News & Notes: Saturday qualifying from NHRA New England Nationals

 

Saturday’s third Top Fuel qualifying session at New England Dragway brought fireworks, frustration, and a new track speed record. As the racing surface came around following morning rain, drivers gave fans a taste of what’s to come on race day.

Mike Bucher was first out, making a solo pass at 5.236 seconds, 131.96 mph. An early shutoff and a solid run on a green track, and a clean way to kick off Q3.

Dan Mercier faced staging drama when Rit Pustari’s car was unable to move forward under its own power—a rules violation that ended his run before it began. Mercier struck the tires immediately at the hit and coasted to a 12.093 at just 71.19 mph.

Clay Millican and Scott Farley were next. Millican ripped off a 3.860 at 293.79 mph, while Farley had a troubled run, slowed by tire shake and an issue in the lights, posting a 4.139 at 224.14 mph. Despite drama, it was Farley’s best lap in the new car.

Next came the highlight matchup: Brittany Force vs. Ida Zetterström. Brittany’s car dropped a cylinder early, slowing her to a 3.931 at 250.64 mph. Meanwhile, Zetterström soared to a 3.764 at 328.06 mph, her strongest pass of the weekend and good enough to take the win light.

Shawn Langdon and Josh Hart smoked the tires in unison—Langdon’s 6.491 edged Hart’s 6.763, both cars shutting off early after tire spin around 200 feet.

Closing the session were Shawn Reed and Antron Brown. Reed laid down a strong 3.737 at 332.26 mph. But Antron and crew chief Brian Corradi made a statement with a jaw-dropping 3.697 at 337.07 mph, setting a new Top Fuel track speed record—1.5 mph faster than the previous best.

The wait for a dry track paid off. The stage is now set for a dramatic final qualifying session and a thrilling Sunday of eliminations.

Mission Foods 2 Fast 2 Tasty Challenge – Top Fuel Semifinal Recap

The Mission Foods 2 Fast 2 Tasty Challenge once again lived up to its name during Saturday’s Top Fuel semifinals at New England Dragway—delivering high drama, title implications, and a record-setting final in sight.

Semifinal 1: Tony Stewart vs. Steve Torrence

It was a clash of champions and momentum. Tony Stewart, the current Top Fuel points leader, faced off against Steve Torrence, a four-time champ and two-time New England winner. Torrence got the early jump with a .075 reaction time, but his car faltered downtrack and shut off before the 330-foot mark.

Stewart, meanwhile, charged down the right lane to a stout 3.727 at 329.75 mph, taking the win by over three seconds. It marked a return to form at the very track where Stewart reached his first career Top Fuel final last season.

Semifinal 2: Doug Kalitta vs. Justin Ashley

On paper, this one was just as juicy: Mike Green tuning for Kalitta, Alan Johnson guiding Ashley, and a trip to the finals on the line.

Ashley cut a razor-sharp .034 light, but his car encountered problems past half-track, coasting to a 4.268 at 196.02 mph. Kalitta, steady and strong, ran a flawless 3.724 at 327.51 mph despite a slower reaction time, sneaking past Ashley with a margin of victory of just .5224 seconds.

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That sets up a thrilling 2 Fast 2 Tasty final between Doug Kalitta and Tony Stewart—two of the most consistent drivers this season, with bonus championship points and bragging rights on the line.

Funny Car Q3 Recap – NHRA New England Nationals

Spencer Hyde continues to impress in his rookie campaign, laying down a clean and fast 3.911-second run at 328.54 mph to outrun veteran Phil Burkart (4.140 / 303.30). Hyde’s strong .097 light and steady performance bumped him up the qualifying order and solidified his status as a serious threat in Sunday eliminations.

“The car has been responding to everything we throw at it,” Hyde said. “It’s all about making smart laps and building momentum. That’s exactly what we’re doing here in Epping.”

In a surprise stunner, Buddy Hull upset local hero Bob Tasca III, whose car encountered major trouble past the 330-foot mark. Tasca limped to a 7.651-second pass at just 81.83 mph, while Hull delivered a 4.190 at 309.70 mph to take the win light.

“I have all the respect in the world for Bob,” said Hull. “But our team came here to race hard and earn respect. We made a solid lap and got it done when it counted.”

In the final pairing, Daniel Wilkerson edged out Dave Richards with a 3.987 at 275.34 mph versus Richards’ 4.147 at 254.81. Wilkerson’s .074 reaction time and smooth 660-foot numbers show the car is responding well to the tricky New England surface.

