Pep Boys NHRA Nationals Postponed For Rain Until This Morning

Due to inclement weather, the semifinals and finals of Sunday’s Pep Boys NHRA Nationals have been postponed to this morning at the renowned Maple Grove Raceway. The action ignited promptly at 10:00 a.m. EDT, promising a day charged with high-octane drama and adrenaline-pumping excitement.

Regrettably, the two Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Nitro machines, piloted by Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan, didn’t need to wait until Monday for their fate.

Pruett, representing Mobil 1, took on Doug Kalitta in a pivotal semifinal showdown in the inaugural race of the Countdown to the Championship playoff. Kalitta blazed a trail with a remarkable 3.684 seconds @ 332.84 mph, clinching a nail-biting victory over Leah Pruett’s Mobil 1 powerhouse. He’s now poised to face the victor between Tony Schumacher and Steve Torrence, whose face-off will set the tone for Monday’s race day.

Meanwhile, Matt Hagan, sponsored by Rinnai America Corporation, advanced to the second round of competition against John Force Racing’s Robert Hight. The contest culminated in a heart-stopping sprint, with Hight clocking in at 3.852 seconds @ 326.40 mph, edging past Hagan’s 3.8589 @ 335.48 by a razor-thin margin of .0001. Though it culminated in Hagan’s Dodge heading back to the trailer, it undeniably stood as one of the most thrilling runs of the weekend.

As the dust settles on the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals, fervent fans can eagerly anticipate the next pulse-quickening race at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals, set to unfold at zMax Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, from September 22nd through the 24th.