Kalitta, Todd, Anderson and Hall roll to Provisional No. 1 Spots at Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals

SEATTLE, WA – July 19, 2025 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Top Fuel’s Doug Kalitta just missed out on the track record on Friday at Pacific Raceways, taking the provisional No. 1 spot under the lights at the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals.

J.R. Todd (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 11th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, with each also claiming the Deecell Power Systems “After Dark Low Qualifier” award.

Kalitta went 3.671-seconds at 335.90 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Mac Tools dragster, just missing the track record of 3.670 he set a year ago. But it was plenty good enough to take the No. 1 spot, giving him the $4,000 Deecell “After Dark Low Qualifier” award. Should that hold, Kalitta would earn his sixth No. 1 qualifier this year and continue his torrid qualifying pace.

What the veteran would enjoy even more is his first victory of the season, something he hopes can come together in ideal weather conditions this weekend in Seattle.

“The conditions were good, and I was really hopeful that my car would go out there and run a good number,” Kalitta said. “We were making a lot of changes back in the staging lanes because people were smoking the tires. I wasn’t sure if they backed the thing down or what but when the thing left, I could tell it was really running. I wasn’t sure what it ran, but I was pretty definitely pleased to hear what we ended up with.

“I’m sure they’ll be gunning for that tomorrow because it’s definitely within reach with what the conditions probably will be for tomorrow. I’m just real fortunate Alan [Johnson, crew chief] and Mac [Savage] and my whole team because they can throw down with the best of them.”

Teammate Shawn Langdon is second with a 3.689 at 332.92 and Brittany Force is third with a 3.703 at a track-record 340.47.

In Funny Car, J.R. Todd made the most of the one nitro session on Friday at Pacific Raceways, taking the top position with a run of 3.901 at 329.26 in his 12,000-horsepower DHL Toyota GR Supra. Todd was one of only two drivers in the category to make a three-second run, as teams struggled under the lights.

But Todd wasn’t one of them, making a clean pass and claiming the $4,000 Deecell “After Dark Low Qualifier” award. Should that hold, Todd would pick up his first No. 1 qualifier of the year and the 15th in his career. On Saturday, the nitro teams will get three qualifying conditions in more great conditions as Todd and his Kalitta Motorsports team look to keep improving.

“From the time I hit the gas, a whole sequence of events happened. It picked the front end up pretty good. I must have had it pointed right, so I snatch it back left, and then goes out there and quivers the tires a little bit,” Todd said. “Once that happens, it kind of like it puts you behind, then there’s a pretty good bump out there, so I’m just steering the thing all over the place. I definitely did not expect it to make it, but it did.

“There’s no reason we shouldn’t be running mid- to high-80s tomorrow during the day, which that usually doesn’t happen on Saturday at most places. It’s got me excited.”

Chad Green is currently second with 3.928 at 329.75 and Austin Prock is third after a run of 5.580 at 160.46.

With ideal conditions on Friday, Pro Stock’s Greg Anderson and Dallas Glenn put on a thrilling show, trading track records during each qualifying session. Glenn set it to start the day and Anderson finished it off with a massive 6.472 at 211.13 in his HendrickCars.comChevrolet Camaro to take the No. 1 spot and win the $2,500 Deecell “After Dark Low Qualifier” award.

In a terrific side-by-side pairing, Glenn went 6.479, just missing on slipping past Anderson at his home track. It was another stellar duel between the two drivers who have dominated the class in 2025. For Anderson, who has four wins this season, it’s now a chance to qualifying No. 1 for the first time this season and the 137th time in his incredible career.

“Two great runs for both of us. We’re certainly not disappointed either way. It worked out because guys are just doing a fantastic job with the race cars,” Anderson said. “They spent a lot of time over the last couple weeks testing Dallas’ car, and obviously they’re better. They got happier in the first 60 feet, which is where it was kind of behind mine before.

