Beckman, Kalitta and Anderson take No. 1 spots at Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 16, 2025) – Funny Car veteran Jack Beckman won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge over Matt Hagan on Saturday at Brainerd International Raceway, also securing the No. 1 qualifier at the 43rd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.

Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) also won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in Brainerd, while Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Beckman and Anderson all qualified No. 1 at the 13th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

In the final round of the specialty race, Beckman won the matchup of world champions, going 3.942-seconds at 324.59 mph in his 12,000-horsepower PEAK Chevrolet SS. It’s the third bonus win of the season for Beckman, who returned to the Funny Car ranks a year ago in Brainerd.

He was named John Force’s replacement driver starting at that race and Beckman has been impressive over the past year, making a pair of stellar runs on Saturday in Brainerd. Beckman took the No. 1 spot in qualifying – his fourth top spot this season – with a run of 3.879 at 330.63 to open the day and then topped Hagan to finish off a strong Saturday. The former world champion opens eliminations against Dave Richards and will attempt to win for the third time during the 2025 campaign.

“I’m over the moon with my car. Even with us struggling, we were still second in points and still won a race. It’s just that we were even better last year. When we went back to last year’s car after the Epping wreck, it seemed like it wanted something different. But now I think we’re back,” Beckman said.

“At first, I didn’t make a big deal out of this [Mission Challenge], but sometimes Saturday can be a bit anticlimactic. Typically, we’d get data for Sunday but now, I think it’s one of the smarter moves NHRA has made. It makes [Saturday] matter. Those points that go into the Countdown are huge. That’s a big carrot. I thought it was cool before I won the first one. Now that I’ve won a couple, I really love it.”

Points leader Austin Prock is qualified second on the strength of Friday’s 3.893 at 331.45 and Hunter Green jumped to third in the final session after going 3.906 at 332.67.

In Top Fuel, points leader Shawn Langdon won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge for the fourth time in 2025 in his 12,000-horsepower Kalitta Air Careers dragster, dispatching Kalitta Motorsports teammate Doug Kalitta on a massive holeshot and a run of 3.742 at 334.32.

It ties Kalitta for the most wins in the specialty race this season, giving Langdon 18 bonus points thus far for the Countdown to the Championship. Langdon was .059 on the starting line and Kalitta was uncharacteristically late, as the former world champ easily held on for the bonus race victory. Looking to win the regular season world championship, Langdon will also aim to win for the first time in his professional career at Brainerd International Raceway on Sunday.

“We were trying to move up in qualifying, so we’re trying to run a little bit better than a 3.74. I think my [stage light] was blinking pretty good, so maybe that distracted him,” Langdon said. “We wanted to have a good race. It wasn’t intentional by any means. I was just trying to stage shallow.

“Now, we’ll see what we can do tomorrow. We really appreciate everything that Mission Foods does. This is a great program, but we also have to focus on tomorrow, especially with the U.S. Nationals and the Countdown coming up.”

Despite the struggles in the final round of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, Kalitta did claim his seventh No. 1 qualifier of the season in his 12,000-horsepower Mac Tools dragster on Saturday’s earlier run of 3.655 at 339.36. It’s the 65th career No. 1 qualifier for the former world champ who opens eliminations against Terry Totten, attempting to pick up his second straight victory in 2025.

“That [3.655] run was very smooth, the car stayed right in the middle,” Kalitta said. “It seems like it drives nice every time it runs big numbers like that. My guys have put together some really consistent runs. They have the car put together the same way each time and that makes a big difference. That’s quite a ride.

“As far as driving it, I try to do the same thing every time and not mess things up too badly. I want to lick my wounds from [the Mission Challenge final] and regroup and put it behind me for tomorrow.”

Brittany Force qualified second with a 3.697 at a track-record speed of 340.82 and Jordan Vandergriff, who is racing for Shawn Reed this weekend after Reed’s crash in Seattle, is third with a career-best run of 3.705 at 334.32.

Pro Stock defending world champion Greg Anderson continued to enjoy a stellar weekend at the track where he grew up racing, winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge over KB Titan Racing teammate and taking the No. 1 qualifying position.

In the finals of the bonus race to close out Saturday, Anderson went 6.561 at 208.23 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro, slipping past Glenn to win for the first time on Saturday this year. A night after winning the American Rebel Light “Battle for the Rebel Axe” bonus, Anderson also claimed the $2,000 GESi No. 1 Qualifier Award thanks to his run of 6.555 at 207.59 to start the day, just missing out on a track record.

It’s the fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season for Anderson, who opens raceday against Chris Vang. The six-time world champion last won in Brainerd in 2011 and he would love to do so again on Sunday to close out a perfect weekend.

