NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

News, notes, quotes, and photos from final eliminations at the NHRA Midwest Nationals. Updated throughout the day.

Qualifying was a rambunctious affair at the NHRA Midwest Nationals, and it set the tone for an appropriately intense Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway. What happens in St. Louis will likely have great impact on the final outcome of the season, and all eyes are on the facility that sits in the shadow of the St. Louis Gateway Arch.

He's starting from the top spot, and Bob Tasca III has an extraordinary opportunity at the NHRA Midwest Nationals to slide into the Funny Car points lead for the first time during the Countdown to the Championship. Incoming points leaders Doug Kalitta and Gaige Herrera also qualified No. 1, as did Erica Enders, who is a handful of points out of the lead.

Saturday at World Wide Technology Raceway offered sights and sounds to tempt all the senses. The NHRA National Dragster photographers were on site to capture the visual impact of day two at the NHRA Midwest Nationals.

For the third straight year and the seventh time in the past eight seasons, the NHRA and officials at World Wide Technology Raceway announced a sellout crowd for Saturday’s qualifying action at the NHRA Midwest Nationals.

During the second round of Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying at the NHRA Midwest Nationals on Saturday at World Wide Technology Raceway, Angie Smith was separated from the bike after crossing the finish line before coming to a rest. Smith was alert and conscious, and was examined onsite by the NHRA medical team before being transported to a local medical facility for further evaluation.

Friday night qualifying at the NHRA Midwest Nationals was fiery and fast, with header flames high and adrenaline even higher for drivers competing in the third of six NHRA Countdown to the Championship events. On Saturday at World Wide Technology Raceway, the four quickest drivers are the target. 

Matt Cummings, Sean Bellemeur, and Don Eckel led the ist of winners as the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Northeast Division was in action at Virginia Motorsports Park.

Friday's qualifying session at the NHRA Midwest Nationals kicked off as the sun was setting over The Gateway Arch, and with flames high, Doug Kalitta and Bob Tasca III stood as best. Erica Enders and Gaige Herrera also nabbed the provisional pole in their respective classes to initiate race three of six in the Countdown to the Championship.

Friday at World Wide Technology Raceway brought brilliant blue skies throughout the day and then a pleasing evening of racing under the lights. See what the NHRA National Dragster photographers captured on the first day of the NHRA Midwest Nationals.

Matt Smith, currently No. 2 in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings, knows the relevance of winning a Countdown to the Championship race such as St. Louis, and he's done so five times before in his career – but that isn't why the Matt Smith Racing (MSR) camp is in the midst of a shake-up.

With huge championship implications on the line, the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports heads to World Wide Technology Raceway as part of this weekend’s NHRA Midwest Nationals, also marking the penultimate race in the Road to the Championship.

With huge championship implications on the line, the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports heads to World Wide Technology Raceway as part of this weekend’s NHRA Midwest Nationals, also marking the penultimate race in the Road to the Championship.

The 2023 NHRA Countdown to the Championship continues this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway, just across the bridge from the St. Louis arch. The energy is palpable at the NHRA Midwest Nationals, the third of six races in the Countdown, and everybody is after that increasingly important trophy.

With as quickly as things change in Pro Stock, Greg Anderson knows he can’t get too comfortable with last week’s win in Charlotte, especially with another huge NHRA Countdown to the Championship race taking place at this weekend’s NHRA Midwest Nationals.

The drama is always there at the NHRA Midwest Nationals, from record-quick and fast runs to domination and wild on-track moments. Here's a look at five of the more memorable moments in the history of the event.

NHRA fans can watch the final Division 1 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event from Virginia Motorsports Park for free starting Friday on NHRA.tv.

NHRA legend Don "the Snake" Prudhomme will be named the recipient of the 2023 “Carroll Shelby Spirit” award at the annual Las Vegas Team Shelby Bash this weekend in Las Vegas, the premier official celebration of the Carroll Shelby Centennial.

Funny Car’s Bob Tasca III has made a strong impression over the first two races of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs and looks to close out the first half of the Countdown in style this weekend in St. Louis.

Go behind the scenes with the winners of the Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals as they celebrate their victories with their teams and one another and accept congratulations from their vanquished final-round foes.

With his victory at the Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals, his third score of the season, Bob Tasca III jumped to second in Funny Car points. Crew chief Aaron Brooks talks about what it's taken to get this far and what they'll need in the future.

No rider has ridden in more NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle races than Steve Johnson, who has competed in 488 of the 500 events. The sometimes comical, always lyrical, mostly serious veteran talks about how the class has changed and evolved over the years.

The Countdown to the Championship reaches the halfway point this weekend at the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, and Tricky Tipster has given the nod to Doug Kalitta, Robert Hight, Erica Enders, and Gaige Herrera as the pre-race favorites.

Host Brian Lohnes is joined by NHRA on FOX analyst Tony Pedregon to talk about the first two races of the 2023 NHRA Countdown to the Championship and preview the upcoming third race, the NHRA Midwest Nationals.

At the Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals, Top Fuel’s Mike Salinas became the first driver to power a car to 300 mph at the eighth-mile, winning a $30,000 bounty from Phillips Connect. Crew chiefs Rob Flynn and Aaron Cave talk about what it took.

The Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals, the second race of the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship, was a wild affair with upsets abounding yet some familiar names returning to the winner's circle.

Before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship started, Doug Kalitta’s last Top Fuel victory came in 2020 at World Wide Technology Raceway, the site of this weekend’s NHRA Midwest Nationals. Since then, he has won a pair of playoff races as he competes for that elusive first world championship.

Nine Sportsman drivers claimed huge victories in NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series action at the Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals, led by Julie Nataas' dominating win in Top Alcohol Dragster and Phil Esz's first win in Top Alcohol Funny Car.