It was a wild weekend at the 25th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK. Not only did multiple track records fall, the first dust storm to hit the region since the 1930s stopped qualifying on Friday. Thankfully, the weather cleared up and fans were rewarded with outstanding racing on Sunday.

Photos provided by NHRA/National Dragster

Stewart Flexes Top Fuel Muscles

Tony Stewart secured his second career Top Fuel victory with an impressive run of 3.777 seconds at 329.10 mph while holding off Justin Ashley in the final round. The win comes just over a month after Stewart claimed his first Top Fuel victory in Las Vegas. This marks Stewart’s fourth consecutive appearance in a final round, underscoring the strong performance of his team this season.

Stewart’s victory also propelled him to the top of the Top Fuel points standings for the first time in his career, moving three points ahead of Shawn Langdon, who was eliminated in the second round. Stewart recorded a career-best run of 3.679 seconds during qualifying. In the final, Ashley had a strong reaction time of .042, but Stewart’s .048 bulb and top-end speed allowed him to overtake Ashley and clinch the win.

“You’ve got to believe we’re real now at this point,” Stewart said. “I wouldn’t have said it before today. Even in Vegas (for his first win), I said we’re making progress but we’re not where we need to be yet. But it’s hard to be the points leader and not think you’re a contender now. I’m very grateful and it’s nice we’ve got a consistent car.

“We were in a position where we had to pick up the pace when it got cooler. I ran a career best 3.67 yesterday. When you race Justin you have to just run your race. We decided that you just need to do your deal the same way. He’s the best in the class and it’s hard for a crew chief to make that up. He also has the ability to bring out the best in you. That makes this more special. We respect each other. That’s what I love about NHRA.

“There’s a lot that can happen and a lot of racing left, but I’m extremely proud of our team for the progress we’ve made and where we were a year ago to where we are now.”

Beckman Brings One Home For Peak

Jack Beckman earned his second win of the season in Funny Car with a holeshot victory over John Force Racing teammate and reigning world champion Austin Prock. Beckman recorded a 3.935-second pass at 325.77 mph. Although Prock ran a quicker 3.933 at 329.02 mph, Beckman’s superior reaction time of .049 proved decisive at the finish line.

The win marked Beckman’s 37th career victory and his fourth since returning to racing and taking over driving duties from John Force in late 2024. The all-JFR final guaranteed the team its fourth victory in the first six races of the 2025 season. Beckman’s win also moved him to second in the Funny Car standings following back-to-back first-round losses in the previous two events.

“Every win is great and I have a lot of trophies from places like Indy and my home track in Pomona but winning here in Chicago, a track that was off the tour for a while is as good as it gets,” said Beckman, who was making his first appearance in Chicago since 2019. “It’s also the headquarters for PEAK and we’ve got 623 employees here.

“I was off the tour since 2019 and I never thought I’d race here again. Austin Prock is great. Honestly, he’s .01 or .02 better that the rest of us. You just have to do your best. This time it all seemed to work out for us. Overall, we were good when we had to be. I try to keep an even keel but at this point, I’m more appreciative of every opportunity I get.”

Herrera Owns Chicago

Gaige Herrera continued his dominance at Route 66 Raceway, claiming his third consecutive Pro Stock Motorcycle victory at the Chicago venue. Herrera defeated rival Matt Smith in the final round with a run of 6.777 seconds at 198.90 mph.

Herrera delivered a standout .005 reaction time in the final, giving him an early advantage that he maintained through the finish. The win was Herrera’s second of the 2025 season and the 23rd of his career. He has also qualified No. 1 at each of the first three races and captured the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday, completing a weekend sweep in Chicago.

“The final was fun. Matt whacked the throttle and then I whacked the throttle and we both played with the stage lights. He brings out the best in me but we’ve got a fast hot rod,” Herrera said. “I had a great reaction time and we came out on top and that’s our main goal.

“I expect games when I race Matt. I actually like it. It takes me back to my grudge racing days when you’d race your friends and blow them kisses on the starting line. Matt and I haven’t got to that point yet.

“It seems like none of this is real. It’s hard to keep track and hard to take it all in. I try to be a humble guy. I don’t want to come out and say it bluntly because I prefer to just show it on the race track.”

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action May 30-June 1 with the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway in Epping, N.H.

Top Fuel — Tony Stewart, 3.777 seconds, 329.10 mph def. Justin Ashley, 3.818 seconds, 324.12 mph.

Funny Car — Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 3.935, 325.77 def. Austin Prock, Camaro, 3.933, 329.02.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.777, 198.90 def. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.805, 199.02.

Super Stock — Donna Morris, Chevy II, 10.696, 118.18 def. Troy Galbraith, Chevy II, 9.138, 136.40.

Stock Eliminator — Marion Stephenson, Dodge Challenger, 11.024, 77.88 def. Joey Shipp, Chevy Nova, Foul – Red Light.

Super Comp — Jeff Cheney, Dragster, 8.923, 172.56 def. Kimbra Fuesting, Dragster, 8.917, 172.25.

Super Gas — David Dahlem, Chevy, 9.943, 153.82 def. Nathan Prose, Chevy Camaro, 9.955, 164.91.

Top Dragster — Greg Rice, Dragster, 6.151, 219.69 def. Tony Elrod, Dragster, 7.226, 178.50.

Pro Modified — Mason Wright, Chevy Camaro, 5.734, 251.25 def. JR Gray, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.

Top Fuel Motorcycle — Larry McBride, Custom, 6.976, 64.13 def. Bob Malloy, American, Broke – No Show.

Factory Stock Showdown — Jason Dietsch, Ford Mustang, 7.725, 177.93 def. Lee Hartman, Dodge Challenger, 7.716, 174.77.

Factory X — Jesse Alexandra, Chevy Camaro, 6.896, 197.80 def. Conner Statler, Camaro, 6.980, 182.08.

PEAK Street Car Shootout presented by Sick the Magazine — Tom Bailey, Camaro, 5.811, 253.23 def. Bryant Goldstone, Javelin, Foul – Red Light.