T.J. Zizzo, Austin Prock, Erica Enders and Matt Smith qualified No. 1 at the sixth of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Top Fuel’s T.J. Zizzo enjoyed an incredible moment on Saturday, clinching his first career No. 1 qualifier as Friday’s standout pass of 3.735 at 331.77 in his 11,000-horsepower Rust-Oleum dragster easily held up. To accomplish that in front of a huge group of family and friends at his home track meant even more for the Chicago native, and he performed well in the heat on Saturday, making a pair of solid runs. That bodes well for Sunday’s eliminations, which starts against Tony Stewart as Zizzo seeks his first career victory.

“This is a dream come true,” Zizzo said. “I told our team (last week) we have the equipment and the knowledge, the people and the personnel to be No. 1 qualifier and that’s what we’re going to do. That, to me, is a dream come true. It’s pretty amazing.”

Defending event winner Clay Millican qualified second with a 3.746 at 332.84 and defending world champion Doug Kalitta took third with a 3.750 at 332.84.

In Funny Car, Austin Prock kept rolling along, claiming his fourth No. 1 qualifier in the first six races of 2024 on the strength of Friday’s run of 3.907 at 332.43 in his 11,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS. Prock, who is the current points leader, will open eliminations against Jack Wyatt, looking for his second victory of the season. Just as important, the young standout and former NHRA Rookie of the Year has a chance to pick up his first career win at Route 66 Raceway.

“We got a lot of confidence going into tomorrow after making it down the track (in Q4),” Prock said. “It almost made it on the third run, but it knocked the tires loose. The big thing is that we made it, got down and picked up bonus points. Our car is good in the heat. We won Phoenix on a hot, tricky track and we can do that again here. It’s a tough business being a crew chief but I’ve got faith in mine [father, Jimmy]. Besides, the track will get better tomorrow and I think you’ll see some better runs.”

Bob Tasca III took second with Friday’s run of 3.913 at 329.91 and Paul Lee qualified third after going 3.922 at 323.13.

Saturday didn’t start the way Pro Stock’s Erica Enders wanted, but she closed it out with a strong run, following up Friday’s pass of 6.548 at 209.69 in her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/Scag Power Equipment car to cement her No. 1 position. It’s the second top qualifier this season and 36th in her career and she was pleased with the 6.595 to finish out qualifying in the heat.

The effort was a strong turnaround after an opening-round loss to Anderson in the Callout, giving Enders confidence she can earn her 50th career national event win on Sunday at the same place where her first Pro Stock win came.

“After we ran so well on Friday, that first round of the Callout was not ideal,” Enders said. “T.J. [Coughlin] soldiered on but the rest of us [Team Elite drivers] did not. We didn’t get down the track. Afterward, we had a huge meeting with our crew chiefs and went back the drawing board. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. As much as I wanted to win today, race day and winning that Wally is what it’s all about.”

Troy Coughlin Jr. qualified second with a 6.554 at 209.75 and Anderson starts raceday in third looking for a double-up win.

Matt Smith broke Gaige Herrera’s record streak of 11 straight No. 1 qualifiers in Pro Stock Motorcycle, as his 6.708 at 201.40 was more than enough on his Denso Auto Parts/Matt Smith Racing Buell was more than enough to stay at the top. Herrera’s No. 1 string had dated back to last July, but Smith impressed immediately on Friday, claiming his 53rd career top spot.

Smith will begin eliminations against Lance Bonham, looking for his first win of the season.

“I’m really excited. I have a good bike. We’ve been testing a lot and getting better and better,” Smith said. “Honestly, I don’t know if lane choice means anything. Both sides are really good. This place has always been good to me. I normally come up here and run really well. This track will take everything you can throw at it. I think we’re back to where we think we should be. A win would be huge. We had the best bike for three runs this weekend and I think we’ll have the best bike tomorrow.”

Herrera can win his eighth straight race on Sunday and qualified second with a run of 6.745 at 200.17. LE Tonglet took third thanks to a run of 6.772 at 200.44.

Eliminations for the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance begin at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday at Route 66 Raceway.

Saturday Results Summary:

Top Fuel -- 1. T.J. Zizzo, 3.735 seconds, 331.77 mph vs. 16. Tony Stewart, 3.852, 323.04; 2. Clay Millican, 3.746, 332.84 vs. 15. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.847, 320.20; 3. Doug Kalitta, 3.750, 332.84 vs. 14. Justin Ashley, 3.831, 320.05; 4. Shawn Langdon, 3.771, 332.10 vs. 13. Cody Krohn, 3.824, 319.75; 5. Shawn Reed, 3.772, 324.51 vs. 12. Josh Hart, 3.803, 319.98; 6. Antron Brown, 3.775, 331.36 vs. 11. Jasmine Salinas, 3.798, 320.28; 7. Steve Torrence, 3.776, 336.65 vs. 10. Billy Torrence, 3.780, 330.63; 8. Tony Schumacher, 3.779, 328.22 vs. 9. Dan Mercier, 3.779, 325.14. Did Not Qualify: 17. Doug Foley, 3.889, 275.11; 18. Brittany Force, 3.911, 297.16; 19. Krista Baldwin, 4.001, 255.00; 20. Luigi Novelli, 4.139, 291.89; 21. Terry Totten, 4.508, 185.84; 22. Travis Shumake, 5.959, 109.54.

Funny Car -- 1. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.907, 332.43 vs. 16. Jack Wyatt, Dodge Charger, 4.677, 187.52; 2. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.913, 329.91 vs. 15. Dave Richards, Toyota Camry, 4.316, 225.15; 3. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.922, 323.12 vs. 14. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.095, 311.63; 4. John Force, Camaro, 3.930, 326.95 vs. 13. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.092, 315.49; 5. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota GR Supra, 3.936, 330.55 vs. 12. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 4.040, 316.52; 6. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.939, 327.90 vs. 11. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.012, 322.27; 7. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.953, 314.75 vs. 10. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.963, 312.86; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.957, 319.90 vs. 9. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.962, 321.58. Did Not Qualify: 17. Justin Schriefer, 5.173, 211.43; 18. Chris King, 7.013, 94.18.

Pro Stock -- 1. Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.548, 209.69 vs. 16. John DeFlorian Jr., Camaro, 6.615, 209.10; 2. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.554, 209.75 vs. 15. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.606, 856.05; 3. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.554, 208.78 vs. 14. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.605, 208.59; 4. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.559, 209.23 vs. 13. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.596, 209.69; 5. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.563, 208.14 vs. 12. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.595, 208.17; 6. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.572, 208.88 vs. 11. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.592, 208.65; 7. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.583, 208.07 vs. 10. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.590, 208.55; 8. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.584, 208.81 vs. 9. David Cuadra, Mustang, 6.588, 208.97. Did Not Qualify: 17. Mason McGaha, 6.622, 208.39; 18. Sienna Wildgust, 6.623, 207.72.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.708, 201.40 vs. 16. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.246, 184.50; 2. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.733, 201.16 vs. 15. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 7.237, 185.51; 3. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.772, 200.44 vs. 14. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.956, 195.28; 4. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.778, 200.26 vs. 13. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.948, 193.32; 5. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.782, 200.95 vs. 12. Ron Tornow, Victory, 6.894, 196.96; 6. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.795, 200.00 vs. 11. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.867, 196.22; 7. John Hall, Beull, 6.811, 198.50 vs. 10. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.853, 195.45; 8. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.822, 198.12 vs. 9. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.838, 130.78. Did Not Qualify: 17. Geno Scali, 7.355, 183.24; 18. Eiji Kawakami, 7.408, 184.60.

Chicago Saturday Results

*****************
  TOP FUEL
*****************



Psn---Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type---------------Qual-ET--Qual-Spd-Top Spd

  1  317 T.J. Zizzo, Lincolnshire IL, DSR-TFX            3.735  331.77  331.77
  2   51 Clay Millican, Drummonds TN, DSR-DSR            3.746  332.84  332.84
  3    1 Doug Kalitta, Saline MI, Bounty Hunter-AJPE     3.750  332.84  332.84
  4  333 Shawn Langdon, Danville IN, PBRC-AJPE           3.771  332.10  332.10
  5  716 Shawn Reed, Defiance MO, MLR-AJPE               3.772  324.51  324.51
  6    6 Antron Brown, Pittsboro IN, PBRC-DSM            3.775  331.36  331.36
  7    2 Steve Torrence, Kilgore TX, MLR-TFX             3.776  336.65  336.65
  8    9 Tony Schumacher, Lakeway TX, DSM-DSM            3.779  328.22  328.22
  9  182 Dan Mercier, St-Michel PQ, DSR-AJPE             3.779  325.14  325.14
 10  474 Billy Torrence, Kilgore TX, MLR-AJPE            3.780  330.63  330.63
 11  616 Jasmine Salinas, Brownsburg IN, MLR-AJPE        3.798  320.28  320.28
 12   77 Josh Hart, Ocala FL, MLR-DSM                    3.803  319.98  319.98
 13 211X Cody Krohn, Englewood FL, DSR-AJPE              3.824  319.75  319.75
 14    4 Justin Ashley, Farmingdale NY, DSR-JFR          3.831  320.05  320.05
 15  386 Kyle Wurtzel, Warsaw IN, MLR-AJPE               3.847  320.20  320.20
 16   14 Tony Stewart, Columbus IN, PBRC-DSM             3.852  323.04  323.04

       ------------ Not Qualified ------------

 17 1301 Doug Foley, Mooresville NC, MLR-AJPE            3.889  275.11  275.11
 18    7 Brittany Force, Yorba Linda CA, JFR-JFR         3.911  297.16  297.16
 19  725 Krista Baldwin, Pittsboro IN, Bounty Hunter-TFX 4.001  255.00  255.00
 20  394 Luigi Novelli, Crete IL, McKinney-AJPE          4.139  291.89  291.89
 21  565 Terry Totten, Gretna NE, Hadman-JFR             4.508  185.84  185.84


*****************
  FUNNY CAR
*****************


  1  374 Austin Prock, Brownsburg IN, '23 Camaro         3.907  332.43  332.43
  2    3 Bob Tasca III, Cranston RI, '23 Mustang         3.913  329.91  329.91
  3  116 Paul Lee, Anaheim CA, '20 Charger               3.922  323.12  323.12
  4    7 John Force, Yorba Linda CA, '23 Camaro          3.930  326.95  326.95
  5  771 Alexis DeJoria, Austin TX, '24 GR Supra         3.936  330.55  330.55
  6    4 Ron Capps, Carlsbad CA, '23 GR Supra            3.939  327.90  327.90
  7  256 Blake Alexander, Charlotte NC, '22 Mustang      3.953  314.75  319.14
  8   71 Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '22 Charger       3.957  319.90  319.90
  9  348 Daniel Wilkerson, Springfield IL, '24 Mustang   3.962  321.58  321.58
 10    5 Chad Green, Midland TX, '24 Mustang             3.963  312.86  320.20
 11   14 Matt Hagan, Christiansburg VA, '24 Charger      4.012  322.27  322.27
 12    8 J.R. Todd, Jupiter FL, '22 GR Supra             4.040  316.52  316.52
 13   10 Buddy Hull, Dallas TX, '24 Charger              4.092  315.49  315.49
 14 3095 Bobby Bode, Deer Park IL, '18 Mustang           4.095  311.63  311.63
 15  139 Dave Richards, Wellington FL, '18 Camry         4.316  225.15  225.15
 16   34 Jack Wyatt, Seymour IA, '21 Charger             4.677  187.52  187.52

       ------------ Not Qualified ------------

 17 3007 Justin Schriefer, Grant Park IL, '14 Charger    5.173  211.43  211.43
 18  343 Chris King, Chicago IL, '16 Charger             7.013   94.18   94.18


