June 28, 2025 | By NHRA

Matt Hartford beats Greg Anderson in NHRA Pro Stock Callout

NORWALK, Ohio—Pro Stock’s Matt Hartford avenged last year’s final-round defeat and picked up his first victory in the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout on Saturday at Summit Motorsports Park, defeating reigning world champion Greg Anderson in the final round of the bonus race as part of this weekend’s 19th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.

In a rematch of last year’s final round in the bonus race, which Anderson won, Hartford led wire-to-wire this time, going 6.609-seconds at 207.88 mph in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro to knock off the points leader and claim the $40,000 prize.

It was a thrilling moment for Hartford, who left first on Anderson and never trailed en route to a massive victory in the bonus race, which took place at Norwalk for the first time.

“First of all, let's just be clear, this is (Bill) Bader country here. He has the best track in the country, he has the best staff, the best people, everything about this facility is top notch, so to come here and be able to race is just a great feeling,” Hartford said. “To be able to win here is even better. We beat (Eric) Latino, Dallas Glenn and Greg Anderson – three really tough competitors who all have the same power that we have.”

Hartford called out KB Titan Racing teammate Eric Latino for the opening-round matchup and defeated him with a run of 6.615 at 206.89. After Anderson went 6.587 at 205.98 to defeat six-time world champion Erica Enders, Anderson called out Jeg Coughlin Jr., leaving a standout matchup between Hartford and Glenn.

Anderson took down Coughlin with 6.611 at 206.80, while Hartford went a better 6.603 at 207.82 to defeat Glenn and set up the final round. He put together another strong run against Anderson and will now try to sweep the weekend on Sunday.

“These conditions are very difficult. It's just when you have that big ball of fire in the sky shining down like it is, it makes it very tricky for everybody,” Hartford said. “We made some really good calls today. We ran consistent and I think that's what it's going to take for tomorrow. We won this race two years ago and we were consistent in qualifying. If we can go out and be consistent on a tree and make good laps, you know, we're looking for a long day tomorrow.”

Anderson ended up with the No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock thanks to Friday’s 6.594 at 206.78. It is his fourth No. 1 spot of the season, giving him a chance to add to a season that has already included four wins.

“Obviously, a great thing to have a number one qualifier going into Sunday,” Anderson said. “The final round of the Callout didn't go the way we wanted. I had a good run going today, until I didn't.

“It just didn't get a hold of anything in low gear and it went left real hard, got on the center line, and I was all over the racetrack trying to get it straight. I'm telling you, anybody in the class can beat anybody and Matt slapped me around like he slapped me around pretty much every Saturday this year.”

Glenn qualified second with a 6.596 at 207.15 and Hartford took third with a 6.604.

Eliminations for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals begin at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday at Summit Motorsports Park.



GETTRX PRO STOCK ALL-STAR CALLOUT ROUND-BY-ROUND RESULTS

ROUND ONE -- Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Camaro, 6.637, 205.44 def. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.647, 204.82; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.615, 206.89 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.653, 204.60; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.596, 206.92 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.646, 204.63; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.587, 205.98 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.600, 205.54;

SEMIFINALS -- M. Hartford, 6.603, 207.82 def. D. Glenn, 6.611, 207.18; G. Anderson, 6.611, 206.80 def. J. Coughlin, 7.038, 158.11;

FINAL -- M. Hartford, 6.609, 207.88 def. G. Anderson, 6.652, 207.30



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KALITTA, WILKERSON & HERRERA WIN MISSION #2FAST2TASTY CHALLENGE AT SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA NATIONALS

NORWALK, Ohio -- Top Fuel’s Doug Kalitta continued his magic in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday at Motorsports Park, defeating Tony Stewart in the final round to win the bonus race for the fourth time this season at the 19th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.

Daniel Wilkerson (Funny Car) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, while Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) qualified No. 1 at the 10th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Kalitta entered the final round of the bonus race not qualified and needed every part of his run of 3.953-seconds at 294.37 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Applied Innovations dragster to get into the show. It was plenty enough to beat points leader Stewart, who smoked the tires almost immediately, and Kalitta slipped into the field in the No. 15 position.

It was a tense moment, but Kalitta continues to thrive in the Challenge specialty race, winning for the fourth time in and already earning 18 bonus points for the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

“We have Applied Innovations on our car this weekend. Usually, it's just a one-race thing, but it's our home track and we’ve got our pits are full with all of our guests,” Kalitta said. “So, as you can imagine, the timing was good to get down the track and get in the show.

“Obviously, we appreciate everything Mission Foods does. We’re able to race on Saturday, the whole concept is good and we’re real fortunate that we got down to track. It seems a little tricky out there right now, it was just one of those lucky moments in life. I've got such confidence in my group. Alan Johnson tuning and making the final adjustments, that's very reassuring for a guy like me. I was just really hoping to get the win and then make it down the track.”

Justin Ashley’s run of 3.752 at 330.88 in his 12,000-horsepower Scag Power Equipment dragster easily held up on a warm Saturday, handing the young standout
his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and seventh in his career.

He’ll open eliminations against Scott Farley looking for his second straight victory of the season. Ashley is on an impressive tear, advancing to the finals at five of the past six years.

“Yeah, it's pretty neat, our first number one qualifier of the year, and it's important,” Ashley said. “We try to use qualifying the right way, to use it as an opportunity to set ourselves up for Sunday and we feel like we did a good job of that.

“All that stuff really gets thrown away tomorrow. It doesn't matter who you're racing, whether you're one, 16, or somewhere in between, anybody can win, especially in today's Top Fuel class. But it speaks volumes of the guys that we have, they like qualifying number one. So, great job all the way around by our group.”

Antron Brown qualified second with a 3.755 at 333.33 and Stewart is third, going 3.755 at 327.11.

For the second straight race, Daniel Wilkerson found success on Saturday, winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on consecutive weekends, this time beating points leader Austin Prock in the final round of the specialty race with a run of 4.151 at 305.56 in his 12,000-horsepower Scag Power Equipment Ford Mustang.

Both of these wins have come in warm conditions, but Wilkerson and his team, led by his dad, crew chief Tim Wilkerson, have navigated it well, picking up the bonus purse and valuable championship bonus points. He took out both John Force Racing drivers on Saturday, defeating Jack Beckman earlier in the day before driving past Prock in the final round.

“It's exciting and it almost compounds because I knew this race car we've got has been in there the whole time,” Wilkerson said. “This is really important and now for this team, having not won anything ourselves yet since I took over driving, these wins are a serious morale boost and a serious confidence boost.

“Getting to run on Saturday, actually, I think it's starting to help me a little bit, too. On Sunday, for whatever reason, it is different. The feeling in the atmosphere is different. Everything's different. So, to get to practice racing is going to help me a lot.”

Funny Car’s Cruz Pedregon earned his first No. 1 qualifier in more than two years thanks to Friday’s impressive run of 3.890 at 318.39 in his 12,000-horsepower Snap-On Makers and Fixers Dodge Hellcat.

That run handed the two-time world champion his 65th career No. 1 qualifier, but the first since early in the 2023 season. He’ll open eliminations against Buddy Hull, as the veteran is looking for his first win since the final race of the 2022 campaign.

“It really means a lot to the team and to all of our sponsors, you get to say you're number one before the race. So, yeah, it was we enjoyed it,” Pedregon said. “I'm confident we'll get our heads together and make the right adjustments. We're starting to get there and there's nothing like turn on win lights on Sundays.”

Points leader and defending world champion Prock qualified second with a 3.900 at 331.28 and Bristol winner Ron Capps took third after going 3.908 at 325.06 on Friday.

Gaige Herrera won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in Pro Stock Motorcycle for the third time this season, defeating a red-lighting Angie Smith in the final round of the bonus race with a run of 6.831 at 198.15 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki.

“I'm thrilled. Yesterday, we were kind of scratching our heads especially after the last two runs. We were here late working on the bikes, just trying to figure out what we needed to do,” Herrera said. “I was actually glad today that on the second round the air got a little worse because it gets us ready for tomorrow.

“Getting the Mission Foods win here for the third time is awesome. It gives me a little cushion and a lot of confidence going in tomorrow.”

Matt Smith was the only provisional No. 1 qualifier to improve on Saturday, going an even better 6.816 at 200.86 on his Denso Auto Parts Buell. It gives the six-time world champion his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and 59th in his career, and plenty of confidence heading into Sunday.

“We ran really good and have all weekend,” Smith said. “We’ve had some strong runs this weekend and I can't say enough about our team. I mean, I think we qualified five bikes in the top seven, so it's pretty impressive.

“When the track gets this hot and there's a lot of humidity in the air, it's just really hard to get off the line. You want to try to kill it every time, but sometimes you got to back up and just lay one up and that's kind of what we're doing, just letting the bike do the work down the racetrack. I feel like we have the best bike from eighth-mile to finish line.”

