LAS VEGAS (Oct. 30, 2024) – Following his recent win in Dallas and his victory at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the spring, five-time Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. hopes to carry his momentum into this weekend’s 24th annual Ford Performance NHRA Nationals.
Coughlin, driver of the SCAG Power Equipment / Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer Pro Stock car, has collected four wins this season, including most recently in Dallas, putting him fifth in points.
A championship is likely out of reach with four standouts ahead of him, but Coughlin is hopeful the success will continue into Las Vegas, as he looks to sweep the season at the facility and pick up his 70th career Pro Stock win in the process.
“I feel great coming into our second Vegas event of the year,” said Coughlin. “We won here in the spring and we’re coming off a win at Dallas. So we’ve got some confidence and momentum for the weekend.”
Last season, Mike Salinas (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock) all won the late-season race in Las Vegas. This year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, with elimination coverage at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 3. It is the fifth of six races in the Countdown to the Championship and the 19th of 20 races in the 2024 season. Following his win at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in the spring, Coughlin hopes Vegas will continue to be a lucky track for him and his Elite Motorsports teammates.
“The weather looks to be on the (cooler) side and the Pro Stock cars will thrive in those cooler temps,” Coughlin said. “I can’t wait to drop the hammer on Friday.”
Coughlin currently sits in the top five in the loaded Pro Stock championship hunt. Leading the pack is KB Titan Racing standout Dallas Glenn. He currently leads Aaron Stanfield of Elite Motorsports by 53 points as the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series heads into the penultimate event of the season. Glenn and Stanfield have battled for the Pro Stock points lead all season and will both be aiming for their first NHRA title.
Veterans Greg Anderson (-90), Enders (-111) and Coughlin (-196) make up the next three spots.
In the Pro Stock Motorcycle ranks, rider Jianna Evaristo is looking for her first win of the season on her Scrappers Racing/Denso/Matt Smith Racing Buell. She has had a consistent motorcycle throughout the season, earning a runner-up finish in Bristol. Currently seventh in points, Evaristo also has visions of a top-five finish in the talent-filled category.
The good news is The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has treated the family well in recent years. Her father, Mike Salinas, claimed the Top Fuel win last season and Evaristo hopes her family’s success in Vegas will transfer to the Pro Stock Motorcycle ranks this weekend.
To get a win, Evaristo will need to get past the powerhouse rider and reigning champion Herrera. Herrera currently leads the Pro Stock Motorcycle points thanks to his nine event wins this season. He leads Matt Smith by 62 points, while others to watch include rookie Richard Gadson, 2023 NHRA Rookie of the Year Chase Van Sant, Angie Smith and Hector Arana Jr.
In Top Fuel, Justin Ashley will look to hold off an array of championship drivers. He jumped into the points lead with his Dallas win and currently has a 44-point advantage over Antron Brown. Shawn Langdon, Steve Torrence, Tony Schumacher and Clay Millican are also in the championship mix.
Funny Car’s Austin Prock continues to lead the field and has the chance to clinch his first NHRA title. Prock leads teammate Jack Beckman, who is racing for John Force, by 147 points, with defending world champion Matt Hagan 168 points back. Force will also be in attendance this weekend, making his first appearance at the track since his crash in late June in Richmond.
The Ford Performance NHRA Nationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the Summit Racing Series E.T. Finals. The weekend will also include action in Legends Nitro Funny Car class and a spectacular jet dragster exhibition after nitro qualifying on Friday and Saturday.
It’s also the final race of the 2024 season in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, Johnson’s Horsepowered Mountain Motor Pro Stock and the new Holley EFI Factory X category.
Fans are invited to the Nitro Alley Stage in the pits, where they can take part in Nitro School, meet and greets, influencer interviews and much more. Vegas race fans can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday, where fans are invited to congratulate the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals event winners.
As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. They can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes displays, merchandise, food, and fun.
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 1, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. PT on Nov. 3. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday with eliminations at 5:00 p.m. ET.
To purchase tickets to the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, call 800-644-4444 or visit www.lvms.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general admissions areas with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.
About Ford Performance
Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube.
About Mission Foods
MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/
About NHRA
NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 110 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