“This team keeps digging,” Wilkerson said. “We needed a clean lap and we got it. We’re set up to go rounds tomorrow.”

Ron Capps showed he’s not done just yet. The multi-time champ squared off against Chad Green and laid down a smooth 3.936-second run at 290.88 mph to edge Green’s faster-but-slower 3.953 at 326.32 mph. Capps was just .0141 seconds quicker to the stripe in a classic razor-thin nitro matchup.

Blake Alexander lived up to his own hype. He told Jordan Vandergriff this morning, “The car is going to pop off today—I’m just going to hold on for the ride. This thing is hateful to drive.” Turns out, he wasn’t kidding. His 3.899 at 328.70 mph was one of the best Funny Car passes of the session, and it took down J.R. Todd, whose car struggled past the 330 mark and coasted to an 8.303.

In one of the day’s marquee matchups, Paul Lee who is currently fourth in points paired off against Alexis DeJoria who reminded everyone why she’s a title threat. With Mike Neff and Todd Smith calling the shots, Alexis stormed to a 3.927-second run at 331.77 mph, quicker than Paul Lee and looking poised for her first win of the season.

As Q3 wrapped, the Funny Car field showed just how deep it is, with veterans, rising stars, and a few surprise spoilers all laying down solid laps. The table is now set for a wild Sunday at New England Dragway.

Beckman and Hagan Advance in Funny Car Mission Foods 2 Fast 2 Tasty Challenge Semifinals

Saturday’s Mission Foods 2 Fast 2 Tasty Challenge brought racing action to Saturday  in Epping, where fans were treated to a pair of throwdown matchups.

Semifinal 1: Jack Beckman vs. Cruz Pedregon

It was a vintage matchup between Jack Beckman in the John Force Racing Chevrolet Camaro and Cruz Pedregon wheeling the Snap-on Dodge Challenger, tuned by Jason Bunker and Lee Beard. On the other side, Beckman’s hot rod was dialed in by Danny Hood, and it showed at the hit.

Beckman was first off the line with a .080 light to Cruz’s .107 and stayed in it just long enough to secure the win. Cruz had to lift early, clocking a 4.707 at 172.54 mph, while Beckman powered through with a 4.132 at 234.29 mph, coasting past the stripe for a .6023-second margin of victory.

Semifinal 2: Matt Hagan vs. Austin Prock

Next up, it was Matt Hagan, pilot of the winningest Funny Car in New England Dragway history, against Austin Prock in the Cornwell Tools JFR entry.

Prock left first with a killer .060 light, but immediately ran into tire smoke. Hagan followed with a clean .083 start and made it farther before also hazing the tires. Prock considered a pedal, but it was too late to recover. Hagan muscled through with a 4.451 at 195.31 mph, taking the win and advancing to the final. Prock coasted across the line at 5.399 seconds, 171.23 mph.

With lane choice going to Jack Beckman in the final, the stage is set for a classic Ford vs. Dodge clash in the final round of the Too Fast Too Tasty Challenge—with bonus points, cash, and bragging rights on the line.

Cody Coughlin, Erica Enders Lead the Way in Pro Stock Q3 at New England Nationals

Saturday’s third round of Pro Stock qualifying at the NHRA New England Nationals featured family legacies, sharp driving, and standout solo passes—none more exciting than those from Cody Coughlin and Erica Enders.

Brandon Miller got things started with a solo run in his Dodge Dart-bodied Pro Stocker, posting a solid improvement over his Q1 and Q2 efforts. He’s hopeful for a fourth qualifying shot on Sunday to lock in a stronger ladder spot.

The session’s first pair was Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Mason McGaha. McGaha laid down a clean run, while Coughlin drifted close to the centerline and had to wrestle the car back to center. The Coughlin family was out in force this weekend, making the pits feel more like Columbus than Epping.

Next up, Troy Coughlin Jr. lined up opposite Greg Stanfield, but Stanfield’s car was pushed off due to a fuel leak. That left Coughlin to make a solo run, which sounded like a guitar-solo of 500-cid DRCE big-block Chevy engine at 10,000 rpm. His smooth pass kept him in the No. 14 spot—fitting for one of drag racing’s most iconic families.

Corey Reed and Kenny Delco followed, bringing a New York flair with the Flips Speed Shop entry. Corey’s car darted left early in the run but he muscled it back, though it fell off Friday’s pace.

