The 2025 Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park delivered action and historic moments.
Several minority drivers made deep runs and captured the hearts of many fans during drag racing’s most prestigious event.
In Top Fuel, second-generation racer Jasmine Salinas continued her impressive breakout season, advancing to the semifinals after defeating Clay Millican with a 3.78-second pass. Salinas, who failed to qualify at last year’s event, emphatically stated her team’s competitive intentions after the win.
“A lot of people think that Scrappers Racing is done,” Salinas said. “We’re not here to scrub tires. We’re here to win.”
Reigning regular-season Top Fuel champion Shawn Langdon was upset early, opening the door for Tony Stewart to claim the regular-season title. Stewart, who also reached the final round, praised his team’s turnaround after securing the championship.
In Funny Car, fan favorite J.R. Todd fell in the first round to Bob Tasca III. However, Alexis DeJoria made a strong push toward her second Indy title. DeJoria defeated four-time world champion Matt Hagan in the second round with a solid 3.93-second run.
“To say you cut a light on Matt Hagan is saying something,” DeJoria said. “We have a great handle on this car.”
Veteran Antron Brown, a four-time Top Fuel world champion, was eliminated in a close first-round battle by Justin Ashley, who used a near-perfect .036 light to secure the victory.
Pro Stock Motorcycle featured several standout performances from minority riders. Richard Gadson blazed brightly, posting a blistering 6.744-second run at over 200 mph – the first 200-mph motorcycle pass of the event – to defeat Malcolm Phillips Jr.
Read more: Full Throttle Family: The Richard Gadson Story
Gadson thanked his team, jokingly stating they “gave him a good bike” on raceday.
Dystany Spurlock turned heads with a nearly perfect .009 showing in her first-round matchup against Brayden Davis. However, Davis ultimately won with a 6.770. Despite the loss, Spurlock’s lightning-quick reaction time demonstrated her potential.
Davis, meanwhile, secured his spot in the Countdown to the Championship despite mechanical issues throughout the weekend. He reached the semifinals after opponent Hector Arana Jr.’s outing.
In Pro Stock, Fernando Cuadra Jr. delivered one of the event’s biggest upsets by knocking out Greg Anderson in the second round. Cuadra’s win handed the regular-season championship to Dallas Glenn.
The event also featured strong showings in the Lucas Oil Series classes, where competitors of colors made their presence felt across multiple categories.
As the NHRA circuit now turns toward the Countdown to the Championship, the performances of drivers like Salinas, Gadson, DeJoria, Spurlock and others highlight the sport’s depth of talent and diversity.
“This is what racing is all about,” said Gadson.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on Facebook and TikTok @HorsemenSportsMedia. For more NHRA News from the Indianapolis Recorder, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
