JOHN FORCE RACING’S JACK BECKMAN TOSSES OUT SOUVENIRS TO RACE FANS DURING DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS AT THUNDER VALLEY! – MOTORSPORT AMERICA PHOTO
LAS VEGAS (Oct. 29, 2025) – With two more events on the 2025 NHRA
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule, Funny Car veteran Jack
Beckman is ready to finish the season strong at this weekend’s 25th
annual Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection at The
Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
It’s been nearly 20 years since Beckman claimed a win at the Las Vegas
track, which has him plenty motivated for a big weekend. Currently third
in points, Beckman and his PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Funny Car team
will have their sights set on a victory at the penultimate event of the
season, which would be Beckman’s first at the facility since the 2006
campaign.
“As much as I love that track and as much success as I’ve had there as
a sportsman racer, I’ve never won since 2006 in a Funny Car,” said
Beckman. “You’d think the sheer odds would favor me for that facility.
I hope I’ve gotten to that tipping point because Pomona was very fickle
to me in the pro car for years and now I’ve won the last four times I’ve
been there. So, hopefully I’ve paid my dues for Las Vegas.”
Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield
(Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) each won the fall
race in Las Vegas last year. The race will be broadcast on FS1,
including eliminations at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, and is the 19th of 20
races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Beckman has two wins early this season in Pomona and Chicago, remaining
consistently in the top five throughout the 2025 season. He’s 131
points behind his John Force Racing teammate and reigning Funny Car
world champion Prock, with four-time champion Matt Hagan in second.
Prock has a lead of 112 points over Hagan, following his win in Dallas,
giving him nine victories and a commanding lead with two races remaining
in the Countdown to the Championship.
Others to watch in the loaded Funny Car ranks include three-time champ
Ron Capps, Paul Lee, Daniel Wilkerson, rookie Spencer Hyde, Reading
winner Cruz Pedregon and Chad Green.
“The race is for second place unless something significant happens to
the team that hasn’t happened since the day Austin first strapped into
that car. Nobody’s going to catch Austin, but our job is to just keep
winning rounds and, if we can win the next eight rounds, it will
solidify second and maybe first if they stumble. But unless we get them
in the first round at the next two races, it’s going to be very
difficult for us to get them out of competition early.
“Things lined up in our favor at St. Louis, where we were able to beat
them in the second round. Unfortunately, there was an inversion in
Dallas. We lost early and they went on to win the race, so if they win
the championship, they didn’t back into it. The season they’ve had is
amazing. I understand the numbers, so our goal is to win the race. The
points will take care of themselves.”
Top Fuel’s Doug Kalitta holds a commanding 141-point lead over Justin
Ashley, giving the veteran an outside chance to clinch a world
championship this weekend in Las Vegas. Other contenders include Shawn
Langdon, Tony Stewart and Clay Millican.
It’s a two-horse race in Pro Stock, as Dallas Glenn leads KB Titan
Racing teammate Greg Anderson by 60 points. The duo has dominated in
2025 and will look to finish strong against a field that features Matt
Hartford, Aaron Stanfield and Erica Enders, who has an incredible 10
wins in Las Vegas.
Richard Gadson moved a step closer to his first world title after
winning in Dallas. He leads teammate and back-to-back world champ Gaige
Herrera by 72 points and Matt Smith by 105 points heading towards the
stretch run.
The Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection will also
feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series,
which includes some of the sport’s top drivers, and the Summit Racing
Series ET Finals, where world champions will be crowned. The event also
serves as the season finale in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing
Series.
Fans will be invited to the Nitro Alley Stage, which hosts Nitro School,
meet and greets, music and more. Vegas race fans can enjoy the special
pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each driver racing for
the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster
Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the
winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where
fans are invited to congratulate the event winners.
As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled
motorsports attraction on the planet. Fans 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, which includes interactive displays, merchandise,
food, and fun.
NHRA Mission Food Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds
at 12:30 and 3 p.m. PT on Friday, Oct. 31, and the final two rounds on
Saturday, Nov. 1 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled
for 11 a.m. PT on Sunday, Nov. 2. Television coverage includes
qualifying action on FS1 at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday and then eliminations
coverage starting at 5 p.m. ET.
To purchase tickets to the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct
Connection at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, please call
800-644-4444 or visit www.lvms.com [1]. For more information about NHRA,
visit www.nhra.com [2]. For more information on the Dodge brand, visit
Dodge.com [3].
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