On September 21, 2025, at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, Funny Car points leader Austin Prock captured the first-ever four-wide playoff race in NHRA history during the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals. Prock defeated Matt Hagan, Chad Green, and Dan Wilkerson in the final round, extending his dominance this season in the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. This event marked the 16th race in the 20-race schedule and the second of six playoff contests in the Countdown to the Championship.
Prock’s Commanding Performance Continues Season Sweep
Prock powered his 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet SS to a 3.912-second run at 332.43 mph during the final quad, earning his eighth win of the year and the 20th of his career. Since moving to Funny Car in 2024, Prock has accumulated 16 victories, including a season sweep of all three four-wide events held this year. Despite a setback in Reading where he was eliminated in the second round after crossing the centerline, Prock bounced back strongly by winning his first two quads and outpacing Wilkerson in the final, ultimately edging out Hagan at the finish line to maintain a commanding lead in the points standings.
That was a big win, especially after everything that went on in the semifinals when a few of the front-runners went out and we capitalized on it,
Prock said.
“We extended our lead a little bit going into St. Louis next weekend and there’s only four [races] left so it was good to keep up our performance this weekend and extend our points lead. To get it done here in Charlotte with for HendrickCars.com is really special. Mr. H [Rick Hendrick] is pretty, pretty pumped right now.”
Austin Prock, Funny Car points leader
The ‘Prock Rocket’ was on point all weekend. Our package just seemed suited for Bruton Smith race tracks. I wasn’t my typical self on the starting line this weekend. I was good, but not where I wanted to be, but the car ran good enough and our total package was good enough to win.
Austin Prock, Funny Car points leader
Matt Hagan, who qualified first, finished as runner-up in his third championship round of the season, intensifying the competitive tension at the top of the Funny Car leader board.
Justin Ashley’s Top Fuel Mastery Highlights Charlotte Victory
In the Top Fuel category, Justin Ashley achieved his fourth win of 2025 with a dominant performance against Shawn Langdon, Doug Kalitta, and Clay Millican. Ashley clocked an impressive 3.784-second pass at 329.83 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Scag Power Equipment dragster during the final round. Although Ashley and Kalitta recorded identical elapsed times, Ashley secured the win by delivering a sharper reaction time of just .043 seconds. Earlier in eliminations, Ashley made history by securing the first ever triple holeshot in Top Fuel, defeating a fierce quad that featured Brittany Force and Tony Stewart alongside Langdon.
This victory marks Ashley’s 19th career triumph and his second at zMAX Dragway, fortifying his late-season charge toward the championship. Ashley currently ranks second in the points, trailing Doug Kalitta by 38 points with just four races left.
It’s a great feeling. Obviously, winning any four-wide race, or any race for that matter, is great, but to win it right here for the first four-wide race in the fall that NHRA has ever had in the Countdown, this was a critical day for us,
Justin Ashley, Top Fuel racer
When you look through some of those quads, even specifically when you get to those final two rounds, it’s just brutal. The margin for error now is so small. Obviously four races left, but these races are hard to win, so I’m a firm believer in the fact you have to enjoy them when they come before shifting your focus over the next one.
Justin Ashley, Top Fuel racer
If the car is not put together the same way each and every time, the reaction times are not going to be good, or they’re not going to be within a certain window. Holeshots can be misleading because it really is a team effort. You have to collectively look at the combination together, and then hopefully at the end of the day, it leads to results that you’re looking for.
Justin Ashley, Top Fuel racer
Doug Kalitta retained the points lead despite finishing second in Charlotte, advancing to the finals for the fifth time this season, while Shawn Langdon followed with a third-place finish in the quad, 59 points behind Kalitta in the standings.
Dallas Glenn’s Unstoppable Run in Pro Stock
Dallas Glenn dominated the Pro Stock division with his second consecutive victory to kick off the Countdown to the Championship playoff series. Glenn’s RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro delivered a 6.554-second pass at 209.95 mph to surpass a field that included Greg Anderson, Erica Enders, and Aaron Stanfield. Showing exceptional consistency, Glenn qualified first at both playoff races and claimed six wins on the season, continuing his postseason momentum with a flawless wire-to-wire victory aided by a lightning-fast .016 reaction time.
This win marked Glenn’s 19th career victory and extended his incredible streak at zMAX Dragway to three straight wins, including sweeps of both four-wide races at the venue. His success expanded his lead in the points to 79 over Anderson.
I knew I had a fantastic car coming in, so I really just wanted to try to keep the momentum,
Dallas Glenn, Pro Stock driver
I really felt like I let everybody down in Indy when I let my foot up a little against Erica [Enders]. I made that mistake. So, I just wanted to come into this race, and step it up just a little bit more and be a little more aggressive.
Dallas Glenn, Pro Stock driver
You look at the ladder and you’re like, this is going to be a tough day, so you just got to try to bring your A-game. I made a small pedal [adjustment] and went up there and just tried to do everything I could do kind of throw a Hail Mary and hope it stuck.
Dallas Glenn, Pro Stock driver
I think I have 79 points right now, so I still count that as basically three rounds, because that’s what it’s going to be in Pomona. I want to keep my foot on their throats and keep pressure on until they hand me a trophy.
Dallas Glenn, Pro Stock driver
Anderson’s runner-up finish marked his eighth finals appearance this year, while Stanfield rose to third in the points, though still trailing Glenn by a substantial 172 points.
Richard Gadson Claims First Career Lead with Pro Stock Motorcycle Win
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Richard Gadson secured his inaugural victory in the Countdown to the Championship with a dominant final round showing against the Matt Smith Racing trio of Matt Smith, Angie Smith, and Jianna Evaristo. Gadson’s RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki recorded a 6.803-second run at 199.55 mph, backed by an exceptional .015 reaction time, allowing him to pull ahead decisively.
After his teammate Gaige Herrera suffered an unexpected first-round exit, Gadson capitalized by winning his first two quads before cruising to victory in the final. This win was Gadson’s third of the season and moved him into the points lead for the first time in his professional career, now holding an eight-point advantage over Matt Smith.
When you say points leader, I just I can’t believe you’re talking about me,
Richard Gadson, Pro Stock Motorcycle rider
Sometimes, when I’m at home and I look at the points and even see my name in second place, I have to read it twice because I just can’t believe it’s really me in this position.
Richard Gadson, Pro Stock Motorcycle rider
You know, you just want to avenge your team. You’re racing against three bikes from a rival team and you don’t want to go up there and do anything stupid. If they’re going to outrun you, then that’s going to be what it is. You just don’t want to beat yourself and when you’re the lone ranger up there racing for your team, you carry it with a little bit more pride. These bikes are really easy to do something stupid on.
Richard Gadson, Pro Stock Motorcycle rider
Matt Smith finished second with a 6.821-second run at 199.37 mph, marking his fourth finals appearance this season and intensifying the championship battle in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Looking Ahead: NHRA Mission Foods Series Continues Next Week
Following an exhilarating weekend in Charlotte that showcased historic moments and fierce competition, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will resume from September 26 to 28 at World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis. The NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals will serve as the next critical test as the Countdown to the Championship intensifies with four races remaining across all categories.
The pressure on Austin Prock, Justin Ashley, Dallas Glenn, and Richard Gadson will only increase as they strive to maintain or extend their leads while their challengers push for breakthrough results. This mid-season stretch promises continued high-stakes battles on the nation’s fastest drag strips as the championship title races move closer to their conclusions.
