The latest update as of October 15, 2021

While it was originally scheduled for the first weekend of October, the FUNNY CAR CHAOS World Finals was postponed due to a very unfavourable weather forecast for that weekend. Thankfully, they've got a much better forecast for this weekend, with warm-ish temps, reasonable humidty and light winds. The latest density altitude for the racers is well over 3000 ft. but that is foreast to drop into the low 2000's for the first qualifying session tonight at 7pm, and be down to 1500 ft for the second session at 10pm.

With 31 Funny Cars and at least a dozen AA/Fuel Altereds on the pre-entry list, plus Jet Dragsters, Nitro Harleys, Outlaw Top Sportsman, and more support classes, it promises to be the second biggest event on the FCC calendar. Unfortunately for the finals, the March race at the Texas Motorplex with 64++ Funny Cars is simply impossible to top.

Late breaking news: FCC has already got the 2022 date for that flopper extravaganza on the books, with March 24-26th chosen for the Funny Car Classic. It's going to be an overflow crowd of spectators and overflowing pits with every nitro burning funny car that wants to be part of a modern day 64 Funny Cars show. Scheduled two weeks after the NHRA Gatornationals, and one week before the Las Vegas 4-wide Nationals, there won't be any scheduling conflicts. It's going to be an absolutely don't miss event.

We've got the start of a large bonus of photos from the recent Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals to present. We're not quite going in chronological order as we're leading off with the Friday evening Top Fuel qualifying session. Due to the shortened Indy schedule (Sunday eliminations) and a rainout on the Saturday, this was the one and only session, which saw a few big names miss the abbreviated cut. Namely, Clay Millican and Mike Salinas. The same fate befell a few front runners in other categories too, but we'll get to that later.

Our thanks go to arguably the best grandstand photographer in drag racing, Bill Jeffery, who's been gracious enough to share some of his great work with us over the years. There will be much more to come throughout the weekend, so stay tuned! And don't forget: BIG Bob Snyder is shooting right now at San Antonio, and we expect to see a large batch of his work in our inbox tomorrow morning. In the meantime, enjoy the Indy photos.

After a four-year layoff, Tripp Tatum (near lane) reappeared on the national tour with his own operation, laying down a very impressive 3.870 - 282.36 on his first attempt. Pulling away from him in the far lane was rookie Top Fuel racer Alex Laughlin in a Scott Palmer car, as he made the quickest pass of his short (just four races so far) TF career at 3.771 - 317.19 to take a (very) temporary #1 position in the 19-car field.

(LEFT) Reflecting the great conditions, Greg Carillo made an even better - and also career quickest - pass of 3.769 - 320.20 to displace Laughlin at the top of the charts. Considering it was his first pass at Indianapolis and only his third event of the year, it was quite a statement.

(RIGHT) A good side-by-sider followed, with part-timer Kyle Wurtzel (near lane) making his quickest pass of the season at 3.849 - 311.77, while in the far lane, "Nitro" Joe Morrison stayed with him past half track before clicking it a tad early to a 4.107 - 294.88 clocking.

Making his eighth appearance of the season in the Terry Haddock "Rent-a-Ride" dragster, Buddy Hull had some good early numbers before clicking it off early to a 41.62 - 257.63 timeslip, good enough for the #13 spot in the field at the end of the session.

Starting of the pairings of the Top Ten cars, Doug Kalitta (near lane) took on Billy "Captain Capco" Torrence in the far lane. They didn't disappoint as Kalitta took over the top spot with a very strong 3.751 - 317.05 pass, while Torrence slipped into the #3 spot with an almost-as-good 3.756 - 324.75 effort.

(LEFT) Running by himself as opponent Clay Millican smoked the tires early, Justin Ashley pushed his mount to a very good 3.796 - 324.05 to take the #6 position on the ladder. However, he had fallen to #9 by the end of the session.

(RIGHT) A matchup of Don Schumacher Racing stablemates featured Leah Pruett in the near lane, pulling away from Antron Brown in the far lane. Pruett kept the throttle open all the way to the 1000' mark, stopping the clocks at 3.755 - 322.88 (ultimately good for the #5 spot), while Brown lost traction and shut off to a 4.305 - 142.40 result.

Saving the best for last, as always, the top two drivers in the Top Fuel standings faced off, with Brittany Force in the near lane and Steve Torrence on the far side. They didn't disappoint as they ripped off the two quickest - and first in the 3.60's for the event - passes of the evening. Force stopped the clocks first with an awesome 3.684 - 334.57 for low e.t. and top speed, while Torrence trailed by only a whisker at 3.688 - 329.50 to take the second spot on the list. A great way to finish the first day of racing at the 67th annual Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals.