| Stewart, who has won back-to-back races to move into the points lead, is second with a 3.694 at 330.55 and reigning world champion Antron Brown is third after going 3.697 at 337.07.
In Funny Car, the John Force Racing duo of Jack Beckman and Austin Prock dominated qualifying, with Beckman claiming the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory over Matt Hagan and Prock holding on to the No. 1 qualifier spot.
Beckman, who won the most recent event in Chicago, went 3.913 at 316.52 to get his second win in the specialty race this season in his 12,000-horsepower PEAK Chevrolet SS. Beckman continues to roll since taking over driving duties for defending event winner John Force, and he’s thrilled to get a chance to race at New England Dragway.
Beckman was also impressed with the job his team did on Saturday in Epping.
“This was one of the wildest Saturdays I’ve ever been part of. We had to do a full engine change before (the final) round, no warm-up, just bolt it in and go,” Beckman said. “The crew thrashed, I had to hang out by the car to make up time for Matt, and we got it fired. I didn’t even know if we’d get it done today, but it looks cool as hell now. The Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge gives us a race within qualifying, and that adds so much more meaning.
“This place is as cool as it gets. Austin’s team makes it look easy. What both our crews did today, it’s awe-inspiring. I’m a huge historian of this sport and it means the world to be part of it like this.”
Nobody could touch Prock’s 3.860 at 331.69 from Friday in his 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS, though the points leader came close with a 3.867 to close out qualifying. That was a solid sign for Prock, who picked up his second No. 1 of the season and the 20th in his career. He’ll open eliminations against Buddy Hull as the defending world champion looks for his third win of the year.
“We went out there and laid down another strong run. That’s two No. 1 qualifiers in a row for us and we’re just getting started,” said Prock, who set a Funny Car record a year ago with 15 No. 1 qualifiers. “There’s still more on the table. If we need to push it harder, I believe there’s more in this car. I’ve always said, all I ever wanted to do was drive a Funny Car. Then all I wanted was to line up against John Force like my grandfather did. Now I’m doing it at this level with this team – it’s surreal.”
Bob Tasca III qualified second with a 3.891 at 335.40 and Paul Lee’s 3.891 at 329.18 gave him the third spot.
Pro Stock’s Matt Hartford is in the midst of his own impressive streak in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, winning for the third time in four races in the specialty event by defeating Dave Connolly with a run of 6.557 at 207.88 in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro on Saturday.
It also gives Hartford a class-best 13 bonus championship points thus far, which will translate nicely for the veteran in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. He’ll look to double-up on Sunday and win for first time in 2025 in what has been a resounding bounce back year for Hartford.
“Anytime you’re racing Dave Connolly, you know you’re lining up against one of the best Pro Stock drivers ever. He’s proved it over and over again,” Hartford said. “We were both running KB (Titan Racing) power, so it came down to who did a better job on the track. I’m proud to say that today, our team did. It’s a testament to our crew, our prep, and our execution.
“We’ve got 13 Mission points now — that’s over half a round heading into the Countdown. Every point counts. We know Greg (Anderson) and Dallas (Glenn) are out front right now in regular season points, but once they reset in Indy, we want to be right there with them.”
The first career No. 1 qualifier is official for rookie Cody Coughlin, as Friday’s 6.537 at 210.28 in his Cody Coughlin Construction Chevrolet Camaro stood up on Saturday. It marked a special moment for the driver just six races into his NHRA career and he’ll look to build on that during eliminations on Sunday. Coughlin opens raceday against Brandon Miller.
“This is only my sixth drag race ever, so to earn my first No. 1 qualifier award already is really special,” Coughlin said. “Coming from the circle track world, I never expected this would be easy. The KB Titan group builds rocket ships, and the level of competition out here is intense, even among teams using the same power. You have to do everything right to make a run like that, and I’m just proud we were able to put those numbers on the board. I hope this is just the beginning of more good things to come this year.”
Defending world champ Anderson qualified second thanks to a 6.537 at 209.95 and points leader Glenn is third after going 6.539 at 210.28.
