Justin Ashley and J.R. Todd both win Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty challenge

JOLIET, Ill. (May 18, 2024) – Defending Top Fuel world champion, Doug Kalitta, was the top performing Toyota Dragster during qualifying for the Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet, Illinois. The Michigan native claimed the No. 3 qualifying spot, laying down a swift 3.750 elapsed time during the Friday evening session. Kalitta was closely followed by teammate, Shawn Langdon, who posted the fourth best time. Antron Brown and Steve Torrence were next of the Toyota Dragsters, placing sixth and seventh overall heading into Sunday.

Though he was the 14th overall qualifier in Top Fuel, Justin Ashley powered his Toyota Dragster to another victory in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty challenge Saturday afternoon. This is Ashley’s second challenge win of 2024, as he was also triumphant back at Phoenix in April.

In Funny Car, Alexis DeJoria powered her GR Supra Funny Car to the fifth overall qualifying spot for Sunday’s eliminations, followed by Ron Capps in sixth and J.R. Todd in 12th. Todd followed Justin Ashley’s suit by winning the Funny Car Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty challenge, also getting his second challenge win of the season.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series
Route 66 NHRA Nationals
Route 66 Raceway
Race 6 of 20

TOYOTA TOP FUEL QUALIFYING POSITIONS 

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING POSITIONS 

TOYOTA QUOTES

DOUG KALITTA, Applied Innovation Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Qualifying Result: 3rd

How would you describe your day today and what you expect tomorrow?

“Our second run was nice and smooth. Looks like Alan (Johnson, crew chief), Mac (Savage, assistant crew chief) and the guys came up with a nice combination. Think we had a 3.81 time, which was quickest of the session. Yeah, pretty excited for tomorrow. The track will be just as hot, so hopefully that will play right in our hands.”

JUSTIN ASHLEY, SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, SCAG Racing

TF Qualifying Result: 14th

How did you pull off a Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty challenge victory in these conditions?

“Well, that was a great last lap! The conditions out there were real tricky, and the good thing about it is we can take what we just did and apply it to tomorrow. It’s going to be even trickier tomorrow, but we have extra motivation this weekend from everybody at SCAG Power Equipment. The pitbox, the stands, pretty much everything in between was filled, so just feeling really good heading into tomorrow. Thank you Mission Foods for all that you do.”

ALEXIS DEJORIA, Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, DC Motorsports

FC Qualifying Result: 5th

What are your thoughts heading into tomorrow with similar conditions?

“Tomorrow is supposed to be hotter, and last year when we were here, we couldn’t make it down the track one time. So, we’re already winning so far, we’re already ahead of the game. We’ve made three out of four solid runs, so I’m really looking forward to Sunday. We got something for the hot weather. We’ve got speed and are really good in the hot weather. We were able to handle it today with the help of Chuck Worsham (Del Worsham’s father), who came out of retirement today so his son (Del) could go to his daughter’s graduation. We’re a strong team, been through a lot, and we persevere. Excited for tomorrow.”

J.R. TODD, DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, Kalitta Motorsports

FC Qualifying Result: 12th

With this Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty challenge win today, does that bode well for your team tomorrow?

“I hope so! We didn’t qualify where we wanted to be in the DHL GR Supra, but when conditions are like this, I’m not sure qualifying really matters. It puts you on a sheet, but we don’t race on paper. When it gets hot and nasty like this, it seems like Todd (Smith, co-crew chief) and John (Oberhofer, co-crew chief) have a good notebook to follow up on. We never make it easy on ourselves, but it’s nice to win another Mission Foods race. We appreciate the money they put up for it, but more importantly, the bonus points. Those are going to come in handy later in the year. Hopefully we can make a lot more of these before the Countdown starts.”

About Toyota

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For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

CHICAGO (May 18, 2024) – Pro Stock points leader Greg Anderson drove to the win in the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout on Saturday at Route 66 Raceway, defeating Matt Hartford in the final round of the specialty event during weekend’s 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance.

T.J. Zizzo (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also qualified No. 1 at the sixth of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Anderson, the winningest driver in Pro Stock history, went 6.595-seconds at 208.36 mph in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro, driving past Hartford to pick up his first Callout victory. Last year, Anderson failed to qualify for the specialty race, but he more than made up for it on Saturday, getting past No. 1 seed Erica Enders, who called out Anderson for a must-see matchup in the opening round, and Troy Coughlin Jr. in the semifinals. Anderson made three standout runs on Saturday and now has a chance to double-up this weekend at Route 66 Raceway.

“This is awesome. We made three fantastic runs today and that’s what it took,” Anderson said. “A lot of teams struggled because the starting line was tricky, but my car is in a happy spot right now and we got down through there. That breeds confidence. Nine out of 10 races are won on the starting line and we get it done because I’ve got a hell of a horse under me. I didn’t get to play in this event last year but I said if I got in, I’d pick the baddest car I the class first round. The roles were reversed and Erica picked me but I’d have done the same if it was my choice.

“Right now, things are great at KB Titan. We’re not backing into wins. We’ve flat out raced the competition and we’re earning them. But wins like this just make us want to work even harder.”

Top Fuel’s T.J. Zizzo enjoyed an incredible moment on Saturday, clinching his first career No. 1 qualifier as Friday’s standout pass of 3.735 at 331.77 in his 11,000-horsepower Rust-Oleum dragster easily held up. To accomplish that in front of a huge group of family and friends at his home track meant even more for the Chicago native, and he performed well in the heat on Saturday, making a pair of solid runs. That bodes well for Sunday’s eliminations, which starts against Tony Stewart as Zizzo seeks his first career victory.

“This is a dream come true,” Zizzo said. “I told our team (last week) we have the equipment and the knowledge, the people and the personnel to be No. 1 qualifier and that’s what we’re going to do. That, to me, is a dream come true. It’s pretty amazing.”

Defending event winner Clay Millican qualified second with a 3.746 at 332.84 and defending world champion Doug Kalitta took third with a 3.750 at 332.84.

In Funny Car, Austin Prock kept rolling along, claiming his fourth No. 1 qualifier in the first six races of 2024 on the strength of Friday’s run of 3.907 at 332.43 in his 11,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS. Prock, who is the current points leader, will open eliminations against Jack Wyatt, looking for his second victory of the season. Just as important, the young standout and former NHRA Rookie of the Year has a chance to pick up his first career win at Route 66 Raceway.

“We got a lot of confidence going into tomorrow after making it down the track (in Q4),” Prock said. “It almost made it on the third run, but it knocked the tires loose. The big thing is that we made it, got down and picked up bonus points. Our car is good in the heat. We won Phoenix on a hot, tricky track and we can do that again here. It’s a tough business being a crew chief but I’ve got faith in mine [father, Jimmy]. Besides, the track will get better tomorrow and I think you’ll see some better runs.”

Bob Tasca III took second with Friday’s run of 3.913 at 329.91 and Paul Lee qualified third after going 3.922 at 323.13.

Saturday didn’t start the way Pro Stock’s Erica Enders wanted, but she closed it out with a strong run, following up Friday’s pass of 6.548 at 209.69 in her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/Scag Power Equipment car to cement her No. 1 position. It’s the second top qualifier this season and 36th in her career and she was pleased with the 6.595 to finish out qualifying in the heat. It was a strong turnaround after an opening-round loss to Anderson in the Callout, giving Enders confidence she can earn her 50th career national event win on Sunday at the same place where her first Pro Stock win came.

“After we ran so well on Friday, that first round of the Callout was not ideal,” Enders said. “T.J. [Coughlin] soldiered on but the rest of us [Team Elite drivers] did not. We didn’t get down the track. Afterward, we had a huge meeting with our crew chiefs and went back the drawing board. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. As much as I wanted to win today, race day and winning that Wally is what it’s all about.”

Troy Coughlin Jr. qualified second with a 6.554 at 209.75 and Anderson starts raceday in third looking for a double-up win.

Matt Smith broke Gaige Herrera’s record streak of 11 straight No. 1 qualifiers in Pro Stock Motorcycle, as his 6.708 at 201.40 was more than enough on his Denso Auto Parts/Matt Smith Racing Buell was more than enough to stay at the top. Herrera’s No. 1 string had dated back to last July, but Smith impressed immediately on Friday, claiming his 53rd career top spot. He’ll begin eliminations against Lance Bonham, looking for his first win of the season.

“I’m really excited. I have a good bike. We’ve been testing a lot and getting better and better,” Smith said. “Honestly, I don’t know if lane choice means anything. Both sides are really good. This place has always been good to me. I normally come up here and run really well. This track will take everything you can throw at it. I think we’re back to where we think we should be. A win would be huge. We had the best bike for three runs this weekend and I think we’ll have the best bike tomorrow.”

Herrera can win his eighth straight race on Sunday and qualified second with a run of 6.745 at 200.17. LE Tonglet took third thanks to a run of 6.772 at 200.44.

