Images Courtesy NHRA and Phil Hutchison

Other than make sure to wear sun screen and drive safely, Maple Grove Dragway’s Billy Kleinspehn has a few other things to look out for during the weekend

In this new feature yours truly will be picking 5 things to watch for in this weekend of racing.

Number 5 The Return Of The Pingel Top Fuel Series After a successful debut last season in its inaugural season the Stars of the NHRA Pingel Top Fuel Motorcycle Series will kick off their 2025 season this weekend in Chicago and will once again compete for a series champion in 2025.

Number 4 Sliver Anniversary Of NHRA In Chicagoland It’s hard to believe that this weekend we will be celebrating another silver anniversary NHRA National Event this weekend in Chicago at Route 66 Raceway. From 1998-2019 the event made a return in 2023 and has been host to many memorable moments including John Force becoming the winningest driver in NHRA in 2000 to the first 330mph Funny Car Pass by Gary Scelzi at the Spring event in 2004 and Erica Enders Historic first Pro Stock win in 2012.

Number 3 The Return of an Old Friend Following the retirement of former NEOPMA president John Mazzorana in October of 2024 many fans and racers of the famed Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association through the series would be like so many other great Drag Racing Series a thing of the past. However the popular series received a major boost when popular 4 time series Champion Andy Jensen took over the association in March of this year and will have the series reboot this weekend at one of the east coast historic doorslammer tracks MIR and the 17th Door War’s event.

Number 2 Three Straight Wins for Prock and Glenn The two hottest drivers in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is defending Funny Car Champion Austin Prock and last years second place finisher in Pro Stock Dallas Glenn and both drivers are looking for 3 straight National Event wins at the 25th Anniversary event in Chicagoland.

Number 1 A Win For Hyde and Wilkerson The two young Funny Car Stars are definitely on a upswing after a slow start to the season with Hyde winning the Two Fast Two Tasty Challenge and making it to the semis in Pomona and Wilkerson making it to the final at Pomona. Could this weekend be the weekend either or picks up their first NHRA Funny Car Wally for Wilkerson it would be special since his dad Tim picked up his first Nitro Funny Car win at the same track in 1999.