For the second year in a row, the Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout took place at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The fan-popular specialty race allowed the top-seeded driver to get first pick in selecting their heads-up opponent for side-by-side nitro racing. The program is part of Pep Boys' commitment to help close the nation's skills gap in the industry.
The callout format was first introduced to drag racing fans during the 2022, as eight drivers are paired for four quarterfinal rounds by a seeded callout. So, the top seeded driver gets to pick his or her opponent first and the process continues with next seed. The final pairing is decided by fate due to the higher-seeded driver selections.
The world’s most prestigious drag race, the 69th annual Dodge Power Brokers U.S. Nationals has long been known for its special events during the “Big Go” and, with Pep Boys support, this year’s race within a race had nitro Funny Car teams competing for a big payday with the winning driver banking the $80,000 purse with three consecutive wins.
U.S. Nationals Welcomes Funny Car Callout
The Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout took place for the first time at the prestigious Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals a season ago. The order of selection for the 2023 Pep Boys Funny Car All-Star Callout was based on current standing for the top eight drivers in the NHRA Camping World Championship Series.
Hight vs Capps - Just like a year ago, Robert Hight came to Indianapolis as the number-one seed and had the first pick to decide who would line up next to the Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet Camaro. Once again, Hight pleased fans picking defending callout winner, three-time world champion, and second-seed Ron Capps. Both drivers had .052 reaction times but Hight drove past Capps with a 3.935 ET for the win.
Tasca III vs Force - As the third-seed, Bob Tasca III had the next pick to decide who would lineup against the Ford Motorcraft Mustang. Before making his pick, Tasca said he was prepared for Hight to have called him out for a round one matchup like he did in 2022. So, Tasca picked John Force, the winningest Funny Car driver of all time. Both cars lost power but Force coasted to a win in the Chevy vs Ford battle.
Hagan vs Wilkerson - The driver of the Mopar Direct Connection Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat for Tony Stewart Racing, Matt Hagan came close to winning the Pep Boys All-Star Callout in 2022 at “The Big Go”. Hagan picked his longtime friend and veteran racer Tim Wilkerson in his SCAG Power Equipment/Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang. Wilkerson was off the power and Hagan advanced with a 3.967 ET.
DeJoria vs Pedregon - By process of elimination, the final pairing for the 2023 Pep Boys All-Star Shootout featured former U.S. Nationals winner Alexis DeJoria in the Bandero Premium Tequila Toyota Supra against the winner of 1992 U.S. Nationals Cruz Pedregon in the Snap-On Makers & Fixers Dodge nitro Funny Car. Pedregon advanced with a holeshot win over a quicker and faster DeJoria
Pedregon, Hagan, Force vs. Hight
As the low ET, Robert Hight got to decide the matchups for both semifinals and chose Cruz Pedregon for his second round. Hight staged the Cornwell Quality Tools/JFR Chevrolet Camaro SS first and immediately took the lead with a .063-seconds reaction time over Pedregon’s .071RT. Hight never looked back and advanced to the final with a 3.997 ET at 314.97 mph.
By default, John Force would be matched in a semifinal round against Matt Hagan who posted the second fastest time compared to Force’s 94-mph pass with a blown engine. The team had Force’s PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS up and running for his semifinal pass but Matt Hagan had the best reaction time at .066-seconds, the quicker 3.982 ET and a faster 323.89 mph to advance to the final pairing.
Hight Claims Funny Car All-Star Win
In the final round of the Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout for 2023, Hight went 3.955-seconds elapsed time at 321.58 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools/AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS to outrun Matt Hagan’s 3.979 ET in the Direct Connection Dodge SRT Hellcat. Hight took home the $80,000 All-Star Callout purse for “The Big Go” specialty event.
UP COMING:
That’s it for 2023 Specialty Racing
The final Pep Boys All-Star Callout of the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series with Sunday’s event at the 69th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
