.70 mph) and took care of Spencer Hyde in Round 2 with a run of 3.939 seconds at 329.48 mph. The 17-time Funny Car winner gave up the holeshot to Chad Green in the semifinals but quickly got past, running 3.963 seconds at 328.63 mph to Green’s 4.068/308.09. “I’m really proud to drive this Cornwell Tools Chevrolet for John Force Racing,” said Prock. “It’s one hell of an opportunity to turn on win lights and bring home race wins and extend the point lead on top of it. You can’t ask for much more. “It was a really cool weekend. I’m so proud of this team and my dad and brother and Nate Hildahl, they do just such a good job. We weren’t just low ET, we were low ET by a lot, which definitely makes you feel good. It gives you some confidence behind the wheel, and to put it all together and then put on a Texas Motorplex cowboy hat at the end of the day feels damn good.” In Round 1, Force ran her second 340-mph run of the weekend (340.14 mph) and 12^th of the year, and her elapsed time, 3.729 seconds, was more than enough to defeat Tony Schumacher and move on to the second-round matchup against Justin Ashley. Ashley got the holeshot, but only by 0.005-of-a-second (0.045 to 0.050), and the Monster Energy dragster ran 3.828 seconds at 332.79 mph to Ashley’s 3.943/292.85. The round-win set up the semifinals pairing against Steve Torrence. Force again had lane choice in the semifinals but the engine clicked off at the conclusion of the burnout and her day was done. “We had a mechanical issue and the engine shut off,” said Force. “That was a really difficult one for this Monster Energy team. “We were running well all weekend. We qualified sixth, which was great for us and had four solid qualifying runs down the track. I was on my reaction times and we were on point. Our car’s been on point all day. But, for whatever reason, I believe that we weren’t meant to make the run. I always believe that there’s a bigger power happening. We weren’t supposed to make that run, and I stand by that. We know what was wrong and we know how to fix it so it won’t happen again.” Beckman, who qualified third, took on No. 14 qualifier Dave Richards in Round 1, with the PEAK SQUAD running 3.911 seconds at 330.57 mph to Richard’s 4.046 at 318.72. The 2012 Funny Car Champion earned lane choice for the second-round matchup against Daniel Wilkerson, but his 3.993-second run at 323.14 mph was not enough to get by Wilkerson’s 3.944/327.46 run. “Wilkerson laid one down against us,” said Beckman. “In a situation like that, you go over and shake his hand. They got about all there was in that racetrack there. The PEAK Chevy stuck the tire and didn’t run nearly as quick as we wanted it to, but it was going to be hard to outrun him. Dan outdrove me, as well, on that one. So, there are eight rounds of racing left. We can’t control what Austin does but we’re within a round of second place right now. I think when you have a car good enough to win the race, our goal is the same: to go out and win the next race.” The Top 10 in Top Fuel after four of six races in the 2025 NHRA Countdown to the Championship are: 1. Doug Kalitta (2,525); 2. Justin Ashley (2,384); 3. Shawn Langdon (2,366), 4. Steve Torrence (2,297); 5. Brittany Force (2,291); 6. Tony Stewart (2,289); 7. Clay Millikan (2,279); 8. Shawn Reed (2,255); 9. Antron Brown (2,242), 10. Josh Hart (2,152). The Top 10 in Funny Car after four of six races in the 2025 NHRA Countdown to the Championship are: 1. Austin Prock (2,485); 2. Matt Hagan (2,373); 3. Jack Beckman (2,354); 4. Ron Capps (2,336); 5. Daniel Wilkerson (2,296); 6. Paul Lee (2,257); 7. Cruz Pedregon (2,252); 8. Chad Green (2,236); 9. Spencer Hyde (2,217); 10. Alexis Dejoria (2,195). Round 19 of 20 of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is the Oct. 30 – Nov. 2 NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

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Chevy racing–NHrA–Texas Recap

October 13, 2025 ARP Trish

CHEVROLET IN NHRA 2025 TEXAS NHRA FALL NATIONALS
TEXAS MOTORPLEX ENNIS, TEXAS TEAM CHEVY RACE RECAP | NOTES & QUOTES OCTOBER 12, 2025

Media Resources: Images | Chevrolet Newsroom

Notes:
Another weekend, another Wally for Austin Prock in the Cornwell Tools JFR Chevrolet SS Funny Car, his ninth win in 18 events this season. Prock took his sixth number one qualifying position of the year with a run of 3.876 seconds at 336.07mph on Friday night. Prock didn’t take it easy against Blake Alexander in the first round of eliminations, advancing with a pass at 3.867 seconds, the quickest Funny Car run of the weekend. Spencer Hyde got off the line quicker than Prock, but lost traction early, moving Prock onto the semi-finals and a matchup with Chad Green. Green had the quicker reaction time, but Prock was able to keep the speed up longer, crossing the line 0.065 seconds ahead of Green to set up a final against Ron Capps. Prock beat Capps off the line and easily pulled away to his 21st career win when Capps’ chutes deployed early. Prock’s Lone Star State stellar weekend extended his championship lead over Matt Hagan from 20 points to 112 points with two events remaining.Beckman qualified third and beat Dave Richards with a run of 3.911 seconds at 330.57mph to advance to the second round, where a side-by-side fight with Daniel Wilkerson ended with Beckman falling just short of advancing. Brittany Force in the Monster Energy Chevrolet Top Fuel Dragster continues to set records, hitting 340.57mph at the top end, to set a new Texas Motorplex Track record during qualifying on Friday night. Force faced off against Tony Schumacher in the first elimination round, and for the 13th time this season, topped 340mph, advancing easily and setting up a second-round matchup with Justin Ashley. Force and Ashley got off the line quickly together, with the John Force Racing driver taking the lead at 330 feet and never looking back on the way to a 3.828-second (332.79mph) run and spot in the semi-finals.A promising weekend came to an end against Steve Torrance when a mechanical issue caused an engine shutdown after her burnout. Dallas Glenn went 6.605 seconds at 208.89mph to beat Aaron Stanfield and collect his seventh Wally of the season and 20th in his career. Glenn holds a 60-point lead over his teammate Greg Anderson.

UP NEXT:The 19th round of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, the fifth round of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, is the NHRA Nevada Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway from October 30th through November 2nd.

Post-Race Driver Quotes:
AUSTIN PROCK, DRIVER OF THE CORNWELL TOOLS CHEVROLET SS FUNNY CAR FOR JOHN FORCE RACING:
“I said Friday night (after setting low ET in qualifying) we’re going to be counting wins and we went out there and won. All our cards fell right today, and we were able to extend our point lead so that definitely feels really good. You know, I’m really proud of this Cornwell Tools team. We stumbled Q1 when the track was a little green and they regrouped. The track continuously got better throughout the weekend, and so did our race car. We were low ET every time we went down the track after Q1 and that’s an OG Jim Prock move right there: you go and just take it all.” “I’m really proud to drive this Cornwell Tools Chevrolet for John Force Racing. It’s one hell of an opportunity to turn on win lights and bring home race wins and extend the point lead on top of it. You can’t ask for much more.” “It was a really cool weekend. I’m so proud of this team and my dad and brother and Nate Hillal, they do just such a good job. We weren’t just low ET, we were low ET by a lot, which definitely makes you feel good. It gives you some confidence behind the wheel, and to put it all together and you put a Texas Motorplex cowboy hat on at the end of the day, it feels damn good.”

JACK BECKMAN, DRIVER OF THE PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANTS CHEVROLET SS FUNNY CAR FOR JOHN FORCE RACING:
“Wilkerson laid one down against us,” said Beckman. “In a situation like that, you go over and shake his hand. They got about all there was in that racetrack there. The PEAK Chevy stuck the tire and didn’t run nearly as quick as we wanted it to but it was going to be hard to outrun him. Dan outdrove me, as well, on that one. So, there are eight rounds of racing left. We can’t control what Austin does but we’re within a round of second place right now. I think when you have a car good enough to win the race, our goal is the same: to go out and win the next race.”

BRITTANY FORCE, DRIVER OF THE MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET DRAGSTER FOR JOHN FORCE RACING:
“We had a mechanical issue and the engine shut off. That was a really difficult one for this Monster Energy team. We were running well all weekend. We qualified sixth, which was great for us and had four solid qualifying runs down the track. I was on my reaction times and we were on point. Our car’s been on point all day. But, for whatever reason, I believe that we weren’t meant to make the run. I always believe that there’s a bigger power happening. We weren’t supposed to make that run, and I stand by that. We know what was wrong and we know how to fix it so it won’t happen again.”

CHEVROLET IN NHRA2025 TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS
TEXAS MOTORPLEX ENNIS, TEXASTEAM CHEVY RACE RECAP | NOTES & QUOTESOCTOBER 12, 2025

Media Resources: Images | Chevrolet Newsroom

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SPENCER HYDE GALLOPS OUT OF DALLAS

October 13, 2025 ARP Trish

DALLAS (October 12, 2025) — Canadian Spencer Hyde continued to turn heads during his rookie season, this week making the most of the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals and Stampede of Speed, the fourth race of the Countdown. The driver of the Head Inc. Nitro Funny Car continued to make waves in his rookie season, knocking out former Texas Fall Nationals winner Bob Tasca III in the first round and advancing to the quarterfinals.

“I came into this race really wanting to make a statement,” said Hyde. “Monday is Canadian Thanksgiving, so my entire family was able to be in town for the weekend. And then of course, my fiancé, Courtney, calls Texas home. It would have been the perfect race to secure my first Nitro Funny Car win, but I am optimistic about what these last two Countdown races will bring.”

