INDIANAPOLIS — The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series postseason begins this weekend at Maple Grove (Pa.) Raceway, the first of six events in the Countdown to the Championship.
In Pro Stock, Dallas Glenn enters as the points leader, while in Pro Stock Motorcycle, reigning champion Gaige Herrera tops the field.Â
Heading into the playoff opener, let’s look at some of the top storylines in each Pro Stock category:
PRO STOCK
DOES THE ENDERS-ANDERSON SHOW CONTINUE?Â
For all the influx of young talent in the class, Pro Stock continues to be ruled by reigning champ Erica Enders and veteran Greg Anderson. Enders has won four of the last five world titles in the class, while Anderson, a five-time champ, won in 2021. Nobody BUT those two has won a championship since 2018 and no active Pro Stock driver other than Enders and Anderson has won a championship since Jeg Coughlin Jr. in 2013.
Simply put, Enders and Anderson know how to get it done in crunch time. Enders dominated in 2022 and was terrific in the playoffs last year, and with their track record, it would be hard to bet against Anderson and Enders coming through once again.
GLENN IS CHAMPIONSHIP READY
That said, Dallas Glenn seems ready to make a run. He’ll enter the Countdown to the Championship as the points leader for the second straight year, but his car seems better suited to make a championship run in 2024. Things didn’t go as planned a year ago, as Glenn struggled to a sixth-place finish, but the young standout opens the playoffs full of confidence and a 25-point advantage over Aaron Stanfield.
CAN STANFIELD STAY RED-HOT?
Speaking of Stanfield, he may be the most championship-ready driver in the mix at the moment, winning the U.S. Nationals for the first time. He’s won four of the past six races in the category, jumping all the way to second to open the postseason. Stanfield has been dynamite on raceday, which could also play a factor down the stretch.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
DOES THE HERRERA REIGN CONTINUE?
That’s the obvious question after Gaige Herrera dominated the regular season to the tune of seven wins in nine races. Counting the last five playoff races of last year, Herrera has won 12 of 14 events and after his first Indy win, he remains the favorite in the category.
CAN SMITH MAKE HISTORY?
While Herrera may be the favorite, Matt Smith appears plenty ready to challenge Herrera. He was dominant in Sonoma and won the playoff opener in Reading last year. A quick start will be necessary as Smith aims to become the first rider in Pro Stock Motorcycle history to win seven titles.
IMPACT PLAYERS
Who else can leave their mark in the Countdown to the Championship? The Matt Smith Racing trio of John Hall, Jianna Evaristo and Angie Smith have had their moments as of late, while 2023 NHRA Rookie of the Year Chase Van Sant snapped Herrera’s winning streak with his Seattle triumph. Herrera’s teammate, Richard Gadson, is also after a big finish in his rookie season.
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