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
Norman Wilt from New Orleans, Louisiana USA 1970 - Category: FUELALT, Type: AN, Class: AA/FA, Div: 4 "Tonti Metal Craft" Owned by Norman Wilt from New Orleans, Louisiana USA 32 Austin/Bantam by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 427 cubic inch Chevrolet with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at Unknown | 1/4 […]
Clint Riley from Greenville, Florida USA (Comp Number: 232) 2026 - Category: TOPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: Top Dragster, Div: 2 "MRE Power Products" Owned by Clint Riley from Greenville, Florida USA 2014 Dragster by Maddox | Powered by a 598 cubic inch GM by MRE with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.289 at NHRA D2 […]
Brandon Thomas from Calhoun, Georgia USA (Comp Number: 2948) 2026 - Category: TOPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: Top Dragster, Div: 2 "Brandon Thomas" Owned by Justin Bond from Mission, British Columbia Canada 2021 Dragster by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 632 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.816 at NHRA […]
TJ Tindle Jr. from Freeport, Florida USA (Comp Number: 2122) 2026 - Category: TOPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: Top Dragster, Div: 2 "Tindle Motorsports" Owned by Tindle Motorsports from Freeport, Florida USA 2016 Dragster by Phamtom | Powered by a 648 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.830 at NHRA D2 Orlando FL […]
Deacon Kallish from Wauconda, Illinois USA (Comp Number: 200A) 2026 - Category: TOPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: Top Dragster, Div: 3 "Golf Farm/Kallish Racing" Owned by Deacon Kallish from Wauconda, Illinois USA 2002 Dragster by Mike Bos | Powered by a 415 cubic inch Dodge with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.257 at NHRA D2 Orlando […]
Russell Stone from El Dorado, Arkansas USA (Comp Number: 911) 2026 - Category: PROSTREET, Type: QN, Class: True 10.5, Div: 2 "Black Widow" Owned by Ruseell Stone from El Dorado, Arkansas USA Chevrolet Camaro by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch BAE Hemi by Bullet Race Engines with automatic transmission […]
James Daniels from Georgia USA (Comp Number: 2121) 2026 - Category: PROSTREET, Type: QN, Class: True 10.5, Div: 2 "Southside Ready Mix/FuelTech" Owned by James Daniels from Georgia USA 1967 Ford Mustang by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Ford with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at Unknown | […]
Jason Terrell from Hebron, Kentucky USA (Comp Number: 351) 2026 - Category: PROSTREET, Type: QN, Class: True 10.5, Div: 3 "Brian Tooley Racing" Owned by Brian Tooley from Bardstown, Kentucky USA Chevrolet Corvette C7 by Tin Soldier Race Cars | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at […]
Larry Larson from Oak Grove, Missouri USA (Comp Number: 5578) 2026 - Category: PROSTREET, Type: QN, Class: True 10.5, Div: 5 "Scott Performance Custom Woodworkiing" Owned by Larry Larson from Oak Grove, Missouri USA 1966 Chevrolet Nova by Larry Larson Race Cars | Powered by a 564 cubic inch Chevrolet by ProLine Racing with 5 […]
Greg Chandler from St. Albans, West Virginia USA (Comp Number: 69X) 2026 - Category: PROSTREET, Type: QN, Class: True 10.5, Div: 1 "Greg Chandler" Owned by Greg Chandler from St. Albans, West Virginia USA Chevrolet Camaro by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile […]