Brittany Force, Matt Hagan, Erica Enders win, lead standings after final NHRA weekend at Houston Raceway Park.
- Funny Car’s Matt Hagan puts Tony Stewart Racing in winners circle, but Stewart notices runner-up, too.
- Erica Enders, Camrie Caruso make history in Pro Stock final round.
- Brittany Force gets last word in Top Fuel.
The final rounds of the NHRA SpringNationals at Houston Raceway Park shaped up Sunday as battles between champions and newcomers—and the veterans won, but not without rivalries and explosions and a big statement from the new Top Fuel points leader.
This was the final SpringNationals at this Baytown, Texas, facility that soon will become another victim to industrial expansion. And Sunday unfolded in a swirl of sentiment and sensation, with Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock), and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) claiming victories.
Matt Hagan extended his points lead in Funny Car with the win in Houston.
NHRA/National Dragster
Matt Hagan Delivers Funny Car Victory for TSR
Tony Stewart Racing got its second Funny Car victory from Matt Hagan—and runner-up Bobby Bode, who turned 20 years old Saturday, got the promise of a new helmet from Hagan’s team owner.
Not only did Hagan come through for new boss Tony Stewart, but he accomplished what he set out to do for crew chief Dickie Venables, the Houston native who began racing with his father, Dick Venables (who also guided the career of multi-time championship tuner Rahn Tobler). The Dodge Power Brokers team’s aim was to honor the elder Venables, who passed away last Dec. 29.
“We dedicated this whole season to his dad, not just one race win,” Hagan, who earned the first of his 41 victories, said. “Dick instilled some great qualities into Dickie, and they show every weekend on the racetrack. He’s the biggest reason we’ve won so many races and championships.”
And points leader Hagan said he was especially pleased to perform well for Stewart. “He just sits back and lets us do us,” the three-time Funny Car champion said. “He’s a super-cool dude. He’s just one of the good old boys that just needs to win. His mentality is step on their throat, let’s get this done, do not hold back.”
Stewart said after the race, “Dickie made it look easy, but this has been a stressful weekend for him and his family. That’s something that’s important to us. As a group, we’re a giant family together. So when we lose somebody, it hits all of us. This was a weekend we knew we all needed to rally around Dickie and his family. Glad his brothers and sisters are here to celebrate with us and honor their father in his way.”
Erica Enders won the last race at her hometown track.
NHRA/National Dragster
Erica Enders Helps Shutter Hometown Track with Historic Victory
Houston native Erica Enders began her successful drag-racing career on this storied dragstrip when she was eight years old and racing in the Jr. Dragster program, even capturing the Disney Corporation’s attention with her sister Courtney as they became the subjects of the kids movie “Right On Track.”
“I wanted it bad,” the Melling Performance Chevy Camaro driver said of this third Pro Stock victory here and 36th overall to match her Super Gas triumph in 2004. “I wanted to work all day long to prove to people I’m everything that they said I’m not and I can do everything they say that I can’t.”
This one was not just sentimental for her. It also was historic as she defeated rookie and No. 1 qualifier Camrie Caruso in the first all-woman Pro Stock final round—or, for that matter, the first female match-up in any round in the class’ 905-race legacy.
From the podium, she said, “This is freaking cool. This is so epic.” Then she gave a shout-out to Houston-headquartered Lucas Oil Series sportsman winners Chris Arnold (Top Sportsman), Keith Purvis (Super Gas), Mike Holcombe (Super Comp) , Chris LeBlanc (Super Street), and brothers Jerry Emmons (Stock) and Harvey “Speedy” Emmons (Super Stock). “H-town wrecked shop today,” Enders said.
Brittany Force leaves Houston with multiple track records.
