NHRA Midwest Nationals Results: Beckman Win Puts John Force Back in Title Picture

• Jack Beckman puts John Force closer to a possible 17th Funny Car crown.

• Top Fuel’s Tony Schumacher back in winning groove.

• Matt Hagan's first-round exit in Funny Car ended his bid to repeat in as class champion.

Austin Prock’s NHRA Funny Car streak is over.

And no one, as team owner Tim Wilkerson jokingly strategized, had to kidnap him or lock him a porta potty at the AAA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, near St. Louis.

“I’m looking for somebody to kidnap him—but I don’t know anything about it,” Wilkerson said, teasing. He nixed the idea, though, of locking Prock inside a portable toilet, saying, “Prock is pretty slippery. He’d be right out of that john before we even got the damn door closed. Hopefully we can get him to throw up, make some mistake, put a hole [cylinder] out, something.”

In the end, the Prock Rocket, his AAA/Cornwell Tools Chevy Camaro, did in the driver who was on a 14 round-win streak. And Jack Beckman, who defeated J.R. Todd and Dan Wilkerson in the first two rounds, took advantage of Prock’s misfortune and powered ahead to beat Ron Capps in the final round.

Prock’s engine erupted at the finish line in his quarterfinal victory over closest championship contender Bob Tasca III. In the thrash to make repairs and meet Beckman in the semifinal round, the throttle stop was set a little too high. And that killed his pass against Beckman.

The victory was Beckman’s 34th in a Funny Car and his first since 2020 at Indianapolis. The points from his first victory as a fill-in for John Force belong to Force and his PEAK Chevrolet Camaro team. Beckman has substituted for Force since the August race at Brainerd, Minn.

The Force/Beckman entry is now second in the points, 105 back of Prock.

Beckman went up against Capps, his former Don Schumacher Racing teammate, for the 64th time in their careers, and afterward he said, “It’s great to be back.” He told Force he loves him and will hang onto the Wally trophy for him until he can present it to him.

He shared the winners circle with Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

Top Fuel

Schumacher, plodding along the comeback trail, extended his Top Fuel-record victories mark to 88 as he captured his second triumph of the season. “We’ve got to stop those points leaders,” he said after improving one place in the standings, to sixth, 103 points off Antron Brown’s pace. “We were buried for a long time, but we’re doing great now.”

Pro Stock

Glenn, earning his first victory at St. Louis after several runner-up finishes, scored a second straight Countdown triumph in his RAD Torque System Chevy Camaro. It was his fifth of the season and 13th overall, enough to keep him in the points lead as the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series moves in two weeks to Texas Motorplex, near Dallas.

His final-round opponent, for the third consecutive showdown, was Aaron Stanfield, who earlier in the day had grabbed the Factory X trophy and was looking for a second one just like he had done at the recent U.S. Nationals at the start of this month.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

Herrera seized the Pro Stock Motorcycle victory for the 19th time in 21 final rounds in his young career. With that eighth victory of the year, this one over Chase Van Sant in the final, he took over the points lead from Matt Smith. He said his Vance & Hines Suzuki had “been on rails” all day.

'Nail in the Coffin' for Hagan

‘That’s the nail in the coffin for us,’ Matt Hagan says of early loss to Bob Tasca III

Four-time and reigning Funny Car champion Matt Hagan conceded Sunday that his pivotal first-round loss to Bob Tasca III knocked him out of the running for a repeat title.

“We just missed it out here today. We didn’t have it together for the weekend, and it didn’t help only getting two rounds of qualifying. At the end of the day, you have to tip your cap to (Bob) Tasca’s team. They’re on a different planet. That’s the nail in the coffin for us,” Hagan said.

“I think we need to sit down and evaluate what we’re doing as a team and take these next three races to test. We haven’t been the caliber team that I think we are capable of being. We won the championship last year, and we have a great group of guys. They work so hard. I’m so proud of all of them. You want nothing more than to be able to give them those wins. Hopefully we can go out there and be a spoiler these next few races and mix it up a bit, but I think that’s it for our championship hunt."

Quartet of Top Fuel Women Sets NHRA Record

For the first time in NHRA history, four women qualified for the 16-car Top Fuel field: Brittany Force (Monster Energy Dragster, John Force Racing), Julie Nataas (airmine Dragster, Scrappers Racing), Jasmine Salinas (Scrappers Racing Dragster), and Ida Zetterstrom (Leatherwood Distillery Dragster, JCM Racing).

