PROCK & HERRERA VICTORIOUS AT VIRGINIA NATIONALS; ASHLEY DECLARED TOP FUEL WINNER

AUSTIN PROCK & GAIGE HERRERA VICTORIOUS AGAIN AT AMERICAN REBEL LIGHT VIRGINIA NHRA NATIONALS; JUSTIN ASHLEY DECLARED TOP FUEL WINNER

Gaige Herrera has won nine of 20 races in Pro Stock Motorcycle during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

DINWIDDIE, Va. (June 23, 2025) – Funny Car points leader and reigning world champion Austin Prock won for the second straight year at Virginia Motorsports Park on Sunday, defeating John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman in the final round of the fifth annual American Rebel Light

Virginia Nationals.

Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the ninth of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Justin Ashley was awarded the Top Fuel victory after Shawn Langdon’s

final-round run was disqualified due to a rulebook violation.

In the final round, Prock went 4.061-seconds at 318.02 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car, holding off Beckman at the finish line and picking up his third win of the season. Prock defeated Cruz Pedregon, Bob Tasca III and J.R. Todd to advance to the final round en route to his 15th career victory. Prock and team delivered a strong performance and it came at an ideal time after the

reigning champ lost in the first round at the past two races.

It was also an emotional win for Prock, as the matchup between JFR teammates took place a year after legendary Funny Car driver John Force was involved in a massive crash at Virginia Motorsports Park. Prock won on that trying weekend a year ago and was thrilled to hand another

trophy to Force with his boss in attendance on Sunday.

“A lot of emotion for sure. Getting to win last year, that was huge and being able to take the Wally to John as a team, that’s what we wanted to do again today, and I’m happy that we could go back-to-back and get the job done for him,” Prock said. “The trophy’s going home with him. I might have to hide it in his suitcase or something. He

won’t take it off my hand, but it’s definitely going back with him.

“He does so much for me, and he’s given me an opportunity in a lifetime to live my dream, so to win for him again today and be able to celebrate his health and have him back out at the racetrack and doing good and getting better every day means a lot for our team and all our partners and even NHRA. This sport is not the same without John Force.

We’re very blessed to have him at the racetrack.”

Beckman moved back to second in points, reaching the finals for the third time this season and 75th time in his career after round wins against Jim Campbell, Paul Lee and Daniel Wilkerson. Prock leads his

teammate by 60 points heading to the halfway mark of the season.

In Top Fuel, Langdon’s run from the Top Fuel final round on Sunday at Virginia Motorsports Park has been disqualified. The disqualification is due to a rulebook violation related to missing bolts on the bellhousing

inspection cover.

Per the NHRA Rulebook and related SFI Spec 6.2, the cover is required to be secured by no less than 12 bolts. During a post-run inspection, the cover on Langdon’s dragster did not meet the requirement of 12 secured

bolts.

The final-round run has been disqualified and, as a result, runner-up Ashley has been awarded the event victory.

Ashley, who picked up his first win of the season reached the final round for the fifth time in the past six races, defeating Doug Foley, Steve Torrence and Doug Kalitta. He moved to third in points with the

victory, which is the 16th in his career.

Gaige Herrera had to chase down Angie Smith in the finals in Pro Stock Motorcycle, but the points leader won for the second straight year at Virginia Motorsports Park with a run of 6.826 at 198.79 in the final round on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki. Smith left first on the back-to-back world champion, going 6.853 at 196.76, but Herrera had

just enough to get past her at the finish line.

It gives Herrera his third win of the season and 24 in his career, with all of those coming since the start of the 2023 season. He continues to impress at every turn, defeating Ron Tornow, Steve Johnson and No. 1 qualifier Brayden Davis to reach the final round. The qualifying dominance hasn’t been there as of late, with Davis claiming the top spot at the last two races, but Herrera remains in control on raceday,

stretching his points lead to 100 points over Matt Smith.

“I almost fumbled there in the final with my light,” Herrera said. “A 150-degree track is just insane but NHRA did a phenomenal job and Andrew [Hines, crew chief] had my bike consistent all day. Angie had a fast bike and I had a little doubt when I looked over before 1,000 foot and I saw her and thought ‘This is a little too close’ because the Buells always have the mph. So when I looked over, I saw I was actually

pulling away from her (and) that was a good feeling.

“I’m having a lot of fun. Racing is all about competition, and that’s what I love, it’s what drives me and pushes me to do better than I can. I want to say I’m nervous racing Brayden and he always says he’s nervous

racing me, just because of all this good success I’ve had.”

Smith reached the final round for the first time this season and 10th time in her career after defeating Dystany Spurlock, Matt Smith and

Richard Gadson.

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action June 26-29 with the 19th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit

Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

-NHRA-