Commonly known as The Big Go, the Dodge Power Brokers U.S. Nationals is a week-long NHRA-sanctioned event that is considered to be one of the most prestigious races in the world. In 2004, the historic event became the longest-running motorsports event hosted in the United States over Labor Day.
The initial NHRA Nationals was conducted in 1955 in Grand Bend, Kansas at the Great Bend Municipal Airport and then moved to Oklahoma City for the 4th annual National Championship Drag Races. Detroit Dragway would host the NHRA-sponsored event for two years before the crown jewel found a permanent home at Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1961.
NHRA founder and Chairman of the Board Wally Parks purchased the IRP facility that was renamed O’Reilly Raceway Park after the Indianapolis-based auto parts supplier. Lucas Oil purchased the naming rights in 2022 and it became the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, which retained the popular “IRP” designation. This year marks the 68th running of the U.S. Nationals with around 950 drag racers in both amateur and professional divisions competing for top honors.
Anderson Wins 100th Pro Stock Wally at The Big Go
Greg Anderson really wasn’t concerned with the “points and half” payout provided by the NHRA for the U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The legendary driver has been chasing a record-breaking hundred wins in NHRA Pro Stock division all season. Behind the wheel of the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro, Anderson beat Erica Enders in November of last year to claim his 5th championship and 99th class win. He won his first world title back in 1998.
Anderson eliminated Fernando Cuadra, Troy Coughlin Jr, and Fernando Cuadra Jr enroute to the Final matchup with Dallas Glenn. Glenn had been awesome off the start in beating Kenny Delco, Kyle Koretsky, and Erica Enders; but Glenn left early (-.002 RT) giving Anderson his hundredth Pro Stock win. After winning the U.S. Nationals, Anderson moved into third overall in the points just thirty points behind multi-time world champion Erica Enders. The Janac Brothers Camaro of Aaron Stanfield heads to the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals second in the standings.
Matt Smith Tops NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle
In Pro Stock Motorcycle Angelle Sampey clinched her fourth Number One qualifier of the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing series and the seventh of her career at the U.S. Nationals aboard her Vance & Hines Suzuki. But, in the opening round of eliminations, Ron Tornow grab a holeshot win over the three-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion. Karen Stoffer eliminated Tornow and Steve Johnson enroute to a final round matchup with Matt Smith.
As the Number Two qualifier at Indy, Matt Smith eliminated Scotty Pollacheck, Hector Arana Jr, and Jerry Savoie to earn his spot in the final round at The Big Go. Smith has shown all season that he is willing to make changes in mid-stream and has already switched bikes when one isn’t running as he would like. At the U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend, Smith swapped his DENSO Suzuki for his DENSO Buell to earn his 35th Wally and his second at the U.S. Nationals defeating Karen Stoffer, who had to lift after her bike moved toward the centerline.
Up Coming:
Pep Boys NHRA Nationals
Pep Boys NHRA Nationals on September 15-18 at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, PA. The Maple Grove race is the first event in the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
