The latest update as of November 5, 2024

24 annual Ford Performance NHRA Nationals - The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway - Las Vegas, NV

Sunday's racing was halted, then postponed, due to the massive gear lube slick in the left lane when Doug Kalitta's rearend broke in the semifinal round. The Safety Safari completed their cleanup and track prep for Monday's Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle semifinals, and finals. Before the pros got to strut their stuff, the supporting cast ran their final rounds, starting with Pro Modified and the Mountain Motor Pro Stock races.

(LEFT) After wrapping up the 2024 Congruity Pro Modified World Championship with a win over former champion Kris Thorne in the semifinal round on Sunday, Jordan Lazic (far lane) made his quickest and fastest pass of the event in the final against Mike Janis (near lane). The win was his second national event win, after winning in his NHRA debut at St. Louis last year. Lazic ran 5.729 - 251.53 for the win, and set top speed of the event, while Janis redlighted by -.019 and shut down to a 9-second time.

(RIGHT) Taking the win in Mountain Motor Pro Stock category was Johnny Pluchino in his 2013 Mustang (near lane) over the 2022 Camaro of Randi Lyn Butner in the far lane. Pluchino set low e.t. of the meet in the final, with a 6.300 - 221.56 easily handling a slightly off-pace 6.437 - 220.15 of Butner. She had been in the low 6.30's up until the final, but had a little slip when it mattered the most.

(LEFT) The picture tells the story very graphically, as defending world champion Julie Nataas (near lane) saw her repeat championship aspirations literally go up in smoke in the final round against Shawn Cowie in the far lane. After setting low e.t. of the meet (5.211) in the semifinal, she lost traction instantly and could only watch Cowie fly away to the win while she limped to a 19-second 34-mph loss. Cowie ran into trouble down track, losing the engine at the 1000' mark and coasting across the finish line at 5.600 - 244.60. The event win virtually gave Cowie the world championship that he's been trying to capture for 17 years.

(RIGHT) Another picture that shows how Shane Westerfield (near lane), driving the Bucky Austin & Ed O'Brien-owned "Bardahl" car lost in the final round of the Legends of Nitro Funny Car category. Despite setting low e.t. and top speed of the meet in qualifying, and mowing down two opponents to reach the final, Shane lost traction and could only muster an 11-second clocking. Taking full advantage of Westerfield's plight was Tim Boychuk in his "Happy Hour" '69 Camaro as he pounded out a consistent 4.851 - 241.71 for the win on the 1000 ft track.

(LEFT Heavy favourite and almost certain to be the new world champion, Austin Prock faced the back-in-black Jim Head entry, driven by Blake Alexander. Prock left first by only a hundredth, but quickly stretched the lead when Alexander lost traction before the 60 ft clocks. From there to the finish line it was another consistent mid 3.80 pass for Prock, stopping the timers at 3.859 - 328.54 and advancing to his 11th final round of the season.

(RIGHT) The other semifinal pitted Jack Beckman, driving for John Force, in the near lane, against hard charging Paul Lee in the far lane. The "smart" money had Beckman favoured to take the win and face teammate Prock in the final, but Lee, with the tuning of Jonnie Lindberg, cranked out a career best 3.834 - 330.23 to take the holeshot win over Beckman's excellent 3.827 - 323.04 pass. Lee left first by a hundredth of a second and took the winlight by two thousandths. Incredibly close racing, and with the win Paul Lee took lane choice into the final against Prock.

(LEFT) You're not seeing double, but there are two Caudra brothers in the semifinals for the first time this season. In this photo, it's David Caudra (near lane) facing one of the Elite "dream team" Aaron Stanfield (far lane). Stanfield took the win when Caudra redlighted by .005, before both drivers experienced massive tire shake. The scoreboards read 32.755 seconds for Stanfield, while Caudra's came up 36.933. Obviously Stanfield would not be getting lane choice in the final round, but he did move into the points lead, passing Dallas Glenn who had held that honour for most of the season.

(RIGHT) In the other semifinal, Cristian Caudra (near lane) fell to Greg Anderson (far lane) in a much more convential race. Anderson put a six hundredths holeshot on Caudra, then dropped into the 6.50's with an excellent 6.599 - 207.37 to take a two car length win over Caudra's slowest pass of eliminations, a 6.648 - 205.66 in a losing cause. The win moved Anderson to within 32 points of Glenn and 36 points behind Stanfield.

(LEFT)

(RIGHT)

(LEFT)

(RIGHT)

In case you're wondering - as we were too - where the Top Alcohol Funny Cars were, the answer came shortly after the final rounds were completed. The racers, Sean Bellemeur and Maddi Gordon, decided to run their final round during qualifying at the season-ending In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at Pomona.