Tony Stewart. NHRA photo

By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio

The six-race NHRA Countdown to the Championship kicks off this weekend at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa. with the Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle titles on the line.

Tony Stewart. NHRA photo

For the first time since the playoffs began in 2007, the NHRA has crowned regular-season champions in all four pro categories — Top Fuel (Tony Stewart), Funny Car (Austin Prock), Pro Stock (Dallas Glenn), and Pro Stock Motorcycle (Gaige Herrera) — following the U.S. Nationals.

These drivers now face a critical question: can they convert that momentum into world championships during the six-race Countdown?

The Countdown schedule includes stops at Maple Grove Raceway, zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis, Texas Motorplex in Ennis, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and concludes at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in California.

Tony Stewart. NHRA photo

In Top Fuel, second-year driver Tony Stewart leads the field after capturing the regular-season championship. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and Hall of Fame driver has made a quick transition to drag racing. He enters as the top seed and has been the most consistent driver throughout the season.

“It doesn’t matter what you did in the regular season if you can’t close it out in the Countdown,” Stewart said. “This is about executing every lap. I love the pressure, and that’s why I’m here.”

Antron Brown, NHRA Top Fuel Provisional No. 1. NHRA photo

But the points reset for the playoffs and that leaves little room for error. Plus there are nine other veteran drivers that are lurking in the distance. Also, the playoff format is unforgiving — every run, every reaction time, every detail matters and Stewart will have to stay sharp and avoid mistakes on the dragstrip.

Defending champion Antron Brown, former champion Doug Kalitta, 2013 champion Shawn Langdon and Shawn Reed are all in close pursuit.

“The Countdown is when the real season starts,” Brown said. “We’ve been here before, and we know how to turn it up when it matters.”

Antron Brown, NHRA Top Fuel winner. NHRA photo

Kalitta added, “This is where the fun begins. You’ve got to earn every inch out here. Nobody’s giving you anything.”

And that is the beauty of the Countdown—when the stakes are highest, NHRA’s best drivers always rise to the occasion.

Four-time champion Steve Torrence remains a threat, while Justin Ashley, Clay Millican, and Josh Hart add depth to the field and could very well win the championship this season.

Brittany Force. NHRA photo

Brittany Force, who announced Friday that she will step away from full-time competition after the season, qualified for the Countdown and could be a spoiler. If there is a wildcard in the field, Force is the driver due to her past speed records and resume. Her performance in the Countdown will be about leaving on a high note.

In Funny Car, defending champion Austin Prock, driving for John Force Racing, begins the Countdown as the No. 1 seed after a regular season that included victories at the U.S. Nationals and the All-Star Callout. Prock is aiming to become the first back-to-back Funny Car champion since Robert Hight in 2019–20. Prock’s teammate, Jack Beckman, the 2012 series champion, enters the postseason in second and appears poised to challenge Prock.

Austin Prock, PlayNHRA FC All-Star Callout Winner. NHRA photo

“We’re not backing off,” Prock said after Indy. “Last year we proved we could do this. This year, we’re stronger. The targets on our back, and that’s fine—we welcome it.”

Beckman said he is hungry for another championship crown.

“It’s been a long road back, but we’ve got a hot rod that can win a championship,” Beckman said. “I love this fight.”

Prock and Beckman will be joined by veteran contender Matt Hagan, a four-time champion, who brings the kind of late-season consistency that has defined his racing career. The playoff field also includes multi-time champion Ron Capps, former titleholder J.R. Todd, two-time champ Cruz Pedregon, rookie Spencer Hyde, along with Daniel Wilkerson, Dave Richards and Paul Lee, who has impressed with strong qualifying efforts. Other contenders are Alexis DeJoria, Bob Tasca III, Chad Green and Buddy Hull.

Dallas Glenn, Pro Stock winner. NHRA photo

In Pro Stock it will be a battle between top seeds and teammates Dallas Glenn and defending champion Greg Anderson. The rivalry between the two has been intense and it will be interesting to see if Glenn can fend him off or if Anderson can use his clutch performance in eliminations to turn the tables and win another title.

Like Top Fuel and Funny Car, the points reset make winning each round more important. There is great pressure on teams to avoid slip-ups early in the Countdown and the rest of the drivers competing in the field could play a major role in determining who wins the championship. Drivers like Matt Hartford, Cory Reed, Aaron Stanfield and Troy Coughlin Jr. are in solid position to win and play the role of the spoiler. Former champions Erica Enders and Jeg Coughlin Jr remain threats—either to win individual events or to make deep runs that affect the points standings. Other contenders are Eric Latino, Greg Stanfield, Cody Coughlin, Deric Kramer and Kenny Delco.

Gaige Herrera, PSM No. 1. NHRA photo

In Pro Stock Motorcycle all eyes are on Gaige Herrera as he aims for a third-straight NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championship. Herrera has been unstoppable. He clinched the regular-season championship at the U.S. Nationals, won numerous events, set records, and enters the Countdown leading the class.

Matt Smith and Richard Gadson (Herrera’s teammate) are the only two drivers who are likely to challenge Herrera for the title. Smith is a multi-time champion with a lot of experience. Gadson meanwhile has had a breakout year and is right in the mix as Herrera’s stiffest challenger. Riders like John Hall, Angie Smith, Chase Van Sant have shown that they could strike at any moment since the points also reset for the Countdown to the Championship. Other contenders are Jianna Evaristo, Chris Bostick, Brayden Davis and  Steve Johnson.

Points reset adds drama and championship stakes

With the points reset for the Countdown, the advantage held by Stewart and Prock during the regular season has been reduced. That format leaves the door open for drivers who enter lower in the standings but gain momentum over the six-race stretch. With compressed points, a deep roster of contenders, and Fall weather expected to produce quick conditions, both the Top Fuel and Funny Car championships appear wide open as the NHRA enters its final stretch. One early exit could shift everything and a driver’s season could be over after one race.

Four-Wide racing enters the Countdown

One landmark addition in the 2025 Countdown to the Championship now includes its first-ever four-wide race. One of the six playoff rounds will unfold at zMax Dragway for the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals.

This high-octane event heightens unpredictability and drama — any of the Countdown contenders could surge or stumble in this unique, 4-car-side-by-side format.

Speed record threats

Can anyone in Top Fuel top Brittany Force’s NHRA Top Fuel speed record of 341.85 mph? Given the perfect weather, track conditions and cooler Fall conditions, can quickly turn tracks like Reading, St. Louis and the Texas Motorplex near Dallas into record-setting battlefields.

Raceday San Antonio NHRA Championship Predictions

Tony Stewart – Top Fuel

Austin Prock – Funny Car

Greg Anderson – Pro Stock

Gaige Herrera – Pro Stock Motorcycle