Excitement Builds for Final Day of NHRA Route 66 Nationals

JOLIET, Ill. — Fans and racers alike await the final day of eliminations at the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals, taking place Sunday at Route 66 Raceway.

This event marks the sixth of 20 races in the Mission Foods NHRA pro series, featuring Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors. Also included are the Holley EFI Factory X series and the FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown.

On Saturday, competitors set new track records, with Doug Kalitta achieving a remarkable 3.661-second run in Top Fuel. Meanwhile, reigning champ Antron Brown reached an impressive speed of 338.09 mph.

Kalitta’s first round match-up is against Lex Joon, while points leader Shawn Langdon, who won Saturday’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, is poised to take on Kyle Wurtzel in round one.

In the Funny Car category, low qualifier Jack Beckman leads the pack with a time of 3.859 seconds, despite facing mechanical issues that prevented him from running in the final session. He will compete against Dave Richards.

The Pro Stock Motorcycle class is led by two-time champion Gaige Herrera, who recorded a 6.717 and will have a bye run in the opening round. His teammate Matt Smith, the recent winner in Charlotte, qualified second and meets Wes Wells in the first round.

With a packed schedule that includes final rounds of various series and the PEAK Street Car Shootout showcasing some of the fastest street-legal vehicles, spectators can expect a thrilling day ahead. Tom Bailey notably drove his street-legal Camaro to a stunning 263-mph run on Saturday, setting a record for full-bodied cars at an NHRA event.

As fans gear up for Sunday’s eliminations, the excitement and anticipation for another dramatic day at Route 66 Raceway grow.