The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway gave fans one of the most exciting weekends of the season, highlighted by Doug Kalitta’s historic win. With major changes in the Top Fuel standings, milestone performances, and record-breaking runs, the event set the stage perfectly for the upcoming U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.
Billy Torrence Returns and Doug Kalitta’s Historic Win Impresses Fans
After spending the year at home in Kilgore, Texas, focusing on his Capco Contractors business and enjoying family time with his granddaughters, Billy Torrence decided to make a surprise return. His comeback at Brainerd proved to be more than symbolic—it had a direct impact on the championship picture.
Torrence reached the quarterfinals, stopping Tony Stewart’s bid to climb back to the top of the points standings. Although Torrence eventually fell in the semifinals to eventual winner Doug Kalitta, his performance reshaped the leaderboard. Kalitta’s victory moved him up to third in the standings, just six points behind Stewart and 51 points shy of leader Shawn Langdon.
Doug Kalitta Scores Career Win No. 57 and a Historic Team Milestone
Doug Kalitta’s Historic Win wasn’t just another victory—it was his 57th career Top Fuel triumph and the 100th overall Top Fuel win for Kalitta Motorsports. With this milestone, Kalitta passed Steve Torrence on the all-time wins list, securing fourth place behind legends Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown, and Larry Dixon.
Crew chief Alan Johnson said after the win, “This is the time of year to heat up.” Kalitta, who had also won at Sonoma, credited his crew: “I’ve just got to do my job. I’ve occasionally let the team down. Really proud of this effort we’ve got going on.”
Brittany Force Shatters Limits with Another 340-MPH Run
In Top Fuel, Brittany Force once again showed why she is considered one of the sport’s speed queens. She recorded her 10th 340-plus mph pass in the last 10 races, clocking in at 341.25 mph with a time of 3.679 seconds. That run broke the 2023 record of 338.26 mph set by Mike Salinas.
Force managed to eliminate points leader Shawn Langdon in the second round but was stopped by Clay Millican in the semifinals. Still, her performance sent a strong message heading into the Countdown that she remains a dangerous contender.
Pro Stock: Anderson vs. Glenn Rivalry Heats Up Again
The Pro Stock class once again delivered a familiar showdown: Greg Anderson vs. Dallas Glenn. For the sixth time in 11 races this season, the KB-Titan Racing teammates faced each other in the final round.
This time, Anderson came out on top, earning his 111th career victory—the most among active NHRA drivers and second only to the legendary John Force (157 wins). Anderson described it as “an absolutely perfect day” and celebrated his fourth victory in his home state of Minnesota.
With just nine points separating Anderson and Glenn, the regular-season championship will be decided at the U.S. Nationals. The driver who advances furthest on Labor Day Monday will claim the title.
Austin Prock Extends Funny Car Dominance
In Funny Car, Austin Prock continued his blistering pace. The reigning champion and points leader claimed his sixth victory in 13 events, defeating J.R. Todd in the final. Prock has now reached eight finals this season and has won four of the last five events.
Despite his impressive 29-7 race-day record, his crew chief (and father) Jimmy Prock remained cautious: “A lot of these cars are way closer to us than they were last year. We’ve got our work cut out for us in the Countdown.”
What’s Next: The Prestigious U.S. Nationals
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series now shifts focus to the season’s biggest event—the 71st annual Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (Aug. 27–Sept. 1).
This event not only crowns the regular-season champions but also locks in the fields for the six-race Countdown to the Championship. With tight point battles in Top Fuel, record-setting speed runs from Brittany Force, Austin Prock’s Funny Car dominance, and Doug Kalitta’s historic win still fresh in fans’ minds, Indianapolis promises to be a must-watch showdown.
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