Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK Performance
May 14-17
Route 66 Raceway
Joliet, Ill.
BY THE NUMBERS:
2025 Route 66 NHRA Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified fourth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated TJ Zizzo in E1; defeated by Justin Ashley in E2)
Last Event (NHRA Southern Nationals):
Qualified 10th; Second round exit (defeated Shawn Reed in E1; defeated by Shawn Langdon in E2)
Career Stats:
544 races
81 wins
51 No. 1 qualifier
Take Note:
Fan Events
WATCH:
Stream Live on NHRA.TV
Friday, May 15th
Saturday, May 16th
Sunday, May 17th
TV Coverage on FS1
Friday, May 15
Saturday, May 16th
Sunday, April 26
FROM ANTRON BROWN:
Driver of the Matco Tools Eagle Experience Top Fuel Dragster
“Chicago is where it starts to get real, and it’s always been a great race track for us. We set some personal bests and also won a lot of events there. I always like going back there because this is kind of the heritage of the old school Chicago gangster dragsters, and Funny Car racers are from that area. We’re going back there to some of the old stopping grounds where the East meets the West, and it always meets at Route 66. I’m energetic. I’m pumped up. Our Matco Tools, FVP, Hangsterfers dragster is ready to go.”
TAKE NOTE:
Last Event (NHRA 4-Wide Nationals):
Qualified first; Second round exit (defeated Jackie Fricke, Sarah Allen in E1; defeated by Joey Severance, Jackie Fricke, Melanie Johnson in E2)
FAN EVENTS:
WATCH:
Stream Live on NHRA.TV
Friday, May 15
Saturday, May 16
Sunday, May 17
FROM ANGELLE SAMPEY:
Driver of the Hangsterfers FVP Mission Foods A/Fuel Dragster
“We’re racing at Route 66 in Joliet, and I’m so excited because I have never raced at that track in a race car. It’s always been on a Pro Stock Motorcycle, which I was lucky enough to win two times, made it to the finals a few times, but this will be my first time down the race track in my beautiful black and green Hangsterfers A/Fuel dragster.
“I wanted to tell you a little bit about what’s going on with that car. We have learned that she is very finicky. We are really working on being consistent, trying to get the race car down the race track every time under power, and that has been an issue for us with getting the power delivered perfectly every time, so that we can be consistent. We have the power. I have a great team. I have all the backing with Hangsterfers, FVP, and Mission, and all the guys that give us what we need to win the races. But we’re trying to figure out this race car and keep her consistent, getting it down the racetrack under full power. Because when we do that, we are definitely a threat, and that’s going to be our goal for this weekend.”
Continue reading...
May 14-17
Route 66 Raceway
Joliet, Ill.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- Six-Time Event Champion
- Top Fuel: 2012, 2014, 2016, 2024
- Pro Stock Motorcycle: 2000, 2001
- Three-time runner-up
- Top Fuel: 2009, 2017
- Pro Stock Motorcycle: 2002
- Two-time No. 1 qualifier
- Top Fuel: 2009, 2015
2025 Route 66 NHRA Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified fourth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated TJ Zizzo in E1; defeated by Justin Ashley in E2)
Last Event (NHRA Southern Nationals):
Qualified 10th; Second round exit (defeated Shawn Reed in E1; defeated by Shawn Langdon in E2)
Career Stats:
544 races
81 wins
51 No. 1 qualifier
Take Note:
- Ran a career-best speed of 338.09 mph in Q4
- In doing so, Brown set the Route 66 Raceway track speed record
- Chicago will be Brown’s 550th NHRA national event entered
- Brown is the second-winningest active Top Fuel driver at the Chicago event
Fan Events
- Friday, May 15th: 1:15 p.m. – Matco Tools Eagle Experience Truck for Autograph Session in Midway
- Saturday, May 16th: 1:15 p.m. – Matco Tools Eagle Experience Truck for Autograph Session in Midway
- Sunday, May 17th: 12 p.m. – Matco Tools Eagle Experience Truck for Autograph Session in Midway
WATCH:
Stream Live on NHRA.TV
Friday, May 15th
- 2:30 p.m. CST – Top Fuel Qualifying Session Q1
- 5 p.m. CST – Top Fuel Qualifying Session Q2
Saturday, May 16th
- 12 p.m. CST – Top Fuel Qualifying Session Q3
- 2:30 p.m. CST – Top Fuel Qualifying Session Q4
Sunday, May 17th
- 11 a.m. CST – Round 1
- 1:30 p.m. CST – Round 2
- 3:15 p.m. CST – Semifinals
- 4:40 p.m. CST – Finals
TV Coverage on FS1
Friday, May 15
- 6:30 p.m. CST – Qualifying show
Saturday, May 16th
- 10:30 p.m. CST – Qualifying Show
Sunday, April 26
- 4 p.m. CST – Finals show
FROM ANTRON BROWN:
Driver of the Matco Tools Eagle Experience Top Fuel Dragster
“Chicago is where it starts to get real, and it’s always been a great race track for us. We set some personal bests and also won a lot of events there. I always like going back there because this is kind of the heritage of the old school Chicago gangster dragsters, and Funny Car racers are from that area. We’re going back there to some of the old stopping grounds where the East meets the West, and it always meets at Route 66. I’m energetic. I’m pumped up. Our Matco Tools, FVP, Hangsterfers dragster is ready to go.”
TAKE NOTE:
- This will be Sampey’s first time competing at the Joliet facility in Top Alcohol Dragster
- Sampey’s record in Pro Stock Motorcycle includes two wins and three runner-up finishes
Last Event (NHRA 4-Wide Nationals):
Qualified first; Second round exit (defeated Jackie Fricke, Sarah Allen in E1; defeated by Joey Severance, Jackie Fricke, Melanie Johnson in E2)
FAN EVENTS:
- Saturday, May 16: 9 a.m. – Mission Foods Autograph Session at the Mission Foods display in the Midway
WATCH:
Stream Live on NHRA.TV
Friday, May 15
- 11:30 a.m. CST – Top Alcohol Dragster Qualifying Session 1
- 6:30 p.m. CST – Top Alcohol Dragster Qualifying Session 2
Saturday, May 16
- 10:30 a.m. CST – Top Alcohol Dragster Qualifying Session 3
- 4:45 p.m. CST – Top Alcohol Dragster Eliminations Round 1
Sunday, May 17
- 9 a.m. CST – Top Alcohol Dragster Eliminations Round 2
- 2:30 p.m. CST – Top Alcohol Dragster Semifinals
- 4:35 p.m. CST – Top Alcohol Dragster Finals
FROM ANGELLE SAMPEY:
Driver of the Hangsterfers FVP Mission Foods A/Fuel Dragster
“We’re racing at Route 66 in Joliet, and I’m so excited because I have never raced at that track in a race car. It’s always been on a Pro Stock Motorcycle, which I was lucky enough to win two times, made it to the finals a few times, but this will be my first time down the race track in my beautiful black and green Hangsterfers A/Fuel dragster.
“I wanted to tell you a little bit about what’s going on with that car. We have learned that she is very finicky. We are really working on being consistent, trying to get the race car down the race track every time under power, and that has been an issue for us with getting the power delivered perfectly every time, so that we can be consistent. We have the power. I have a great team. I have all the backing with Hangsterfers, FVP, and Mission, and all the guys that give us what we need to win the races. But we’re trying to figure out this race car and keep her consistent, getting it down the racetrack under full power. Because when we do that, we are definitely a threat, and that’s going to be our goal for this weekend.”
Continue reading...
