INDIANAPOLIS — Still need a reason to attend this weekend’s prestigious 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at the famed Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park?
How about 45 of them, as in the 45 Top Fuel and Funny Car entries slated for the world’s biggest drag race, the largest collection of 12,000-horsepower, 340-mph nitro machines at Indy in nearly 15 years.
It includes a talent-heavy group of 22 Top Fuel dragsters, including points leader Doug Kalitta, defending event winner Justin Ashley, as well as standouts like Tony Stewart, Shawn Langdon, Antron Brown, rookie sensation Maddi Gordon, the returning Leah Pruett, Clay Millican and 10-time Indy winner Tony Schumacher.
On the Funny Car side, there are 23 entries in the loaded class, a massive number that features points leader Matt Hagan, reigning world champ and event winner Austin Prock, Jordan Vandergriff, J.R. Todd, Ron Capps and Beckman.
With four drivers within 22 points for the regular season championship (Hagan, Vandergriff, Capps and Todd) and a possible first 3-second field on the line, it should be nothing short of spectacular.
Need another reason to attend the world’s biggest drag race? How about the 84 professional entries across Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle? Along with the big nitro field, 20 cars are expected in Pro Stock, as well as 19 bikes, which is the most this season in the two-wheeled category.
The Mission Foods Drag Racing Series begins qualifying on Friday at 6:15 p.m. ET, highlighted by an epic night session at The Big Go. Two more rounds take place on both Saturday and Sunday, as well as the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday and the PlayNHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout on Sunday, leading into eliminations on Monday.
Plus, regular season championships will be decided in each class, with nearly $400,000 on the line and $150,000 to the regular season champ in Top Fuel and Funny Car. Kalitta currently holds a 67-point lead over Langdon, while Greg Anderson and Richard Gadson lead the way in Pro Stock and PSM by 85 and 83 points, respectively.
In Pro Stock, Erica Enders will look for a repeat win in Indy, taking on the likes of Anderson, reigning world champ Dallas Glenn, Matt Hartford and Elite Motorsports teammates Aaron and Greg Stanfield, and Jeg Coughlin Jr. Gaige Herrera is after another PSM win against Gadson, Matt and Angie Smith, Steve Johnson, John Hall, Chase Van Sant and Jianna Evaristo.
More than 850 entries are ready for The Big Go, all hoping to leave their mark on the sport’s grandest stage. That includes more than 125 entries in Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp and Super Gas, giving fans the biggest opportunity of the year to see the standouts of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series in action.
In all, the total car count at Indy is approaching 900 entries, a tremendous number for the biggest weekend of the drag racing year. From Wednesday through Labor Day Monday, it’s non-stop action on the track as competitors aim to become a part of – or add to – drag racing royalty on the grandest stage.
