NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Historically, Summit Motorsports Park has pulled out all the stops for their annual NHRA affair, and this season was no different. Competitors had a grand stage on which to flourish, and they most certainly took full advantage. Here are five takeaways from Norwalk.

THEY'RE ON A MISSION

The Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge was rolled out this season with the intention of spicing up qualifying and creating a race-within-a-race. Good for the fans, right? When it was announced that precious bonus points would be awarded along with the purse, ears of competitors perked. Yes, bonus points are traditionally awarded in qualifying to the three drivers or riders in each session, but these bonus points are special: They're held until the Countdown to the Championship points are reset. In a world where championships have routinely been lost by a handful of points in the final hour, this means something – and after their #2Fast2Tasty wins in Norwalk, every one of the victors expressed the value and timing of those points.

FACTORY X IS GONNA BE GOOD. REAL GOOD.

When the new Factory X class was announced, it instigated ponderous and excited conversation. The NHRA Factory X presented by Holley category will be populated by 2019-and-newer manufactured vehicles of the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, and Ford Mustang variety, with a manual transmission, a minimum weight of 2,650, and a supercharged combination. Most everyone is eager to hear and see these cars for the first time, but the methodical builds to bring them to life cannot be rushed. It was five-time NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series champion Greg Stanfield who finally satiated our thirst as he and son Aaron debuted their Jerry Haas-built Rod Shop Camaro in Norwalk. Stanfield was all smiles as he got suited up in the lanes to make the first pass down the quarter-mile at Summit Motorsports Park, and fans were not disappointed. As the Chevrolet was fired, the throaty rumble echoed through the facility, and a deep, rich burnout ensued. What followed was a no-time run that looked mighty quick. More, please. 

HISTORY IS MADE BY STAYING THE COURSE

Blake Alexander's first win came in Norwalk in 2018 driving a Top Fuel dragster, and he went on to win in Sonoma a short while later. Since then, though, he's come up empty-handed in the trophy quest. In 2019, Alexander returned to the category in which he had made his Professional debut, but he did not find the same success in Funny Car that he had experienced in Top Fuel. He reached the final round at the 2022 NHRA Gatornationals, but victory was dishearteningly out of reach until this season's Norwalk event. Five years of trials and tribulations were, at least momentarily, dissolved as Alexander became the 18th person in NHRA history to win in both Top Fuel and Funny car, almost exactly 50 years after Don Prudhomme accomplished the feat in 1973. Alexander penned his name onto the same stat sheet as "Snake," as well as team owner and crew chief Jim Head. 

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE IS NOT A FOREGONE CONCLUSION

There have been two different Pro Stock Motorcycle winners in each of the most recent two events, and neither of them have had the initials GH. In Bristol, Steve Johnson was the surprise winner when Gaige Herrera altered a perfect season with an unsightly red-light. In Norwalk, many expected Herrera to be back on the stage with a Wally at the end of the weekend; instead, it was Hector Arana Jr. showing off the hardware – and rightfully so as he rode well and his GETTRX Buell was consistent. Matt Smith took his DENSO Suzuki to the first 200-mph pass of the weekend on Sunday, and Eddie Krawiec and Arana followed suit. Capable riders and fast bikes abound in the class, and there is plenty of racing left before the Countdown to the Championship begins.  

TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE

Lauren Freer did something in Norwalk that, thus far, only 30 individuals have been able to do in the history of NHRA. Freer, who claimed her fifth and sixth national event victories, became the first female to hoist two national event trophies at once with her Super Comp and Super Gas double-up at Summit Motorsports Park. She joins an elite crowd, featuring previous two-in-one winners of legendary status: Pat Austin, Edmond and Scotty Richardson, Jeff Taylor, Gary Stinnett, David Rampy, and more. The most recent driver to double before Freer was Tyler Cassil at the Topeka national in 2022.