Austin Lawton
| Special to IndyStar
BROWNSBURG — History was made at the 71st NHRA U.S. Nationals after a day filled with upsets across the four classes of the drag racing series.
Justin Ashley claims his first Top Fuel U.S. Nationals victory after winning on a holeshot against Columbus native Tony Stewart, who is in his second season in the series. Monday’s win is the 18th of Ashley’s career and third victory this season.
Ashley not only beat Stewart in the finals but some of the best NHRA drag racers in Tripp Tatum, Doug Kalitta and Antron Brown.
“I’ve dreamt about this moment over and over and over again and then to finally live it right now, is truly special,” Ashley said. “The fact that my father won here 18 years ago and to have him here now, to win this event in Top Fuel, really is special.”
Ashley had posted consistent reaction times all afternoon, but saved his best, 0.27 seconds, for the final against Stewart. Ashley credited the process in the buildup to the race weekend and not focusing on the outcomes.
“The hardest thing is not to cut a good light. The hardest thing is to cut a good light over and over and over again,” Ashley said about his reaction times. “I think for me, what I try and do, what works for me is not to focus on the outcome, but focus on the process. The process for me, is what I do during the week, physically and mentally, to prepare for a race weekend like this, and I’ve had to adjust that process multiple times. No matter how you get a win, it’s still a team win and every team win is satisfying.”
Tony Stewart wins NHRA Top Fuel regular-season championship. Tony Stewart is No. 1 seed for NHRA Countdown to the Championship
The runner-up finish for Stewart continues his excellent 2025 Top Fuel season, having claimed two race wins and clinching the 2025 NHRA Top Fuel regular season championship in the second round of the U.S. Nationals.
“It is hard not to be disappointed when you have the quickest car in the final and didn’t turn on the win light,” Stewart said. “Justin is just tough. I had a good light (0.053 seconds) and he had a great light (0.027). It’s hard to hang your head after that. We all have to figure out what he is doing and how he is doing it. There is a reason that he is No. 1 in the class on reaction times. We just have to do our work and get better in the category. Looking back at Saturday, I would not have predicted that we would get to the U.S. Nationals final round.
“Winning the Top Fuel regular-season championship is massive for us in my eyes. It took 14 weeks to win a regular-season championship, and it took four good rounds to win today. I’m not taking away from this race by any means. There was nothing I wanted more than to win the final round and take the U.S. Nationals trophy. I’m extremely proud of what we did for 14 weeks to win the regular-season championship.
It was also a learning opportunity for Stewart and his team, as they take a consolation of vaulting past Shawn Langdon for the No. 1 seed in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, which he hopes to add to his three NASCAR Cup Series titles.
“I think there are things this weekend that we hit on for the Countdown. We realized what we were missing on the last few races. I feel that we are in as good spot as we can be for the next six races. We just need to execute in these next six races. Every round of qualifying is going to matter. I have been involved in some many points championships in so many different series that anytime there are points available you need score as many as possible. The bonus points for the Mission 2Fast2Tasty events will be very important. It always comes down to the end of the year. We are getting ready for that final push now.”
Austin Prock wins Funny Car U.S. Nationals. John Force Racing has standout day as Brittany Force sets national speed record
Austin Prock defeated Jack Beckman, his John Force Racing teammate, to win his second straight Funny car U.S. Nationals title. Prock claimed his seventh victory of 2025, along with clinching the Funny Car regular-season points championship. He beat Blake Alexander, Bob Tasca III and Julie Nataas to get his 19th career win.
It was a huge day for JFR, with two cars in the Funny Car final and Brittany Force setting the national speed record in Top Fuel (343.51 mph). Prock not only sees the victory Monday as an individual win, but an overall boost for the team.
“Every weekend, we want to try to qualify No. 1 and get two cars in the final round,” Prock said. “It could not have been a more perfect weekend on the Funny Car side of things, Jack [Beckman] locking up No. 2 in the regular season and getting to the final round. Brittany (Force) qualifying No. 1 and setting the national speed record again. I got to stand behind that thing for the first time and watch it go 343 mph today and it got small quick. JFR is in a great spot right now. All the race cars are performing well. We’re doing everything that we need to make our sponsors happy, to be eligible to find new sponsors, and to help promote and grow the sport.”
Erica Enders wins Pro Stock U.S. Nationals, becomes winningest woman at Indianapolis Raceway Park
Erica Enders became the winningest woman at Indianapolis Raceway Park, clinching her fourth Pro Stock victory and 50th of her NHRA career. Enders faced stout competition in Dallas Glenn, Aaron Stanfield, the 2024 Pro Stock U.S Nationals winner, and Elite Motorsports teammate Greg Stanfield.
Enders’ last win came at the season-opening Gatornationals in 2024 and as the races ticked away, she wondered if she would ever win again.
“It’s mentally tough, like you lose confidence in yourself and your equipment, but my guys didn’t lose confidence in their abilities, or in me, and without them, I wouldn’t be here,” Enders said. “I kind of wondered if I still had it. It took a lot of overcoming and a lot of help from my inner circle. Without my dad, my sister, my family and my crew, I wouldn’t be here, but we finally got win No. 50. To get my 50th win at Indy, at the U.S. Nationals, there isn’t a better book that can be written.”
Gaige Herrera wins Pro Stock Motorcycle U.S. Nationals
Gaige Herrera drove his Vance & Hines Suzuki to a second straight U.S. Nationals Pro Stock Motorcycle victory. Herrera beat his teammate Brayden Davis, who has only made four NHRA national event starts. In addition to beating Davis, Herrera beat the husband and wife duo of Matt and Angie Smith and Chris Bostick in Round 1.
“It’s very exciting, especially to get a holeshot win like that,” Herrera said. “It’s awesome to see a Vance & Hines final. It’s a testament to show what kind of program we offer. To go home with back-to-back wins here at the U.S. Nationals is very special to me. I was really happy, I can’t lie. I was more excited about cheering than being on the brakes going into the shutdown lanes.”
Herrera also gave high praise to Davis and the potential he has to not only do good things in Pro Stock Motorcycle, but even give Herrera a challenge in the class.
“He’s young, but he’s really good,” Herrera said. “He’s going to be a force to be reckoned with if he can find some funding to get through the Countdown. To make it to the Countdown like he did, this being his fourth race, it just goes to show that he’s a really good rider. With a little extra help, he can be a thorn in mine and Richard (Gadson)’s side.”
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