Spencer Hyde Joins Star-Studded Funny Car Callout Field At The Big Go

Spencer Hyde will have more than just a U.S. Nationals Wally to chase when he rolls into Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

The 2025 NHRA Rookie of the Year earned the eighth and final position in the PlayNHRA All-Star Funny Car Callout, giving Hyde and the Head Contractors and Engineers Funny Car a spot in one of the most exclusive specialty races of the NHRA season.

That means Hyde will line up against a field loaded with proven winners and champions during the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, September 4-7. Joining him in the eight-car Callout are Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, J.R. Todd, Austin Prock, Alexis DeJoria, and Chad Green.

Hyde Grabs The Final Callout Spot

Simply making the PlayNHRA All-Star Funny Car Callout field is an accomplishment.

Hyde wasn’t certain he would hold onto the eighth and final position, but he did just enough to earn his way into the show.

“I am excited to be in the callout,” said Hyde. “I wasn’t sure if we would make it but I am glad we hung on for that eighth spot. This will be my first specialty race and I remember watching specialty races in the past and thinking they were pretty cool.”

That eighth-place spot now puts Hyde in a completely different kind of race than a normal NHRA elimination ladder. Instead of qualifying position determining the first-round pairing, the drivers themselves will help decide who races whom.

Hyde Isn’t Worried About Who He Gets

The uncertainty doesn’t seem to bother Hyde.

“There are seven other Funny Cars in this deal, and with the callout you don’t know who you are going to get,” said Hyde. “I feel good about racing any of those cars, and we’ll just have to see who we get. I know it will make Sunday pretty exciting and this is what makes Indy special.”

That’s probably the right attitude to have. When the field includes Beckman, Hagan, Capps, Todd, Prock, DeJoria, and Green, there isn’t a soft matchup on the board. The only real strategy is to bring a good race car and be ready to leave on time.

$80,000 Is On The Line Sunday

The specialty race will pay $80,000 to the winner, giving Hyde a chance to collect one of the largest checks of his young Funny Car career. Drivers will first participate in an autograph session Sunday at 9:30 a.m. before the opening round of the Callout gets underway at 12:45 p.m.

That creates a busy day even before the main U.S. Nationals eliminations arrive. For Hyde, the added seat time can also be a benefit. More competitive runs mean more data, more chances to refine the tune-up, and more opportunity to build confidence heading into the main event.

Hyde has already proven he belongs in the NHRA Funny Car class, and winning the 2025 Rookie of the Year award put a stamp on that. Now the next step is collecting the kind of marquee victories that move a driver from promising newcomer to established contender. The PlayNHRA All-Star Funny Car Callout gives Hyde exactly that kind of opportunity.

He’ll be racing against some of the biggest names in the category, at the biggest event of the year, with $80,000 and plenty of attention on the line, and that’s a pretty good place to make a statement.