This past July, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returned to Summit Motorsports Park for the 19th Annual Summit Racing Equipment Nationals. The Bader family, who operates “America’s Racetrack,” hosted another winning event, with endless on-track excitement, a wild fireworks display, and all the ice cream you could devour.
Funny Car points leader Austin Prock won back-to-back races for the second time this year, taking down Matt Hagan in the final round, while Justin Ashley also won his second in a row, edging out Clay Millican’s Summit Racing Equipment dragster in the Top Fuel Final.
In Pro Stock, Team Summit driver Cory Reed scored his first career NHRA win in a magical moment, taking down fellow Summit Racing teammate Dallas Glenn in the final with a 6.648 at 207.30 mph in his J&A Service Chevrolet Camaro. Glenn had almost immediate tire shake off the starting line, while Reed cruised to his first victory virtually uncontested.
Reed made an incredible transition to Pro Stock, switching from Pro Stock Motorcycle last year after a horrific crash. He reached the final round, defeating Troy Coughlin Jr., Greg Stanfield and No. 1 qualifier, Greg Anderson, who drives the Summit Racing-backed Camaro and is Reed’s teammate.
“I had a lot of emotions, I tried not to cry pretty much the whole time,” Reed said. “I got Dallas off the tree, which was a very big accomplishment. I struggled all day with lights, so I was proud of myself for coming around like that. I kind of knew I had to step up against that guy. He’s tough.
“The fireworks here are always awesome. The Bader’s do a great job, they stack this place out, Summit Motorsports Park is amazing. Honestly, I grew up in Colorado. I raced at Bandimere, but this is my next favorite track, even before I won here.
“I’ve got a great team behind me and great people. I mean, my buddy Joey (Gladstone), my mom and dad, family, everybody at KB is amazing. They all taught me so much and helping me every day. Getting me through personal struggles and all that stuff, it’s incredible.”
Other pro winners included Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Cory Reed (Pro Stock) and John Hall (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the 10th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Top Fuel’s Justin Ashley continued on a roll, as the young phenom picked up his second consecutive victory, this time going 3.931 at 317.34 to hold off Clay Millican in the Summit Racing Equipment Top Fueler.
Ashley qualified No. 1 and defeated Scott Farley, Josh Hart and Shawn Langdon to reach the final round. Against Millican, Ashley had an incredible .027 reaction time, which was just enough to hold off Millican’s solid run of 3.922 in a memorable holeshot victory for Ashley.
“It’s very exciting to get my first win here,” Ashley said. “Norwalk means a lot to me personally. My father (Mike) won in Funny Car here in 2007, and I ever since we started racing in Top Fuel, it was a dream of mine to win right here and that’s what we did today. It’s special and the team did a great job all weekend.
“We qualified number one and navigated our way down the racetrack all race day long on a surface that was very slippery and very tricky. The people who win these races are the ones that go A to B, and that’s what we did today. I’m just glad it worked out. I’m proud of Mike Green and Tommy DeLago and our whole team. They really deserved this win and I’m happy that could be along for the ride.” Millican reached the finals for the second time this season after defeating Dan Mercier, Doug Kalitta and Stewart.
Pro Stock Motorcycle’s John Hall waited nearly 12 years between wins, but the veteran got the job done on Sunday in Norwalk, chasing down Richard Gadson in the championship round with a run of 6.880 at 196.67 on his American Rebel Beer Buell. Gadson left first with a standout .021 reaction time, but Hall had enough power to slip by at the finish line, recording his first victory since the U.S. Nationals at Indy in 2013.
“It’s special because you never know if you’re going to get another one. I won twice in 2013, including the U.S. Nationals,” Hall said. “You know, 12 years goes by and you just realize how hard it is to get one of these. Matt Smith Racing is one of the hardest working teams out here and they get you to the winner’s circle if you do your job. I ride the bike and he [Matt Smith] tells me to do my job. I hit the button, cut a good light, and that’s my mindset. But they tune the bike, they’re constantly tuning the bike for the weather and it paid off.”
Along with the top four professional categories, the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals featured sportsman racing in Super Street, Super Gas and Super Comp, along with Stock and Super Stock, Competition Eliminator, Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Factory Stock Showdown, Factory X, Mountain Motor Pro Stock and Alcohol Funny Car and Dragster.
You’ll find everything from American Muscle Cars to nitro-burning A/Fuel Dragsters and just about everything in between. The wide range of categories allows grass roots racers to compete at the national level and provides a ladder for racers to gain experience and climb the ranks.
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