Eliminations for the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance begin at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday at Route 66 Raceway.

JOLIET, Ill. — Saturday’s final results from the GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock All-Star Callout at the 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway.

GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout — Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.595, 208.36 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.641, 206.80.

JOLIET, Ill. — Final round-by-round results from the GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock All-Star Callout at 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway,.

GETTRX PRO STOCK ALL-STAR CALLOUT:

ROUND ONE — Deric Kramer, Chevy Camaro, 8.441, 186.46 def. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 8.984, 166.74; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.674, 207.08 def. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 7.107, 163.43; Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.592, 208.65 def. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.604, 208.36; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.566, 208.46 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 7.096, 203.09;

SEMIFINALS — M. Hartford, 6.619, 206.26 def. D. Kramer, 13.300,

65.50; G. Anderson, 6.582, 208.46 def. T. Coughlin Jr., 14.151, 60.90;

FINAL — G. Anderson, 6.595, 208.36 def. M. Hartford, 6.641, 206.80.

JOLIET, Ill. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway, the sixth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Top Fuel — 1. T.J. Zizzo, 3.735 seconds, 331.77 mph vs. 16. Tony Stewart, 3.852, 323.04; 2. Clay Millican, 3.746, 332.84 vs. 15. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.847, 320.20; 3. Doug Kalitta, 3.750, 332.84 vs. 14. Justin Ashley, 3.831, 320.05; 4. Shawn Langdon, 3.771, 332.10 vs. 13. Cody Krohn, 3.824, 319.75; 5. Shawn Reed, 3.772, 324.51 vs. 12. Josh Hart, 3.803, 319.98; 6. Antron Brown, 3.775, 331.36 vs. 11. Jasmine Salinas, 3.798, 320.28; 7. Steve Torrence, 3.776, 336.65 vs. 10. Billy Torrence, 3.780, 330.63; 8. Tony Schumacher, 3.779,

328.22 vs. 9. Dan Mercier, 3.779, 325.14.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Doug Foley, 3.889, 275.11; 18. Brittany Force, 3.911, 297.16; 19. Krista Baldwin, 4.001, 255.00; 20. Luigi Novelli, 4.139, 291.89; 21. Terry Totten, 4.508, 185.84; 22. Travis Shumake, 5.959, 109.54.

Funny Car — 1. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.907, 332.43 vs. 16. Jack Wyatt, Dodge Charger, 4.677, 187.52; 2. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.913, 329.91 vs. 15. Dave Richards, Toyota Camry, 4.316, 225.15; 3. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.922, 323.12 vs. 14. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.095, 311.63; 4. John Force, Camaro, 3.930, 326.95 vs. 13. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.092, 315.49; 5. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota GR Supra, 3.936, 330.55 vs. 12. J.R.

Todd, GR Supra, 4.040, 316.52; 6. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.939, 327.90 vs. 11. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.012, 322.27; 7. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.953, 314.75 vs. 10. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.963, 312.86; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.957, 319.90 vs. 9. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.962, 321.58.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Justin Schriefer, 5.173, 211.43; 18. Chris King, 7.013, 94.18.

Pro Stock — 1. Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.548, 209.69 vs. 16. John DeFlorian Jr., Camaro, 6.615, 209.10; 2. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.554, 209.75 vs. 15. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.606, 856.05; 3. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.554, 208.78 vs. 14. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.605, 208.59; 4. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.559, 209.23 vs. 13. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.596, 209.69; 5. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.563, 208.14 vs. 12. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.595, 208.17; 6. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.572, 208.88 vs. 11. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.592, 208.65; 7. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.583, 208.07 vs. 10.

Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.590, 208.55; 8. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.584, 208.81 vs. 9. David Cuadra, Mustang, 6.588, 208.97.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Mason McGaha, 6.622, 208.39; 18. Sienna Wildgust, 6.623, 207.72.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.708, 201.40 vs. 16. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.246, 184.50; 2. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.733, 201.16 vs. 15. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 7.237, 185.51; 3. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.772, 200.44 vs. 14. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.956, 195.28; 4. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.778, 200.26 vs. 13. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.948, 193.32; 5. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.782, 200.95 vs. 12. Ron Tornow, Victory, 6.894, 196.96; 6. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.795, 200.00 vs. 11. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.867, 196.22; 7. John Hall, Beull, 6.811, 198.50 vs. 10. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.853, 195.45; 8. Chase Van

Sant, Suzuki, 6.822, 198.12 vs. 9. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.838, 130.78.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Geno Scali, 7.355, 183.24; 18. Eiji Kawakami, 7.408, 184.60.