Herrera’s 6.820 at 199.11 puts him second and John Hall took third with a 6.832 at 199.35.

Eliminations for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals begin at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday at Summit Motorsports Park.


SUNDAY ELIMINATION PAIRINGS

NORWALK, Ohio -- Sunday's first-round pairings for eliminations for the 19th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, the 10th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.


Top Fuel -- 1. Justin Ashley, 3.752 seconds, 330.88 mph vs. 16. Scott Farley, 3.973, 257.48; 2. Antron Brown, 3.755, 333.33 vs. 15. Doug Kalitta, 3.953, 294.37; 3. Tony Stewart, 3.755, 327.11 vs. 14. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.895, 305.29; 4. Brittany Force, 3.784, 334.65 vs. 13. Lex Joon, 3.882, 313.73; 5. Shawn Langdon, 3.789, 324.59 vs. 12. Doug Foley, 3.841, 317.49; 6. Steve Torrence, 3.812, 329.34 vs. 11. Shawn Reed, 3.826, 322.42; 7. Dan Mercier, 3.813, 330.15 vs. 10. Clay Millican, 3.823, 324.20; 8. Spencer Massey, 3.816, 319.37 vs. 9. Josh Hart, 3.818, 325.37.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Will Smith, 3.997, 283.85.


Funny Car -- 1. Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, 3.890, 318.39 vs. 16. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.127, 276.75; 2. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.900, 331.28 vs. 15. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 4.087, 312.57; 3. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.908, 325.06 vs. 14. Paul Lee, Charger, 4.079, 306.26; 4. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.913, 321.35 vs. 13. Chad Green, Ford Mustang, 4.072, 311.56; 5. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.926, 329.67 vs. 12. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 4.061, 322.50; 6. Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 3.960, 327.11 vs. 11. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.040, 317.19; 7. Hunter Green, Charger, 3.972, 322.50 vs. 10. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.012, 322.73; 8. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.997, 321.50 vs. 9. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 4.005, 314.97.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Julie Nataas, 4.148, 294.11; 18. Chris King, 4.267, 249.72; 19. Bobby Bode, 4.386, 205.19; 20. Mike McIntire, 4.927, 173.14; 21. Joe Morrison, 5.248, 147.04.


Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.594, 207.30 vs. 16. Derrick Reese, Ford Mustang, 6.721, 203.98; 2. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.596, 207.37 vs. 15. Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.703, 204.82; 3. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.603, 207.88 vs. 14. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.652, 207.59; 4. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.613, 206.73 vs. 13. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.650, 207.53; 5. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.616, 208.17 vs. 12. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.640, 205.32; 6. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.619, 206.45 vs. 11. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.632, 209.07; 7. Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.626, 206.57 vs. 10. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.631, 205.66; 8. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.626, 207.05 vs. 9. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.630, 206.95.


Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.816, 200.86 vs. Bye; 2. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.820, 199.11 vs. 13. Odolph Daniels, Suzuki, 7.336, 182.85; 3. John Hall, Beull, 6.832, 199.35 vs. 12. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 7.233, 183.69; 4. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.839, 198.32 vs. 11. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.970, 193.32; 5. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.853, 197.28 vs. 10. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.922, 195.76; 6. Ron Tornow, Victory, 6.862, 197.88 vs. 9. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.901, 192.99; 7. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.886, 199.08 vs. 8. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.891, 195.05.



MISSION FOOD #2FAST2TASTY CHALLENGE ROUND-BY-ROUND RESULTS

NORWALK, Ohio -- Mission #2fast2Tasty Challenge final round-by-round results from the 19th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.


TOP FUEL CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE -- Tony Stewart, 4.601, 167.05 def. Shawn Langdon, Foul - Red Light; Doug Kalitta, 4.384, 186.05 def. Justin Ashley, 6.300, 97.12;

FINAL -- D. Kalitta, 3.953, 294.37 def. T. Stewart, 11.598, 72.03.


FUNNY CAR CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE -- Daniel Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.275, 218.94 def. Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 4.500, 192.60; Austin Prock, Camaro, 4.130, 244.83 def. J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 4.764, 172.21;

FINAL -- D. Wilkerson, 4.151, 305.56 def. A. Prock, 5.015, 155.11.


PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE -- Angie Smith, Buell, 6.839, 198.32 def. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, Broke; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.820, 199.11 def. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.816, 200.86;

FINAL -- G. Herrera, 6.831, 198.15 def. A. Smith, Foul - Red Light.