“It’s been two perfect days and that’s all you could hope for,” Anderson said. “I’m excited for tomorrow. My race car is great and I feel like we’ve got a great chance. Competition brings out the best in everyone out here. Matt Hartford has worn me out in these [Mission] deals. I want to win anytime we go down the race track. You get here and make it through them all, and then you’ve got Dallas left. That’s always tough.

“I’ve had a great year so far, but we need to keep progressing here in Brainerd and again in Indy, and into the Countdown. In this class, you’d better keep on working and keep on improving because the competition is going to keep coming after you.”

Points leader Glenn finished second in qualifying with a run of 6.569 at 208.20 and Matt Hartford took third thanks to a pass of 6.575 at 206.42.

Eliminations for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals begin at 10 a.m. CT on Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway.

BRAINERD, Minn. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 43rd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, the 13th 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. Doug Kalitta, 3.655 seconds, 339.36 mph vs. 14. Terry Totten, 12.244, 69.77; 2. Brittany Force, 3.697, 340.82 vs. 13. Will Smith, 4.144, 229.98; 3. Jordan Vandergriff, 3.705, 334.32 vs. 12. Kyle Satenstein, 3.864, 314.90; 4. Billy Torrence, 3.713, 333.74 vs. 11. Ida Zetterstrom, 3.829, 326.40; 5. Tony Stewart, 3.732, 331.61 vs. 10. Josh Hart, 3.784, 330.47; 6. Clay Millican, 3.741, 332.75 vs. 9. Justin Ashley, 3.758, 332.84; 7. Antron Brown, 3.742, 334.90 vs. 8. Shawn Langdon, 3.742, 334.82.

Funny Car — 1. Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 3.879, 330.63 vs. 16. Dave Richards, Ford Mustang, 5.816, 118.33; 2. Austin Prock, Camaro, 3.893, 331.45 vs. 15. Jim Campbell, Dodge Charger, 4.052, 279.50; 3. Hunter Green, Charger, 3.906, 332.67 vs. 14. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.962, 312.21; 4. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.907, 330.39 vs. 13. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 3.960, 317.42; 5. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.908, 331.45 vs. 12.

Paul Lee, Charger, 3.947, 325.22; 6. Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 3.913, 332.51 vs. 11. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 3.942, 302.62; 7. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.913, 329.58 vs. 10. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.935, 329.02; 8. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.930, 332.43 vs. 9. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.934, 329.42.

Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.555, 208.23 vs. 16. Chris Vang, Camaro, 6.661, 205.32; 2. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.569, 208.20 vs. 15. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.640, 204.48; 3. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.575, 207.21 vs. 14. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.626, 206.13; 4. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.589, 206.80 vs. 13. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.621, 206.89; 5. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.590, 208.23 vs. 12. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.616, 206.26; 6. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.590, 207.40 vs. 11. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.615, 205.13; 7. David Cuadra, Camaro, 6.600, 207.21 vs. 10. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.611, 206.61; 8. Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.602, 207.94 vs. 9. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.605, 207.43.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Kenny Delco, 6.714, 203.71; 18. Joseph Wilczek, 6.962, 198.67.

BRAINERD, Minn. — Saturday’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge final results from the 43rd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Top Fuel Challenge — Shawn Langdon, 3.742 seconds, 334.32 mph def. Doug Kalitta, 3.677 seconds, 338.34 mph.

Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Funny Car Challenge — Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 3.942, 324.59 def. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 6.636, 101.53.

Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Pro Stock Challenge — Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.561, 208.23 def. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.612, 207.37.

BRAINERD, Minn. — Final Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge round-by-round results from the 43rd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

MISSION #2FAST2TASTY NHRA TOP FUEL CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE — Shawn Langdon, 3.999, 229.04 def. Antron Brown, 6.005, 114.60; Doug Kalitta, 3.655, 339.36 def. Justin Ashley, 5.258, 130.23;

FINAL — S. Langdon, 3.742, 334.32 def. D. Kalitta, 3.677, 338.34.

MISSION #2FAST2TASTY NHRA FUNNY CAR CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE — Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.935, 329.02 def. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 4.761, 167.20; Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.879, 330.63 def. Spencer Hyde, Ford Mustang, 9.925, 78.38; FINAL — J. Beckman, 3.942, 324.59 def. M. Hagan, 6.636, 101.53.

MISSION #2FAST2TASTY NHRA PRO STOCK CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE — Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.569, 208.20 def. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.624, 206.39; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.555, 207.59 def. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; FINAL — G. Anderson, 6.561, 208.23 def. D. Glenn, 6.612, 207.37.

Toyota keeps Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge streak alive

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 16, 2025) – Posting a 3.655 elapsed time in Saturday qualifying, Doug Kalitta earned the No. 1 qualifier for tomorrow’s NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. The result is Kalitta’s seventh No. 1 qualifier this season and the 65th in his career. Joining Kalitta towards the top of the Top Fuel field is Billy Torrence, who earned the No. 4 seed for his first race of the 2025 season.

