READING, PA – August 19, 2022 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Playoff action in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series will heat up in a hurry as the NHRA Countdown to the Championship begins at one of the fastest tracks on the circuit with the 37th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals on Sept. 15-18 at Maple Grove Raceway.
It is the opening event in the six-race NHRA playoffs as championship drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle will look to start their world championship bids with a win at the fan-favorite facility. Located in the heart of Amish country, the track boasts a wonderful, scenic backdrop for the massive fanbase that turns out to see one incredible run after another.
Brittany Force made the quickest run in NHRA history at the facility in 2019 with her run of 3.623-seconds, one of several memorable performances that have taken place at the facility over nearly four decades. The track was also purchased in April by veteran NHRA racer Kenny Koretsky and his family, including current Pro Stock driver Kyle Koretsky, adding even more excitement to this year’s Pep Boys NHRA Nationals.
Billy Torrence (Top Fuel), Tommy Johnson Jr. (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won last year’s race and the playoff opener will be broadcast on both the FOX broadcast network and Fox Sports 1 (FS1) in 2022. The race will also serve as the NFL adjacent broadcast on FOX, putting the NHRA on a huge platform to open its 2022 playoffs.
In Top Fuel, Torrence edged out Justin Ashley in the final round a year ago, as Ashley turned in a strong performance in his first appearance in the Countdown to the Championship. He finished fourth in points and is a championship contender again in 2022, winning a pair of races already. Ashley will look for his first victory at Maple Grove Raceway and he’ll have to be on top of his game to get it. Brittany Force, who owns both ends of the track record, is the points leader and has four wins this season, while other top stars include four-time defending world champ Steve Torrence, Mike Salinas, who has four wins this year, Antron Brown, Leah Pruett, five-time race winner Tony Schumacher, Doug Kalitta, and Clay Millican.
Robert Hight has enjoyed a banner season in Funny Car, running away with the points lead on the strength of six victories. It makes it a championship-or-bust season for the three-time world champ and he’ll try to open the Countdown to the…
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