It is that time of year where the aroma of nitrous and races that run in the blink of an eye take over Pacific Raceways in Kent — it’s Northwest Nationals time.
From July 18-20, Top Fuel and Funny Cars are taking over the track, and another NHRA Northwest Champion will be crowned on July 20. Here is what to look for when these racers blaze west at over 300 mph.
Top Table Tony
Many race fans have heard the name Tony Stewart, mostly from the NASCAR circuit and a hall of fame career. But since 2024, Stewart has taken his talents to Top Fuel and is currently leading the pack.
Stewart, representing Tony Stewart Racing, is rocking with 848 points, 52 points ahead of Shawn Langdon in the Kalitta Air Careers car. Stewart’s first season was not quite what he had in mind, finishing ninth in the final standings of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
Through all 10 races this season, Stewart is dominating. He won his first race in mid-April out in Las Vegas and has advanced to eight consecutive semifinal rounds, and is the only driver to not be eliminated in the first round.
Let’s go racing, at night
For the second straight year, race fans will be privy to another qualifying round under the lights. Last season, Josh Hart in Top Fuel had the best run under the lights, but he did not end up taking home the trophy — that went to Steve Torrence.
Torrence qualified third in the first night session at Pacific Raceways, his only qualifying session where he was not in pole position. In Q2, Q3 and Q4, Torrence was just a bit better than the rest of the field and took that momentum to the podium.
In Funny Car, it was all Austin Prock in 2024. Prock was the top racer in every round of qualifying and rode that to his fourth win of the season a year ago.
New sponsor, new connection to the community
Muckleshoot Casino is the new brand sponsor of the Northwest National race following Flav-R-Pac, which was the previous sponsor. Muckleshoot and the NHRA have become much closer partners over the last couple of years as Funny Car driver Ron Capps had a press conference at the casino to promote the race last year.
This year Muckleshoot is the title sponsor of the race. Billboards, signage and everything in between will have the Muckleshoot logo on it, and this year, there is even an after party at the Galaxy stage.
Muckleshoot is also the only Indian tribe to sponsor an NHRA race on the Mission Drag Racing Series.
