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HAGAN, KALITTA, ANDERSON & HERRERA ROLL TO WINS AT NAPA AUTO PARTS NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS
– Kalitta extends lead with TF triumph
– FC’s Hagan pulls within 20 points of Prock
– Anderson gets sixth PS win of 2025
– Herrera gets back on track with PSM victory
ST. LOUIS (Sept. 28, 2025) – Four-time Funny Car world champ Matt
Hagan defeated Jack Beckman in the final round on Sunday at World Wide
Technology Raceway, picking up the victory for Tony Stewart Racing and
staying alive in the championship mix in front of a huge crowd at the
NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals.
Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera
(Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the 17th of 20 races during the 2025
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the third of six races
in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
In the final round, Hagan went 3.979-seconds at 329.34 mph in his
12,000-horsepower American Rebel Beer Dodge//SRT Hellcat, holding off
Beckman’s 4.036 to win for the second time this season and the 54th
time in his career. After qualifying second and running well all
weekend, Hagan defeated Alex Laughlin, Cruz Pedregon and Daniel
Wilkerson to advance to the final round.
He left first with a standout .040 reaction time and pulled away at the
finish line, staying second in the points race but pulling to within 20
points of leader and reigning world champion Austin Prock with three
races remaining. Hagan also won for the third time in St. Louis, hoping
to replicate his 2023 finish that included a St. Louis victory and a
world championship.
“I told my guys when we came into this race, you know, we’re all
chasing Austin. He won eight races this year, but no one is
infallible,” Hagan said. “You just have to be ready when they mess
up, and they messed up today. Damn, the kid is beatable. We just have to
be able to take advantage of that, and Mike Knudsen, Phil Shuler, Alex
Conaway, they really worked hard all day and put a good racecar beneath
me.
“To have American Rebel Beer here, that was cool. We won our first
race here in St. Louis a couple years ago and won the championship after
that, and Andy Ross has been ecstatic ever since.”
Beckman, who was the defending event winner, reached the finals for the
fifth time in 2025 and 77th time in his career after knocking off rookie
Spencer Hyde, teammate Prock, who qualified No. 1, and Chad Green.
He’s third in points, 65 back of Prock.
In Top Fuel, Doug Kalitta rolled forward, capping off a massive weekend
in St. Louis with a victory, including a run of 3.796 at 327.98 in his
12,000-horsepower Mac Tools dragster to defeat first-time finalist Ida
Zetterström in the final round. Kalitta made the most of every
opportunity in St. Louis, qualifying No. 1, defeating championship
contender Justin Ashley in the semifinals and watching other
championship contenders fall early on Sunday.
That wasn’t the case with Kalitta, who was consistent throughout
eliminations, defeating Will Smith, Steve Torrence and then Ashley,
going 3.805 at 332.59 in the semifinals to keep him at bay in the title
chase. That set up a matchup with Zetterström, and Kalitta quickly
tracked her down to pick up his third victory of the season and the 58th
of his career.
The 2023 world champion has done well at St. Louis over the years and
this season was no different, as Kalitta won for the fifth time at World
Wide Technology Raceway. He now leads Ashley by 86 points and Kalitta
Motorsports teammate Shawn Langdon by 127 points.
“Each of the rounds today, my car was just on a rail. That’s really
what it took,” Kalitta said. “Conditions were pretty slick out
there, just going A to B, and and this whole Mac Tools group, I’m just
real proud of them. For me, it’s just a huge relief. You’re in the
Countdown races trying to do your best and they’re giving you a car
that’s going down the track like that, it’s real special for sure.
“It was a big points day for the guys that we were racing. Getting by
Justin, that was a huge round. My car went down the track, so that was
huge. We’re definitely trying to get as many points as we can to try to
stay ahead of these guys and keep doing what we’re doing.”
Zetterström reached the finals for the first time in her NHRA career,
knocking off Tony Stewart, Kyle Wurtzel and reigning world champion
Antron Brown earlier in the day.
Pro Stock reigning world champion Greg Anderson is alive and thriving
again in the championship hunt, picking up a crucial playoff victory on
Sunday in St. Louis, driving past Matt Hartford in the finals with a run
of 6.531 at 209.33 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro.
Anderson’s KB Titan Racing teammate, Dallas Glenn, won the first two
playoff races, extending his points lead, but Anderson answered back on
Sunday, knocking off Glenn in the second round en route to his sixth
victory this season and the 112th overall for the six-time world
champion.
This one was necessary, as Anderson pounced on the opportunity, also
defeating Mason McGaha and rookie Matt Latino to reach the final round.
Anderson posted a strong .021 reaction time, cruising to the victory and
keeping Glenn within striking distance. He now trails Glenn by just 25
points heading into the final stretch run.
