Drivers Say the NHRA U.S. Nationals Still Has Luster, Even in Pandemic

Friday Night Lights isn’t just for high school football. It’s a hallmark of the NHRA’s U.S. Nationals.

Antron Brown and Clay Millican are among the drivers who say racing under the lights for Friday night qualifying is one reason this weekend’s Denso-sponsored event at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis hasn’t lost any of its luster.

When public-health restrictions eased this summer, the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule put three consecutive races at Indianapolis, which traditionally sees no action until Labor Day weekend. The move came because the state of Indiana permitted fans in the grandstands and many teams are headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., a mile or two from the venue.

Top Fuel’s Brown and Millican say the familiar Friday night spectacle has kept this fourth race on the same dragstrip feeling fresh, unique, and significant.

“It’s going to be a big race with an expanded qualifying schedule. The fans will get more to see, and we get our first run under the lights on Friday night,” 2011 U.S. Nationals winner Brown said.

The driver of the Matco Tools/Global Electronic Technology Toyota Dragster said fans “can feel all the sensors that they can’t during the day because you can’t see the flames. But at night, you can see the flames and you hear that roar, it’s like a bomb going off while you’re sitting in your seat.

“We are able to bring the party to the fans, and that’s why I love running at night. We’re looking forward to it. Being back out racing and having support from our fans is the No. 1 priority. We’ve got to give back for the way they’ve supported us through this time.”

Millican, whose Parts Plus Dragster will carry the banner, too, for race-sponsor Denso, said, “Every team out there has made plenty of laps at Indy this year, and we’re excited. It’s going to be our first night run in a long time, and I love nitro at night. There’s just something different at the U.S. Nationals. While it was definitely exciting to go racing at Indy, there’s just a different feel knowing what’s coming with that U.S. Nationals title in front of it.”

For Pro Stock points leader Jeg Coughlin Jr., this special edition of the U.S. Nationals represents a personal challenge. He announced at the outset of 2020 that he will retire at season’s end. The five-time winner of this event (Pro Stock class in 2000, 2002, and 2009; Super Gas 1992; and Mopar Hemi Challenge 2004) has won two of this year’s four Pro Stock races and advanced to three final rounds as he seeks his sixth series crown. This weekend, he’ll campaign a throwback JEGS.com Chevrolet Camaro.

“If there’s been one positive to this unusual season, it’s that we’ve had some extra races at Indy, which is obviously one of the most historic facilities on the NHRA tour,” Coughlin said. “This year’s U.S. Nationals will be the third visit to Indy for the Pro Stock class, and we were fortunate enough to win the last one a few weeks ago. So we feel like we have a lot of momentum.

“The best way I can think of to end our professional run at Indy would be to win the U.S. Nationals one last time. We’re working hard towards that goal and I’m planning to enjoy the race and treat every pass like it’s my last.”

Funny Car’s Cruz Pedregon, owner-driver of the Snap-on Tools Dodge, is a three-time U.S. Nationals winner who expressed respect for the event.

“Even though the world has been a little different this year, this is still the U.S. Nationals, and a win here will define a season. It’s been too long since we’ve won it (25 years ago, in 1995), and 2020 will be a whole lot better if we bring this Wally back home with us,” he said. “We consider it our home track, but for most drivers in all categories, as the U.S. Nationals go, so goes the season. We approach the Big Go with the respect it deserves.

“Even though the world has been a little different this year, this is still the U.S. Nationals.”

“Even though I’m a California guy, Indy is a great place to be, and the city has been great to the sport. We appreciate the fans coming out and experiencing drag racing at the highest level. Even though the event is a day shorter this year, it will still be a show worth watching from the stands or live on FOX (TV),” Pedregon said.

His Funny Car competitor JR Todd, back-to-back winner in 2017-18, is 18 years younger. But Todd has about as much experience at this racetrack as Pedregon. The native Hoosier, from Lawrenceburg, will be attending his 28th U.S. Nationals and going for his third Funny Car triumph in four years here.

“I came here for the first time when I was 10 years old. This place means a lot to me,” the DHL Toyota Camry driver said. “This is home for me. I grew up an hour and a half southeast of here and raced here as much as possible from the time I was 10 years old basically up to right now. I grew up racing here in Junior Dragsters, then moved up to Super Comp and bracket racing.

“I’ve been to every U.S. Nationals since 1993. I’ve seen a lot happen here and watched all the legends of the sport. It’s definitely a special place,” Todd said. “Not only because I’m from here, but the older you get, when you see those legends who still come back here for the U.S. Nationals, they show you and teach you the importance of this race and how much it really means.”

Moreover, he said the “first three races definitely don’t have the same feeling as the U.S. Nationals. It gives it that prestige and makes it the crown jewel of our sport. It’s nice to run here, and the first three races have given us some notes and momentum heading into the big race. It’s just a totally different feeling come Labor Day weekend,” he said.

Alexis DeJoria, the 2014 U.S. Nationals Funny Car winner, agreed: “It definitely doesn’t feel the same running here in these early races as it does when we come to race the U.S. Nationals. I’m incredibly grateful simply to be out here running and having the support of the fans. It’s been really nice. We have some fans, but it’s limited. We have a limited schedule, and we don’t have driver intros. All of that plays into the Big Go. I love racing at this track. It’s a special place, and we have great fans.”

The ROKiT Phones Toyota Camry Funny Car team co-owner and driver won the 60th anniversary U.S. Nationals, and she said, “It was a very special race to win. This is the one race you want to win. There are drivers who have been in the game a long time who’ve never won it. To win the race that day was absolutely incredible. Winning the U.S. Nationals will always be a great thing, no matter what.”

The same goes for Shawn Langdon, who drives the DHL Toyota Top Fuel Dragster and won in the class in 2013. He said, “It’s the U.S. Nationals. Everyone still talks about it the same way. It’s still a big deal. It’s the most historic race in our sport. Regardless if we have already raced here this year, it would mean just as much to get another U.S. Nationals Wally.”

Top Fuel championship contender and 2019 Indianapolis winner Doug Kalitta said, “With adjustments still coming to the schedule, every race, and even every round, is critical in trying to win a championship, so the U.S. Nationals will not only be the biggest race of the year, but it will be key in trying to win a title.”

The Mac Tools Dragster ace said that “having raced in Indy three times (since July) won’t affect how we look at the U.S. Nationals. We’re just grateful to have had a place to race and we’re taking it weekend-by-weekend. But the U.S. Nationals just has extra meaning, especially being a Kalitta. To win it two years in a row would be amazing. It also always come at a pivotal time of the year, and that won’t change this year.”

Before Sunday’s eliminations, final-round runs will determine the first-time Top Fuel and Pro Modified winners from the rain-interrupted Lucas Oil Summernationals. Veteran racer T.J. Zizzo and rookie Justin Ashley will meet in the dragster finals, and Chad Green and Jason Scruggs will go for the Pro Mod trophy. In Funny Car, Jack Beckman and Matt Hagan meet, guaranteeing on Schumacher Racing an eighth straight victory in the class and the organization’s NHRA-best 350th victory.


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