For 69 years, the NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park has been the hallowed ground on which drag racers have cemented their legacies.
Top Fuel legends Don Garlits (eight), Larry Dixon (four) and Tony Schumacher (10) are among the short list of multi-time “Big Go” winners. Ed McCulloch (five), Cruz Pedregon (three) and John Force (five) are familiar names who have repeatedly conquered the Nationals in a Funny Car.
Don Prudhomme and Kenny Bernstein lead a sizable list of drivers who have won the U.S. Nationals in more than one class. Prudhomme won four times in Funny Car and three in Top Fuel, while Bernstein triumphed twice in Funny Car and once in Top Fuel.
On the other hand, Pro Stock drivers Bob Glidden, Warren Johnson and Greg Anderson have been undeniable forces at the U.S. Nationals throughout their careers.
But as the new generation of drag racers pick up speed in the professional NHRA ranks, it’s difficult to deny there could be at least one first-time winner this year.
Chief among prospects is Top Fuel points leader Justin Ashley, who owns a series-leading six wins this season.
“The U.S. Nationals is our Super Bowl,” said Ashley. “Five qualifying sessions and a Monday race day requires a lot of focus, so finding the right balance will be a key to finding success.”
Should he put himself in the right position during eliminations on Monday, the Phillips Connect dragster driver has the opportunity to make a little personal history and become the second Ashley to win at the U.S. Nationals.
His father, Mike Ashley, triumphed at the event in a Funny Car in 2007.
Leah Pruett is another dragster driver looking for U.S. Nationals win No. 1, although she has collected a trophy at the Labor Day extravaganza before — she won the Factory Stock Showdown in 2018.
“Getting a Top Fuel win at Indy would mean completion,” the Tony Stewart Racing driver said. “People ask what my favorite memory is from the U.S. Nationals and undoubtedly it is winning Factory Stock. I’ve gotten close in Top Fuel, so I still don’t know what it feels like to win that race in the Top Fuel car.
“I can’t say what it’ll mean to win that race until it happens, and it probably will be an entire new feeling of euphoria that I’ve never felt before.”
While Pruett and Ashley join the camp of racers chasing that first-time feeling, there is a stout lineup of drivers who are looking to relive their past success at the Nationals.
Funny Car points leader Ron Capps is one of them.
“This will be the first time in my career that I’m going to Indy as the defending U.S. Nationals winner. To finally make it into the winner’s circle last year during my first year as a team owner was something that I never would have expected,” Capps said.
He will be sporting a throwback Hot Wheels livery on his Funny Car that pays tribute to his former team owner, Prudhomme, as this year marks the 50th anniversary of Prudhomme’s victory at the 1973 U.S. Nationals.
Along with defending last year’s victory, Capps will be racing in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday, as well as the Pep Boys All-Star Funny Car Callout on Sunday.
“It’s going to be a lot, but I’m looking forward to it,” Capps said. “Next thing you know, it’ll be Sunday night, and it’ll be time to get some sleep and get ready for one of the biggest NHRA race days you’ll ever have in your career, and that is Monday at the U.S. Nationals.”
For three-time U.S. Nationals champion Erica Enders, she’s busy fighting off the nerves that always come with NHRA’s annual September trip to Indianapolis Raceway Park.
“The ‘Big Go’ will always feel different. The significance of the U.S. Nationals will never be lost on me, regardless of how many times we race it or win it,” Enders said.
With the Nationals also being the final event of the regular season — offering points and a half — Enders is hoping to bump her way up the Pro Stock point standings before the Countdown to the Championship begins.
“Our climb from 15th in points at the beginning of the season to fifth shows the tenacity of this Elite Motorsports team,” Enders said. “We’ve won three U.S. Nationals titles together as a team and if you ask us, a fourth win at Indy is exactly what the story of our championship run needs.”