After four qualifying runs made in front of huge crowds on Friday and Saturday, Hyde entered race day in the No. 9 qualifying position. This position was based on the strength of a 3.945 second, 299.28 mph pass he made on Friday night while competing for the Battle for the Saddle.
Spencer Hyde raced to the quarterfinals today at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals,
photo credit Innovation Creative Experts“The Battle for the Saddle is super cool,” said Hyde. “The Texas Motorplex is an innovator, encouraging other tracks to give us racers opportunities to win big money during Friday qualifying. We gave it our best effort, and I’m hopeful we’ll get to try again for this honor next year.”

On Sunday during the first round of eliminations, Hyde was up against the 2012 winner of the Texas Fall Nationals, Bob Tasca III. Tasca was first off the line, but Hyde was able to overtake him, punching his ticket into the next round.

“That first round win against Tasca was huge,” said Hyde. “There are no easy wins out here. Everyone who qualifies for the show has the capability to win. I continue to get more and more comfortable in this car, and it’s showing with my reaction times and how I’m able to manhandle the wheel.”

Next up in the quarterfinals, Hyde faced the points leader and reigning world champion Austin Prock. While Hyde had the quicker reaction time with one of his best launches of the season, Prock was able to get around him after the 60-foot mark. Prock then went on to win the race, taking home his first cowboy hat.

“I really wanted to be the one wearing a cowboy hat at the end of the day,” said Hyde. “Cowboy hats are already part of my wardrobe, and I even told Courtney I wouldn’t bring one with me because I thought I could win a navy-colored hat here. But I know our first Wally is just around the corner.”

Hyde has two races left this season to improve his points position in the Countdown to the Championship. He leaves Dallas No. 9 in the standings, hungry to move up in Las Vegas and Pomona, California. He and the Head Racing team will be back in competition in two weeks at the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection on October 30-November 2 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. There will be two qualifying sessions on Friday, October 31 and two more qualifying sessions on Saturday, November 1. For tickets or more information on the NHRA Nevada Nationals visit nhra.com

Qualifying Results
Q1: No run
Q2: 3.945 sec, 299.28 mph; Qual. 9
Q3: 4.098 sec, 288.07 mph; Qual. 9
Q4: 4.059 sec, 299.32 mph; Qual. 9
Bonus Points: 0

Race Results
First Round
Spencer Hyde, Stratford, Ontario, Head Inc. Funny Car, (.092), 4.291 sec, 244.21 mph def. Bob Tasca III, Hope, R.I., Ford Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang, (.088), 4.466 sec, 205.33 mph

Second Round
Austin Prock, Pittsboro, Ind., Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS, (.059), 3.939 sec, 329.48 mph def. Spencer Hyde, Stratford, Ontario, Head Inc. Funny Car, (.046), 5.241 sec, 150.66 mph

Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Point Standings – Funny Car
1. Austin Prock            2485
2. Matt Hagan             2373
3. Jack Beckman         2354
4. Ron Capps               2336
5. Daniel Wilkerson    2296
6. Paul Lee                   2257
7. Cruz Pedregon        2252
8. Chad Green             2236
9. Spencer Hyde         2217
10. Alexis DeJoria       2195

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HULL STAMPEDES THROUGH TEXAS FALL NATIONALS

October 13, 2025 ARP Trish

DALLAS (October 12, 2025) — Funny Car driver and Dallas native Buddy Hull was everywhere during the Stampede of Speed, leading up to the 40^th Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex. In his last race out of the driver’s seat before he returns to on-track action in the Jim Dunn Funny Car, he could be seen at the Stars of Texas music festival, the annual Champions Dinner, the PreStage Fan Fest and every other event in between.

“I am so proud to be living in Texas, and to call the Texas Motorplex my home track,” said Hull. “The Meyer family does a bang-up job putting on the Stampede of Speed, a full 10 days of events that both loyal drag racing fans and people who have never seen a drag strip before can enjoy. Anything I can do to support their mission of growing the sport of drag racing, I will do. This year’s Stampede of Speed was the best yet. They keep raising the bar.”
Hull (second from right) enjoyed the Champions Dinner with True Brand’s Crystal Mathews (far left), his wife Madi and True Brand’s Amber Kossak (far right), photo credit Randy CurtisThe Stampede of Speed kicked off with Hull’s personal Funny Car, decked out in the Stampede of Speed livery, participating in the cattle drive in downtown Waxahachie. Hull then attended all three days of the Stars of Texas country music festival, which included a lantern festival, beer expo and more. The Motorplex social media team put him to work engaging with festival goers, encouraging them to come back out for the Texas Fall Nationals the next weekend.

“I consider myself an ambassador of this sport,” said Hull. “The music festival allows people to get a small taste of drag racing in between acts with the Texas Invitational, which makes them want to see even more. I appreciate how hard the Motorplex team works to pull this whole thing off.”

