The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series playoffs opened up at the famed Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania with the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals. The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series playoffs opened up at the famed Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania with the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals. Pleasant weather conditions along with the all-concrete racing surface provided the capacity crowd with some great and close racing.

In Top Fuel, most of the best cars were pretty close. Surprisingly, there were only two runs under 3.70 seconds. Both of those belonged to Brittany Force, who came in as the #1 seed in the countdown. She qualified #1 with a 3.696 at 327.90 mph and took an opening round win with a strong 3.698 at 337.66 mph, validating her unofficial nickname, “Queen of Speed”. Unfortunately, Force’s day ended in round two, against Antron Brown. Brown left first and took the win, as Force’s engine exploded at about the 300-foot mark. Brown, coming off a great win at Indy, had a great running car and set his sights on another win. But, Austin Prock (Force’s teammate) and his team had found their tuning solutions. Prock proceeded to end Brown’s chances in the semis, 5.732 at 293.47 mph to a (tire smoking) 6.565 at 146.54 mph, to advance to his first final round since Seattle in 2019. Prock’s final round opponent would be Justin Ashley, the #2 qualifier, who had been consistently running in the low 3.70’s to low 3.80’s range throughout the event. Ashley got way first but Prock took the win, 3.755 at 329.67 mph to 3.783 at 326.40 mph. It was Prock’s second career win and like his first one, he was spontaneous and excited, climbing on top of the rear wing of his race car in celebration. The win moved him from the 12th spot to 6th (74-points back) in the countdown point race. Front runner Ashley leads Brittany Force by 9-points and Mike Salinas by 10-points.

In Funny Car, Robert Hight came in as the #1 seed and took the top spot in qualifying with a 3.867 at 331.20 mph. His tuner/crew chief (Jimmy Prock, Austin Prock’s father) had the Prock Rocket running in top form, as he marched to the final round with the quickest elapse times in all but the opening round. The only scratch in Hight’s performance domination, came courtesy of Ron Capps, who defeated Phil Burkart Jr. with a 3.858 at 331.53 mph. Unfortunately, Capps’ day was ended in the 2nd round by Tim Wilkerson. Wilkerson then defeated John Force in the semi-final round. On that run, Wilkerson’s engine exploded in a huge ball of fire, that caused enough damage to require bringing out a backup car. In the final, Wilkerson left too soon and could only watch Hight thunder away to a 3.937 and 328.38 mph win. It was Hight’s 60th career win and 7th of the season, giving him a commanding lead over Matt Hagan (-81) in the championship point race.

In Pro Stock, Erica Enders came in as the #1 seed, but Bo Butner took the top qualifying spot ahead of Enders followed by Kyle Koretsky, Dallas Glenn and Greg Anderson. Koretsky’s father, Kenny “Captain Chaos” Koretsky, had purchased the famous Maple Grove Raceway track and facility earlier in the year, to keep it active. Without his efforts, this event may not have occurred. This made Kyle Koretsky a sentimental crowd favorite throughout the event. As has been the normal over her career, opponents facing Erica Enders learn very quickly that the end in Enders often means the end of their race day. Once again, she advanced to the final round where she ended Troy Coughlin Jr.’s day 6.582 at 209.72 mph to 6.601 at 209.56 mph. She extended her point lead to 81-points over Greg Anderson.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Matt Smith came in as the #1 seed and qualified in the top spot. But Joey Gladstone changed all of that in round two, as he took out Smith and then marched to the final round. In the final, he defeated Angie Smith (Matt Smith’s wife), as she fouled out, 6.835 at 196.93 mph to 6.867 at 198.85 mph. The win, the 3rd of his career (all in this season) place him in the point lead by 29-points over Matt Smith.

In Top Fuel, most of the best cars were pretty close. Surprisingly, there were only two runs under 3.70 seconds. Both of those belonged to Brittany Force, who came in as the #1 seed in the countdown. She qualified #1 with a 3.696 at 327.90 mph and took an opening round win with a strong 3.698 at 337.66 mph, validating her unofficial nickname, “Queen of Speed”. Unfortunately, Force’s day ended in round two, against Antron Brown. Brown left first and took the win, as Force’s engine exploded at about the 300-foot mark. Brown, coming off a great win at Indy, had a great running car and set his sights on another win. But, Austin Prock (Force’s teammate) and his team had found their tuning solutions. Prock proceeded to end Brown’s chances in the semis, 5.732 at 293.47 mph to a (tire smoking) 6.565 at 146.54 mph, to advance to his first final round since Seattle in 2019. Prock’s final round opponent would be Justin Ashley, the #2 qualifier, who had been consistently running in the low 3.70’s to low 3.80’s range throughout the event. Ashley got way first but Prock took the win, 3.755 at 329.67 mph to 3.783 at 326.40 mph. It was Prock’s second career win and like his first one, he was spontaneous and excited, climbing on top of the rear wing of his race car in celebration. The win moved him from the 12th spot to 6th (74-points back) in the countdown point race. Front runner Ashley leads Brittany Force by 9-points and Mike Salinas by 10-points.

In Funny Car, Robert Hight came in as the #1 seed and took the top spot in qualifying with a 3.867 at 331.20 mph. His tuner/crew chief (Jimmy Prock, Austin Prock’s father) had the Prock Rocket running in top form, as he marched to the final round with the quickest elapse times in all but the opening round. The only scratch in Hight’s performance domination, came courtesy of Ron Capps, who defeated Phil Burkart Jr. with a 3.858 at 331.53 mph. Unfortunately, Capps’ day was ended in the 2nd round by Tim Wilkerson. Wilkerson then defeated John Force in the semi-final round. On that run, Wilkerson’s engine exploded in a huge ball of fire, that caused enough damage to require bringing out a backup car. In the final, Wilkerson left too soon and could only watch Hight thunder away to a 3.937 and 328.38 mph win. It was Hight’s 60th career win and 7th of the season, giving him a commanding lead over Matt Hagan (-81) in the championship point race.

In Pro Stock, Erica Enders came in as the #1 seed, but Bo Butner took the top qualifying spot ahead of Enders followed by Kyle Koretsky, Dallas Glenn and Greg Anderson. Koretsky’s father, Kenny “Captain Chaos” Koretsky, had purchased the famous Maple Grove Raceway track and facility earlier in the year, to keep it active. Without his efforts, this event may not have occurred. This made Kyle Koretsky a sentimental crowd favorite throughout the event. As has been the normal over her career, opponents facing Erica Enders learn very quickly that the end in Enders often means the end of their race day. Once again, she advanced to the final round where she ended Troy Coughlin Jr.’s day 6.582 at 209.72 mph to 6.601 at 209.56 mph. She extended her point lead to 81-points over Greg Anderson.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Matt Smith came in as the #1 seed and qualified in the top spot. But Joey Gladstone changed all of that in round two, as he took out Smith and then marched to the final round. In the final, he defeated Angie Smith (Matt Smith’s wife), as she fouled out, 6.835 at 196.93 mph to 6.867 at 198.85 mph. The win, the 3rd of his career (all in this season) place him in the point lead by 29-points over Matt Smith.