PURSE INCREASE HIGHLIGHTS MANY EXCITING UPDATES FOR NHRA SUMMIT RACING SERIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN LAS VEGAS
LAS VEGAS (June 3, 2025) – NHRA announced a number of exciting updates to the Summit Racing Series World Championship, including a purse increase, a first-time team competition, and a host of special and unique opportunities that competitors will have a chance to experience.
The NHRA Summit Racing Series World Championship takes place Oct. 30-Nov. 2 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as part of the NHRA Nevada Nationals, as 32 standout winners from the eight Summit Racing E.T. Finals in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Motorcycle will compete for ultimate glory.
The annual event, which pits the top drivers in the NHRA Summit Series from the United States and Canada, will now award winners $6,000 in each category and also award the runner-up and semifinalists for the first time. The runner-up in each class earns $2,000, with semifinalists earning $500.
Another first-time addition is the team competition, which will feature all seven NHRA divisions and a Canadian team. Team points will be accumulated by round wins earned by each division, with the winning team earning $2,000. Additionally, there will be $1,000 of bonus awards on the line in each category during the first two rounds, with a bonus going to the best losing package in the opening round and a bonus for the best reaction time in each class in the second round.
In all, total payouts to the four competing categories will increase by $15,000 from last year, adding even more incentive to the talented racers competing in Las Vegas.
“We are very excited to have an increase in purse and added opportunities for these outstanding racers to win additional prize money during this great event and weekend,” said Jim Greenleaf, Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports & Events Manager. “This series is one of the most prestigious in sportsman drag racing and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.
“We’ve seen a lot of exciting additions to the series and it’s terrific to have the Canadian racers as part of it, along with all of the unique experiences that will be up for grabs as well. It will undoubtedly be a special and memorable weekend for everyone involved in Las Vegas.”
The event will again start with a welcome dinner for the 32 finalists on Thursday, Oct. 30 and a number of special experiences will be raffled off, including:
A chance to warm up Daniel Wilkerson’s 12,000-horsepower Funny Car
Being a part of Clay Millican’s crew and a ride along with the crew during a qualifying run
A VIP experience with the Vance & Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle team
A VIP tour of the KB Titan Racing Pro Stock pit area
All finalists will have marquee access during Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying sessions, as well as a parade in front of the grandstands in Vegas and introductions during the official pre-race ceremonies at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“We can’t thank our friends at Summit Racing Equipment enough for stepping up for our Summit E.T. Series competitors who earn the chance to race for a world championship in Las Vegas,” NHRA Sportsman Manager Jason Galvin said. “Summit recognizes the incredible level of skill it takes, and the overall dedication and time spent to reach the highest level of the Summit Racing Series. The added prizes and team competition should also help make Saturday the most memorable in the history of this great event.”
Summit E.T. Series Champions in 2024 included Zach Meziere (Division 6) in Super Pro, Alvie Merrill (Division 4) in Pro, C.W. Hoefer (Division 7) in Sportsman, James Paulson (Division 5) in Motorcycle and Omar Leon (Division 7) in Street Legal EV.
For the first time in 2025, winners in the Eastern Canada Division will advance to the world championship. An Eastern Canada E.T. Finals took place for the first time a year ago, and now winners will advance to the NHRA Summit Racing Series World Championship in Las Vegas, along with winners from the seven NHRA divisions.
For more information on the NHRA Summit Racing Series, visit www.nhra.com/sportsman. For more information on NHRA, including the 2025 schedule, visit www.nhra.com.
2025 NHRA Summit Racing Series E.T. Finals Schedule
Clarence \"Oz\" Hay from Rockford, Illinois USA 1963 - Category: TOPFUEL, Type: TN, Class: AA/FD, Div: 3 "Clarence \"Oz\" Hay" Owned by Clarence \"Oz\" Hay from Rockford, Illinois USA Dragster by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 392 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at Unknown | 1/4 […]
Clarence \"Oz\" Hay from Rockford, Illinois USA 1965 - Category: TOPFUEL, Type: TN, Class: AA/FD, Div: 3 "Lund & Hay" Owned by Clarence \"Oz\" Hay from Rockford, Illinois USA Dragster by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 392 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 8.665 at Unknown | 1/4 […]
John Ausherman from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania USA (Comp Number: 2610) 2025 - Category: AFUELDRAG, Type: XN, Class: A/FD, Div: 1 "JC Auto Glass" Owned by John Ausherman from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania USA 2015 Dragster by Joe Monden | Powered by a 439 cubic inch BAE with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 5.356 at NHRA D1 Reading PA […]
Ritchie Fenton from Livermore, California USA (Comp Number: 7004) 2025 - Category: NOSTJFD, Type: VN, Class: JF/A, Div: 7 "Country Auto Doctors" Owned by Rich Fenton from Livermore, California USA 2012 Dragster by Neil & Parks | Powered by a 388 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.468 at Redding CA 5/24/25 […]
Richard Bourke from Old Tappan, New Jersey USA (Comp Number: 1482) 2025 - Category: AFUELDRAG, Type: XN, Class: A/FD, Div: 1 "Richard Bourke" Owned by Richard Bourke from Old Tappan, New Jersey USA 2002 Dragster by Heads Up | Powered by a 421 cubic inch TFX Hemi with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 5.257 at […]
Brett Winward from Newark, Delaware USA (Comp Number: 118) 2025 - Category: ALKYDRAG, Type: DN, Class: TA/D, Div: 1 "Winward Racing" Owned by Ken Winward from Newark, Delaware USA 1993 Dragster by Ken Keir | Powered by a 471 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 5.403 at Rising Sun […]
Joe Morrison from Flemington, New Jersey USA (Comp Number: 171) 2025 - Category: ALKYDRAG, Type: DN, Class: TA/D, Div: 1 "Pickett Racing" Owned by Tom Pickett from Salem, New Hampshire USA 2002 Dragster by Dave Uyehara | Powered by a 469 cubic inch Keith Black Hemi by Jonathan Pickett with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 […]
Joey Gerdelmann from Hainesport, New Jersey USA (Comp Number: 102) 2025 - Category: ALKYDRAG, Type: DN, Class: TA/D, Div: 1 "Joey Gerdelmann" Owned by Joey Gerdelmann from Hainesport, New Jersey USA 2015 Dragster by Albert Bros. | Powered by a 464 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 5.598 at […]
Megan Smith from Anderson, South Carolina USA (Comp Number: 250) 2025 - Category: AFUELDRAG, Type: XN, Class: A/FD, Div: 2 "Hartman Enterprises" Owned by Virgil Hartman from Anderson, South Carolina USA 1997 Dragster by Murf McKinney | Powered by a 439 cubic inch BAE with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 5.462 at NHRA Gainesville FL […]
Tom Fox Jr. from Cinnaminson, New Jersey USA (Comp Number: 183) 2025 - Category: ALKYDRAG, Type: DN, Class: TA/D, Div: 1 "Fox Racing | Anniemac Cash 2 Keys" Owned by Tom Fox Sr. & Jr. from Cinnaminson, New Jersey USA 2022 Dragster by Brad Hadman | Powered by a 468 cubic inch BAE Hemi with […]