NHRA’s Top Fuel event championship final round last weekend — receives rare reverse of fortune!….
In Top Fuel racing for the 5th Annual NHRA American Rebel Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, an apparent victory for Shawn Langdon’s team over has been reversed.
The disqualification came due to a rulebook violation related to missing bolts on the bellhousing inspection cover – which was discovered post race.
Per the NHRA Rulebook and related SFI Spec 6.2, the cover is required to be secured by no less than 12 bolts. During a post-run inspection, the cover on Langdon’s dragster did not meet the requirement of 12 secured bolts.
Langdon’s final-round run within the Kalitta Racing dragster was disqualified and, as a result, runner-up Justin Ashley has been awarded the event victory.
Shawn Langdon’s apparent victory in Top Fuel was reversed due to a rule violation — giving Justin Ashley (photo below) a victory.
Ashley, who picked up his first win of the season reached the final round for the fifth time in the past six races, defeating Doug Foley, Steve Torrence and Doug Kalitta. He moved to third in points with the victory, which is the 16th in his career.
Funny Car points leader and reigning world champion Austin Prock won for the second straight year at Virginia Motorsports Park, defeating John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman in the final round.
Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the ninth of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Justin Ashley was awarded the Top Fuel victory after Shawn Langdon’s final-round run was disqualified due to a rulebook violation.
In the final round, Prock went 4.061-seconds at 318.02 mph in his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car, holding off Beckman at the finish line and picking up his third win of the season. Prock defeated Cruz Pedregon, Bob Tasca III and J.R. Todd to advance to the final round en route to his 15th career victory. Prock and team delivered a strong performance and it came at an ideal time after the reigning champ lost in the first round at the past two races.
It was also an emotional win for Prock, as the matchup between JFR teammates took place a year after legendary Funny Car driver John Force was involved in a massive crash at Virginia Motorsports Park. Prock won on that trying weekend a year ago and was thrilled to hand another trophy to Force with his boss in attendance on Sunday.
“A lot of emotion for sure. Getting to win last year, that was huge and being able to take the Wally to John as a team, that’s what we wanted to do again today, and I’m happy that we could go back-to-back and get the job done for him,” Prock said. “The trophy’s going home with him. I might have to hide it in his suitcase or something. He won’t take it off my hand, but it’s definitely going back with him.
Funny Car points leader Austin Prock for the 4th time this season.
“He does so much for me, and he’s given me an opportunity in a lifetime to live my dream, so to win for him again today and be able to celebrate his health and have him back out at the racetrack and doing good and getting better every day means a lot for our team and all our partners and even NHRA. This sport is not the same without John Force. We’re very blessed to have him at the racetrack.”
John Force “in the house”!
Beckman moved back to second in points, reaching the finals for the third time this season and 75th time in his career after round wins against Jim Campbell, Paul Lee and Daniel Wilkerson. Prock leads his teammate by 60 points heading to the halfway mark of the season.
Gaige Herrera had to chase down Angie Smith in the finals in Pro Stock Motorcycle, but the points leader won for the second straight year at Virginia Motorsports Park with a run of 6.826 at 198.79 in the final round on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki. Smith left first on the back-to-back world champion, going 6.853 at 196.76, but Herrera had just enough to get past her at the finish line.
It gives Herrera his third win of the season and 24 in his career, with all of those coming since the start of the 2023 season. He continues to impress at every turn, defeating Ron Tornow, Steve Johnson and No. 1 qualifier Brayden Davis to reach the final round. The qualifying dominance hasn’t been there as of late, with Davis claiming the top spot at the last two races, but Herrera remains in control on raceday, stretching his points lead to 100 points over Matt Smith.
Gaige Herrera collected Pro Stock win #3 of the 2025 season.
“I almost fumbled there in the final with my light,” Herrera said. “A 150-degree track is just insane but NHRA did a phenomenal job and Andrew [Hines, crew chief] had my bike consistent all day. Angie had a fast bike and I had a little doubt when I looked over before 1,000 foot and I saw her and thought ‘This is a little too close’ because the Buells always have the mph. So when I looked over, I saw I was actually pulling away from her (and) that was a good feeling.
“I’m having a lot of fun. Racing is all about competition, and that’s what I love, it’s what drives me and pushes me to do better than I can. I want to say I’m nervous racing Brayden and he always says he’s nervous racing me, just because of all this good success I’ve had.”
Smith reached the final round for the first time this season and 10th time in her career after defeating Dystany Spurlock, Matt Smith and Richard Gadson.
Saturday’s event schedule did include the most recent round for the popular #2Fast2Tasty Challenge presented by Mission Foods.
For Top Fuel it was Steve Torrence defeating Shawn Langdon in the final round. Daniel Wilkerson prevailed for (Funny Car) when he held off Ron Capps in the final and Brayden Davis (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won his first ever Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge title when he bested his teammate Richard Gadson in that final.
2nd generation racer Daniel Wilkerson won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge event for Funny Car.
Sportsman Racing (Final round results)
Competition Eliminator — Jay Schonberger, Olds Cutlass, 7.928, 169.15 def. Mark Moreland, Chevy Camaro, 9.345, 147.37.
Comp class winner > Jay Schonberger
Joe Santangelo won in Super Stock eliminator — his career 24th NHRA win.
Super Stock, Joe Santangelo, Chevy Camaro, 9.724, 132.06 def. Bryan Worner, Camaro, 9.935, 128.92.
Stock Eliminator — Steve Foley, Chevy Camaro, 9.906, 133.45 def. Greg Rowe, Pontiac Trans Am, Foul – Red Light.
Stock Eliminator featured a first time winner going to Steve Foley’s FS/D Camaro.
Super Comp — Corey Manuel, Dragster, 10.835, 89.57 def. Lauren Freer, Dragster, Foul – Red Light.
Super Gas — JJ Brock, Chevy Camaro, 9.913, 157.85 def. Ricky Hall, Camaro, 9.872, 139.13.
A first time S/G (9.90) winner emerged to > JJ Brock.
Top Dragster — Tommy Muller, Dragster, 7.053, 187.55 def. Anthony Bertozzi, Dragster, 7.225, 180.24.
Factory X — Lenny Lottig, Chevy Camaro, 7.037, 194.13 def. Jesse Alexandra, Camaro, 7.038, 197.57.
Racing his Bill Jenkins “Grumpy’s Toy” tribute car —Lenny Lottig was a winner within the F/X class.
The drag racing schedule for the American Rebel Light Virginia Nationals featured competition within the Congruity Pro Mod Drag Racing Series & also Pingel-presented Top Fuel Motorcycle.
For our Congruity Pro Mod class report (which produced a win by JR Gray) – link to our Smokies Garage Pro Mod Portal subsection : HERE
JR Gray defeated a highly competitive Pro Mod field attending VMP
Larry McBride was the winner for Pingel TFM racing — earning the 6th NHRA event win of his career. “Spiderman” was dominating as he is usually — he qualified #1 while setting both low ET (4.831 secs) and top speed (242.93 mph) within the 1000′ format eliminator.
McBride, after a first round single, topped Mitch Brown and Bob Malloy for the title. A total of 5 bikes were entered for the TFM field at VMP.
Larry “Spiderman” McBride
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action June 26-29 with the 19th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.
Posted with files by NHRA Communications & Bruce Biegler
Photos by Dave DeAngelis
To view our event photo gallery from this NHRA race link to LMLC Media site: HERE