In a heavyweight match-up, Aaron Stanfield and Erica Enders faced off—Double A vs. Double E. Erica went low for the session with a clean lap, proving once again why she’s always a threat on race day.

Closing the session was Chris McGaha and Cody Coughlin, who has shaken up the Pro Stock scene with his fresh brown-and-gold scheme and a background that includes late models and the NASCAR Truck Series. Cody stole the spotlight with a jaw-dropping .002 reaction time and went low of the session, capping off Q3 in style.

Connolly and Hartford Clinch 2 Fast 2 Tasty Pro Stock Final Spots in Epping

Saturday’s Mission Foods 2 Fast 2 Tasty Challenge semifinals in Pro Stock featured a thrilling mix of comeback stories and championship contenders. Bonus points and momentum were up for grabs, and two drivers made sure their names stayed in the mix heading into Sunday eliminations.

Semifinal 1: Dave Connolly vs. Dallas Glenn

Dave Connolly, filling in as a replacement driver for Eric Latino, delivered a standout performance against Dallas Glenn. Connolly cut a strong .030 light and clocked a 6.558 at 207.82 mph—a solid, clean run from start to finish.

Glenn, on the other hand, had issues right from the launch. His car shook violently and coasted to an uncharacteristic 11.856 at 73.91 mph. Connolly’s return to competition couldn’t be going better.

Semifinal 2: Matt Hartford vs. Greg Anderson

In a marquee matchup, Matt Hartford took on veteran Greg Anderson. Hartford was steady off the line with a .046 reaction time, and posted a clean 6.580 at 209.46 mph.

Anderson’s run had starting line data reporting issues—shown by an impossible for him 1.461 60-foot time— the run was never in contention. Hartford took the round, setting up a final-round faceoff with Connolly.

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The Pro Stock Too Fast Too Tasty Final: Dave Connolly vs. Matt Hartford
Two sharp drivers. Two clean cars. And one bonus-point showdown still to come.

Top Fuel Q4 Notes – New England Nationals 

With the sun shining and the track in top shape, Top Fuel teams took to New England Dragway for their final qualifying session of the day. Q4 was all about sealing the deal for raceday and dialing in the tune-up under ideal conditions.

Clay Millican was first to hit the strip, posting a solo run of 4.051 seconds at 228.81 mph. The car was aggressive early but dropped power downtrack, cutting the run short of its full potential.

Dan Mercier followed with a solid 3.899 at 267.32 mph. It was a clean, confidence-building run that put the Canadian racer on more stable footing heading into Sunday.

Justin Ashley then delivered one of the session’s strongest early passes with a 3.717 at 336.99 mph. 

Steve Torrence kept the quick runs coming with a 3.746 at 333.00 mph. Consistent and controlled, it was a solid close to his qualifying effort.

Shawn Langdon and Josh Hart were next, with Langdon edging out his rival by just .0572 seconds. Langdon ran 3.743 at 334.48 mph, while Hart posted a 3.753 at 329.18 mph.

Ida Zetterström and Brittany Force made a strong showing, with Force taking the round at 3.703 and 336.40 mph to Zetterström’s 3.741 at 330.55. 

Antron Brown picked up the win over Shawn Reed despite shutting off early. Brown ran a soft 4.107 at 209.56 mph, while Reed coasted to a 7.385.

The final pair of the session featured a Mission Foods 2 Fast 2 Tasty Challenge rematch between Doug Kalitta and Tony Stewart—and it delivered. Kalitta not only won the round and the Challenge, but also reset the track speed record with a blistering 337.24 mph and secured the No. 1 qualifying position with a 3.670-second run, the quickest of the event. Stewart was solid with a 3.694 at 330.55 mph, but Kalitta’s triple play—win, record, and pole—sent a clear message: he’s the one to beat on Sunday.

Funny Car Q4 Recap 

An abbreviated Q4 session for Funny Car delivered a few single runs and little drama before weather brought action to a temporary halt.

The session began with Daniel Wilkerson, who opened with a steady solo run of 3.952 seconds at 291.63 mph, a solid effort to close out qualifying.

Ron Capps followed with a strong 3.928 at 329.91 mph, showing his usual consistency and punching in one of the best Funny Car passes of the day.

In the next pairing, Spencer Hyde and Dave Richards squared off. Hyde took the tire off early and lost traction, coasting to an 8.194 at just 77.77 mph. Richards also struggled but made it to the finish with an 11.557, securing the No. 14 qualifying spot for Sunday eliminations.

