Pro Stock Returns to Brainerd International Raceway as Part of Huge NHRA Weekend at Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals

BRAINERD, MN – August 11, 2023 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series is set for its annual stop at Brainerd International Raceway for the 41st annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals on Aug. 17-20, bringing its 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph excitement – as well as the first Pro Stock appearance since 2019 – to the fan-favorite facility.

It is the 14th of 21 races during the 2023 NHRA season, putting it once again as the penultimate race of the regular season. With the Countdown to the Championship playoffs approaching, the event comes at a pivotal point as all the stars in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock prepare to make a push for a championship.

Brainerd International Raceway has hosted incredible racing action for more than four decades, with the famed “Zoo” offering some of the best camping on the NHRA tour and one of the most unique and thrilling experiences in motorsports. Fans can also look forward to the return of Pro Stock, which is back at the track for the first time in four years, adding another can’t-miss element to the weekend.

Starting with two rounds of qualifying on Friday, the weekend is loaded with events, including the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA challenge bonus race on Saturday and Sunday eliminations to cap off a weekend sure to be filled with incredible moments.

Steve Torrence (Top Fuel) and Bob Tasca III (Funny Car) won in 2022 and this year’s event will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) and the FOX broadcast network, including eliminations coverage starting at 4 p.m. ET on FOX on Sunday, Aug. 20.

Torrence, a four-time Top Fuel world champ, won for the second straight year in Brainerd in 2022, and is looking to become just the second Top Fuel driver in NHRA history to win three straight times at the historic track. But everyone is chasing points leader Justin Ashley, who has five wins this season and is seeking his first Brainerd triumph. It’s also a loaded class that features a host of star drivers like defending world champ Brittany Force, Leah Pruett, a two-time Brainerd winner, Tony Schumacher, Austin Prock, Clay Millican, Josh Hart, Mike Salinas, Doug Kalitta and Antron Brown.

Tasca finished his strong summer a year ago with his first Funny Car victory at Brainerd and he’ll look for a repeat win in 2023. But it won’t be easy in a loaded category that features back-to-back world champ Ron Capps, who has six Brainerd wins, and points leader Matt Hagan, who won the 2021 event. Other top names include John Force, who has an incredible 11 wins at the facility, Robert Hight, J.R. Todd, Alexis DeJoria, a 2017 Brainerd winner, Cruz Pedregon, Chad Green and Tim Wilkerson.

Making its long-awaited return to Brainerd International Raceway is Pro Stock and all the standouts in the category, including Duluth native and five-time world champion Greg Anderson. A three-time Brainerd winner, Anderson will look for his first win at the track since 2011 and also his first win in 2023. Standing in his way is a host of talented drivers, including KB Titan teammate and points leader Dallas Glenn, defending world champ Erica Enders, Troy Coughlin Jr., Aaron Stanfield, Camrie Caruso, Matt Hartford, Cristian Cuadra and Kyle Koretsky.

The event also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as action in the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports. On the Pro Mod side, the event in Brainerd marks the first race in the category’s “Road to the Championship” playoffs, with Justin Bond taking the points lead into the first-year playoff format for the class.

After nitro qualifying, fans can enjoy a thrilling show from “NitroMike” and his “Walking Tall” P.T. Cruiser Wheelstander, as well as action from the snowmobile category. There will also be autograph sessions throughout the weekend, along with a cacklefests.

Fans are invited to the Nitro Alley Stage all weekend, which will help create a festive atmosphere leading into Nitro Alley. The Nitro Alley Stage will be the main entertainment hub in the pits when the Camping World Drag Racing Series competitors are not on the track, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets and much more. 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, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, food, and fun.

Race fans at Brainerd can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers 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 Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals event winners.

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2:45 and 6 p.m. CT on Friday, Aug. 18 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 12:45 and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, Aug. 20. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, 1:00 p.m. on Sunday on FS1, and then eliminations on FOX at 4 p.m. ET Sunday.

To purchase tickets to the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, fans can call 866-444-4455. For more information on the NHRA, please visit www.nhra.com.

About Camping World Holdings, Inc.

Camping World Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Lincolnshire, IL, (together with its subsidiaries) is America’s largest retailer of RVs and related products and services. Our vision is to build a long-term legacy business that makes RVing fun and easy, and our Camping World and Good Sam brands have been serving RV consumers since 1966. We strive to build long-term value for our customers, employees, and shareholders by combining a unique and comprehensive assortment of RV products and services with a national network of RV dealerships, service centers and customer support centers along with the industry’s most extensive online presence and a highly trained and knowledgeable team of associates serving our customers, the RV lifestyle, and the communities in which we operate. We also believe that our Good Sam organization and family of programs and services uniquely enable us to connect with our customers as stewards of the RV enthusiast community and the RV lifestyle. With RV sales and service locations in 42 states, Camping World has grown to become the prime destinations for everything RV. For more information, visit www.CampingWorld.com

About NHRA

Headquartered in San Dimas, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 21 national events featuring the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports, Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown™ and Top Fuel Harley Series. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 120 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Source: National Hot Rod Association 

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