The US Nationals brings the best NHRA Stock and Super Stock drag racers from every corner of the United States to Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. These racers are chasing the dream of not only winning a US Nationals Wally, but also the coveted title of Class Eliminations champion. Class Eliminations are the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, World Series, and Stanely Cup Finals all rolled into one for these racers.

So, what exactly are Stock and Super Stock Class Eliminations? The NHRA runs Class Eliminations at select events each year, and they’re basically a race-within-a-race. All of the different vehicles in each sub-class race heads up in a tournament-style eliminator to see who is the fastest. So, as an example, all of the A/S Stock cars would show up in the lanes and run heads up until only one car remained. The same thing would happen for the rest of the Stock and Super Stock classes as well. There are no breakouts during Class Eliminations, it’s run what you brung and hope you brung enough to get to the finish line first.

While it’s most certainly an accomplishment to win a Class Eliminator trophy at an any event, it just means more at the US Nationals. Why does every racer want to win class at  Indy? The answer is simple, it shows that you are the king of your class, and have beaten the best in the land.

“As a racer, I want to win Class at the US Nationals to be a part of history. So many great cars and racers have come to this event and won. I’m a Division One racer, but here, I get to race against people from other divisions I normally don’t see. When you come to Class Eliminations at Indy, you better have your combo optimized to its full potential if you want to go rounds,” says Stock class racer Todd Hoven.

You’ll see racers pulling every trick out of their bag when Class Eliminations start at the US Nationals. Intakes will be covered in ice, engines are run on the bare minimum amount of oil, and the biggest gorilla tune-ups are put into each car. There is no dialing safe and holding a couple of numbers, you’re locked into a cage match with the car in the other lane, and you better be ready to fight the entire quarter mile.

Class Eliminations at the US Nationals are what really makes sportsman racing so awesome. These racers all come to Indy laser-focused on winning the most prestigious prize in sportsman racing, a Class Eliminations Wally. Just look at the winner’s circle photos of those who win class at Indy, it’s going to be bigger and brighter than just about any other smile they’ve ever had.