Ashley, Prock, Enders, and Herrera Claim Victories At U.S. Nationals

The 2025 Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals lived up to its reputation as drag racing’s biggest event, delivering a weekend of history-making performances at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Justin Ashley, Austin Prock, Erica Enders, and Gaige Herrera emerged as champions on drag racing’s grandest stage.

In Top Fuel, Justin Ashley scored his first U.S. Nationals victory, defeating Tony Stewart on a holeshot in a thrilling final round. Ashley’s 3.839-second pass at 326.16 mph edged out Stewart’s quicker 3.815 at 321.88 thanks to a stellar .027 reaction time. It marked Ashley’s third win of the year and the 18th of his career. The victory was especially meaningful as his father, Mike Ashley, won at Indy 18 years earlier.

Images provided by NHRA

“I think I’m still processing everything. I’ve dreamed about this moment over and over and over again, and then to actually live it right now, right here, is truly special,” Ashley said. “When you win Indy, it’s just something that nobody can take away from you and the fact that my father won here 18 years ago, to have him here now and to win this event in Top Fuel, it really is special. It’s just different than any other race.”

Stewart, meanwhile, secured the regular-season Top Fuel championship and a $150,000 payday by advancing to the final round, giving him momentum as the six-race Countdown to the Championship begins.

“Winning the Top Fuel regular season championship is massive for us in my eyes. It took 14 weeks to win a regular-season championship,” Stewart said. “I’m extremely proud of what we did for 14 weeks to win the regular-season championship. I think there are things this weekend that we hit on for the Countdown. We realized what we were missing in the last few races. I feel that we are in as good a spot as we can be for the next six races. We just need to execute in these next six races.”

Austin Prock continued his dominance in Funny Car, sweeping the All-Star Callout and U.S. Nationals for the second consecutive year. Prock defeated Jack Beckman in the final with a 3.903-second pass at 332.92 mph. The performance capped a $330,000 weekend and gave Prock his seventh win of the season, solidifying him as the top contender heading into the Countdown.

“It was a dream of mine to win a championship, but you never know if that’s going to happen. So many stars have to align. You have to get the right opportunity. You have to be surrounded by the right people. You have to have the right sponsors backing you. So, to get a U.S. Nationals win last year and then win the championship, and then come back and win the U.S Nationals again, I don’t even know what to say. You know, they say when you win the U.S. Nationals once, it puts you in an elite group. When you do it back-to-back, it’s an even more elite group.”

In Pro Stock, six-time champion Erica Enders ended a 30-race drought with her 50th career win, defeating Matt Hartford in the final with a 6.564 at 209.95 mph. The victory, her fourth at Indy, vaulted Enders into eighth in the standings after a challenging season. Hartford’s runner-up kept him solidly in championship contention, while Dallas Glenn clinched the Pro Stock regular-season crown.

“That monkey’s been on my back since Gainesville, the season opener 2024, and it’s been grueling,” Enders said. “We left last year doing well collectively as a team, and we came out this year and the scoreboard did not tell us what the dyno is telling us. So, it’s super challenging. You know, it kind of reminds me of the beginning of my career when I was just gunning for that first one, and it took seven years and seven final rounds. Granted, this wasn’t that long, but it sure felt like it and it’s mentally tough. You lose confidence in yourself and your equipment, but my guys didn’t lose confidence in their abilities or in me.

“Without them, I wouldn’t be here and I kind of wondered if I still had it, you know what I mean? It took a lot of overcoming and a lot of help from my inner circle, my dad, my sister, my family and the boys that stand behind me. We finally got number 50. As a little girl in 1994, rolling under that arch right there for my first final round at the inaugural Junior Dragster Nationals. The feelings are very similar, and here we are, 30-something years later. So, to get my 50th here at Indy, at the US. Nationals, I don’t know a better book that can be written.”

Gaige Herrera claimed his second straight U.S. Nationals title in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Herrera used a razor-sharp .003 reaction time to win on a holeshot over teammate Brayden Davis with a 6.834 at 199.32 mph. The reigning two-time champion also set a track E.T. record during qualifying and secured the regular-season championship, starting the Countdown atop the standings for the third consecutive year.

“It’s very exciting, you know, especially to get a holeshot win like that,” Herrera said. “To get back-to-back wins here in the U.S. Nationals is very special to me and it was crazy. I mean, I almost was in the sand because I was more excited and cheering than being on the brakes.

“I have a strong level head on my shoulders, and I must thank my parents for that. It has not been easy. You know, it’s always nerve-wracking, especially when I know what kind of bikes are in the other lane, caliber-wise.”

As the NHRA heads into the Countdown to the Championship, Ashley, Prock, Enders, and Herrera carry Indy momentum into the six-race playoff stretch, each with their eyes on season titles.

Top Fuel — Justin Ashley, 3.839 seconds, 326.16 mph def. Tony Stewart, 3.815 seconds, 321.88 mph.

Funny Car — Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.903, 332.92 def. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 4.553, 236.09.

Pro Stock — Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.564, 209.95 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.609, 209.04.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.834, 199.32 def. Brayden Davis, Suzuki, 6.799, 198.93.

Top Alcohol Dragster — Shawn Cowie, 5.254, 276.69 def. Jamie Noonan, 9.954, 88.75.

Top Alcohol Funny Car — Shane Westerfield, Chevy Camaro, 5.674, 260.46 def. Annie Whiteley, Camaro, 14.185, 57.23.

Competition Eliminator — Robert Bailey, Dragster, 6.661, 183.77 def. Doug Engels, Dragster, 7.290, 180.86.

Super Stock — Tyler Caheely, S-10, 9.277, 127.10 def. Joe Santangelo, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.

Stock Eliminator — Jimmy DeFrank, Camaro, 10.024, 130.39 def. Todd Hoven, Coronet, 9.881, 128.11.

Super Comp — Landon Exner, Dragster, 8.908, 178.28 def. Vance Houston, Dragster, 8.908, 179.80.

Super Gas — Mike McMasters, Camaro, 9.897, 164.61 def. Bob Locke, Corvette, 9.896, 163.47.

Top Sportsman — Darian Boesch, Camaro, 6.261, 228.77 def. Jimmy Lewis, GXP, 6.371, 207.02.

Top Dragster — Jim Prevo, Dragster, 6.187, 216.10 def. Holden Laris, Dragster, 6.204, 216.17.

Pro Modified — Mike Stavrinos, Chevy Camaro, 5.719, 251.63 def. Derek Menholt, Camaro, 5.943, 245.27.

Factory X — Conner Statler, Chevy Camaro, 6.927, 199.17 def. Lenny Lottig, Camaro, 6.969, 197.83.

Factory Stock Showdown — Taylor Dietsch, Ford Mustang, 7.719, 178.35 def. Raymond Nash, Dodge Challenger, 13.077, 65.34.

Legends Nitro Funny Car presented by Extreme Steel — Nathan Sitko, Pontiac Firebird, 4.757, 235.15 def. Jon Capps, Chevy Camaro, 11.868, 52.76.

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About the author

Brian Wagner

Spending his childhood at different race tracks around Ohio with his family’s 1967 Nova, Brian developed a true love for drag racing. Brian enjoys anything loud, fast, and fun.
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