After battling it out at NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series events during the regular season, racers in the Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle classes earn valuable points that go toward earning a position for the NHRA Countdown to the Championship. To qualify for the Championship run in Pro Stock (four-wheel vehicles), racers must compete at all twelve events starting at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals and concluding with the Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis with a minimum of two qualifying sessions at each NHRA event.
To qualify for the Championship run in Pro Stock Motorcycle (two-wheel vehicles), riders must compete at all eleven scheduled events starting at Gainesville and concluding at Indianapolis with The Big Go. Drivers and riders who secure a position in the Countdown to the Championship will have their NHRA Camping World points adjusted after the U.S. Nationals with first and second place separated by twenty points with second through fifth separated by ten points and sixth through tenth place separated by five points.
Johnson Wins Opener at NHRA Countdown to the Championship
For the first time since the Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in 2014, Pro Stock Motorcycle driver has the points lead for the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Not the Number One Qualifier at the Mopar Express Lane Nationals that honor belonged to Angelle Sampey, who Johnson eliminated in the semifinal round with a .017 RT and 6.804 elapsed time. He didn’t have the Top Speed for the event that distinction went to multi-time champion Matt Smith at 201.07 mph.
Vance & Hines rider Eddie Krawiec posted a 6.906 elapsed time to defeat defending NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Matt Smith. Not so ironically, Johnson saved the Best ET at Maple Grove of 6.775 seconds for the Final round at the NHRA Mopar Express Lane Nationals. Although Krawiec got off the line first and had the faster top speed at 197.16 mps, Johnson was simpler quicker. In fact, the pilot of the Brady Mechanical Services Suzuki collected nine championship bonus points with three awesome runs at Maple Grove Raceway.
Anderson Wins 97th NHRA Pro Stock Event at Maple Grove
After starting the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Series off with a bang, Greg Anderson has struggled for weeks trying to tie Pro Stock legend Warren Johnson for most wins in the history of the sport. The day Anderson had been worked toward came in the final round of Sunday’s Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil. Moreover, who better to beat to tie the record than your longtime rival Erica Enders. Driving the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro, Anderson laid down a run of 6.578 seconds at 208.30 mph for the win.
What a way for the Pro Stock points leader to launch the six-race NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs. In the semifinal round, Anderson had a .026 reaction time with a 6.614 ET to Troy Coughlin Jr’s .028 RT and 6.613-second elapsed time. Against Enders, the veteran Pro Stock driver posted a .021 reaction time for a holeshot victory and his third Wally of 2021. As the Number One qualifier and defending Pro Stock world champion, Enders was again denied her victory at Maple Grove Raceway.
UP NEXT:
DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals
The Countdown to the Championship continues with round two at the DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals presented by Pennzoil on September 17-19 at zMAX Dragway at Concord, NC.