Force, the two-time champion and most experienced of the group, was the only one to advance past the opening round. Nataas, who lost to Zetterström teammate Tony Schumacher as his 111th different opponent, was making her pro debut. Zetterström was making just her fifth start, and Salinas is starting to wrap up her rookie pro season.

Prock Posts Low ET of Funny Car Season

Austin Prock wasn’t going to make his first-round bye run unproductive. He set the track elapsed-time record at 3.814 seconds, which was low E.T. of the season and eighth-quickest in Funny Car history.

After the run, he said, “I knew it was trucking. I was just trying to keep it off the wall. Man, this thing was marching left hard, and I was hand-over-fist trying to keep this sucker in the groove. But great job by this AAA Camaro team. This thing's spicy-fast. Right now it feels like I'm in a spaceship.”

The spaceship fell back to Earth in the semifinals Sunday, but Prock still owns the points lead with three races to go before the championship is settled.

Shawn Reed Eliminates Tony Stewart by.0001 Second

Top Fuel racer Shawn Reed was rather giddy after he won against Tony Stewart on a holeshot by one-ten-thousandth of a second (.0001 of a second) to close the first round of Top Fuel eliminations.

Reed said, “Man, I grew up watching him, and I got to fight him. They can't ever take that away from me. I love the guy, man. He’s a great guy. He is a great ambassador. He is great for this sport. And I just got up on the wheel. I had to do something. We've been not doing too good on Sundays lately, and we just had to do something. My team's good. My car is good. We needed that really bad, and I'm really proud of my guys.”

Reed went on to beat Brittany Force in the second round, virtually ending her quest for a third championship. But he lost to eventual winner Tony Schumacher in Round 3.

John Force Condition is 'Personal'

Austin Prock once again reassure fans that recuperating John Force is “doing great” but was obvious in not wanting to reveal too much, speaking more about legendary NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick.

“I talked to him [Force] a couple times last week after we won Charlotte. And he was pretty ecstatic, especially to win in [team sponsor] Rick Hendrick's hometown. That was a big deal for us. We wanted to get the job done for him, and we were able to do that. So I gave the Wally to Mr. H.

I'm sure Greg Anderson's given him one, but he's never gotten one from Funny car, so that's cool. And everybody's been so respectful about, everyone wants to know how John's doing, but everybody's pretty much understood that it's personal. But he is doing good, and I can't wait to have him back out at the racetrack. It's not the same, and I sure do miss him.”

Results

NHRA Midwest Nationals

Final finish order (1-16) at the 13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway. The race is the 17th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

1. Tony Schumacher; 2. Steve Torrence; 3. Shawn Reed; 4. Justin Ashley; 5. Shawn Langdon; 6. Antron Brown; 7. Brittany Force; 8. T.J. Zizzo; 9. Clay Millican; 10. Josh Hart; 11. Tony Stewart; 12. Ida Zetterstrom; 13. Billy Torrence; 14. Julie Nataas; 15. Doug Kalitta; 16. Jasmine Salinas.

FUNNY CAR:

1. Jack Beckman; 2. Ron Capps; 3. Austin Prock; 4. Blake Alexander; 5. Bob Tasca III; 6. Bobby Bode; 7. Daniel Wilkerson; 8. Chad Green; 9. J.R. Todd; 10. Alexis DeJoria; 11. Cruz Pedregon; 12. Matt Hagan; 13. Dave Richards; 14. Buddy Hull; 15. Dale Creasy Jr..

PRO STOCK:

1, Dallas Glenn; 2. Aaron Stanfield; 3. Greg Anderson; 4. Erica Enders; 5. Jeg Coughlin; 6. Mason McGaha; 7. Eric Latino; 8. Matt Hartford; 9. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 10. Camrie Caruso; 11. Cory Reed; 12. David Cuadra; 13. Jerry Tucker; 14. Chris McGaha; 15. Fernando Cuadra Jr.; 16. Cristian Cuadra.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

1, Gaige Herrera; 2. Chase Van Sant; 3. Hector Arana Jr; 4. Geno Scali; 5. Angie Smith; 6. Richard Gadson; 7. John Hall; 8. Matt Smith; 9. Jianna Evaristo; 10. Chris Bostick; 11. Marc Ingwersen; 12. Ryan Oehler; 13. Lance Bonham; 14. Wesley Wells; 15. Steve Johnson.