On the Wednesday before the race, Hull and his wife Madi were guests at the annual Champions Dinner, celebrating 40 years of winners at the Texas Motorplex. The next night, he signed autographs for thousands of fans at the PreStage Fan Fest in Waxahachie.

“One of the best parts of the Stampede of Speed is how each event plays a different role,” said Hull. “The Champions Dinner is an intimate affair, celebrating the drivers who make this place so historic. The Fan Fest is an opportunity to engage with fans and get them excited for the race weekend. Both sides of that coin are important and make both the drivers and fans feel seen and appreciated.”

During the Fall Nationals, Hull stayed busy entertaining fans on the Nitro Alley Stage, representing True Brand and the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and driving the Rodak Cadillac powered by Rodak’s Coffee. He was the perfect chauffeur for the winners of the Battle for the Saddle on Friday night and the race winners on Sunday.

“Even though I can’t drive a Nitro Funny Car right now because of my hand, I still want to represent my sponsors well and be useful to the people who support me and my family. I can’t wait to return to the driver’s seat of this Jim Dunn Funny Car. This season has been a journey.”

Alex Laughlin, filling in for Hull, qualified in the No. 15 spot after making four solid passes during qualifying. In the first round of eliminations, he left on Ron Capps, before Capps’ car overtook the True Brand Funny Car, making it to the finish line first. Capps then went on to be the event runner-up.

Uncategorized

Short Race Day for Hart at Stampede of Speed

October 13, 2025 ARP Trish

DALLAS (October 12, 2025) — At one of the biggest races of the NHRA Countdown for the Championship Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team were looking to make a move towards their first Top Fuel world championship. After two days of qualifying in front of packed grandstands at Texas Motorplex’s Stampede of Speed and Texas Fall Nationals the driver and team owner from Florida had his race day cut short by Texan Steve Torrence in the first round.

Hart was the No. 10 qualifier after posting his quickest qualifying time of 3.740 seconds at 330.79 mph during the spectacular JEGS Friday Night Live! qualifying round. In the third qualifying session on Saturday morning Hart made the quickest run of the session and earned three qualifying bonus points. The team was confident heading into race day.

Josh Hart continued to dominate the starting line at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals,
photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

When Hart and Torrence rolled up for the first round, they were the final pair of 12,000-horsepowered Top Fuel dragsters. Hart was the first off the starting line with a reaction time advantage of .072 to .087 seconds. The lead lasted for the first third of the race when the R+L Carriers race car overpowered the track and while Hart was trying to pedal his race car Torrence was out in front. Torrence also ran into traction issues, but he was able to hold on for the round win.

Hart continued to establish himself as one of the best drivers off the starting line and the tricky track conditions derailed his race car’s mechanical performance. Hart has consistently talked about his confidence in his crew and their determination to succeed at the highest level of NHRA drag racing.

“I know my crew guys on this R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster are amazing,” saif Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel national event winner. “These races are so tough, and the sport is so humbling. I am blessed to be able to come out here and chase my dream. Steve is a great champion and we just didn’t have things go our way today.”

Hart credited his crew with continuing to give their all as the season winds down,photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Hart will leave Dallas in 10^th place in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series championship point standings. He will head to the final two national events set for Las Vegas, Nevada, and Pomona, California, looking to end the season with a win and have an impact on the championship outcome. Since his rookie season Hart has been known as a fierce competitor and tough matchup in the final two races of the Countdown.

“We are going to these final two races looking for more national event wins,” said Hart. “The other Countdown contending cars know we are going to give them our best. The best thing about finishing the season in Las Vegas and Pomona is there will be huge crowds and the pressure will be big. I thrive in those types of environments.”

In addition to his on-track performance Hart was also spending time with the Burnyzz Speed Shop display at the Texas Fall Nationals. The high-performance speed shop and custom car purveyor showed off several high-end classic cars all weekend. Burnyzz Speed Shop, based in Ocala, Florida, is looking to expand nationally in 2026 and they have been using NHRA national events to showcase their amazing collection of classic cars.

“We are excited about the future of Burnyzz Speed Shop and our expansion plan for sure,” said Hart. “The NHRA is a great marketing opportunity and when you can combine high performance racing and high performance classic and custom cars, that is pretty awesome.”

Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will be back on track for the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals, October 30 – November 2, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Qualifying Results
Q1: 4.117 sec, 221.50 mph; Qual. 12
Q2: 3.740 sec; 330.79 mph; Qual. 10
Q3: 3.793 sec; 330.23 mph; Qual. 10
Q4: 4.146 sec; 217.64 mph; Qual. 10
Bonus points: +3 (Quickest of Q3)

Race Results

First Round
Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Tex., CAPCO Top Fuel dragster, (.087), 3.993 sec, 264.07 mph def. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster, (.072), 4.194 sec, 208.21 mph

Short Race Day for Hart at Stampede of Speed

DALLAS (October 12, 2025) — At one of the biggest races of the NHRA Countdown for the Championship Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team were looking to make a move towards their first Top Fuel world championship. After two days of qualifying in front of packed grandstands at Texas Motorplex’s Stampede of Speed and Texas Fall Nationals the driver and team owner from Florida had his race day cut short by Texan Steve Torrence in the first round.

Hart was the No. 10 qualifier after posting his quickest qualifying time of 3.740 seconds at 330.79 mph during the spectacular JEGS Friday Night Live! qualifying round. In the third qualifying session on Saturday morning Hart made the quickest run of the session and earned three qualifying bonus points. The team was confident heading into race day.

Josh Hart continued to dominate the starting line at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals,
photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

When Hart and Torrence rolled up for the first round, they were the final pair of 12,000-horsepowered Top Fuel dragsters. Hart was the first off the starting line with a reaction time advantage of .072 to .087 seconds. The lead lasted for the first third of the race when the R+L Carriers race car overpowered the track and while Hart was trying to pedal his race car Torrence was out in front. Torrence also ran into traction issues, but he was able to hold on for the round win.

Hart continued to establish himself as one of the best drivers off the starting line and the tricky track conditions derailed his race car’s mechanical performance. Hart has consistently talked about his confidence in his crew and their determination to succeed at the highest level of NHRA drag racing.

“I know my crew guys on this R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster are amazing,” saif Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel national event winner. “These races are so tough, and the sport is so humbling. I am blessed to be able to come out here and chase my dream. Steve is a great champion and we just didn’t have things go our way today.”

Hart credited his crew with continuing to give their all as the season winds down,photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Hart will leave Dallas in 10^th place in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series championship point standings. He will head to the final two national events set for Las Vegas, Nevada, and Pomona, California, looking to end the season with a win and have an impact on the championship outcome. Since his rookie season Hart has been known as a fierce competitor and tough matchup in the final two races of the Countdown.

“We are going to these final two races looking for more national event wins,” said Hart. “The other Countdown contending cars know we are going to give them our best. The best thing about finishing the season in Las Vegas and Pomona is there will be huge crowds and the pressure will be big. I thrive in those types of environments.”

In addition to his on-track performance Hart was also spending time with the Burnyzz Speed Shop display at the Texas Fall Nationals. The high-performance speed shop and custom car purveyor showed off several high-end classic cars all weekend. Burnyzz Speed Shop, based in Ocala, Florida, is looking to expand nationally in 2026 and they have been using NHRA national events to showcase their amazing collection of classic cars.

“We are excited about the future of Burnyzz Speed Shop and our expansion plan for sure,” said Hart. “The NHRA is a great marketing opportunity and when you can combine high performance racing and high performance classic and custom cars, that is pretty awesome.”

Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will be back on track for the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals, October 30 – November 2, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Qualifying Results
Q1: 4.117 sec, 221.50 mph; Qual. 12
Q2: 3.740 sec; 330.79 mph; Qual. 10
Q3: 3.793 sec; 330.23 mph; Qual. 10
Q4: 4.146 sec; 217.64 mph; Qual. 10
Bonus points: +3 (Quickest of Q3)

Race Results

First Round
Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Tex., CAPCO Top Fuel dragster, (.087), 3.993 sec, 264.07 mph def. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster, (.072), 4.194 sec, 208.21 mph

Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Point Standings – Top Fuel
1. Doug Kalitta             2525
2. Justin Ashley           2384
3. Shawn Langdon      2366
4. Steve Torrence       2297
5. Brittany Force         2291
6. Tony Stewart          2289
7. Clay Millican           2279
8. Shawn Reed             2255
9. Antron Brown         2242
10. Josh Hart              2152

Uncategorized

Chris King Continues to Chase Dream on Biggest Stage in Texas

October 13, 2025 ARP Trish

DALLAS (October 12, 2025) — The Stampede of Speed and the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals is recognized as one of the biggest motorsports events not just in Texas but across the country. The 10-day event encompasses country music concerts, bull riding and NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series championship racing as part of the 6-race playoff Countdown. Driver and team owner Chris King brought his Funny Car team from Chicago, Illinois, to the Lone Star State to compete against the best of the best. The Howards Cams Competition Product Funny Car rolled into the Texas Motorplex on Wednesday in preparation for the four-day national event.

Through two days of qualifying King held tough securing the No. 16 qualifier spot going into the final round of qualifying on Saturday. During the final session King was bumped out of the top 16 and in his last-ditch effort to get back into the field came up a few hundredths of a second short. The full-time Chicago firefighter wound up No. 17 when the session concluded.

Chris King wowed the crowd on Friday Night at the JEGS Friday Night Live! qualifying session, photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Chris King Continues to Chase Dream on
Biggest Stage in Texas

DALLAS (October 12, 2025) — The Stampede of Speed and the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals is recognized as one of the biggest motorsports events not just in Texas but across the country. The 10-day event encompasses country music concerts, bull riding and NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series championship racing as part of the 6-race playoff Countdown. Driver and team owner Chris King brought his Funny Car team from Chicago, Illinois, to the Lone Star State to compete against the best of the best. The Howards Cams Competition Product Funny Car rolled into the Texas Motorplex on Wednesday in preparation for the four-day national event.

Through two days of qualifying King held tough securing the No. 16 qualifier spot going into the final round of qualifying on Saturday. During the final session King was bumped out of the top 16 and in his last-ditch effort to get back into the field came up a few hundredths of a second short. The full-time Chicago firefighter wound up No. 17 when the session concluded.

Chris King wowed the crowd on Friday Night at the JEGS Friday Night Live! qualifying session, photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

“We had to get aggressive in the final qualifying session to try and get around Blake (Alexander),” said King. “We just gave it a little too much. My crew guys busted their tails all weekend and my crew chief Bob Peck was great. It is just really, really tough out here running with these full-time teams.”

While the on-track performance was not what King expected, his pre-race involvement was incredibly busy. On Wednesday night King was one of the featured drivers at the Texas Fall Nationals Champions Dinner, celebrating the former winners of the prestigious national event. On Thursday night King joined almost all his fellow professional competitors at the annual Prestage Fanfest event in downtown Waxahachie, Texas, at Railyard Park. King signed autographs, posed for photos and talked with fans from across the country at the free family friendly event.

“The Champions Dinner was amazing,” said King. “The Meyer family and their team did a great job and it was cool to just hang out with so many Texas Fall Nationals race winners and other drivers. The Thursday night fan fest was one of the biggest events like this on tour and there were fans everywhere. I signed a ton of hero cards and got to talk with lots of fans. The whole experience was just very cool.”

King will head into the off-season looking at his 2026 racing options. For the past several seasons he has been presenting sponsors with tremendous value on and off the track at NHRA national events. This season he continued to impress at events in Chicago, Norwalk, Ohio, the prestigious U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis and this weekend at the Texas Fall Nationals outside of Dallas.

King plans on making several sponsor appearances at the PRI Show in Indianapolis December 11-13, 2025 at the Indianapolis Convention Center.

Qualifying Results
Q1: 6.383 sec; 104.41 mph; Qual. 15
Q2: 4.157 sec; 244.27 mph; Qual 16
Q3: No Time; Qual. 16
Q4: 7.417 sec; 91.11 mph; Qual. 17

Uncategorized

KALITTA EXTENDS POINTS LEAD WITH TEXAS FALL NATIONALS VICTORY

October 13, 2025 ARP Trish

Earns fourth win of 2025 and 59th of his career

ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 12, 2025) – Doug Kalitta extended his Top Fuel points lead by winning the Texas Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex on Sunday, his fourth of the season, second consecutive, and 59th of his career. The win puts Kalitta 141 points ahead with just two races remaining as he inches closer to a second career world championship. The win by Kalitta is also the 10th Top Fuel win in the last 11 races for Toyota, who extended its consecutive final rounds made streak across Top Fuel or Funny Car to 15 on Sunday.

Kalitta had to defeat Toyota teammate and Texas native Steve Torrence, who made his final start of the 2025 season this weekend. The result was Torrence’s second final round of 2025. Shawn Langdon (semifinals) and Justin Ashley (second round) were the other Toyota Top Fuel Dragsters to advance out of round one in Top Fuel on Sunday.

In Funny Car, Ron Capps made the final round and was within reach of his second race victory this season after having to switch to a backup GR Supra body after round one. The fifth final round of 2025 by Capps today keeps him fourth in the Funny Car points standings heading to Las Vegas.

The NHRA Countdown to the Championship continues at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with eliminations on Sunday, November 2.

Toyota Post-Race Recap

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series

Texas Motorplex

NHRA Texas Fall Nationals

Race 18 of 20

TOYOTA TOP FUEL FINISHING POSITIONS

Name	Car	Final Result	Round-by-Round
Doug Kalitta	Mobil Delvac Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Winner	W (3.751) v. J. Salinas (6.219) W (3.757) v. I. Zetterstrom (3.845) W (3.805) v. S. Langdon (4.545) W (3.777) v. S. Torrence (3.874)
Steve Torrence	CAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Runner-Up	W (3.993) v. J. Hart (4.194) W (3.833) v. S. Reed (4.076) W (3.836) v. B. Force (No Time) L (3.847) v. D. Kalitta (3.777)
Shawn Langdon	Kalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Semi-finals	W (3.697) v. M. King (10.680) W (3.790) v. C. Millican (4.385) L (4.545) v. D. Kalitta (3.805)
Justin Ashley	SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Second Round	W (3.732) v. D. Foley (4.857) L (3.943) v. B. Force (3.828)
Antron Brown	Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	First Round	L (5.127) v. I. Zetterstrom (4.257)

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR FINISHING POSITIONS

Name	Car	Final Result	Round-by-Round
Ron Capps	NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	Runner-Up	W (4.224) v. A. Laughlin (4.580) W (4.042) v. C. Pedregon (4.994) W (4.019 – holeshot) v. D. Wilkerson (3.983) L (4.405) v. A. Prock (3.959)
J.R. Todd	DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	First Round	L (No Time) v. C. Pedregon (4.034)

TOYOTA QUOTES

DOUG KALITTA, Mobil Delvac Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Final Result: Winner

How important is this victory in your quest for another championship?

“Yeah, we’re trying to go rounds and stay ahead of these guys! Everybody’s hungry right now. Hats off to Toyota, Mac Tools, Mobil 1, Revchem, Kalitta Air, everybody that supports us. A huge relief to get this win here in Ennis. Really big deal for us.”

RON CAPPS, NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, Ron Capps Motorsports

FC Final Result: Runner-Up

An eventful day. How would you assess the day, weekend and what’s your outlook heading into Las Vegas?

KALITTA EXTENDS POINTS LEAD WITH TEXAS FALL NATIONALS VICTORY

Earns fourth win of 2025 and 59th of his career

The NHRA Countdown to the Championship continues at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with eliminations on Sunday, November 2.

Toyota Post-Race Recap

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series

Texas Motorplex

NHRA Texas Fall Nationals

Race 18 of 20

TOYOTA TOP FUEL FINISHING POSITIONS

Name	Car	Final Result	Round-by-Round
Doug Kalitta	Mobil Delvac Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Winner	W (3.751) v. J. Salinas (6.219) W (3.757) v. I. Zetterstrom (3.845) W (3.805) v. S. Langdon (4.545) W (3.777) v. S. Torrence (3.874)
Steve Torrence	CAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Runner-Up	W (3.993) v. J. Hart (4.194) W (3.833) v. S. Reed (4.076) W (3.836) v. B. Force (No Time) L (3.847) v. D. Kalitta (3.777)
Shawn Langdon	Kalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Semi-finals	W (3.697) v. M. King (10.680) W (3.790) v. C. Millican (4.385) L (4.545) v. D. Kalitta (3.805)
Justin Ashley	SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Second Round	W (3.732) v. D. Foley (4.857) L (3.943) v. B. Force (3.828)
Antron Brown	Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	First Round	L (5.127) v. I. Zetterstrom (4.257)

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR FINISHING POSITIONS

Name	Car	Final Result	Round-by-Round
Ron Capps	NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	Runner-Up	W (4.224) v. A. Laughlin (4.580) W (4.042) v. C. Pedregon (4.994) W (4.019 – holeshot) v. D. Wilkerson (3.983) L (4.405) v. A. Prock (3.959)
J.R. Todd	DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	First Round	L (No Time) v. C. Pedregon (4.034)

TOYOTA QUOTES

DOUG KALITTA, Mobil Delvac Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Final Result: Winner

How important is this victory in your quest for another championship?

RON CAPPS, NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, Ron Capps Motorsports

FC Final Result: Runner-Up

An eventful day. How would you assess the day, weekend and what’s your outlook heading into Las Vegas?

“Just one of those gut check days for the NAPA Auto Care Toyota guys. It was driver error in the first round, but we got by. Unfortunately, damaged the NAPA Toyota GR Supra Funny Car body – not badly, as it’s fixable, but we couldn’t run it second round. We brought out the Carlyle Tools body which we’re going to run in Las Vegas and we were hoping to get a win there. It was cool that a lot of fans have bought our Carlyle shirts and, I guess the positive thing is, they got to see the Carlyle car in-person make the final round today. Strange in the final. Prock poked his nose out there, but the car felt like it was running well. We came in, wanting to make up ground in the points and we had to, and that’s exactly what we did. So proud of our NAPA Toyota team and let’s see if we can keep this momentum going into Las Vegas.”

ARP Racing News

All posts by ARP Trish

CheVY Racing–NASCAR–Talladega Advance

Berry, eero Team Ready for Talladega Return

Boothill Victory Has Gustin Back on Track Heading Into World Finals and Beyond

JOHN FORCE RACING SIGNS JOSH HART TO DRIVE ITS CHAMPIONSHIP TOP FUEL DRAGSTER

JOHN FORCE RACING SIGNS JOSH HART TO DRIVE ITS CHAMPIONSHIP TOP FUEL DRAGSTER

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Fall Nationals Close 2025 DIRTcar Season Honoring Newest Champions

Melanie Johnson Races to Semifinals with Wild Wheel Stand at Stampede of Speed

Melanie Johnson raced to the semifinals at the 40th Texas Fall Nationals, photo credit Melanie Johnson

Still image captured from NHRA TV shows the wild wheel stand in the semifinals for Melanie Johnson

Melanie Johnson Races to Semifinals with
Wild Wheel Stand at Stampede of Speed

Melanie Johnson raced to the semifinals at the 40th Texas Fall Nationals, photo credit Melanie Johnson