NHRA/National Dragster
Brittany Force Scores Back-to-Back Wins
So far this year, whether she’s running four-wide or in the traditional two-wide format. Top Fuel racer Brittany Force is proving she can win with the Monster Energy Dragster. She defeated one of her keenest rivals, Justin Ashley in the Phillips Connect Dragster, by about half a car length (.0291 of a second) to record a back-to-back feat.
She saw Steve Torrence take away her tentative No. 1 qualifying position in the final seconds of qualifying Saturday, but she got the last word Sunday with her third Houston victory since 2018. She got the last word, swiping his No. 1 status in the standings as the Camping World Drag Racing Series moves to zMAX Dragway at Concord, N.C., this next weekend for the Circle K Four-Wide Nationals.
It was at this soon-to-close venue where her Funny Car legend dad John Force had won an NHRA-record seven times. She improved her track speed record to 333.58 mph (eclipsing her previous mark of 332.18 from 2019) and leaves with the three-year-old track elapsed-time mark, as well, at 3.661 seconds.
“Luckily, we got the job done in the final round. It wasn’t easy,” Force said. “It was a lot of me sitting down and trying to figuring my shit out before going into the final round, because it was a tough day for me. But we battled it out and got it done in the final when it mattered.”
Camrie Caruso Can’t Escape Controversy
A weekend that was supposed to be uplifting for rookie Camrie Caruso was laced with frustration.
After scoring her first No. 1 starting position, she had trouble before ever exiting the car. Erica Enders’ parachutes blew into her car and damaged the right side of the rear wing. After they failed to qualify Saturday, competitor Shane Tucker’s team helped with repairs.
But then NHRA Technical Administration Executive Glen Gray informed her that her intake manifold was violated the rules. She is allowed to continue with her current one until June 1. The issue was an improper location of fuel injector nozzles in the intake manifold. Caruso’s dad, former Pro Modified racer Marc Caruso, responded with a sarcastic Facebook message: “Geez NHRA appreciate the congratulations on our first #1. Thanks for the warm welcome…..How pathetic can you be! Just sayin!” He later deleted the post.
As if that weren’t enough, the team made a chaotic service rush in the pits to prepare her car for the final round. But it was clear something was wrong when Caruso had trouble twice during her burnout process. But she staged the car, beat Enders off the starting line, and gave her a serious scare in pursuit of a victory in just her fifth outing as a pro racer.
Steve Johnson won in Pro Stock Motorcycle at Houston.
NHRA/National Dragster
Steve Johnson Knocks Off Nemesis Matt Smith in PSM
Steve Johnson, for years a Pro Stock Motorcycle underdog but last year and this year a freshly invigorated powerhouse, trumped his nemesis Matt Smith, the five-time and reigning champion who switched just before the final round from his under-performing Suzuki to his trustier Buell.
“We have such a little, tiny team, but if I had $10 million I’d be doing the same thing,” he said as he held this 10th overall trophy. “Find what you love and chase it and do not stop. And beat Matt Smith, no matter what bike he buys.” Smith looked over and grinned at Johnson.
NHRA SpringNationals Results
at Houston Raceway Park
Sunday’s final results from the 35th annual NHRA SpringNationals at Houston Raceway Park. The race is the fifth of 22 in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series:
Finals
Top Fuel — Brittany Force, 3.767 seconds, 321.42 mph def. Justin Ashley, 3.763 seconds, 329.58 mph.
Funny Car — Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.982, 326.63 def. Bobby Bode, Ford Mustang, 4.046, 282.95.
Pro Stock — Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.568, 210.24 def. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.624, 209.26.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.720, 199.91 def. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.811, 200.47.
Top Alcohol Dragster — Joey Severance, 5.239, 276.35 def. Julie Nataas, 5.358, 278.69.
Top Alcohol Funny Car — Doug Gordon, Chevy Camaro, 5.534, 266.16 def. Bob McCosh, Camaro, 5.765, 244.65.
Competition Eliminator — Greg Kamplain, Dragster, 6.758, 196.90 def. Mike DePalma, Pontiac G5, 7.780, 173.96.
Super Stock — Harvey Emmons III, Chevy Cavalier, 9.711, 134.44 def. Brenda Grubbs, Chevy Camaro, 9.216, 145.11.
Stock Eliminator — Jerry Emmons, Chevy Camaro, 10.197, 123.41 def. Brandon Bakies, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.
Super Comp — Michael Holcombe, Dragster, 8.902, 179.37 def. Christopher Dodd, Dragster, 8.911, 176.19.
Super Gas — Keith Purvis, Pontiac Firebird, 9.903, 158.74 def. Austin Williams, Chevy Camaro, 9.917, 153.11.
Super Street — Chris LeBlanc, Chevy Corvette, 10.968, 142.70 def. Don Snow, Corvette, 10.955, 144.30.
Top Sportsman presented by Vortech Superchargers — Chris Arnold, Chevy Cavalier, 6.902, 201.52 def. Darian Boesch, Chevy Camaro, 6.355, 219.51.
Top Dragster presented by Vortech Superchargers — Mark Jones, Dragster, 6.291, 222.80 def. Wayne Landry, Dragster, 6.156, 227.77.
Round By Round
TOP FUEL
ROUND ONE — Austin Prock, 3.743, 328.70 def. Alex Laughlin, 5.125, 146.19; Billy Torrence, 3.726, 319.07 def. Doug Kalitta, 3.772, 323.89; Brittany Force, 3.740, 329.42 def. Josh Hart, 4.925, 146.65; Steve Torrence, 3.711, 325.92 def. Buddy Hull, 4.041, 234.53; Justin Ashley, 3.740, 329.26 def. Doug Foley, 5.078, 139.65; Clay Millican, 3.754, 321.42 def. Antron Brown, 5.439, 136.12; Shawn Langdon, 4.774, 197.48 def. Leah Pruett, 4.973, 201.04; Mike Salinas, 4.192, 297.42 def. Tony Schumacher, 4.860, 170.34;
QUARTERFINALS — Ashley, 3.792, 326.79 def. Prock, Foul – Red Light; Force, 3.773, 330.47 def. Langdon, 5.589, 128.73; B. Torrence, 3.799, 322.19 def. Millican, Broke; S. Torrence, 3.744, 327.90 def. Salinas, Broke;
SEMIFINALS — Force, 3.848, 317.19 def. B. Torrence, 3.924, 310.77; Ashley, 3.760, 327.51 def. S. Torrence, 3.778, 323.43;
FINAL — Force, 3.767, 321.42 def. Ashley, 3.763, 329.58.
FUNNY CAR
ROUND ONE — J.R. Todd, Toyota Supra, 4.008, 322.65 def. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 5.475, 132.37; Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.937, 324.05 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.078, 287.05; Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.004, 281.36 was unopposed; Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.925, 319.67 def. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.979, 323.43; Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.026, 311.05 def. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 5.190, 152.33; Bobby Bode, Mustang, 3.957, 314.68 def. Alexis DeJoria, Supra, Foul – Outer Boundary; Chad Green, Mustang, 3.987, 314.24 def. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 4.341, 224.62; Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.954, 325.77 def. John Force, Camaro, 4.010, 328.06;
QUARTERFINALS — Todd, 4.004, 322.19 def. Campbell, 4.074, 311.34; Bode, 3.991, 315.05 def. Pedregon, 4.030, 318.69; Green, 4.090, 267.16 def. Hight, 4.240, 227.04; Hagan, 3.933, 326.87 def. Capps, 8.017, 95.44;
SEMIFINALS — Bode, 4.034, 308.35 def. Green, 4.160, 305.29; Hagan, 3.937, 323.97 def. Todd, 10.851, 81.82;
FINAL — Hagan, 3.982, 326.63 def. Bode, 4.046, 282.95.
PRO STOCK
ROUND ONE — Bo Butner, Chevy Camaro, 9.917, 96.07 def. Mason McGaha, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.607, 209.23 def. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, Broke; Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.628, 208.23 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.619, 209.17; Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.595, 207.72 def. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.616, 208.88; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.585, 209.07 def. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Ford Mustang, Foul – Red Light; Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.625, 208.78 def. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 13.118, 66.19; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.578, 209.95 def. Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.587, 208.81; Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.609, 209.17 def. Fernando Cuadra, Mustang, Foul – Red Light;
QUARTERFINALS — Koretsky, 6.664, 208.71 def. C. McGaha, 19.274, 41.97; Caruso, 6.624, 208.81 def. Butner, 9.771, 93.61; Anderson, 6.578, 208.84 def. Brogdon, 6.619, 207.66; Enders, 6.598, 209.23 def. Hartford, 6.587, 209.56;
SEMIFINALS — Enders, 6.596, 209.56 def. Koretsky, 6.636, 209.17; Caruso, 6.607, 208.84 def. Anderson, 6.578, 208.62;
FINAL — Enders, 6.568, 210.24 def. Caruso, 6.624, 209.26.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
ROUND ONE — Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 6.814, 201.19 def. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.908, 188.28; Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.822, 197.74 def. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 7.000, 195.79; Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.822, 198.00 def. Marc Ingwersen, Foul – Red Light; Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.937, 194.52 def. Angie Smith, Broke – No Show; Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.786, 198.96 def. Ryan Oehler, 7.058, 191.78; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.718, 200.71 def. Michael Ray, 6.923, 194.97; Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.869, 196.07 def. David Barron, 8.608, 107.85; Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.818, 198.12 def. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.968, 193.05;
QUARTERFINALS — M. Smith, 6.938, 195.96 def. Bostick, 7.059, 191.54; Stoffer, 6.832, 197.33 def. Sampey, 6.852, 201.07; Krawiec, 6.772, 199.17 def. Gladstone, 6.917, 197.42; Johnson, 6.711, 201.55 def. Underdahl, 6.896, 199.11;
SEMIFINALS — M. Smith, 6.988, 194.60 def. Stoffer, Foul – Centerline; Johnson, 6.765, 198.96 def. Krawiec, 6.802, 197.10;
FINAL — Johnson, 6.720, 199.91 def. M. Smith, 6.811, 200.47.
Updated Points Standings
Top Fuel
1. Brittany Force, 420; 2. Steve Torrence, 388; 3. Justin Ashley, 367; 4. Mike Salinas, 349; 5. Clay Millican, 281; 6. Austin Prock, 253; 7. Tony Schumacher, 227; 8. Josh Hart, 220; 9. Doug Kalitta, 206; 10. Antron Brown, 198.
Funny Car
1. Matt Hagan, 507; 2. Robert Hight, 447; 3. Ron Capps, 420; 4. Cruz Pedregon, 282; 5. John Force, 249; 6. (tie) Alexis DeJoria, 241; J.R. Todd, 241; 8. Chad Green, 237; 9. Bob Tasca III, 229; 10. Tim Wilkerson, 217.
Pro Stock
1. Erica Enders, 471; 2. Aaron Stanfield, 389; 3. Kyle Koretsky, 345; 4. Dallas Glenn, 305; 5. Greg Anderson, 291; 6. Mason McGaha, 279; 7. Camrie Caruso, 272; 8. Bo Butner, 247; 9. Troy Coughlin Jr., 223; 10. Rodger Brogdon, 220.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Karen Stoffer, 196; 2. Steve Johnson, 173; 3. Angie Smith, 128; 4. Eddie Krawiec, 127; 5. (tie) Joey Gladstone, 124; Matt Smith, 124; 7. Jerry Savoie, 102; 8. (tie) Angelle Sampey, 83; Jim Underdahl, 83; 10. Marc Ingwersen, 82.
Keyword: NHRA Houston Results, Updated Standings: Points Leaders Come Up Big