CHICAGO (May 18, 2024) – For the second time this season, Funny Car’s J.R. Todd picked up a win in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, defeating reigning world champion Matt Hagan in the final round on Saturday at Route 66 Raceway as part of this weekend’s 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance.

Justin Ashley (Top Fuel) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge at the sixth of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Todd went 4.040-seconds at 316.52 mph in his 11,000-horsepower DHL Toyota GR Supra, holding off Hagan to get his third career victory in the specialty race. Warmer conditions posed a challenge on Saturday, but Todd performed well, knocking off John Force in the semifinals before getting past Hagan. The solid back-to-back runs also give Todd confidence heading into tomorrow, where he’ll have the chance to become the first two-time Funny Car winner in 2024.

“This is extremely rewarding and a lot of that is because these are race conditions,” Todd said. “Tomorrow, it might be even warmer. In Q3, a lot of cars weren’t getting down the track and we did against John [Force]. Tomorrow, I’m not sure how important lane choice will be, but I feel like no matter what, we’re good in the heat. The teams that put up numbers sometimes struggle in the heat when they have to pull back.

“I love days like this when conditions are tough. I’m not saying I’m the best at it, but I love the thought of trying to tame 11,000 horsepower.”

In Top Fuel, Justin Ashley put together his best run of the weekend, going 3.831 at 320.05 in his 11,000-horsepower Scag Power Equipment/Toyota dragster to knock off Clay Millican. It’s his second victory in the specialty race for the points leader and the eighth overall win in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, as it’s become an area where Ashley has thrived. The run in the final was his best of the weekend as well, providing some solid momentum going into eliminations.

“This feels great but it’s tough to pinpoint one thing that we did to make this happen today,” Ashley said. “I just know it helps to get us in raceday mode. In these races, I’m not necessarily trying to race the other person, just trying to make the best run I can make. As a team, we keep chipping away at it. We struggled a bit at the start of the year but we’re better and this was a fun one today.

“When we ran that 3.83 in the final I felt better because that’s similar conditions than what we’re going to face tomorrow. I assume there will be a lot of shaking and spinning and we need to be ready for it.”

Defending Pro Stock Motorcycle Gaige Herrera stayed perfect in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in 2024, winning for the third straight time with a run of 6.733 at 201.16 on his RevZilla/Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki. The victory came against teammate Richard Gadson, making it a win-win for the team, but Herrera has been nearly impossible to beat since last year. He’ll look for yet another double-up weekend on Sunday, pleased with how the bike ran in the heat on Saturday at Route 66 Raceway.

“I knew that it was going to be a tough race with Richard because he’s my teammate. He’s new but he’s competitive and he’s learning quickly,” Herrera said. “He left on me, but we had enough to get around him. The good thing about these [Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge] races is that you get in a routine on Saturday and that helps make you a better racer on Sunday. Right now, the parity in this class is close, and that’s what this class needs.”

Eliminations for the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance begin at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday at Route 66 Raceway.

JOLIET, Ill. — Saturday’s final results from the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge at the 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway.

Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Top Fuel Challenge — Justin Ashley, 3.831 seconds, 320.05 mph def. Clay Millican, 6.120 seconds, 102.22 mph.

Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Funny Car Challenge — J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 4.040, 316.52 def. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.104, 317.64.

Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Challenge — Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.733, 201.16 def. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.795, 200.00.

JOLIET, Ill. — Final round-by-round results from the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge at 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway,.

MISSION #2FAST2TASTY NHRA TOP FUEL CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE — Justin Ashley, 3.942, 296.37 def. Antron Brown, 4.082, 258.42; Clay Millican, 3.951, 253.14 def. Doug Kalitta, 8.748, 81.78;

FINAL — J. Ashley, 3.831, 320.05 def. C. Millican, 6.120, 102.22.

MISSION #2FAST2TASTY NHRA FUNNY CAR CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE — Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 10.714, 78.83 def. Daniel Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, Foul – Red Light; J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 4.076, 306.74 def. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.678, 181.01;

FINAL — J. Todd, 4.040, 316.52 def. M. Hagan, 4.104, 317.64.

MISSION #2FAST2TASTY NHRA PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE — Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.829, 200.41 def. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.819, 199.52; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.744, 200.62 def. John Hall, 6.811, 198.50;

FINAL — G. Herrera, 6.733, 201.16 def. R. Gadson, 6.795, 200.00.