Still image captured from NHRA TV shows the wild wheel stand in the semifinals for Melanie Johnson

Chase for the Championship Culminates in Eldora Finale

Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull Catches a Wave with Jeff “The Surfer” Diehl

Buddy Hull (left) and Jeff Diehl talked surfing, racing and being big guys behind the wheel in the latest episode of Talkin Funny Cars with Buddy Hull, photo credit Werner Communications

Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull Catches a Wave
with Jeff “The Surfer” Diehl

Buddy Hull (left) and Jeff Diehl talked surfing, racing and being big guys behind the wheel in the latest episode of Talkin Funny Cars with Buddy Hull, photo credit Werner Communications

Dominic Scelzi Gearing Up for Trophy Cup a Year After Career-Best Outing at Event

Randy Meyer Racing Battles Tough Loss at Dallas FallNationals and JEGS AllStars

Randy Meyer Racing Battles Tough Loss at Dallas FallNationals and JEGS AllStars

Pink Corvette Stingray Pace Car to Highlight 2025 ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ Campaign

Larson Opens NASCAR Cup Series Round of Eight with Runner-Up Finish at Las Vegas

John Force racing–Dallas Recap

Chevy racing–NHrA–Texas Recap

SPENCER HYDE GALLOPS OUT OF DALLAS

HULL STAMPEDES THROUGH TEXAS FALL NATIONALS

Short Race Day for Hart at Stampede of Speed

Josh Hart continued to dominate the starting line at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals,
photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Hart credited his crew with continuing to give their all as the season winds down,photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Short Race Day for Hart at Stampede of Speed

Josh Hart continued to dominate the starting line at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals,
photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Hart credited his crew with continuing to give their all as the season winds down,photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Chris King Continues to Chase Dream on Biggest Stage in Texas

Chris King wowed the crowd on Friday Night at the JEGS Friday Night Live! qualifying session, photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Chris King Continues to Chase Dream on
Biggest Stage in Texas

Chris King wowed the crowd on Friday Night at the JEGS Friday Night Live! qualifying session, photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

KALITTA EXTENDS POINTS LEAD WITH TEXAS FALL NATIONALS VICTORY

Racer News and Results

Melanie Johnson raced to the semifinals at the 40th Texas Fall Nationals, photo credit Melanie Johnson

Still image captured from NHRA TV shows the wild wheel stand in the semifinals for Melanie Johnson

Melanie Johnson Races to Semifinals withWild Wheel Stand at Stampede of Speed

Melanie Johnson raced to the semifinals at the 40th Texas Fall Nationals, photo credit Melanie Johnson

Still image captured from NHRA TV shows the wild wheel stand in the semifinals for Melanie Johnson

Buddy Hull (left) and Jeff Diehl talked surfing, racing and being big guys behind the wheel in the latest episode of Talkin Funny Cars with Buddy Hull, photo credit Werner Communications

Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull Catches a Wavewith Jeff “The Surfer” Diehl

Buddy Hull (left) and Jeff Diehl talked surfing, racing and being big guys behind the wheel in the latest episode of Talkin Funny Cars with Buddy Hull, photo credit Werner Communications

Randy Meyer Racing Battles Tough Loss at Dallas FallNationals and JEGS AllStars

Josh Hart continued to dominate the starting line at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals,photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Hart credited his crew with continuing to give their all as the season winds down,photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Short Race Day for Hart at Stampede of Speed

Josh Hart continued to dominate the starting line at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals,photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Hart credited his crew with continuing to give their all as the season winds down,photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Point Standings – Top Fuel1. Doug Kalitta 25252. Justin Ashley 23843. Shawn Langdon 23664. Steve Torrence 22975. Brittany Force 22916. Tony Stewart 22897. Clay Millican 22798. Shawn Reed 22559. Antron Brown 224210. Josh Hart 2152

Chris King wowed the crowd on Friday Night at the JEGS Friday Night Live! qualifying session, photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Chris King Continues to Chase Dream onBiggest Stage in Texas

Chris King wowed the crowd on Friday Night at the JEGS Friday Night Live! qualifying session, photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Racer News and Results

Melanie Johnson Races to Semifinals with
Wild Wheel Stand at Stampede of Speed

Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull Catches a Wave
with Jeff “The Surfer” Diehl

Josh Hart continued to dominate the starting line at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals,
photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Josh Hart continued to dominate the starting line at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals,
photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Point Standings – Top Fuel
1. Doug Kalitta 2525
2. Justin Ashley 2384
3. Shawn Langdon 2366
4. Steve Torrence 2297
5. Brittany Force 2291
6. Tony Stewart 2289
7. Clay Millican 2279
8. Shawn Reed 2255
9. Antron Brown 2242
10. Josh Hart 2152

Chris King Continues to Chase Dream on
Biggest Stage in Texas