NHRA finals postponed to Monday due to crash cleanup, weather

By Alex Wright Las Vegas Review-Journal

2 months ago

NHRA driver Clay Millican takes off during the NHRA Top Fuel semifinals at the Las Vegas M ... — NHRA driver Clay Millican takes off during the NHRA Top Fuel semifinals at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Nov. 3, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

NHRA Top Fuel driver Doug Kalitta gets ready to race during the NHRA Top Fuel semifinals at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Nov. 3, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

NHRA fans leave the stands during a halt in racing after NHRA Top Fuel driver Shawn Langdon blew a tire and crews needed to clean the strip at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Nov. 3, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

NHRA driver Cruz Pedregon’s car is checked before a race during the NHRA Funny Car quarterfinals at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Nov. 3, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

NHRA driver Ron Capps’ car is checked before a race during the NHRA Funny Car quarterfinals at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Nov. 3, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

NHRA driver Jack Beckman races in a John Force Racing car during the NHRA Funny Car quarterfinals at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Nov. 3, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

NHRA driver Dan Wilkerson’s car is worked on by his crew during the NHRA Funny Car quarterfinals at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Nov. 3, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

NHRA driver Ron Capps’ car is worked on before a race during the NHRA Funny Car quarterfinals at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Nov. 3, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

NHRA drivers Austin Prock, left, and Blake Alexander race during the NHRA Funny Car quarterfinals at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Nov. 3, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

NHRA driver Cruz Pedregon races during the NHRA Funny Car quarterfinals at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Nov. 3, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

NHRA Top Fuel driver Doug Kalitta gets ready to race during the NHRA Top Fuel semifinals at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Nov. 3, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

NHRA fans leave the stands during a halt in racing after NHRA driver Shawn Langdon blew a tire and crews needed to clean the strip at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Nov. 3, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

The final elimination rounds of the NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway were postponed Sunday because of a lengthy cleanup from a crash and cold weather conditions.

Racing will resume at 9 a.m. Monday, and the Funny Car semifinals will take place at 11 a.m. Gates will open at 8 a.m., and admission is free.

The Top Fuel finals will begin the finals for all four national classes at 12:15 p.m.

A statement on NHRA.com cited “weather and unfavorable track conditions following a lengthy cleanup after an on-track incident” for the postponement.

The crash took place during the second Top Fuel semifinal when Shawn Langdon blew a tire and fluid spilled onto the track.

After a nearly two-hour delay while attempting to clean the track, NHRA made the decision that it was too late to resume racing because the cold temperatures made conditions unsafe.

Brittany Force and Doug Kalitta will race in the Top Fuel final. Top Fuel points leader Justin Ashley was knocked out by Langdon in the second round of eliminations.

Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle have yet to run their semifinals.

Austin Prock will face off against Blake Alexander in one Funny Car semifinal, and Paul Lee and Jack Beckman will compete in the other semifinal.

Prock entered the weekend with a 147-point lead and a slight chance to clinch the Funny Car title. Since Beckman, who is second in points, advanced to the semifinals, Prock cannot clinch the world title Monday.

Prock has six wins, and his No. 1 qualifying effort Saturday was his 14th of the season, breaking the record set by John Force in 1999.

Prock, Beckman and Brittany Force all drive for John Force Racing. John Force is making his first appearance at an NHRA event since he suffered a traumatic brain injury in a crash at the NHRA Virginia Nationals in June.

John Force, a 16-time Funny Car champion, has been active around the track watching all three of his drivers compete.

Brittany Force was the fastest qualifier in Top Fuel, and Beckman was the second-fastest in Funny Car. Beckman, the 2012 Funny Car champion, is driving John’s Funny Car, and all the points he earns are awarded to John in the standings.

Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.