The SCAG Power Equipment nitro racers are on a mission to make strides in the Countdown this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway for the NHRA Midwest Nationals. The points on the table are very important to each driver as they push towards finding a first win, a top 10 finish in the points, and a world championship.

Daniel Wilkerson Looks To Turn Charlotte Momentum Into St. Louis Breakthrough

The Countdown to the Championship is heating up, and Daniel Wilkerson is right in the mix heading into this weekend’s NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway. Driving the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang Funny Car, the Springfield, Illinois native is looking to keep climbing the ladder in points after a strong performance last weekend in Charlotte.

At the Carolina Nationals, Wilkerson made it to the final quad, earning valuable semifinal points and jumping from 10th to seventh in the standings. For a team still chasing its first Funny Car win, that kind of consistency is exactly what they need at this stage of the Countdown.

“Coming off a great weekend in Charlotte, this team knows we have what it takes to win at our home track,” Wilkerson said. “We are expecting a big turnout, not only from family and friends but from SCAG dealers and Midwest Equipment and Supply Company. To get our first win at home in front of all these special people would be one for the history books.”

The Midwest Nationals have been good to the Wilkerson family before. Daniel’s father and crew chief, Tim Wilkerson, grabbed a win at the St. Louis-area facility back in 2008. Last season, Daniel qualified a season-best fifth and advanced to the quarterfinals at the event. Now, with the Countdown pressure ramping up and the comfort of racing close to home, the SCAG Power Equipment team is focused on taking that next step.

Dave Richards and BlueBird Mustang Looking To Keep Momentum Rolling Into St. Louis

The Countdown to the Championship hits its halfway point this weekend at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals, and for Dave Richards and the BlueBird Turf / Versatran Ford Mustang Funny Car team, it’s all about steady progress.

Richards and his crew showed flashes of what they’ve been working toward at the NHRA Four-Wide Carolina Nationals, where the car finally started to respond the way they’ve been hoping. While they bowed out early after qualifying 15th, Richards came away encouraged.

“We’re going to be building from Charlotte,” Richards said. “The BlueBird Turf car really started responding to what we were telling it to do. It’s really positive feedback that the team is headed in the right direction. What we’ve been working on is working, slowly but surely. We just need to keep at it. Three races in a row has offered an opportunity to build some momentum, so we plan to start the first qualifying session off on the right foot and let that flow through into race day.”

Currently sitting 13th in points, Richards is within striking distance of his season goal, a Top 10 finish in the standings. With just 75 points separating him from that milestone, every round win in St. Louis takes on added significance.

Justin Ashley, SCAG Top Fuel Team Bring Heat To St. Louis After Charlotte Win

Momentum is everything in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, and right now Justin Ashley has plenty of it. The SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel dragster is rolling into the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway fresh off a dominant victory at the NHRA Four-Wide Carolina Nationals.

That win was Ashley’s fourth of the season, and it pushed him from fourth to second in the standings. He now trails Doug Kalitta by just 38 points with only four races left in the six-race playoff chase.

“This weekend is going to be a battle,” Ashley said. “Every team in Top Fuel is dangerous. They’re all ready to pounce at any opportunity that comes their way. That high level of competition is what brings out the best in all of us. It’ll make for an outstanding show.”

The SCAG team, led by Mike Green, Tommy DeLago, and Dustin Davis, has been on a tear since midsummer. Back-to-back wins at Virginia and Ohio set the tone, and Ashley followed it up with a career milestone by winning the U.S. Nationals, 18 years after his father claimed Indy in Funny Car.

But don’t mistake confidence for complacency. Ashley knows the work isn’t done.

“We have to be diligent about our process,” Ashley said. “A big win is special, and it’s incredibly important to enjoy that. But we must remain focused on the task at hand. Right now, that task is the Midwest Nationals. Mike, Tommy, Dustin, and everyone on our SCAG team is pumped about getting to St. Louis. We’ll be ready to put our best foot forward.”