Robert Hight, Erica Enders add wins, and points, while Brittany Force, Matt Smith lose their points leads.
- Robert Hight extends his points lead as John Force Racing sweeps the nitro-class.
- Austin Prock earns his second career Top Fuel victory.
- Erica Enders scores her 40th career victory.
Robert Hight extended his NHRA Funny Car points lead and posted his 60th victory, capping a John Force Racing sweep of nitro-class competition Sunday in the opening event of the Countdown to the Championship, the Pep Boys Nationals at Reading, Pa.
“It’s been a dream come true,” he said. “We worked hard all winter, and this Auto Club team remained focused and there was never any doubt. Sixty wins is a big number, and there’s one common denominator and that’s the Auto Club. They’ve been here for every single one of them, can’t do it without ’em, Chevrolet most of them.”
Hight shared the Maple Grove Raceway winners circle with Top Fuel’s Austin Prock, who earned the second victory of his career and first since the August 2019 Seattle race, when boss John Force overshadowed him with his 150th triumph.
“We’re right back in the hunt for this thing. We can win the championship now. You win Reading and you’re back in it,” the 12th-ranked and last Top Fuel driver eligible for the title said. Prock improved to seventh place as the Camping World Drag Racing Series heads south to Charlotte Motor Speedway’s zMAX Dragway for the Betway Carolina Nationals this coming weekend.
Austin Prock earned the second victory of his career and first since the August 2019 Seattle race.
JERRY FOSS NHRA/NATIONAL DRAGSTER
Hight’s crew chief also had his own personal double-up Sunday. Jimmy Prock is the tuner for Hight’s Auto Club of Southern California Chevy Camaro, and he’s the father of Top Fuel winner Austin Prock, driver of the Montana Brand Dragster.
Prospects looked sweet for Brittany Force (Top Fuel) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle). They were the points leaders and No. 1 qualifiers. But this first of six playoff races turned sour for both of them by the end of the quarterfinals. She lost to U.S. Nationals winner Antron Brown and consequently lost her lead in the standings to Justin Ashley, the runner-up to Prock. Smith yielded his control of the bike-class standings Joey Gladstone, who defeated him in the second round and went on to win the event.
Prock, Hight, and Gladstone were on the winners’ podium Sunday with Pro Stock points leader Erica Enders, who claimed her dominating seventh victory of the season and milestone 40th overall.
Enders claimed her dominating seventh victory of the season and milestone 40th overall.
JERRY FOSS NHRA/NATIONAL DRAGSTER
“I’ve had a race car that most Pro Stock drivers dream about all season long,” Enders said moments after exiting her car. “That’s thanks to my guys. They work their tails off back at the shop. It’s my job behind the wheel to execute perfectly and make them shine. We did that today, and I could not be more proud. This year I had a goal to win at the tracks we hadn’t won at before. We started off winning the Winternationals in Pomona, then we won in Sonoma which had evaded us for 18 years. We’ve missed Reading for 18 years as well, but we got it done today.”
Bo Butner Goes Back-To-Back
Eleventh-seeded Bo Butner had thought he was in a strong position to win the Pro Stock trophy Sunday and make a huge leap up the ladder, thanks to his No. 1 qualifying performance in the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Chevy Camaro. He had a satisfying race day, but it wasn’t in the Pro Stock class.
He lost to eventual runner-up Troy Coughlin Jr.in the second round. However, he scored a second straight victory in the Lucas Oil Series’ Super Gas category with his ’63 Corvette.
Results
37th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway
Final finish order (1-16) at the 37th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. The race is the 17th of 22 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL
1,Austin Prock; 2. Justin Ashley; 3. Antron Brown; 4. Mike Salinas; 5. Steve Torrence; 6. Brittany Force; 7. Doug Kalitta; 8. Clay Millican; 9. Jeffrey Chatterson; 10. Cameron Ferre; 11. Leah Pruett; 12. Tony Schumacher; 13. Shawn Langdon; 14. Doug Foley; 15. Josh Hart; 16. Joe Morrison.
FUNNY CAR
1, Robert Hight; 2. Tim Wilkerson; 3. Matt Hagan; 4. John Force; 5. Bob Tasca III; 6. J.R.Todd; 7. Ron Capps; 8. Cruz Pedregon; 9. Alexis DeJoria; 10. Chad Green; 11. Paul Lee; 12. Phil Burkart; 13. Cory Lee; 14. Jim Campbell; 15. Terry Haddock.
PRO STOCK
1. Erica Enders; 2. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 3. Kyle Koretsky; 4. Greg Anderson; 5. Matt Hartford; 6. Bo Butner; 7. Dallas Glenn; 8. Aaron Stanfield; 9. Cristian Cuadra; 10. Camrie Caruso; 11. Fernando Cuadra Jr.; 12. Chris McGaha; 13. Alan Prusiensky; 14. Mason McGaha; 15. Fernando Cuadra; 16. Tanner Gray.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
1. Joey Gladstone; 2. Angie Smith; 3. Marc Ingwersen; 4. Steve Johnson; 5. Eddie Krawiec; 6. Matt Smith; 7. Jerry Savoie; 8. Angelle Sampey; 9. Scotty Pollacheck; 10. Kelly Clontz; 11. Jianna Evaristo; 12. Karen Stoffer; 13. Chris Bostick; 14. Ron Tornow; 15. Ryan Oehler; 16. Hector Arana Jr.
Finals
Sunday’s final results from the 37th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. The race is the 17th of 22 in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Austin Prock, 3.755 seconds, 329.67 mph def. Justin Ashley, 3.783 seconds, 326.40 mph.
Funny Car — Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.937, 328.38 def. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, Foul – Red Light.
Pro Stock — Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.582, 209.72 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.601, 209.56.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.835, 196.93 def. Angie Smith, EBR, Foul – Red Light.
Top Alcohol Dragster — Jeff Veale, 5.455, 265.12 def. Shawn Cowie, 10.517, 82.94.
Top Alcohol Funny Car — DJ Cox Jr., Chevy Camaro, 5.477, 263.77 def. Sean Bellemeur, Camaro, 5.641, 263.10.
Competition Eliminator — Ken Voight, Chevy Cobalt, 8.734, 154.69 def. Jay Schonberger, Olds Cutlas, Broke.
Super Stock — Roger Reese, Chevy Nova, 10.433, 125.69 def. Byron Worner, Chevy Camaro, 9.845, 134.82.
Stock Eliminator — Katie Sepanek, Chevy Chevelle, 11.598, 108.13 def. Joe Santangelo, Chevy Camaro, 10.418, 118.91.
Super Comp — Donald Bangs, Dragster, 8.927, 172.23 def. Anthony Barrett, Dragster, 8.885, 179.59.
Super Gas — Bo Butner, Chevy Corvette, 9.935, 165.05 def. Frank Volpe, Ford Mustang, 9.875, 162.57.
Top Sportsman presented by Vortech Superchargers — Vonnie Mills, Chevy Camaro, 6.689, 200.14 def. Larry Willard, Chevy Bel Air, 7.382, 180.26.
Factory Stock Showdown — David Barton, Chevy Camaro, 7.752, 177.44 def. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 7.824, 175.96.
Junior Dragster Shootout — Paige Ketterer, 7.987, 81.17 def. Mason Artim, Foul – Red Light.
Round-By-Round
Reading, Pa. — Final round-by-round results from the 37th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, the 17th of 22 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL
ROUND ONE — Doug Kalitta, 3.720, 329.58 def. Leah Pruett, 4.458, 224.51; Clay Millican, 3.776, 285.11 def. Tony Schumacher, 4.882, 151.95; Brittany Force, 3.698, 337.66 def. Cameron Ferre, 4.121, 291.32; Justin Ashley, 3.732, 329.83 def. Jeffrey Chatterson, 3.865, 321.58; Mike Salinas, 4.841, 225.18 def. Joe Morrison, 15.215, 31.54; Austin Prock, 3.705, 336.15 def. Doug Foley, 6.531, 93.23; Steve Torrence, 3.740, 324.51 def. Shawn Langdon, 5.901, 131.00; Antron Brown, 3.851, 249.76 def. Josh Hart, 10.983, 73.85;
QUARTERFINALS — Salinas, 5.868, 282.42 def. Millican, 7.115, 115.65; Brown, 3.730, 323.97 def. Force, 5.389, 123.14; Prock, 3.762, 326.87 def. Torrence, 3.767, 324.36; Ashley, 3.841, 306.12 def. Kalitta, Foul – Red Light;
SEMIFINALS — Ashley, 3.739, 330.80 def. Salinas, 9.497, 83.15; Prock, 5.732, 293.47 def. Brown, 6.565, 146.54;
FINAL — Prock, 3.755, 329.67 def. Ashley, 3.783, 326.40.
FUNNY CAR
ROUND ONE — J.R. Todd, Toyota Supra, 3.914, 330.72 def. Chad Green, Ford Mustang, 3.932, 324.59; Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.878, 333.74 was unopposed; John Force, Camaro, 3.932, 287.66 def. Cory Lee, Mustang, 4.407, 287.84; Ron Capps, Supra, 3.858, 331.53 def. Phil Burkart, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.282, 243.06; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.895, 333.91 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 5.649, 125.62; Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.909, 334.65 def. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.445, 207.53; Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.922, 331.36 def. Alexis DeJoria, Supra, 3.924, 330.31; Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.918,326.40 def. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.991, 319.45;
QUARTERFINALS — Force, 4.000, 324.59 def. Todd, 3.972, 326.95; Hight, 3.901, 332.67 def. Pedregon, 5.567, 135.46; Wilkerson, 3.918, 329.58 def. Capps, 4.420, 201.10; Hagan, 3.935, 329.67 def. Tasca III, 3.941, 330.63;
SEMIFINALS — Wilkerson, 4.621, 182.62 def. Force, 9.003, 82.09; Hight, 3.908, 331.69 def. Hagan, 4.123, 255.34;
FINAL — Hight, 3.937, 328.38 def. Wilkerson, Foul – Red Light.
PRO STOCK
ROUND ONE — Troy Coughlin Jr., Chevy Camaro, 6.576, 208.65 def. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.581, 205.63; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.569, 209.33 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.606, 207.75; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.580, 208.52 def. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.595, 207.98; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.572, 207.69 def. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Mustang, 6.602, 207.27; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.598, 208.46 def. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.638, 206.73; Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.567, 208.94 def. Tanner Gray, Camaro, 6.663, 206.32; Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.565, 208.84 def. Fernando Cuadra, Mustang, 6.643, 205.51; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.548, 209.39 def. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.607, 206.32;
QUARTERFINALS — Anderson, 6.612, 207.21 def. Glenn, 6.668, 206.67; Koretsky, 6.602, 208.94 def. Stanfield, 7.839, 130.73; Coughlin Jr., 6.605, 209.04 def. Butner, 6.601, 208.07; Enders, 6.569, 209.39 def. Hartford, Foul – Red Light;
SEMIFINALS — Coughlin Jr., 6.601, 209.46 def. Anderson, 6.714, 188.02; Enders, 6.584, 209.43 def. Koretsky, 6.613, 208.94;
FINAL — Enders, 6.582, 209.72 def. Coughlin Jr., 6.601, 209.56.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
ROUND ONE — Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.821, 198.52 def. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, Foul – Red Light; Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.795, 198.44 def. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light; Angie Smith, 6.796, 199.52 def. Ron Tornow, 6.982, 191.95; Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.836, 194.66 def. Chris Bostick, Buell, 6.911, 195.28; Marc Ingwersen, 6.893, 196.99 def. Scotty Pollacheck, 6.889, 197.36; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.785, 198.32 def. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.891, 195.65; Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 6.904, 199.23 def. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 6.903, 194.16; Matt Smith, 6.761, 201.82 def. Ryan Oehler, 7.196, 178.24;
QUARTERFINALS — Ingwersen, 6.962, 194.72 def. Sampey, 6.902, 197.19; A.
Smith, 6.841, 198.90 def. Krawiec, 6.815, 198.50; Johnson, 6.867, 195.05 def. Savoie, 6.892, 194.13; Gladstone, 6.815, 197.51 def. M. Smith, 6.818, 199.61;
SEMIFINALS — A. Smith, 6.849, 198.61 def. Johnson, 6.945, 194.69; Gladstone, 6.869, 196.90 def. Ingwersen, 6.927, 195.73;
FINAL — Gladstone, 6.835, 196.93 def. A. Smith, Foul – Red Light.
Updated Points Standings
Reading, Pa. — Point standings (top 10) following the 37th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, the 17th of 22 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series –
Top Fuel
1. Justin Ashley, 2,170; 2. Brittany Force, 2,161; 3. Mike Salinas, 2,160; 4. Antron Brown, 2,116; 5. Steve Torrence, 2,114; 6. Austin Prock, 2,096; 7. Josh Hart, 2,083; 8. (tie) Doug Kalitta, 2,063; Leah Pruett, 2,063; 10. Shawn Langdon, 2,052.
Funny Car
1. Robert Hight, 2,225; 2. Matt Hagan, 2,144; 3. Ron Capps, 2,141; 4. John Force, 2,128; 5. Bob Tasca III, 2,119; 6. Tim Wilkerson, 2,103; 7. J.R. Todd, 2,095; 8. Cruz Pedregon, 2,073; 9. Alexis DeJoria, 2,062; 10. Jim Campbell, 2,022.
Pro Stock
1. Erica Enders, 2,225; 2. Greg Anderson, 2,144; 3. Kyle Koretsky, 2,137; 4. Troy Coughlin Jr., 2,135; 5. Aaron Stanfield, 2,134; 6. Dallas Glenn, 2,107; 7. Matt Hartford, 2,063; 8. Mason McGaha, 2,061; 9. Bo Butner, 2,053; 10. Camrie Caruso, 2,052.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Joey Gladstone, 2,193; 2. Matt Smith, 2,164; 3. Steve Johnson, 2,151; 4. Angie Smith, 2,144; 5. Angelle Sampey, 2,115; 6. Marc Ingwersen, 2,104; 7. Eddie Krawiec, 2,103; 8. Jerry Savoie, 2,089; 9. Karen Stoffer, 2,077; 10. Ryan Oehler, 2,056.
Keyword: NHRA Reading Results, Updated Standings: Robert Hight, Erica Enders Kick Off Countdown with Wins