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  PRO STOCK 
***********************


  1    1 Erica Enders, Houston TX, '24 Camaro            6.548  209.69  209.79
  2    5 Troy Coughlin Jr., Delaware OH, '22 Camaro      6.554  209.75  210.01
  3    2 Greg Anderson, Mooresville NC, '22 Camaro       6.554  208.78  208.78
  4   25 Jeg Coughlin, Delaware OH, '23 Camaro           6.559  209.23  209.39
  5    4 Aaron Stanfield, Bossier City LA, '23 Camaro    6.563  208.14  208.75
  6   10 Cristian Cuadra, Leon MX, '23 Mustang           6.572  208.88  208.88
  7    6 Dallas Glenn, Mooresville NC, '22 Camaro        6.583  208.07  208.36
  8  494 Jerry Tucker, Lindsay OK, '22 Camaro            6.584  208.81  209.10
  9 411M David Cuadra, Leon MX, '20 Mustang              6.588  208.97  208.97
 10  193 Eric Latino, Cornelius NC, '22 Camaro           6.590  208.55  208.55
 11    3 Matt Hartford, Phoenix AZ, '16 Camaro           6.592  208.65  208.65
 12 406M Fernando Cuadra Jr., Leon MX, '21 Camaro        6.595  208.17  208.17
 13 4264 Chris McGaha, Odessa TX, '22 Camaro             6.596  209.69  209.69
 14   52 Deric Kramer, Parker CO, '20 Camaro             6.605  208.59  208.59
 15  150 Kenny Delco, E. Setauket NY, '20 Camaro         6.606  856.05  856.05
 16  531 John DeFlorian Jr., Arnold MO, '24 Camaro       6.615  209.10  209.10

       ------------ Not Qualified ------------

 17  400 Mason McGaha, Odessa TX, '22 Camaro             6.622  208.36  208.39
 18   68 Sienna Wildgust, Sebringville ON, '13 Camaro    6.623  207.72  207.72


***********************
  PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
***********************


  1    4 Matt Smith, King NC, Buell 1190RX               6.708  201.40  201.73
  2    1 Gaige Herrera, DeMotte IN, Suzuki Hayabusa      6.733  201.16  201.16
  3  473 LE Tonglet, Metairie LA, Suzuki Hayabusa        6.772  200.44  200.44
  4    8 Angie Smith, King NC, Buell 1190RX              6.778  200.26  200.26
  5    3 Hector Arana Jr, East Northport NY, EBR         6.782  200.95  200.95
  6   23 Richard Gadson, Avon IN, Suzuki Hayabusa        6.795  200.00  200.41
  7 1628 John Hall, Hamden CT, Beull 1190RX              6.811  198.50  199.20
  8    9 Chase Van Sant, Pella IA, Suzuki TL             6.822  198.12  198.12
  9    6 Steve Johnson, Birmingham AL, Suzuki Hayabusa   6.838  130.78  195.53
 10    7 Marc Ingwersen, Findlay OH, EBR                 6.853  195.45  196.10
 11   17 Chris Bostick, Mount Juliet TN, Suzuki Hayabusa 6.867  196.22  196.22
 12 1138 Ron Tornow, Pittsburgh PA, Victory              6.894  196.96  196.96
 13 3284 Ryan Oehler, Bloomington IL, EBR                6.948  193.32  195.48
 14    5 Jianna Evaristo, San Jose CA, Buell 1190RX      6.956  195.28  195.90
 15  371 Wesley Wells, Greenwood IN, Suzuki GSXR         7.237  185.51  185.51
 16 7012 Lance Bonham, Covington LA, Buell               7.246  184.50  184.50

       ------------ Not Qualified ------------

 17  351 Geno Scali, Lake in the Hills IL, Suzuki        7.355  183.24  183.24
 18  859 Eiji Kawakami, Toyama City JP, EBR              7.408  184.60  184.60

w/ NHRA Communications