Funny Car’s J.R. Todd returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since the season-opener in 2024, defeating rookie Spencer Hyde in the final round with a standout run of 3.888 at 332.43 in his 12,000-horsepower DHL Toyota GR Supra. It’s the 22nd career victory for the former world champion and this one came at an ideal time, snapping a 25-race winless streak.
This one took some impressive work, too, as Todd and his team suffered an engine explosion during the final qualifying session on Saturday. But they bounced back in stellar fashion, as crew chief Dickie Venables won for the first time since joining Todd’s team in the off-season. To reach the finals, Todd defeated Cruz Pedregon, Phil Burkart and Alexis DeJoria. In the final round, Todd easily chased down Hyde, who got into tire shake, to get the win, moving to sixth in points in the process. He was 10th entering the weekend.
“I’m just glad we got that win out of the way for Dickie’s sake,” Todd said. “I’m not saying there was pressure, but when you hire a guy of that caliber, people expect you to win. Coming in, I knew this was a good place for us. Dickie and (Matt) Hagan had a lot of success here. I was excited, but we’re still learning. Then Q4 happened and we blew it up. The guys worked until midnight rebuilding the car. Today felt like a fresh start, and we ran super consistently, exactly how Dickie’s won here before.
“These guys have been grinding since last season when we had a miserable second half. I think Brainerd was the last time we even made a semifinal. But they never complained, never gave up. Even last night after the fire, they were joking, saying maybe we should catch on fire every weekend if it means we win. They keep it light and the only way to pay them back is with a trophy.”
Hyde continues to impress in his rookie season, advancing to his first career final round after defeating Hagan, Buddy Hull and Jack Beckman, who suffered a wild crash in the semifinals. Defending world champ Austin Prock stayed in the points lead despite a first-round loss.
In Pro Stock, fans witnessed the first final-round matchup between longtime rivals between Greg Anderson and Erica Enders in 2025, and it was the reigning world champion Anderson who put together a classic performance, going 6.469 at 212.19 to set the track E.T. record at the perfect time in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro.
It was a rebound weekend for Enders, but there’s still no stopping KB Titan Racing at the moment, as Anderson rolled to his third win of the season and 109th in his terrific career. Anderson and teammate Dallas Glenn have won every event this year and that continued on Sunday, as Anderson defeated Kenny Delco, Dave Connolly and Matt Hartford to reach the final round.
He was in the 6.40s all weekend and has now advanced to the finals at every event in 2025. On Sunday, Anderson made sure to cap it off with a track record blast, winning for the third time at New England Dragway and moving back into the points lead. Anderson is also three rounds away from 1,000 career round wins, something only John Force has accomplished in NHRA history.
“I got lucky a couple times today. It takes a lot of luck to win one of these things. We finally made a great run in the final. To win when you’re off your game makes you feel pretty doggone good,” Anderson said. “This is the best race car I’ve ever had, no question. It’s paid for itself in wins and made me look like a star. I can’t take credit — 15 years ago I traded my car tools for engine tools. I’m an engine guy now. My hat’s off to the team. The cars are so evenly matched these days, if you find even a small advantage in setup, it’s huge.
“(1,000) is a wild number. There’s only one other guy to do that – John Force. I never dreamed I’d be close to that. Every round win now feels like a bonus. I’m living far beyond my wildest dreams.”
Enders reached the final round for the first time this season but was denied her 50th national event win. She knocked off Deric Kramer, Cory Reed and Aaron Stanfield to advance to the finals, moving from 14th to ninth in points.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action June 6-8 with the 24th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tenn.
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EPPING, N.H. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 12th annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway. The race is the seventh of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Brittany Force; 2. Tony Stewart; 3. Antron Brown; 4. Doug Kalitta; 5. Ida Zetterstrom; 6. Shawn Reed; 7. Justin Ashley; 8. Dan Mercier; 9. Clay Millican; 10. Scott Farley; 11. Shawn Langdon; 12. Josh Hart; 13. Steve Torrence; 14. Rit Pustari; 15. Mike Bucher.
FUNNY CAR:
1. J.R. Todd; 2. Spencer Hyde; 3. Alexis DeJoria; 4. Jack Beckman; 5. Blake Alexander; 6. Paul Lee; 7. Buddy Hull; 8. Phil Burkart; 9. Matt Hagan; 10. Cruz Pedregon; 11. Austin Prock; 12. Chad Green; 13. Dave Richards; 14. Daniel Wilkerson; 15. Bob Tasca III; 16. Ron Capps.
PRO STOCK:
1. Greg Anderson; 2. Erica Enders; 3. Matt Hartford; 4. Aaron Stanfield; 5. Cody Coughlin; 6. Dallas Glenn; 7. Dave Connolly; 8. Cory Reed; 9. Jeg Coughlin; 10. Greg Stanfield; 11. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 12. Kenny Delco; 13. Deric Kramer; 14. Brandon Miller; 15. Chris McGaha; 16. Mason McGaha.
EPPING, N.H. — Sunday’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:
Top Fuel — Brittany Force, 3.694 seconds, 340.39 mph def. Tony Stewart, 3.720 seconds, 329.91 mph.
Funny Car — J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 3.888, 332.43 def. Spencer Hyde, Ford Mustang, 5.098, 161.88.
Pro Stock — Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.469, 212.19 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 19.498, 41.79.
Mountain Motor Pro Stock — Chris Powers, Chevy Camaro, 6.723, 223.47 def. Johnny Pluchino, Ford Mustang, Broke.
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:
ROUND ONE — Ida Zetterstrom, 3.720, 332.18 def. Steve Torrence, 7.295, 121.23; Ida Zetterstrom, 3.720, 332.18 def. Steve Torrence, 7.295, 121.23; Dan Mercier, 3.738, 324.83 def. Shawn Langdon, 5.199, 157.67; Dan Mercier, 3.738, 324.83 def. Shawn Langdon, 5.199, 157.67; Doug Kalitta, 3.646, 338.34 was unopposed; Tony Stewart, 3.699, 331.45 def. Rit Pustari, 7.738, 75.65; Shawn Reed, 3.724, 335.23 def. Scott Farley, 4.345, 189.71; Brittany Force, 3.692, 339.87 def. Clay Millican, 3.740, 333.74; Justin Ashley, 3.723, 338.34 def. Josh Hart, 7.158, 97.47; TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Ida Zetterstrom, 3.720, 332.18 def. Steve Torrence, 7.295, 121.23; Dan Mercier, 3.738, 324.83 def. Shawn Langdon, 5.199, 157.67; Doug Kalitta, 3.646, 338.34 was unopposed; Tony Stewart, 3.699, 331.45 def. Rit Pustari, 7.738, 75.65; Shawn Reed, 3.724, 335.23 def. Scott Farley, 4.345, 189.71; Brittany Force, 3.692, 339.87 def. Clay Millican, 3.740, 333.74; Justin Ashley, 3.723, 338.34 def. Josh Hart, 7.158, 97.47; Antron Brown, 4.229, 259.56 def. Mike Bucher, 10.285, 40.34;
QUARTERFINALS — Brown, 4.707, 175.64 def. Mercier, 6.978, 88.25; Stewart, 3.733, 330.96 def. Ashley, 5.893, 118.90; Force, 3.690, 338.26 def. Reed, 3.721, 334.57; Kalitta, 3.680, 330.31 def. Zetterstrom, 3.720, 330.55;
SEMIFINALS — Stewart, 3.711, 332.34 def. Brown, 3.738, 333.66; Force, 3.681, 341.42 def. Kalitta, 5.841, 157.41;
FINAL — Force, 3.694, 340.39 def. Stewart, 3.720, 329.91.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Alexis DeJoria, Dodge Charger, 3.926, 324.98 def. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 8.903, 84.79; Blake Alexander, Charger, 5.198, 168.56 def. Chad Green, Ford Mustang, 5.378, 166.13; Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.167, 303.64 def. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 5.046, 284.33; Phil Burkart, Ford Mustangh, 4.172, 304.67 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 7.569, 94.02; Paul Lee, Charger, 4.384, 199.29 def. Dave Richards, Mustang, 6.709, 130.07; Jack Beckman, Camaro, 6.397, 298.93 def. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 6.835, 146.72; J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.890, 332.84 def. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.308, 219.08; Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 3.863, 333.08 def. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.893, 333.74;
QUARTERFINALS — DeJoria, 4.232, 221.13 def. Lee, 7.188, 94.12; Todd, 3.939, 329.50 def. Burkart, Broke; Hyde, 3.925, 325.30 def. Hull, 11.680, 82.93; Beckman, 3.878, 328.14 def. Alexander, 3.934, 326.24;
SEMIFINALS — Todd, 3.889, 333.08 def. DeJoria, 3.971, 324.90; Hyde, 4.325, 305.77 def. Beckman, Foul – Centerline;
FINAL — Todd, 3.888, 332.43 def. Hyde, 5.098, 161.88.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE — Aaron Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, 6.554, 211.20 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.973, 208.97; Dave Connolly, Camaro, 6.493, 210.60 def. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.526, 211.46; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.497, 213.40 def. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.503, 210.90; Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.546, 210.57 def. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 12.304, 70.98; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.505, 211.99 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.535, 212.09; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.500, 211.06 def. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.539, 211.23; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.489, 212.03 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.537, 210.21; Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.489, 212.26 def. Brandon Miller, Dodge Dart, 6.585, 208.65;
QUARTERFINALS — Enders, 9.045, 112.38 def. Reed, 28.751, 23.85; Hartford, 13.448, 100.51 def. Glenn, Foul – Red Light; Anderson, 6.499, 211.16 def. Connolly, 7.683, 127.59; A. Stanfield, 6.506, 213.10 def. C. Coughlin, Foul – Red Light;
SEMIFINALS — Enders, 6.954, 210.24 def. A. Stanfield, 7.348, 172.17; Anderson, 6.487, 212.29 def. Hartford, 6.513, 212.96;
FINAL — Anderson, 6.469, 212.19 def. Enders, 19.498, 41.79.
EPPING, N.H. — Point standings (top 10) following 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
1. Tony Stewart, 616; 2. Shawn Langdon, 545; 3. Antron Brown, 527; 4. Doug Kalitta, 501; 5. Justin Ashley, 438; 6. Brittany Force, 437; 7. Steve Torrence, 335; 8. Clay Millican, 328; 9. Josh Hart, 311; 10. Shawn Reed, 298.
Funny Car
1. Austin Prock, 550; 2. Jack Beckman, 512; 3. Paul Lee, 472; 4. Matt Hagan, 455; 5. Ron Capps, 379; 6. J.R. Todd, 366; 7. Chad Green, 350; 8. Alexis DeJoria, 325; 9. (tie) Cruz Pedregon, 318; Daniel Wilkerson, 318.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, 671; 2. Dallas Glenn, 621; 3. Matt Hartford, 441; 4. Cory Reed, 370; 5. Eric Latino, 307; 6. Deric Kramer, 267; 7. (tie) Mason McGaha, 254; Aaron Stanfield, 254; 9. Erica Enders, 253; 10. Jeg Coughlin, 251. |