Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals Friday Thrill Preview

After two straight four-wide showdowns in Las Vegas and Charlotte, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series switches back to its usual two-lane format for the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Chicago this weekend. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the event at Route 66 Raceway, adding extra anticipation to the sixth race out of 20 on the 2025 Pro series schedule.

Fans can expect Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock Motorcycle to headline the lineup, while support classes such as Holley EFI NHRA Factory X, Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown, Top Fuel Motorcycle, and Sportsman groups from the NHRA Lucas Oil Series round out a packed racing program.

The popular Peak Street Car Shootout returns for its third running, again featuring some of the world’s fastest street-legal cars. This year’s shootout includes top names like Alex Taylor, Tom Bailey, Bryant Goldstone, Nick Taylor, Craig Groebner, Dave Schroeder, Ed Ensor, and Tom McGilton, each hoping to claim bragging rights in Chicago.

Another big feature is the latest Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, where semifinalists from last weekend’s Charlotte event square off in bonus races during Saturday qualifying, with cash and extra points at stake.

Shawn Langdon leads Top Fuel after a hot start that includes wins at Phoenix and Charlotte plus a runner-up in Gainesville. He holds a 60-point lead over Tony Stewart, the Las Vegas winner who recently earned his first NHRA Pro victory.

Antron Brown, last year’s winner at Route 66 and a multi-time series champ, goes into Friday in third, followed by reigning world champion Doug Kalitta. Top Fuel’s all-time wins at Route 66 belong to Tony Schumacher, with five victories at the venue. For more details on NHRA’s Top Fuel history, visit the NHRA official records page.

In Funny Car, Austin Prock, already a two-time winner this year and defending world champion, sits first in points, 59 ahead of Phoenix winner Paul Lee. Matt Hagan, third in the standings, is the defending event winner and has captured four Route 66 trophies. Recent news highlights notable Funny Car competitors making strong efforts at this event, including Ron Capps’ impressive Route 66 win here.

The Funny Car track records are held by Robert Hight, who set a 3.831-second run and hit 335.07 mph in 2023. This season has also seen exciting developments around rising Funny Car stars, adding depth to the competition here. For further insights into Funny Car dynamics, check out the SAE International motorsports resources.

Pro Stock Motorcycle features Gaige Herrera, who leads the class thanks to a win at Gainesville and an undefeated record at Route 66 over the past two seasons. But Herrera trails Matt Smith—six-time world champ and winner of this race in 2018 and 2019—by 15 points this week.

Herrera remains the national record holder with a 6.627-second elapsed time clocked in Dallas last October. To learn more about Pro Stock Motorcycle regulations, visit the NHRA rulebook.

The Friday action schedule starts early, with Sportsman qualifying at 9 a.m., followed by the Peak Street Car Shootout at 1 p.m. Pro Stock Motorcycle takes to the track for qualifying at 1:30 p.m. and again at 4 p.m., with Top Fuel and Funny Car running qualifying rounds at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The weekend also includes Lucas Oil Series eliminations, more qualifying and shootout rounds on Saturday, and final eliminations on Sunday starting at 10:30 a.m., all at Route 66 Raceway. For event logistics and venue details, refer to the Route 66 Raceway official site.

TV coverage for race fans will include Saturday night qualifying highlights and Sunday finals, all airing on FS1. Last year’s winners were Brown in Top Fuel, Hagan in Funny Car, and Herrera in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

National and track records remain a target for racers hoping to add their names to the long history of standout performances in Chicago.

With the championship fight tightening, all eyes are on the stars of the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series as they settle the next chapter on Route 66. Chicago’s historic raceway promises drama, milestones, and the chance for new names to make their mark at the 2025 Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals.