NHRA Adds Fourth Qualifier to Chicago’s Loaded Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals

CHICAGO, IL – May 9, 2024 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Following a successful return to Route 66 Raceway last year, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is bringing a massive show to Chicago in 2024, including four overall qualifying sessions, for the 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK Performance on May 17-19.

The four qualifying sessions adds an extra run on Friday, as fans will get to see a pair of qualifying runs each day in all four professional categories (Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle), as well as the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday.

It’s one of the biggest schedules ever for an NHRA race in Chicago, with Friday’s qualifying sessions taking place at 2:30 and 5 p.m. CT on Friday, May 17, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, May 18 at 11:40 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. CT. Eliminations begin at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, May 19.

“We’re thrilled to add a fourth qualifying session to Chicago and give fans a great opportunity to see plenty of incredible racing all weekend long at Route 66 Raceway,” NHRA Vice President of Track Management and Operations Kasey Coler said. “The race in Chicago is jam-packed with action and it truly is going to be one of the biggest events we’ve ever had at this terrific facility. We’re excited to add this fourth qualifier for the pro teams, who are all looking forward to putting on an amazing show in Chicago.”

Last year was a triumphant return to Route 66 Raceway and this season’s event, which is the sixth of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, is shaping up to be even bigger. Along with the can’t-miss action of 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph nitro cars, eight top Pro Stock drivers will battle for bragging rights in the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout. Plus, there’s bonus money and championship points on the line in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, adding another must-see element to the weekend.

In 2023, Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won in Chicago, while Justin Ashley, Ron Capps and Gaige Herrera secured Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge titles. Camrie Caruso won the first-ever Callout in Pro Stock a season ago.

This year’s race is again loaded with standouts and huge nitro fields, as Millican looks to repeat his Chicago victory….