“Today was crazy. I’m whipped,” Anderson said. “After yesterday, I
probably didn’t come in with the most confidence but what a recovery my
guys made with my racecar. It was just not happy in qualifying and
that’s not normal for us. They figured it out and I made four very
high-quality runs today and got the light I needed to get each time.
“Timing is everything, and it just all comes down to what you do when
in drag racing. A lot of big rounds – second round with Dallas Glenn
should have never happened, but you have to play the cards you’re dealt.
It was either going to be a horrible day for me or a horrible day for
Dallas, but still a great day for KB Titan. I’m proud of this race team.
It’s an honor to work for them, drive for them, manage this team, and be
part of it.”
Hartford reached the championship round for the third time in 2025 and
the 20th time in his career after defeating Cristian Cuadra, Erica
Enders and Troy Coughlin Jr., moving to third in points.
After a shocking first two races in the Countdown to the Championship,
back-to-back Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Gagie Herrera got back
on track in a major way, knocking off teammate Brayden Davis in the
final round when Davis went red by just .001. Herrera went 6.791 at
199.61 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki, picking up his sixth
victory this season and the 27th in his career.
Herrera fell in the second round at the playoff opener in Reading and
lost in the opening round last weekend in Charlotte, a shocking turn of
events for the rider who has dominated the class the past two-plus
seasons. But on his birthday, Herrera finished off a standout weekend
that saw him qualify No. 1 and then knock off Jianna Evaristo and Angie
Smith to reach the final round.
Davis had an unfortunate red light to hand the victory to Herrera, who
jumped back to second in points. With three races left, Herrera trails
teammate and points leader Richard Gadson by just 29 points, knowing
this was a must-win weekend if he wanted to pick up a third straight
championship.
“This means a lot. Moving from fourth to second in points, that’s
awesome, but I’m still the hunter or a chaser. I have to chase my
teammate,” Herrera said. “Brayden did me a little favor there in the
semis and then Matt [Smith] did me a big favor. That’s like the best
birthday present ever, him going out early. That makes it interesting.
“That’s the best part for me and Richard and everyone in the top half
of the points; it just makes it a lot more fun. Getting three (wins) in
a row here, it means a lot to me. I wish all the Countdown races were
here, honestly. But it was an awesome day, and to get to win on your
birthday, there’s just nothing like it.”
Davis reached the final round for the second time in his standout rookie
season, defeating Chris Bostick, Chase Van Sant and Gadson along the
way.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action Oct. 8-12
with the 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex in
Dallas.
***
MADISON, Ill. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 14th annual NAPA Auto
Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway. The race
is the 17th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Doug Kalitta; 2. Ida Zetterstrom; 3. Justin Ashley; 4. Antron Brown;
5. Shawn Langdon; 6. Kyle Wurtzel; 7. Tony Schumacher; 8. Steve
Torrence; 9. Shawn Reed; 10. T.J. Zizzo; 11. Josh Hart; 12. Clay
Millican; 13. Tony Stewart; 14. Brittany Force; 15. Will Smith; 16.
Cameron Ferre.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Matt Hagan; 2. Jack Beckman; 3. Chad Green; 4. Daniel Wilkerson; 5.
Bob Tasca III; 6. Alexis DeJoria; 7. Austin Prock; 8. Cruz Pedregon; 9.
Bobby Bode; 10. J.R. Todd; 11. Dave Richards; 12. Alex Laughlin; 13.
Paul Lee; 14. Spencer Hyde; 15. Blake Alexander; 16. Ron Capps.
PRO STOCK:
1. Greg Anderson; 2. Matt Hartford; 3. Matt Latino; 4. Troy Coughlin
Jr.; 5. Dallas Glenn; 6.
Erica Enders; 7. Chris Vang; 8. Fernando Cuadra Jr.; 9. Eric Latino; 10.
Cory Reed; 11. Aaron Stanfield; 12. Jeg Coughlin; 13. Greg Stanfield;
14. Cristian Cuadra; 15. Mason McGaha; 16. Cody Coughlin.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Gaige Herrera; 2. Brayden Davis; 3. Angie Smith; 4. Richard Gadson;
5. Steve Johnson; 6. Chase Van Sant; 7. Jianna Evaristo; 8. Marc
Ingwersen; 9. John Hall; 10. Kelly Clontz; 11. Ryan Oehler; 12. Matt
Smith; 13. Lance Bonham; 14. Wesley Wells; 15. Chris Bostick.
MADISON, Ill. — Sunday’s final results from the 14th annual NAPA Auto
Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway. The race
is the 17th of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Doug Kalitta, 3.796 seconds, 327.98 mph def. Ida
Zetterstrom, 4.036 seconds, 247.79 mph.
Funny Car — Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.979, 329.34 def. Jack Beckman,
Chevy Camaro, 4.032, 314.83.
Pro Stock — Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.531, 209.33 def. Matt
Hartford, Camaro, 6.543, 209.49.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.791, 199.61 def.
Brayden Davis, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light.
Competition Eliminator — Matthew Alvey, Chevy Cobalt, 8.614, 155.67
def. Scott Chamness, Dragster, 6.690, 204.01.
Stock Eliminator — Jimmy Hidalgo Jr., Pontiac GTO, 10.901, 119.33 def.
Dennis Lund, Chevy Camaro, 8.704, 154.30.
Super Stock — Kevin Helms, Plymouth Barracuda, 9.204, 126.30 def. Brett
Speer, Chevy Camaro, Foul – Red Light.
Super Comp — Alison Prose, Dragster, 8.891, 182.97 def. Doug Miller,
Dragster, 8.887, 178.21.
Super Gas — Phil Unruh, Chevy Camaro, 9.908, 171.08 def. Nathan Prose,
Camaro, 9.891, 164.41.
Top Sportsman — Dan Lafferty, Chevy Camaro, 6.845, 198.88 def. Curt
Fredrich, Camaro, 6.638, 211.46.
Pro Modified — Derek Menholt, Chevy Camaro, 6.468, 137.01 def. Mike
Castellana, Camaro, 8.650, 103.79.
Factory Stock Showdown — Ricky Hord, Chevy Camaro, 7.767, 178.17 def.
Scott Libersher, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.
Factory X — Chris Holbrook, Ford Mustang, 6.946, 199.26 def. Jesse
Alexandra, Chevy Camaro, 7.199, 167.43.
Mountain Motor Pro Stock — John DeFlorian Jr., Chevy Camaro, 6.342,
221.85 def. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.396, 221.27.
Junior Dragster Shootout — Hailey Antonioni, Halfscale, 7.950, 77.31
def. Sarah Stewart, Dragster, 7.945, 80.23.
MADISON, Ill. — Final round-by-round results from the 14th annual NAPA
Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, the
17th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Kyle Wurtzel, 3.789, 320.58 def. Josh Hart, 3.809, 330.96;
Justin Ashley, 3.753, 331.94 def. Brittany Force, 5.328, 137.90; Antron
Brown, 3.752, 333.16 def. Cameron Ferre, 24.267, 52.78; Doug Kalitta,
3.740, 334.82 def. Will Smith, 10.361, 85.16; Ida Zetterstrom, 3.801,
323.66 def. Tony Stewart, 3.927, 298.93; Tony Schumacher, 3.787, 318.47
def. Clay Millican, 3.850, 305.08; Steve Torrence, 4.426, 180.91 def.
T.J. Zizzo, Foul – Red Light; Shawn Langdon, 3.772, 336.82 def. Shawn
Reed, 3.788, 330.80;
QUARTERFINALS — Zetterstrom, 3.802, 326.87 def. Wurtzel, 3.889, 321.04;
Ashley, 3.794, 330.55 def. Langdon, 3.817, 329.42; Brown, 3.807, 331.61
def. Schumacher, 4.852, 151.75; Kalitta, 3.813, 331.94 def. Torrence,
5.703, 119.57;
SEMIFINALS — Zetterstrom, 3.925, 292.08 def. Brown, 5.663, 132.41;
Kalitta, 3.805, 332.59 def. Ashley, 3.931, 310.41;
FINAL — Kalitta, 3.796, 327.98 def. Zetterstrom, 4.036, 247.79.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.933, 329.67 def. Ron Capps,
Toyota GR Supra, 10.014, 73.35; Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 11.893, 76.97
def. Dave Richards, Mustang, Foul – Red Light; Matt Hagan, Dodge
Charger, 3.964, 328.54 def. Alex Laughlin, Charger, 4.261, 234.90;
Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.924, 328.46 def. Bobby Bode, Mustang,
3.940, 323.12; Chad Green, Mustang, 3.954, 326.71 def. Blake Alexander,
Charger, 6.798, 87.91; Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 4.281, 219.19 def. Paul
Lee, Charger, 4.524, 191.38; Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.954, 329.42 def.