Kalitta’s teammate and Top Fuel points leader, Shawn Langdon, captured another win in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, defeating Kalitta in the finals Saturday afternoon. The win is Langdon’s fifth Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge triumph this season, which also continued Toyota’s streak of victories in all challenge events in either Top Fuel or Funny Car. 

In Funny Car, Ron Capps earned the No. 4 seed for tomorrow’s eliminations with J.R. Todd as the fifth seed. Capps looks to capture his eighth Brainerd International Raceway win tomorrow and increase his track-best mark, while Todd looks to go rounds and improve his points position with just two race days before the Countdown to the Championship.

Eliminations of the NHRA Nationals from Brainerd International Raceway begin tomorrow at 11 a.m. EST with live TV coverage beginning at 3 p.m. EST on FOX.

Toyota Post-Qualifying Recap
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series 
Brainerd International Raceway
NHRA Nationals
Race 13 of 20

TOYOTA TOP FUEL QUALIFYING POSITIONS

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING POSITIONS  

*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

DOUG KALITTA, Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Qualifying Result: 1st

How nice is it to have a car that performs at this level?

“Yeah, it’s been quite a ride! Alan (Johnson, crew chief), Mac (Savage, crew chief) and all these Mac Tools Toyota guys have our car running well. I’m just trying to do my best and on occasion, I guess I’m human. It (Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge) wasn’t what we were hoping for obviously, but real proud of my guys and will go into tomorrow and see if we can get the win.”

SHAWN LANGDON, Kalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Qualifying Result: 8th

How well does another challenge win position your team?

“The No. 1 spot is a pretty good spot to be in, so good job to Doug (Kalitta) and his team for that. Brian (Husen, crew chief) and I were talking earlier, and we still wanted to try to get win the #2Fast2Tasty challenge, so that’s pretty cool. It’s a pretty neat program Mission Foods put out there for us, so we’re really appreciative of it. We want to put forth our best effort, and that’s what we did right there.The Kalitta Air Toyota Top Fuel Dragster didn’t run exactly what we were trying to run (there). I was off a little bit on the tree, but the bulb was blanking up there. We were trying to go for the No. 1 spot, really. Unfortunately, we didn’t get it, but we got the win so that’s good. We still have a shot, still got a shot at the regular-season championship going into Indianapolis (U.S. Nationals). All in all, great year, but we have to get it done tomorrow. Tomorrow’s a big day!”

RON CAPPS, NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, Ron Capps Motorsports

FC Qualifying Result: 4th

Describe your weekend so far.

“Yeah, the forecast was not looking good when we rolled in here (Brainerd), but you wouldn’t know that by looking at the fans and in ‘The Zoo.’ And then, we go out and get in four qualifying runs! As always, our NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car was great, and we ended qualifying on a good note. The track conditions are always tricky here. You have a lot of water in the air. Track reading and getting all the information we get from our Toyota engineers on the starting line was key to go up there in that last session and move up a position into fourth, and a really good tune up for tomorrow. It’s going to be overcast tomorrow, and we’ll probably see even quicker runs than we have so far this weekend. Great job by everyone and we’ll see if we can go get win number eight here at Brainerd!”

About Toyota 

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships. 

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. 

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

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 15, 2025) – Reigning Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown made the quickest run on Friday at Brainerd International Raceway, taking the provisional No. 1 position and winning the night’s special American Rebel Light Friday Night “Battle for the Rebel Axe” at the 43rd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.

Austin Prock (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 13th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Brown went 3.742-seconds at 334.90 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Matco Tools dragster, holding off a strong field to claim the $4,000 bonus and sit atop the “Throne of the North” made from cases of American Rebel Light. Brown also won the Rebel Axe trophy, a cigar box electric guitar custom-built in the shape of a 12-pack of American Rebel Light.

It was an ideal start for Brown, who has six career wins across Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle at Brainerd, as the four-time champ looks to qualify No. 1 for the first time since the season-opener in Gainesville, a race he also won this year.

“It felt good. The track was a bit tricky. We didn’t get the clutch right on first run, but that run definitely made up for it,” Brown said. “We got to do what we wanted to do, which was run the race track. The car was straight, stayed nimble and felt good. It sets us up good for tomorrow.

“We’ve got a little hole to dig out of in the points to get where we want, so I’m super pumped and happy for that run. I don’t often drink beer, but when I do it will be American Rebel Light.”

Clay Millican finished Friday just off the pace, taking second with a 3.746 at 330.72 and Shawn Langdon, the current points leader, is third after a run of 3.753 at 334.82.

In Funny Car, points leader and reigning world champion Austin Prock enjoyed another big Friday night, taking the American Rebel Light “Battle for the Rebel Axe” on Friday night with a run of 3.893 at 331.45 in his 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet SS.

Prock stood tall on the “Throne of the North,” also picking up the guitar and the $4,000 bonus, marking another impressive accomplishment during his 2025 season. The star has a chance to clinch the regular-season championship this weekend in Brainerd and Prock, who won the most recent race in Sonoma, is now on track to pick up his fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season.

“You know, when American Rebel Light is part of a race, we seem to do well in this Cornwell Tools Camaro. We seem to run pretty well, so it was cool to collect the cash, and the guitar. It’s a good way to start the weekend here in Brainerd,” Prock said. “On both runs today, my steering wheel was pretty far to the left, so it had my hands full a little bit there. I wanted to be prepared for that, and definitely felt a little loose down there, but it still ran 331 mph, so it couldn’t have been slipping too badly.

“To win these races and win these championships, we’ve got to be able to go down all conditions of racetracks. So, we have a pretty good notebook right now.”

Jack Beckman, who returned to the Funny Car ranks a year ago in Brainerd, is currently second with a 3.907. Ron Capps, whose seven BIR wins leads all active drivers, is third after his run of 3.920 at 330.39.

Duluth native Greg Anderson enjoyed a strong ending to his night in Pro Stock, taking the top spot on Friday night with a run of 6.614 at 204.76 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. The standout pass handed Anderson the $2,000 bonus in the American Rebel Light “Battle for Rebel Axe” and plenty of momentum for the rest of the weekend.

Should that hold, the reigning world champion would earn his fifth No. 1 spot of the season as he seeks another victory at the track where he grew up racing.

“It felt really nice and like before the run, I told all my guys, ‘We made a nice run on the first run, and I think we can go quicker on the second’. I told them I want that guitar. I want those cases of beer. Any time that anybody puts up a special bounty like that, it means the world to a guy like me. I love that,” Anderson said. “

“They made the right calls on the car and we made a beautiful run. It felt perfectly in low gear. That’s all I could ask for. This has been a great night. Right now, I feel like I won the race. This track is different from anyplace we race, but it’s a great surface. That’s why you saw so many good runs in the second session. Guys know what they can throw at it, and it’s probably going to get quicker tomorrow.”

Points leader Dallas Glenn, who has won the past two years in Brainerd, is in second, just behind Anderson with a run of 6.616 at 204.79, while Erica Enders is third after going 6.623 at 205.82 during what she hopes is a big turnaround weekend.

Qualifying continues at 12 p.m. CT on Saturday at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

BRAINERD, Minn. — Friday’s results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 43rd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, 13th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel — 1. Antron Brown, 3.742 seconds, 334.90 mph; 2. Clay Millican, 3.746, 330.96; 3. Shawn Langdon, 3.753, 334.82; 4. Doug Kalitta, 3.758, 329.75; 5. Brittany Force, 3.766, 332.10; 6. Tony Stewart, 3.799, 326.40; 7. Jordan Vandergriff, 3.800, 328.30; 8. Ida Zetterstrom, 3.877, 311.41; 9. Kyle Satenstein, 3.882, 301.20; 10. Will Smith, 4.144, 229.98; 11. Billy Torrence, 5.074, 142.78; 12. Josh Hart, 5.408, 127.49; 13. Justin Ashley, 6.589, 91.13.

Funny Car — 1. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.893, 331.45; 2. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.907, 323.66; 3. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.920, 330.39; 4. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.930, 332.43; 5. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.934, 324.75; 6. Alexis DeJoria, Dodge Charger, 3.942, 330.23; 7. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 3.942, 302.62; 8. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.944, 329.67; 9. Hunter Green, Charger, 3.946, 314.09; 10. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.947, 325.22; 11. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 3.960, 317.42; 12. Chad Green,

Mustang, 3.962, 312.21; 13. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.113, 245.00; 14. Jim Campbell, Charger, 5.060, 152.68; 15. Dave Richards, Mustang, 6.011, 116.41; 16. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 6.264, 109.30.

Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.614, 206.86; 2. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.616, 206.23; 3. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.623, 206.01; 4. Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.624, 206.73; 5. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.628, 207.21; 6. David Cuadra, Camaro, 6.634, 205.16; 7. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.641, 204.94; 8. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.642, 204.98; 9. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.643, 205.13; 10. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.659, 205.72; 11.

Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.665, 205.76; 12. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.675, 206.51; 13. Chris Vang, Camaro, 6.680, 205.16; 14. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.688, 204.76; 15. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.690, 204.60; 16. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.695, 203.89.

Not Qualified: 17. Kenny Delco, 6.748, 203.71; 18. Joseph Wilczek, 7.187, 196.50.