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NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas postponed due to crash, cold | NHRA Racing | Sporty
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NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas postponed due to crash, cold | NHRA Racing | Sporty

The final playoff rounds of the NHRA Nationals at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway were postponed Sunday due to a lengthy accident cleanup and cold weather.

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

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

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

The accident occurred during the second Top Fuel semifinal when Shawn Langdon blew a tire and spilled fluid onto the track.

After a nearly two-hour delay while attempting to clear the track, the NHRA decided it was too late to resume racing because cold temperatures made conditions dangerous.

Brittany Force and Doug Kalitta will compete in the Top Fuel finale. Top Fuel points leader Justin Ashley was eliminated by Langdon in the second elimination round.

Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle have not yet played their semifinals.

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

Prock started the weekend with a lead of 147 points and a small chance of winning the title Funny Car. Since Beckman, second in points, advanced to the semifinals, Prock cannot clinch the world title on Monday.

Prock has six victories 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 suffering head trauma in a crash at the NHRA Virginia Nationals in June.

John Force, 16-time Funny Car champion, was active on the track watching his three drivers compete.

Brittany Force was the fastest qualifier in Top Fuel and Beckman was second-fastest in Funny Car. Beckman, the 2012 Funny Car champion, drives John’s Funny Car, and any points he earns go to John in the standings.

Contact Alex Wright at [email protected]. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.

To be continued

What: NHRA Nationals

When: 11 a.m. Monday

Where: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

TV: FS2 (from noon)

Calendar

Semi-finals: 11 a.m.

Finals: 12:15 p.m.