“Getting the track record is definitely cool, but sometimes that low E.T. doesn’t win a race. I’ve shown that before, but I’d certainly rather have the fastest race car. It appears that either Dallas or I have that right now, so that’s a good feeling but it doesn’t guarantee anything. There’s a lot of guys that can win on that starting line on Sunday.”

Following Glenn in third is Greg Stanfield, as he dipped into the 6.40s as well with a run of 6.493 at 210.31.

Fresh off his victory in Norwalk, John Hall is on the verge of a massive moment in his Pro Stock Motorcycle career after going a career-best 6.717 at 201.76 on his American Rebel Beer Buell on Friday at Pacific Raceways. Should that hold, the veteran would earn his first career No. 1 qualifier, just weeks after getting his first victory in 12 years with his triumph in Norwalk.

On Friday, the run was good enough to win the $1,500 and the Deecell “After Low Qualifier” award, which was certainly good enough for the first day of racing for Hall. He posted a pair of strong runs as he looks to keep rolling after his huge victory last month.

“I could have probably gone close to that in the first round, but I screwed up, so we knew it had power, we knew it was fast, and I just went out there and did it,” Hall said. “I knew the air was good. I knew the tune-up was going to be good. I think I got every bit of it on that run.

“Matt and Angie [Smith] have done a lot of work and a lot of research. This bike just wasn’t running in the beginning of the season. They couldn’t figure out why. They spent a lot of time and money and effort to get this bike to where it is, and now it’s fast, obviously.”

Gaige Herrera is currently second after going 6.721 at 201.76 and Matt Smith’s 6.733 at 201.88 has him third.

Qualifying continues at 12:30 p.m. PT on Saturday at the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways.

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KENT, WA. — Friday’s results after the first of four rounds of Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying and the first two of four rounds of for the 36th annual Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways, 11th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel — 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.671 seconds, 335.90 mph; 2. Shawn Langdon, 3.689, 332.92; 3. Brittany Force, 3.703, 340.47; 4. Clay Millican, 3.708, 331.12; 5. Shawn Reed, 4.140, 277.09; 6. Antron Brown, 5.993, 113.31; 7. Josh Hart, 6.385, 100.03; 8. Tony Stewart, 6.439, 93.60; 9. Justin Ashley, 8.761, 75.40; 10. Cameron Ferre, 8.895, 83.80; 11. Ida Zetterstrom, 13.114, 68.89.

Funny Car — 1. J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 3.901, 329.26; 2. Chad Green, Ford Mustang, 3.928, 329.75; 3. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 5.580, 160.46; 4. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 6.691, 96.66; 5. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 6.912, 91.85; 6. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 7.131, 95.11; 7. Hunter Green, Dodge Charger, 7.404, 89.22; 8. Dave Richards, Mustang, 7.443, 100.09; 9. Paul Lee, Charger, 7.501, 79.85; 10. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 7.599, 90.09; 11. Matt Hagan, Charger, 7.713, 87.10; 12. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 8.402, 84.00; 13. Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 8.454, 81.25; 14. Buddy Hull, Charger, 8.576, 74.20; 15. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 8.725, 71.97; 16. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 26.571, 67.12.
Not Qualified: 17. Dylan Winefsky, broke.

Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.472, 211.20; 2. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.479, 211.89; 3. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.493, 210.31; 4. Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.511, 210.54; 5. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.512, 209.92; 6. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.522, 210.83; 7. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.523, 210.08; 8. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.543, 210.47; 9. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.545, 210.90; 10. Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.548, 210.47; 11. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.562, 209.52; 12. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.576, 210.44; 13. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.592, 208.46; 14. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.719, 207.11; 15. Joey Grose, Camaro, 7.260, 187.50; 16. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 9.434, 97.57.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. John Hall, Beull, 6.717, 201.76; 2. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.721, 201.07; 3. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.733, 202.21; 4. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.735, 199.73; 5. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.774, 197.80; 6. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.789, 200.29; 7. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.846, 197.94; 8. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.854, 194.27.

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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