Finals

Sunday's final results from the 13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway. The race is the 17th of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Tony Schumacher, 3.718 seconds, 329.42 mph def. Steve Torrence, 3.763 seconds, 316.90 mph.

Funny Car -- Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 3.856, 315.86 def. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.882, 329.42.

Pro Stock -- Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.577, 207.82 def. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.586, 206.01.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.805, 198.12 def. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.868, 195.53.

Competition Eliminator -- Ryan Warter, Pontiac Sunfire, 8.477, 160.71 def. Todd Frantz, Chevy Cobalt, 8.603, 154.42.

Super Stock -- Jimmy Hidalgo Jr., Pontiac Firebird, 9.814, 135.76 def. Ryan Montford, Chevy Camaro, 8.923, 142.07.

Stock Eliminator -- Ross Ponville, Camaro, 10.444, 121.79 def. Joe Belanger, Chevy II Wagon, 11.462, 110.51.

Super Comp -- Alison Prose, Dragster, 8.901, 184.88 def. Chris Vang, Dragster, 8.892, 181.59.

Super Gas -- Kris Whitfield, '27-T Ford, 9.912, 157.58 def. Luke Bogacki, Chevy Corvette, 9.926, 148.89.

Top Dragster -- James Glenn, Dragster, 7.451, 167.76 def. Matt Woodard, Dragster, 7.016, 179.95.

Pro Modified -- Stan Shelton, Ford Mustang, 5.786, 245.58 def. Mason Wright, Chevy Camaro, 5.806, 234.66.

Factory X -- Aaron Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, 7.155, 189.79 def. Rick Hord, Camaro, 7.241, 186.56.

Factory Stock Showdown -- Mark Pawuk, Dodge Challenger, 7.792, 176.28 def. Jonathan Allegrucci, Ford Mustang, 7.833, 175.96.

Round By Round

Final round-by-round results from the 13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, the 17th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Steve Torrence, 3.726, 328.78 def. Ida Zetterstrom, 3.764, 321.42; Antron Brown, 3.715, 330.07 def. Jasmine Salinas, 10.365, 73.32; Brittany Force, 3.702, 324.98 def. Josh Hart, 3.745, 324.05; T.J. Zizzo, 3.718, 330.88 def. Billy Torrence, 3.812, 310.84; Tony Schumacher, 4.359, 303.09 def. Julie Nataas, 5.050, 191.16; Justin Ashley, 3.733, 325.53 def. Clay Millican, 3.712, 330.96; Shawn Langdon, 3.727, 323.89 def. Doug Kalitta, 5.399, 157.25; Shawn Reed, 3.773, 319.29 def. Tony Stewart, 3.755, 323.58;

QUARTERFINALS -- Ashley, 3.721, 327.43 def. Langdon, 3.731, 320.81; S.

Torrence, 3.766, 315.49 def. Zizzo, 10.915, 73.35; Reed, 3.732, 318.02 def. Force, 10.819, 61.19; Schumacher, 3.746, 322.34 def. Brown, 3.759, 295.92;

SEMIFINALS -- Schumacher, 3.724, 323.74 def. Reed, 3.766, 311.85; S. Torrence, 3.785, 321.50 def. Ashley, 5.618, 126.52;

FINAL -- Schumacher, 3.718, 329.42 def. S. Torrence, 3.763, 316.90.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.814, 330.96 was unopposed; Chad Green, Ford Mustang, 3.933, 305.49 def. Dale Creasy Jr., Dodge Charger, 14.127, 70.04; Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.878, 329.42 def. J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 3.926, 326.63; Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.873, 329.18 def. Buddy Hull, Charger, 12.672, 75.09; Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.901, 327.51 def. Alexis DeJoria, GR Supra, 3.940, 325.22; Bobby Bode, Mustang, 3.995, 322.50 def. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.045, 313.80; Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.920, 325.53 def. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.956, 318.17; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.913, 327.43 def. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.976, 297.55; QUARTERFINALS -- Beckman, 3.887, 326.00 def. Wilkerson, 8.392, 84.04; Prock, 3.884, 316.67 def. Tasca III, 3.908, 409.58; Capps, 3.884, 322.58 def. Bode, 4.688, 178.54; Alexander, 3.889, 326.08 def. Green, Broke;

SEMIFINALS -- Beckman, 3.877, 322.65 def. Prock, 8.266, 101.42; Capps, 3.868, 325.77 def. Alexander, 9.261, 68.29;

FINAL -- Beckman, 3.856, 315.86 def. Capps, 3.882, 329.42.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Eric Latino, Chevy Camaro, 6.607, 206.10 def. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.671, 206.67; Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.588, 207.94 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, Foul - Red Light; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.583, 208.14 def. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.608, 206.70; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.586, 208.49 def. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 18.665, 42.32; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.567, 208.39 def. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.600, 206.35; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.574, 207.66 def. David Cuadra, Camaro, 6.606, 207.05; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.570, 207.50 def. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.587, 206.35; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.552, 208.39 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.645, 206.83; QUARTERFINALS -- Stanfield, 6.605, 207.15 def. Hartford, 6.648, 206.86; Glenn, 6.578, 207.82 def. M. McGaha, 6.597, 207.50; Anderson, 6.564, 208.46 def. Coughlin, 6.582, 207.56; Enders, 6.555, 208.39 def. Latino, 6.619, 205.98;

SEMIFINALS -- Glenn, 6.604, 207.18 def. Anderson, 6.613, 208.17; Stanfield, 6.602, 206.92 def. Enders, 16.149, 50.20;

FINAL -- Glenn, 6.577, 207.82 def. Stanfield, 6.586, 206.01.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

ROUND ONE -- John Hall, 6.868, 196.10 def. Marc Ingwersen, 6.939, 194.04; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.834, 198.32 def. Ryan Oehler, 7.054, 187.76; Geno Scali, Suzuki, 6.936, 193.29 def. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, Foul - Red Light; Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.866, 194.97 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.910, 194.24; Hector Arana Jr, 7.884, 157.80 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 12.282, 61.14; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.834, 196.04 def. Lance Bonham, Buell, Foul - Red Light; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.815, 198.64 def. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 7.454, 178.73; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.808, 198.09 was unopposed;

QUARTERFINALS -- Arana Jr, 6.870, 195.65 def. A. Smith, 6.840, 197.77; Van Sant, 6.887, 194.83 def. Gadson, 6.880, 193.99; Scali, 6.998, 193.10 def. M. Smith, 6.986, 195.79; Herrera, 6.797, 198.88 def. Hall, 6.925, 193.71;

SEMIFINALS -- Van Sant, 6.939, 192.91 def. Scali, 6.945, 191.84; Herrera, 6.813, 197.74 def. Arana Jr, 6.839, 196.27;

FINAL -- Herrera, 6.805, 198.12 def. Van Sant, 6.868, 195.53.

Updated Points Standings

Point standings (top 10) following the 13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, the 17th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel

1. Antron Brown, 2,344; 2. Justin Ashley, 2,310; 3. Shawn Langdon, 2,284; 4. Doug Kalitta, 2,257; 5. Steve Torrence, 2,256; 6. Tony Schumacher, 2,241; 7. Clay Millican, 2,211; 8. Brittany Force, 2,171; 9. Tony Stewart, 2,150; 10. Billy Torrence, 2,113.

Funny Car

1. Austin Prock, 2,454; 2. John Force, 2,349; 3. Bob Tasca III, 2,295; 4. Ron Capps, 2,260; 5. Matt Hagan, 2,249; 6. J.R. Todd, 2,191; 7. Blake Alexander, 2,176; 8. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,162; 9. Chad Green, 2,159; 10. Alexis DeJoria, 2,145.

Pro Stock

1. Dallas Glenn, 2,437; 2. Aaron Stanfield, 2,406; 3. Erica Enders, 2,347; 4. Greg Anderson, 2,321; 5. Jeg Coughlin, 2,205; 6. Cristian Cuadra, 2,157; 7. Jerry Tucker, 2,150; 8. Troy Coughlin Jr., 2,143; 9. Matt Hartford, 2,142; 10. Eric Latino, 2,127.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Gaige Herrera, 2,404; 2. Matt Smith, 2,370; 3. Richard Gadson, 2,339; 4. Hector Arana Jr, 2,267; 5. Chase Van Sant, 2,248; 6. Angie Smith, 2,206; 7. John Hall, 2,205; 8. Jianna Evaristo, 2,170; 9. Steve Johnson, 2,127; 10. Chris Bostick, 2,096.