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A centerline infraction by Joe Morrison helped Beckman move forward to the Funny Car final against teammate Austin Prock

The first race of the Countdown featured everything one would hope for: an indisputably intense energy, points shakeups, stoked rivalries, and a bright glimmer of the future. Here are five takeaways from the Pep Boys Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.

From leaping off the track to knocking moisture out of the air, Top Fuel dragsters push the limits of physics. See how in this Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ On FOX slow-motion

Clay Millican capitalized on Josh Hart's red-light, delivering a near-full pass and gathering crucial data for the Countdown to the Championship.

In addition to the exciting Mission Foods Drag Racing Series action at the Pep Boys Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Nationals, nine champions were also crowned in Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series action at Maple Grove Raceway, including Al Kenny, the winner in Right Trailers Top Dragster.

Julie Nataas, the current Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Dragster world champion, will make her Top Fuel debut as part of the Scrappers Racing team at the upcoming Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Midwest Nationals.

You have plenty of chances to catch all the high-speed action again as Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ on FOX re-airs the first race of the Countdown to the Championship!

Sunday at Maple Grove Raceway was an extraordinary first step into the Countdown to the Championship, and our Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ National Dragster photographers captured all of the moments.

In an all-John Force Racing Funny Car final, points leader Austin Prock won the Pep Boys Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Nationals. Antron Brown, Aaron Stanfield, and Hector Arana Jr. also scored in the first race of the Countdown to the Championship.

Unofficial points standings following the completion of the Pep Boys Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Nationals, the 15th race of the 2024 Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the first event of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

News, notes, quotes, and photos from the final day of the Pep Boys Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. (Updated throughout the day)

The final day of the Pep Boys Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Nationals is upon us, and what happens today will lay the framework for championship stories that will be told on Sunday night in Pomona. Trophies are up for grabs in all categories at Maple Grove Raceway, and the sun is just beginning to shine with promise.

Justin Ashley clinched his first No. 1 qualifier of the season, while points leaders Austin Prock, Dallas Glenn, and Gaige Herrera also scored the top spot in their respective classes on Saturday at the 39th annual Pep Boys Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Nationals.

Maple Grove Raceway was bursting at the seams on Saturday at the Pep Boys Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Nationals, and our award-winning Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ National Dragster photographers were there to catch it all. Here's a sampling of what they captured, just for you.

For the third straight season, Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ and officials at Maple Grove Raceway announced a sellout crowd for Saturday’s qualifying action at the 39th annual Pep Boys Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Nationals.

News, notes, quotes, and photos from the second day of Pro qualifying at the Pep Boys Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. (Updated throughout the day)

Day two at the Pep Boys Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Nationals has arrived, and two final qualifying rounds will set the field. Who will be left outside? Who will gain valuable bonus points? It matters to the max at this, the first race of the 2024 Mission Foods Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Countdown to the Championship

The ace Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ National Dragster photographers ventured near and far across the property at Maple Grove Raceway, capturing these images and many more from the first day of the 39th annual Pep Boys Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Nationals.

Funny Car points leader Austin Prock made the fastest run of his career on Friday at Maple Grove Raceway, powering to the provisional No. 1 spot at the 39th annual Pep Boys Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Nationals. Justin Ashley, Erica Enders, and Matt Smith also claimed the provisional pole.

News, notes, quotes, and photos from the first day of Pro qualifying at the Pep Boys Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. (Updated throughout the day)

The September 2024 issue of Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ National Dragster, saluting the 70th annual Toyota Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ U.S. Nationals, is now online in digital format and in the mail in its traditional print format to Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Members around the world.

Five years ago, Jack Beckman defeated John Force in the final round at Maple Grove Raceway. This year, in a wild and surreal turn, Beckman is driving Force's Peak Chevrolet and claiming points on behalf of the 16-time world champion.

The 2010 Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ national event in Reading helped kick off the Countdown to the Championship with tons of drama. Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ on FOX's Brian Lohnes picked five highlight moments from this great race.

The Pep Boys Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Nationals is a race long circled on the schedule for Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Mission Foods Drag Racing Series championship hopefuls. The contenders have been named, the points have been reset, and we've got six races to decide titles. The 2024 Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Countdown to the Championship starts now at Maple Grove Raceway.

Gaige Herrera is just one win away from winning at all the tracks on the Pro Stock Motorcycle circuit, and Dallas Glenn is hoping to ride his spot as the top seed to Pro Stock glory as the Countdown to the Championship opens this weekend at the Pep Boys Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Nationals.

Camron Nelson doubled in Sportsman and Electric Vehicle at the Division 4 Summit Series Finals at Ardmore Dragway and will be joined by Crue Garrett, Alvie Merrill, and Cody Couch to represent the division at the National Championship in Las Vegas.

Ford Performance has been named the title sponsor of the Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Mission Foods Drag Racing Series fall race in Las Vegas. The Ford Performance Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Nationals will take place Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Austin Prock has enjoyed a terrific 2024 regular season in the Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, and Prock doesn’t plan on adjusting his mindset or his approach as the Countdown to the Championship playoffs open.