Night Racing, Three Saturday Nitro Qualifying Sessions Highlight Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals

Annual race at Pacific Raceways in Seattle features night qualifying for second straight year, as well as three Top Fuel/Funny Car sessions on Saturday

SEATTLE, WA – April 3, 2025 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Night qualifying is back for a second straight year at Pacific Raceways, while three sessions of nitro qualifying on Saturday is also set for the upcoming 36th annual Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals.

The epic weekend in Seattle takes place July 18-20, as NHRA and Pacific Raceways officials revealed a pair of exciting schedule announcements for the longtime NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event. Tickets are currently on sale for the race, which is the 11th of 20 during the 2025 season.

After an incredibly-successful debut of night qualifying a year ago, a Friday Primetime session is back by popular demand as fans will again be treated to all the amazing sights and sounds of 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars at night under the Musco Lighting

The excitement doesn’t stop there, as the next day fans can take in three rounds of Top Fuel and Funny Car action as part of a loaded day filled with fun for the whole family. The nitro sessions take place 12:30, 2:45 and 5 p.m. PT on Saturday, with a jam-packed schedule giving fans multiple chances to see the fastest and most powerful cars on the planet.

Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will qualify twice on both Friday and Saturday, leading into eliminations on Sunday, July 20, where winners will be crowned at the historic race.

“Nitro qualifying under the lights on Friday night will be back this year and we are extremely excited to have that again be part of our NHRA national event,” said John Ramsey, Pacific Raceways General Manager. “Fans who were here last year saw an incredible show on a perfect summer night and the feedback we received was overwhelming. Adding a third qualifying session for Top Fuel and Funny Car will be over-the-top on Saturday and making that unique afternoon a must-see for our Northwest race fans.”

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will take place at 6:40 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. PT on Friday, July 18, with some special exhibition classes set to run following the first session. Those details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Before the second PS/PSM session and nitro at night, fans will get to take part in a special pre-race ceremony, including a track walk, cackle fest and more. That leads to Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying under the lights starting at 9:15 p.m. PT, where fans will see massive nitro header flames and an evening of incredible performances.

On Saturday, July 19, qualifying in Top Fuel and Funny Car will happen at 12:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 5 p.m., PT with the final two rounds of Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle taking place at 3:45 and 6:05 p.m. The Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, which offers a bonus purse and championship points, will take place during the final two qualifying sessions in every category on Saturday, bringing even more intense competition to close out a jam-packed qualifying day.

Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. PT on Sunday, July 20, marking the culmination of what will surely be one of the biggest events in Pacific Raceways history. The scenic facility has played host to NHRA national events for nearly four decades, with this year’s race shaping up to be a monumental weekend.

“It’s exciting to work with Pacific Raceways and present a unique weekend with night qualifying on Friday and three rounds of nitro the next day,” NHRA Senior Vice President Evan Jonat said. “Their team is eager to try different things, which we successfully saw last year with the introduction of Friday night qualifying. We’re thrilled to see that continue and there will be a great show leading up to those night runs to keep the fans excited. We’ve got a terrific race partner with Muckleshoot Casino Resort and it all adds up to a big weekend and one we can’t wait to share with all the amazing NHRA fans in the Pacific Northwest.”

Last year’s winners in Seattle included Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Chase Van Sant (Pro Stock Motorcycle). The race will again be broadcast on the FOX broadcast network.

In the Top Fuel ranks, Torrence has won back-to-back years at Pacific Raceways, while defending world champion Antron Brown has four victories at the track. Others to watch include Tony Stewart, Brittany Force, Doug Kalitta and Clay Millican.

Prock earned his first Funny Car victory at Seattle in 2024 en route to his first world title and he’ll take on a loaded class that also features Jack Beckman, who is driving for John Force, Ron Capps, Matt Hagan and Bob Tasca III.

Reigning Pro Stock world champ Greg Anderson leads all active Pro Stock drivers with three wins at Pacific Raceways, while Van Sant earned his first career Pro Stock Motorcycle win last year in Seattle, stopping Gaige Herrera in the final round to also end his record-breaking 11-race win streak.

Tickets for the 36th annual Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals are currently on sale at www.NHRA.com/tickets. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com. For more information on Muckleshoot Casino Resort, visit https://muckleshootcasino.com.

About Muckleshoot Casino Resort

The Muckleshoot Casino Resort, celebrated as the “Biggest and Best in the Northwest,” has just become even more impressive with the unveiling of their new hotel tower. This exciting expansion features 401 elegant guestrooms, a more expansive casino floor, a serene indoor pool, a luxurious spa, and the exquisite rooftop steakhouse, Smoke & Cedar. From here, guests can indulge in breathtaking views of Mt. Rainier, the Olympic Mountain range, and the Seattle skyline. As one of Washington’s premier casino gaming destinations, Muckleshoot Casino offers the largest selection of games in the state, with over 3,500 machines, an array of table games, and one of the most extensive smoke-free gaming areas in the region. Muckleshoot Casino also tantalizes the taste buds with a variety of dining options that take guests on a culinary adventure around the world and provides world-class entertainment at the Muckleshoot Events Center and Galaxy! Guests can enjoy additional perks like complimentary valet service, Wi-Fi, covered parking, and electric vehicle charging stations, making every visit even more convenient and enjoyable.

About Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe is composed of descendants of the Native people who inhabited the Duwamish and Upper Puyallup watersheds of central Puget Sound for thousands of years before non-Indian settlement. The word, Muckleshoot, is derived from the Native name for the prairie on which the tribe’s reservation was established in 1857. Today, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe is a major contributor to the local economy and community providing resources to other governments, schools, nonprofits, and churches throughout Washington. The benefits of the Muckleshoot Tribe’s economic revival go well beyond financial contributions. From landmark agreements protecting fish and wildlife habitats and innovative educational programming to hundreds of partnerships with organizations serving those in need throughout the state, the Muckleshoot Tribe is committed to improving the quality of life of its citizens, neighbors and work force while preserving its culture and laying the groundwork for a bright future.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Source: National Hot Rod Association

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