Eliminations for the New England Nationals begin at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday at New England Dragway.
***
EPPING, N.H. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 12th annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway, the seventh of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.
Top Fuel — 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.670 seconds, 337.24 mph vs. Bye; 2. Tony Stewart, 3.694, 330.55 vs. 15. Rit Pustari, 9.724, 75.76; 3. Antron Brown, 3.697, 337.07 vs. 14. Mike Bucher, 5.236, 131.96; 4. Shawn Reed, 3.702, 334.24 vs. 13. Scott Farley, 4.139, 224.14; 5. Brittany Force, 3.703, 336.40 vs. 12. Clay Millican, 3.860, 293.79; 6. Shawn Langdon, 3.716, 334.48 vs. 11. Dan Mercier, 3.761, 329.18; 7. Justin Ashley, 3.717, 336.99 vs. 10. Josh Hart, 3.753, 329.18; 8. Ida Zetterstrom, 3.741, 330.55 vs. 9. Steve Torrence, 3.746, 335.07.
Funny Car — 1. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.860, 334.48 vs. 16. Buddy Hull, Dodge Charger, 4.190, 309.70; 2. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.891, 335.40 vs. 15. Phil Burkart, Ford Mustangh, 4.140, 303.30; 3. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.891, 329.18 vs. 14. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.022, 317.49; 4. Blake Alexander, Charger, 3.899, 328.70 vs. 13. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.953, 326.32; 5. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.908, 326.87 vs. 12. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.952, 291.63; 6. Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 3.909, 331.77 vs. 11. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.928, 329.91; 7. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.909, 329.83 vs. 10. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.922, 329.75; 8. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 3.911, 328.70 vs. 9. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.920, 329.83.
Pro Stock — 1. Cody Coughlin, Chevy Camaro, 6.537, 210.28 vs. 16. Brandon Miller, Dodge Dart, 6.658, 205.63; 2. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.537, 209.95 vs. 15. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.623, 207.91; 3. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.539, 210.60 vs. 14. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.596, 208.36; 4. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.543, 208.81 vs. 13. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.595, 208.88; 5. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.549, 209.59 vs. 12. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.594, 207.59; 6. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.555, 209.46 vs. 11. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.582, 208.14; 7. Dave Connolly, Camaro, 6.558, 209.01 vs. 10. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.566, 208.46; 8. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.564, 208.65 vs. 9. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.565, 209.26.
EPPING, N.H. — Saturday’s final results from the 12th annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway. The race is the seventh of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
Pro Stock Challenge — Matt Hartford, Chevy Camaro, 6.557, 207.88 def. Dave Connolly, Camaro, 6.567, 208.36.
Funny Car Challenge — Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 3.913, 316.52 def. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.920, 329.83.
Top Fuel Challenge — Doug Kalitta, 3.670 seconds, 337.24 mph def. Tony Stewart, 3.694 seconds, 330.55 mph.
EPPING, N.H. — Final round-by-round results from the 12th annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway, the seventh of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL CHALLENGE:
ROUND ONE — Tony Stewart, 3.727, 329.75 def. Steve Torrence, 7.263, 76.72; Doug Kalitta, 3.724, 327.51 def. Justin Ashley, 4.268, 196.02;
FINAL — D. Kalitta, 3.670, 337.24 def. T. Stewart, 3.694, 330.55.
FUNNY CAR CHALLENGE:
ROUND ONE — Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 4.132, 234.29 def. Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, 4.707, 172.54; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.451, 195.31 def. Austin Prock, 5.399, 171.23;
FINAL — J. Beckman, 3.913, 316.52 def. M. Hagan, 3.920, 329.83.
PRO STOCK CHALLENGE:
ROUND ONE — Dave Connolly, Chevy Camaro, 6.558, 207.82 def. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 11.856, 73.91; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.580, 209.46 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, Foul – Red Light;
FINAL — M. Hartford, 6.557, 207.88 def. D. Connolly, 6.567, 208.36. |
