INDIANAPOLIS — NHRA introduced Tuesday that 4 qualifying periods will return to the racing schedule in the course of the upcoming Mission Meals Drag Racing Collection season.
Followers will get the prospect to get pleasure from 4 periods at each race, apart from the NHRA Virginia Nationals, which can function three qualifying periods on Saturday, June 21 as a part of a singular two-day occasion, and the distinguished Cornwell High quality Instruments NHRA U.S. Nationals, which may have its conventional 5 qualifying periods over Labor Day Weekend.
The opposite 18 nationwide occasions will function 4 qualifying periods, with two going down on Friday and two on Saturday, giving followers ample alternative to see all their favourite NHRA Mission Meals Drag Racing Collection stars.
The Saturday qualifying schedule may also see an adjustment, as Prime Gasoline and Humorous Automobile will now kick off each periods, operating earlier than Professional Inventory/Professional Inventory Motorbike, mirroring the Sunday eliminations schedule as effectively. Friday qualifying will stay the identical, with Professional Inventory/Professional Inventory Motorbike operating earlier than Prime Gasoline and Humorous Automobile, which can permit for a number of nitro at night time periods.
“I actually love this new format for the Saturday schedule and I sit up for seeing it happen all 12 months lengthy,” Humorous Automobile standout Bob Tasca III mentioned. “For the followers who’re excited to see nitro racing, it’s an important probability to provide them an opportunity to see it first on Saturdays in the course of the professional qualifying schedule.”
Added reigning Professional Inventory champ Greg Anderson: “That is helpful to Professional Inventory as a result of these are the circumstances we’ll race in on Sunday. It had been tough on Sunday as a result of we don’t have any follow (operating after nitro) throughout qualifying. So, this could assist us with our raceday tune-up, which is what’s most essential for the weekend.”
At quite a few races, together with each Charlotte 4-Huge occasions, Epping, Bristol, Norwalk, Seattle, Sonoma, Indianapolis, Studying, St. Louis and Dallas, followers might be handled to primetime qualifying below the lights on Friday night time, because the 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph nitro machines placed on a spectacular night time present.
Beginning in Phoenix and concluding in Indianapolis, Saturday’s qualifying schedule throughout 13 common season occasions, together with each four-wide occasions in April, may also embrace the favored Mission #2Fast2Tasty Problem. The bonus occasion brings aggressive racing to Saturday qualifying and has been an enormous hit with a bonus purse and bonus championship factors on the road. Semifinalists from the earlier race will face off in a rematch, with the winners advancing for a must-see Saturday showdown.
“We’re excited to return to 4 qualifying rounds at our nationwide occasions this 12 months. It’s a welcomed transfer by our race groups and can solely improve the aggressive setting of NHRA drag racing, which solely makes for a greater present for our nice followers,” NHRA Vice President of Racing Administration Josh Peterson mentioned. “They get to see extra racing, extra unbelievable performances and it’s an effective way to showcase all of the standout racing groups and drivers throughout the NHRA.”
The NHRA Mission Meals Drag Racing Collection season opens March 6-9 with the 56th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at legendary Gainesville Raceway and options 20 whole occasions at standout services throughout the nation.
