New for 2023, the semifinalists in Pro nitro and Pro stock classes are eligible to compete in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge. Each looking to make their best qualifying pass on one of the finest racing surfaces on tour at Summit Motorsports Park.
In addition to the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Motorsports Park in Norwalk, drag racing fans were treated to side-by-side grudge racing on Saturday for the NHRA’s latest sanctioned specialty racing. The NHRA Challenge is also part of Mission Foods’ overall motorsports initiative to help racers and race teams.
The Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge takes place at 12 regular-season events. The first challenge took place at the Arizona Nationals and has since been contested at all two-wide NHRA Nationals. The heads-up specialty racing has already become a fan favorite in adding competitive racing during qualifying.
Justin Ashley, Ron Capps, Deric Kramer, and Angie Smith each collected Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge victories during Saturday qualifying at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in what would be some of the closest racing at the Norwalk track.
Justin Ashley Remains Undefeated in NHRA Challenge
A couple weeks ago at Bristol Dragway, Justin Ashley turned on every available win light at the rescheduled NHRA New England Nationals, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. The third-year Top Fuel driver was looking for fourth win in new redemption format.
During the final round of Saturday qualifying, Ashley powered his Phillips Connect/Toyota dragster to a 3.743-second elapsed time to beat Austin Prock in the semifinal round. Ashley has become one of the leaders of the Maynard Ashley Racing team and gave himself a chance to sweep his third weekend of the year.
Ashley posted a 4.063 ET at 228.61 mph to beat Doug Kalitta after the driver of the Mac Tools/Toyota Racing dragster spun the rear tires on his 11,000-horsepower ride during the Mission #2Fast2Tasty final round. Ashley is now undefeated in the Mission specialty race for 2023.
Ron Capps Tops Funny Car in Mission Specialty Event
The two-time Funny Car NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series arrived at Norwalk riding a high after winning his first race of 2023 season at the Thunder Valley Nationals. His win at Bristol gave the driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra Funny Car the world championship points lead.
Capps has qualified for the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge specialty race four times this season. Due to persistent showers, Friday qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals was shortened but Capps was the provisional Number One qualifier for the ninth of 21 races with a 3.898 ET.
When Saturday qualifying resumed, Capps powered the NAPA Toyota to a 3.934 ET to defeat Chad Green, who shook the tires, with a 4.022 elapsed time. Capps then posted a run of 3.887-seconds at 327.74 mph to defeat Robert Hight and win the Mission Foods specialty race for the second time this season.
Derek Kramer Claims First Mission #2Fast2Tasty Victory
Deric Kramer came to Norwalk on a stretch of four straight final round appearances and the continued to impress drag racing fans on Saturday at the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Norwalk. By comparison, the Colorado native had only one semifinal round appearance in 2022.
Driving the Get Biofuel Chevrolet Pro Stock Camaro, Kramer was licking his wounds after watching Erica Enders return to her winning ways at the Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol. On Saturday at Norwalk, Kramer defeated Cristian Cuadra in the opening round of NHRA Challenge with a holeshot victory.
In one of the closest races of the weekend, Kramer defeated the legendary Greg Anderson in the final round with a 6.622-second elapsed time to Anderson’s 6.623 ET. Currently second in points, Kramer also picked up three bonus points in the Countdown to the Championship with the Mission Challenge win.
Angie Smith Tops PSM in Summit Redemption Race
Pro Stock Motorcycle racing is a definitely a game of inches and everyone who races in the class has been looking for any sign of a chink in the armor of Gage Herrera and his Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki. Herrera had been “near perfect” before his redlight loss to Steve Johnson at Bristol.
Smith got off to terrific start in Saturday’s semifinal qualifying round when Gage Herrera left a smidgeon early on a near-perfect .000 RT at the tree. Herrera bounced back from his red light in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, rolling to his fifth straight Number One qualifier with a 6.785 ET.
In the final round of the NHRA Challenge, Smith enjoyed the biggest moment of her 2023 Pro Stock Motorcycle season by defeating Hector Arana Jr. to win the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge with a pass of 6.967 ET at 196.96 mph on her DENSO Buell to her opponent's 7.006-second elapsed time.
Artwork courtesy of NHRA
UP COMING:
Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals
Nitro and Pro Stock classes will participate in Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge during the final round of Saturday qualifying in a head-to-head semifinal and final event at the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals. Mission Foods has changed the way we approach the weekend with semifinalist from the previous NHRA national competing for purse money and Countdown to the Championship bonus points at Bandimere Speedway.