J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.962,
327.59; Jack Beckman, Camaro, 4.350, 206.95 def. Spencer Hyde, Mustang,
5.959, 113.12;
QUARTERFINALS — Green, 4.007, 326.56 def. Tasca III, 3.966, 328.62;
Beckman, 4.018, 318.02 def. Prock, 4.352, 273.16; Hagan, 3.988, 321.19
def. Pedregon, 10.770, 83.06; Wilkerson, 3.947, 323.43 def. DeJoria,
3.966, 329.83;
SEMIFINALS — Beckman, 4.014, 322.73 def. Green, 7.063, 96.17; Hagan,
3.990, 319.90 def. Wilkerson, 7.256, 106.33;
FINAL — Hagan, 3.979, 329.34 def. Beckman, 4.032, 314.83.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE — Fernando Cuadra Jr., Chevy Camaro, 6.586, 208.04 def. Cody
Coughlin, Camaro, 9.784, 98.06; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.527, 209.10
def. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 9.770, 96.28; Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.560,
206.95 def. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.547, 210.08; Matt Hartford,
Camaro, 6.545, 210.05 def. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.585, 207.21;
Chris Vang, Camaro, 6.601, 207.72 def. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.538, 207.02;
Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.538, 209.52 def. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.549,
210.37; Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.581, 208.88 def. Eric Latino,
Camaro, 6.536, 209.59; Erica
Enders, Camaro, 6.545, 210.44 def. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.580,
208.36;
QUARTERFINALS — Coughlin Jr., 6.626, 208.42 def. Cuadra Jr., 6.634,
207.66; M. Latino, 6.569, 207.50 def. Vang, 6.612, 206.70; Hartford,
6.557, 209.43 def. Enders, 6.570, 209.92; Anderson, 6.548, 208.71 def.
Glenn, 6.568, 208.42;
SEMIFINALS — Hartford, 6.562, 209.85 def. Coughlin Jr., 14.396, 57.84;
Anderson, 6.551, 208.71 def. M. Latino, 6.601, 207.53;
FINAL — Anderson, 6.531, 209.33 def. Hartford, 6.543, 209.49.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE — Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.848, 198.76 def. Kelly Clontz,
Suzuki, 6.864, 198.03; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.822, 198.82 def. Wesley
Wells, Suzuki, 7.164, 187.73; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.774, 197.71 def.
Ryan Oehler, Foul – Red Light; Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.866, 196.76
def. John Hall, 6.842, 198.93; Marc Ingwersen, 6.910, 194.63 def. Matt
Smith, Buell, 6.997, 194.27; Brayden Davis, Suzuki, 6.802, 200.00 def.
Chris Bostick, Suzuki, Broke – No Show; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.789,
200.05 def. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.121, 187.96; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki,
6.766, 199.58 was unopposed;
QUARTERFINALS — A. Smith, 6.821, 198.35 def. Ingwersen, Broke; Davis,
6.821, 198.76 def. Van Sant, 6.900, 195.65; Gadson, 6.855, 196.99 def.
Johnson, 6.853, 195.48; Herrera, 6.782, 199.40 def. Evaristo, 6.923,
196.02;
SEMIFINALS — Davis, 6.809, 199.14 def. Gadson, 6.830, 197.65; Herrera,
6.798, 200.17 def. A. Smith, Foul – Red Light;
FINAL — Herrera, 6.791, 199.61 def. Davis, Foul – Red Light.
MADISON, Ill. — Point standings (top 10) following the 14th annual NAPA
Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, the
17th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series –
Top Fuel
1. Doug Kalitta, 2,409; 2. Justin Ashley, 2,323; 3. Shawn Langdon,
2,282; 4. Tony Stewart, 2,257; 5. Clay Millican, 2,227; 6. Brittany
Force, 2,216; 7. Antron Brown, 2,207; 8. Steve Torrence, 2,203; 9. Shawn
Reed, 2,194; 10. Josh Hart, 2,117.
Funny Car
1. Austin Prock, 2,361; 2. Matt Hagan, 2,341; 3. Jack Beckman, 2,296; 4.
Ron Capps, 2,236; 5. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,224; 6. Paul Lee, 2,203; 7.
Cruz Pedregon, 2,199; 8. Spencer Hyde, 2,165; 9. Alexis DeJoria, 2,161;
10. Chad Green, 2,159.
Pro Stock
1. Dallas Glenn, 2,426; 2. Greg Anderson, 2,401; 3. Matt Hartford,
2,266; 4. Aaron Stanfield, 2,226; 5. Cory Reed, 2,212; 6. Erica Enders,
2,208; 7. Eric Latino, 2,196; 8. Cody Coughlin, 2,190; 9. Jeg Coughlin,
2,131; 10. Troy Coughlin Jr., 2,114.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Richard Gadson, 2,379; 2. Gaige Herrera, 2,350; 3. Matt Smith, 2,326;
4. John Hall, 2,264; 5. Angie Smith, 2,263; 6. Brayden Davis, 2,222; 7.
Jianna Evaristo, 2,210; 8. Chase Van Sant, 2,178; 9. Steve Johnson,
2,120; 10. Chris Bostick, 2,116.
-NHRA-