INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 1, 2025) – Top Fuel’s Justin Ashley won the prestigious Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals for the first time in his career, defeating racing legend Tony Stewart on a holeshot in the final round on Monday at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Austin Prock (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the 14th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Ashley went 3.839 seconds at 326.16 mph in his 12,000 horsepower Scag Power Equipment dragster to hold off Stewart, who went 3.815 at 321.88, as his .027 reaction time made the difference in a thrilling side-by-side finale on drag racing’s grandest stage.
It is the third victory of the year for Ashley, who now has 18 career wins.
“When you win Indy, it’s just something that nobody can take away from you and the fact that my father won here 18 years ago, to have him here now and to win this event in Top Fuel, it really is special. It’s just different than any other race,” Ashley said.
In Funny Car, Prock finished off a flawless weekend that netted the points leader $330,000, defeating John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman in the final round after a run of 3.903 at 332.92 in his 12,000 horsepower Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet SS.
A day after winning the PlayNHRA All-Star Callout, Prock finished off the regular-season championship, with those two wins handing Prock $230,000. He added the $100,000 U.S. Nationals victory for a second straight year, continuing a remarkable season that may be even more dominant than last year’s championship season.
“To win Indy in my rookie season (in Funny Car) was obviously really special,” Prock said.
After a tumultuous regular season, Pro Stock’s Erica Enders persevered at The Big Go, snapping a 30 race winless streak and winning her 50th national event after going 6.564 at 209.95 in her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/ Melling Performance car to hold off Matt Hartford.
It’s the fourth Indy win for the six-time world champion, but this one will certainly rank as one of the most memorable. Her last victory came at the opener in 2024.
“That monkey’s been on my back since Gainesville, the season opener 2024, and it’s been grueling,” Enders said.
Hartford advanced to the final round for the second time this season and the 19th time overall thanks to round wins against David Cuadra, Cristian Cuadra and Fernando Cuadra Jr. He’ll open the playoffs third in points.
Dallas Glenn clinched the regular-season title in Pro Stock during the second round when he defeated Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Greg Anderson fell to Fernando Cuadra Jr.
Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Gaige Herrera was again clutch when it counted, using an incredible .003 reaction time to defeat teammate Brayden Davis in the final round on a holeshot. Herrera’s 6.834 at 199.32 on his RevZilla/ Motul/ Vance & Hines held up thanks to the stellar reaction time, holding off Davis’ 6.799 at 198.93 at the finish line.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series opens the Countdown to the Championship playoffs with the 40th annual NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish on Sept. 11-14 at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa.