{"id":51827,"date":"2025-05-17T18:51:57","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T23:51:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=51827"},"modified":"2025-05-18T15:06:48","modified_gmt":"2025-05-18T20:06:48","slug":"langdon-hagan-and-herrera-win-mission-2fast2tasty-challenge-at-gerber-collision-glass-route-66-nhra-nationals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/17\/langdon-hagan-and-herrera-win-mission-2fast2tasty-challenge-at-gerber-collision-glass-route-66-nhra-nationals\/","title":{"rendered":"Langdon, Hagan and Herrera win Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge at Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Courtesy of the NHRA<\/em><\/p>\n

JOLIET, Ill.  \u2013 The Kalitta Motorsports Top Fuel duo of points leader Shawn Langdon and Doug Kalitta enjoyed a banner day on Saturday at Route 66 Raceway, as Langdon won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge bonus race and Kalitta grabbed his third straight No. 1 qualifier with a track-record run at the 25th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Shawn Langdon, Mission Challenge Winner. NHRA photo<\/p><\/div>\n

Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, while Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) qualified No. 1 at the sixth of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.<\/p>\n

Remarkably, Kalitta Motorsports stayed perfect in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in the Top Fuel ranks, with Langdon winning for the third time after going 3.704-seconds at 332.10 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Kalitta Air Careers dragster to defeat Tony Stewart. He won the first two bonus races of the season and Kalitta followed by winning the Challenge in Las Vegas and Charlotte.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Matt Hagan, Mission Challenge Winner. NHRA photo<\/p><\/div>\n

Langdon, who won the 1,000th Top Fuel race in NHRA history at the most recent event in Charlotte, had the winning recipe on Saturday, as the points leader continued to roll during his 2025 season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m part of a great team,\u201d Langdon said. \u201cConnie Kalitta sets the tone and he gives us what we need to be competitive. Winning also fixes a lot. It solves problems but we know we always have a good foundation.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Gaige Herrera, Mission Challenge Winner. NHRA photo<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been racing almost nonstop since last year and I think that helps. After the 2024 season, I took a couple of weeks off and then headed to the Middle East and I raced for two months and then went right to Bradenton to start the season. All of that helps.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kalitta, meanwhile, stayed atop the Top Fuel field heading into Sunday\u2019s eliminations, putting on a show in the process with a track-record run of 3.661 at 335.23 in his 12,000-horsepower Mac Tools dragster. Kalitta has been dominant in qualifying this season, collecting his third straight top qualifier and fourth in the first six races. He\u2019ll open eliminations against Lex Joon, looking for his first win of the season.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier. NHRA photo<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re definitely focused on going rounds tomorrow, but we\u2019re starting from a great spot,\u201d Kalitta said. \u201cI love racing here in Chicago. We\u2019re really proud of what we\u2019ve got going on and we\u2019ve just got to keep it going.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday the track was cooler and that allowed us to really get after it. Everyone stepped up but we managed to make the best run. So far, so good. I\u2019m focused for tomorrow, and I hope we can get to the final with a chance to win it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stewart qualified second after a career-best 3.679 at 332.43 and Langdon\u2019s 3.687 at 335.65 has him third. Antron Brown is fourth and set the track speed record with a blast of 338.09.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Jack Beckman, Funny Car No. 1 qualifier. NHRA photo<\/p><\/div>\n

In Funny Car, defending event winner Matt Hagan continued to find success at Route 66 Raceway, this time taking the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory with a run of 3.880 at 331.85 in his 12,000-horsepower Direct Connection Dodge\/\/SRT Hellcat to slip past Ron Capps.<\/p>\n

Hagan was certainly in race mode during the specialty race, posting a stellar .055 reaction time to keep Capps at bay and earn his first win in the Challenge in 2025. Hagan and his team have been solid all season, currently sitting third in points, and now he\u2019ll attempt to get back-to-back wins in Chicago and get his first victory of the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a great race. I could hear him but I couldn\u2019t see him. Ron and I go way back, 20 years at least. When we got to the end he said, \u2018We should do that more often,\u2019\u201d Hagan said. \u201cI\u2019ve won championships with two different crew chiefs and I\u2019d love nothing more than to win a third with Mike Knudsen. He\u2019s earned it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack Beckman climbed into the No. 1 spot for John Force Racing, delivering an impressive pass of 3.859 at 332.75 in his 12,000-horsepower PEAK Chevrolet SS. It\u2019s the second top qualifier of the season for Beckman and the 30th in his standout career. After back-to-back first-round losses in Las Vegas and Charlotte, Beckman is after a big day on Sunday, opening raceday against Dave Richards.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a track that isn\u2019t run on much so yesterday we had to reel the cars back and then today it was 20 degrees cooler so our guys went back to the data and took a look at [past] runs and the car did exactly what they said it would and as a driver, that gives you so much confidence,\u201d Beckman said. \u201cWe get a lot of winds in Las Vegas and you just have to be aware. You have no control over the wind, but you do have a steering wheel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul Lee qualified second with a 3.866 at 325.77 and Hagan\u2019s 3.880 puts him third. J.R. Todd went 336.40 in the final session to set the track speed record.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Gaige Herrera, Pro Stock Motorcycle No. 1 qualifier. NHRA photo<\/p><\/div>\n

Pro Stock Motorcycle\u2019s Gaige Herrera kept Vance & Hines flawless in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, defeating Matt Smith in the final round of the bonus race with a run of 6.722 at 201.67 on his RevZilla\/Mission Foods\/Vance & Hines Suzuki.<\/p>\n

After Richard Gadson won in Charlotte, Herrera, the defending event winner and back-to-back world champion, followed it up with a terrific Saturday, making two strong runs in the Challenge to get the victory.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor Richard to get the Mission win (in Charlotte) and then for me to get this one, it\u2019s just awesome for our whole team,\u201d Herrera said. \u201cIt\u2019s awesome that Mission puts this on each Saturday and it\u2019s just something for us and the fans to get excited about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Herrera also qualified No. 1 with a 6.717 at 202.33, getting a third straight top spot to open the 2025 campaign. Smith is second after going 6.727 at a track-record 204.26 and Gadson\u2019s 6.737 at 202.27 put him third.<\/p>\n

Eliminations for the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK begin at 10:30 a.m. CT on Sunday at Route 66 Raceway.<\/p>\n

JOLIET, Ill. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 25th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway, the sixth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.<\/p>\n

Top Fuel — 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.661 seconds, 335.40 mph vs. 16. Lex Joon, 4.099, 249.35; 2. Tony Stewart, 3.679, 332.43 vs. 15. Terry Totten, 4.003, 271.02; 3. Shawn Langdon, 3.687, 335.65 vs. 14. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.937, 242.50; 4. Antron Brown, 3.691, 338.09 vs. 13. T.J. Zizzo, 3.784, 330.72; 5. Justin Ashley, 3.697, 337.50 vs. 12. Brittany Force, 3.780, 327.03; 6. Steve Torrence, 3.715, 333.74 vs. 11. Spencer Massey, 3.776, 322.27; 7. Shawn Reed, 3.720, 334.82 vs. 10. Dan Mercier, 3.755, 334.24; 8. Josh Hart, 3.735, 329.02 vs. 9. Clay Millican, 3.743, 330.55. <\/p>\n

Did Not Qualify: 17. Will Smith, 4.159, 231.08. <\/p>\n

Funny Car — 1. Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 3.859, 332.75 vs. 16. Dave Richards, Ford Mustang, 4.085, 311.49; 2. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 3.866, 329.42 vs. 15. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.057, 319.98; 3. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.880, 331.85 vs. 14. Blake Alexander, Charger, 4.040, 321.04; 4. J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 3.884, 336.40 vs. 13. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.029, 325.69; 5. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.887, 335.15 vs. 12. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.998, 319.22; 6. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.889, 330.88 vs. 11. Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 3.997, 324.05; 7. Austin Prock, Camaro, 3.910, 333.58 vs. 10. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 3.957, 322.96; 8. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.938, 324.83 vs. 9. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 3.945, 302.48. <\/p>\n

Did Not Qualify: 17. Chris King, 5.546, 130.34; 18. Justin Schriefer, 6.193, 195.79; 19. Dale Creasy Jr., 6.758, 98.74. <\/p>\n

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.717, 202.36 vs. Bye; 2. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.727, 204.26 vs. 15. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 7.227, 186.79; 3. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.737, 202.27 vs. 14. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.075, 188.46; 4. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.789, 201.31 vs. 13. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 6.991, 194.27; 5. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.794, 200.02 vs. 12. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.865, 198.44; 6. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.796, 200.77 vs. 11. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.847, 197.86; 7. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.800, 201.82 vs. 10. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.839, 200.14; 8. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.812, 199.05 vs. 9. John Hall, Beull, 6.836, 199.40. <\/p>\n

JOLIET, Ill. — Saturday’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge final results from the 25th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway. <\/p>\n

Top Fuel Challenge — Shawn Langdon, 3.704 seconds, 332.10 mph def. Tony Stewart, 5.501 seconds, 123.10 mph. <\/p>\n

Funny Car Challenge — Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.880, 331.85 def. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.889, 330.88. <\/p>\n

Pro Stock Motorcycle Challenge — Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.722, 201.67 def. Matt Smith, Buell, 8.567, 103.29. <\/p>\n

JOLIET, Ill. — Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge final round-by-round results from the 25th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway.<\/p>\n

MISSION #2FAST2TASTY TOP FUEL CHALLENGE: <\/p>\n

ROUND ONE — Tony Stewart, 3.679, 332.43 def. Antron Brown, 3.691, 336.23; Shawn Langdon, 3.687, 335.65 def. Justin Ashley, 3.697, 337.50; <\/p>\n

FINAL — S. Langdon, 3.704, 332.10 def. T. Stewart, 5.501, 123.10. <\/p>\n

MISSION #2FAST2TASTY FUNNY CAR CHALLENGE: <\/p>\n

ROUND ONE — Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.895, 325.77 def. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 4.548, 182.48; Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.886, 331.45 def. Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 4.400, 199.70; <\/p>\n

FINAL — M. Hagan, 3.880, 331.85 def. R. Capps, 3.889, 330.88. <\/p>\n

MISSION #2FAST2TASTY PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE CHALLENGE: <\/p>\n

ROUND ONE — Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.717, 202.33 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.907, 196.79; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.727, 204.26 def. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.746, 201.85; <\/p>\n

FINAL — G. Herrera, 6.722, 201.67 def. M. Smith, 8.567, 103.29. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Courtesy of the NHRA JOLIET, Ill.  \u2013 The Kalitta Motorsports Top Fuel duo of points leader Shawn Langdon and Doug Kalitta enjoyed a banner day on Saturday at Route 66 Raceway, as Langdon won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge bonus race and Kalitta grabbed his third straight No. 1 qualifier with a track-record run at the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":51832,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[138,886,927,100,197,6,285,247],"class_list":["post-51827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nhra","tag-doug-kalitta","tag-gaige-herrera","tag-gerber-collision-glass-route-66-nhra-nationals","tag-jack-beckman","tag-matt-hagan","tag-nhra","tag-route-66-dragway","tag-shawn-langdon"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Mission_Langdon_JF-768x512-1.webp?fit=768%2C512","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-dtV","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51827","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51827"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51827\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51840,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51827\/revisions\/51840"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51832"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51827"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}