Time for NHRA’s Indy 3

Every NHRA drag racer loves to compete at Lucas Oil Raceway (LOR). Site of Labor Day’s DENSO Spark Plugs U.S. Nationals, LOR has, this year, become the epicenter of drag racing, as the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 has made it difficult to travel throughout the country for competition.

After back-to-back races in mid-July at LOR, races which restarted a protracted NHRA Mello Yello season that came to a screeching halt just before the 51st Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals in March, NHRA made the decision to continue racing in the midwest with a third race, the Dodge NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil this weekend, August 6-9.

This event will have all professional categories in action: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle. In addition, Pro Mod, Mountain Motor Pro Stock and Top Fuel Harley are scheduled to compete. There is a full complement of Lucas Oil Sportsman categories listed for this third Indy race; they begin competition on Thursday, August 6 while the pro classes take over on Saturday, August 8.

Top Fuel shows 18 entries for the weekend meet, led by points leader Doug Kalitta with Kalitta Motorsports. Despite an early, second-round Indy2 departure to finalist Justin Ashley, Kalitta retains top billing in this category, thanks to either wins or runners-up results in the first three races and the lack of race completion in Indy2. At that most recent event, Kalitta zoomed to his 700th round win at the track where he won last Labor Day.

NHRA, Indy

Kalitta was helped by reigning TF champ Steve Torrence’s loss to father Billy in the first round of the most recent Indy race and Billy’s loss to Leah Pruett in round 2. Journeyman Terry McMillan, a U.S. Nationals winner has shown momentum over the past two races; it’s obvious his rail likes the Indy track. Same goes for Indy2 No. 1 qualifier Clay Millican and Antron Brown, the latter working again with Brian Corradi.

Look for rookie Joe Morrison’s return to action, as well as Kyle Wurtzel, whose big flamer in Indy1 became a photographer’s dream. Lex Joon is back again, as is Doug Foley. While Cory McClenathan is trying, once again, to equal Don Garlits’ 35 wins, Tony Schumacher is parked this weekend. No sign of Chicagoan T.J. Zizzo on this weekend’s entry list, but the foe he’ll meet at the U.S. Nationals to decide Indy2, Ashley will get more laps this weekend.

No one will go home without playing in final Sunday eliminations on the Funny Car side; there are 16 entries in the class, highlighted by the Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) Dodge Charger SRT Hellcats racing in these Dodge NHRA Nationals. The rainout of Indy2 means that DSR teammates Jack Beckman and Matt Hagan, the latter winner in Indy1 will meet Labor Day weekend to settle that issue, but their squadmates Ron Capps and Tommy Johnson Jr. are hoping to mount upsets at Indy3.

NHRA, Indy

In the Flopper class it’s just about time for former U.S. Nationals winner Alexis DeJoria to take her Toyota Camry back to the winner’s circle with class champion Del Worsham doing the tuning. Her fellow Camry racer – and former Kalitta Motorsports teammate – J.R. Todd has been getting his car tuned for Indy weather and had a good race against Hagan in the second round of Indy2.

Others to watch in Funny Car include COVID-19-recovered Bob Tasca III, the No. 1 qualifier at Indy2 with his Ford Mustang, as well as fellow Ford driver Tim Wilkerson, the popular Illinois-bred racer who made it as far as the Indy2 quarterfinals. With the assistance of tuner Jim Oberhofer, Paul Lee is looking to take his Dodge Charger more rounds as he returns to full-time competition.

NHRA, Indy

Pro Stock has 18 entries on the docket for their fourth race of the season, after sitting out the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Indy2. Two of the most successful modern-day racers in this class are calling it quits at the end of the 2020 season. As the most recent winner, Jason Line has some momentum leading into his final eliminations of a vaunted career, but he’s still behind fellow retiree-in-process Jeg Coughlin Jr. Both drivers have said this is it, they’ll both retire whether they win the 2020 title or not. At this point, in similar fashion to 2018 when Tanner Gray won and then fled to NASCAR, it’s possible Pro Stock will not have a defending champion in 2021.

There won’t be a Cuadra in this week’s race – neither Fernando nor his two sons made it past the two qualification tries to final eliminations in Indy1 – but a new generation of racers is represented this coming weekend. Troy Coughlin Jr takes his second try at Pro Stock, as does Kyle Koretsky. Normally behind a microphone, not a steering wheel, Bruno Massel Jr is back for another try at seeing a win light. Of the 18 cars entered, there’s a single Mustang for Troy Coughlin Jr, Alan Prusiensky’s Dodge Dart and Robert River’s Chevy Cobalt. The balance of this field races the Chevrolet Camaro.

A total of 16 Pro Stock Motorcycle riders have signed up to battle for the second race win of the year at LOR. Indy1 was PSM’s first race of the year, due to the postponement of the Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals, which may or may not happen later this year. Six-time champ Andrew Hines leads the Harley-Davidson contingent, with fellow champions Eddie Krawiec and Angelle Sampey joining the local team.

NHRA, Indy

The EBR squad has first-time winner Ryan Oehler, batting 1000 in this season with zero defeats after winning Indy1, along with Matt Smith, Hector Arana Jr., Angie Smith, Scotty Pollacheck, Marc Ingwersen and David Barron in the mix. Suzuki’s strength is in having last year’s runner-up Jerry Savoie in the house. He’s joined by Chris Bostick, former Indy winner Steve Johnson, Tiffany Butler, John Hall and Kelly Clontz. The Pro Stock Motorcycle class showed, in Indy1, that any rider can win; will we see another first-timer this coming weekend?

Pro Mod has 22 entries to fill 16 grid spots for Sunday eliminations. After starting their season – kinda – in Indy2, the wild ones are back again with many familiar faces and cars ready for action. Reigning champ Stevie “Fast” Jackson is ready to defend, and Pro Stock 2017 champ Bo Butner III has his eyes on taking either the PS or Pro Mod Wally this week. Look for the familiar faces in Pro Mod; they’re all waiting for Saturday’s action.

Mountain Motor Pro Stock has 11 entries for its first competitive meeting of the year and Top Fuel Harley has the same eight Indy2 racers attempting to take down Tii Tharpe, last year’s titleholder.

The Dodge NHRA Nationals’ weather forecast looks more cooperative than Indy2, with temps increasing from 80-86 Friday through Saturday and only a 20% chance of rain on Sunday. Indianapolis weather, however, is always subject to change. This week should be no different.

About Anne Proffit 1232 Articles
Anne Proffit traces her love of racing - in particular drag racing - to her childhood days in Philadelphia, where Atco Dragway, Englishtown and Maple Grove Raceway were destinations just made for her. As a diversion, she was the first editor of IMSA’s Arrow newsletter, and now writes about and photographs sports cars, Indy cars, Formula 1, MotoGP, NASCAR, Formula Drift, Red Bull Global Rallycross - in addition to her first love of NHRA drag racing. A specialty is a particular admiration for the people that build and tune drag racing engines.

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