Next up, Alexis DeJoria and Chad Green brought contrasting fortunes. DeJoria left with an .072 reaction time and stayed in the throttle despite getting a little squirrelly and drifting out of the groove, running 4.340 at 205.63 mph. Green, however, lost traction at the hit and coasted to a 16.626 at just 43.98 mph.

The final matchup of Blake Alexander and JR Todd staged but was not completed before the session was paused due to weather.

As of 4:30 p.m. ET, NHRA officials have placed the event on a weather hold, with an estimated 40-minute drying window once rain stops before racing can resume. 

 

Funny Car Q4 Recap: The Skies Cleared and the Nitro Roared

When the rain finally let up in Epping, the Funny Cars wasted no time turning up the heat on a drying track in Q4 at the NHRA New England Nationals.

The first Funny Car to hit the line was JR Todd, but his run ended in dramatic fashion. An engine explosion mid-pass meant his 4.301-second effort at just 217.95 mph was far from clean. His team now faces a tough overnight thrash to get the DHL Toyota back in shape for Sunday eliminations.

Next, Bob Tasca III and Cruz Pedregon lined up for a classic East Coast throwdown. Tasca got off the line first with a .056 reaction time and posted a strong 3.898 at 322.11 mph, but it wasn’t enough to hold off Pedregon, who surged past with a 3.909 at 327.90 mph to take the win by just .0455 seconds.

In the third pair, Austin Prock delivered the most commanding performance of the session. His 3.867 at 334.48 mph was the quickest and fastest run of the round, easily dispatching Paul Lee, who struggled to a 4.713-second pass at 169.40 mph.

The final match-up was not only the cap to Q4, but the championship round of the Mission Foods 2 Fast 2 Tasty Challenge. It featured two titans—Matt Hagan and Jack Beckman. Hagan was off the line with a .078 reaction time, but Beckman was sharper at .073. The two were neck-and-neck early, but Beckman edged ahead with a 3.913 at 316.52 mph to Hagan’s 3.920 at 329.83 mph. The margin of victory? Just .0125 seconds. Beckman took home the challenge win and added a little extra hardware to his Epping weekend.

With nitro qualifying now complete, teams shift into race day mode—especially JR Todd’s crew, who will be thrashing late into the night.

Pro Stock Q4 Recap: 

In a battle of veteran powerhouses, Greg Anderson struggled with a 9.254 ET after spinning the tires early, allowing Cody Coughlin to fire off a career-best 6.564 at 209.20 mph. Coughlin’s .962 60-foot and clean execution gave him a decisive run. 

Dallas Glenn had a better run than Erica Enders in their pairing, clocking a 6.581 at 209.20 mph. Erica wasn’t able to get off the line cleanly at all. 

Cory Reed delivered another solid run with a 6.600 at 209.59 mph next to Chris McGaha, who shut it off early after a sluggish launch and a 7.172 ET.

Greg Stanfield and Aaron Stanfield met in a family matchup, running 6.504 at 207.98 mph versus Aaron’s 6.138 at just 119.85 mph after he lifted early.

Jeg Coughlin Jr. continued to show strength, posting a 6.591 at 207.27 mph after a .986 launch and a crisp 60-foot time.  Mason McGaha’s run was aborted early.

In the tightest race of the session, Troy Coughlin Jr. narrowly outdid Deric Kramer by just .0203 seconds, both drivers laying down consistent mid-6.5 passes.

And finally, Brandon Miller lined up next to Kenny Delco with a 6.658-second run at 205.63 mph, flashing a .054 light and showing continued progress in his program.

Matt Hartford Clinches Mission Foods 2 Fast 2 Tasty Challenge Win Over Dave Connolly

In a high-stakes finale to Saturday qualifying, Matt Hartford edged out Dave Connolly to claim the Mission Foods 2 Fast 2 Tasty Challenge title in Pro Stock at the NHRA New England Nationals.

Hartford was off the line first  with a .020 reaction time and kept his Total Seal Camaro hooked up all the way down the track, stopping the clocks at 6.557 seconds at 207.88 mph. Connolly, filling in but showing no rust, responded with a strong 6.567 at 208.36 mph, but his slower .087 light cost him at the stripe.

The margin of victory was just .0772 seconds, giving Hartford a clean sweep—top qualifying honors and a 2 Fast 2 Tasty trophy heading into Sunday eliminations. The win not only boosts Hartford’s confidence but also adds valuable points and momentum as he continues a strong 2025 campaign.