MORRISON TAKES BEST SHOT AT MAPLE GROVE RACEWAY’S NHRA READING NATIONALS

By: Joe Morrison Racing

READING, PA (September 14, 2025) –- Joe Morrison was one of the busiest drivers on the property at Maple Grove Raceway during this weekend’s NHRA Reading Nationals. The driver from Flemington, New Jersey, was racing in both Nitro Funny Car and Top Alcohol Dragster along with repping the Right2Breathe non-profit organization. Morrison qualified in Nitro Funny Car and made an impression with hundreds of fans talking about lung health and preventative lung maintenance. Morrison was the No. 15 qualifier at the end of four sessions but his opening qualifying run of 4.065 seconds at 310.41 mph turned heads and kept him in the show for race day. The near career quickest pass set Morrison up with confidence heading into a first-round match up with the reigning Funny Car world champion Austin Prock.
 
“Drag racing is an amazing sport where anything can happen,” said Morrison, who was driving Paul Smith Racing’s Funny Car. “To have a legend like Paul Smith making the calls means you always have a shot at winning. He has seen it all and knows so much about tuning these Funny Cars. I know Austin will be tough in the first round, but we are going to give him everything we can with this Penn Grade 1 Right2Breathe Funny Car.”
 
Morrison and Prock pulled to the starting line following an impressive burnout by the PennGrade 1 Right2Breathe Funny Car. Racing the No. 2 qualifier Morrison knew he would need a break from the defending Reading Nationals champion. Both cars launched and Prock began pulling away just as Morrison’s Funny Car hazed the tires robbing him of critical horsepower and momentum. He was forced to watch Prock make a smooth pass for the win as he crossed the finish line with a 5.995 sec, 120.55 mph run.

“We gave it our best shot and I am just glad we put on a good show for the fans,” said Morrison. “When you get a chance to race against the best full-time teams you learn something every pass. I haven’t even made 25 passes in Funny Car so I am thrilled with the progress I am making. Paul is a great teacher and the more runs I get the more comfortable I am in the car. This was a big weekend for PennGrade1 and Right2Breathe.”
 
Racing the Lucas Oil Series in Tom Pickett’s Top Alcohol Dragster was another positive learning experience. While they were unsuccessful in qualifying for a tough field of dragsters Morrison made a big jump with his driving skills.
 
“We’ve had a gremlin in the top alcohol dragster, in the ignition system, and we found it,” said Morrison. “It was a bad crank trigger and that was causing intermittent ignition issues. In the third qualifying session I did the best job in that car that I’ve ever done. My shift points were right on the money. I feel good in that car, and the team is gelling. We didn’t qualify and that sucks, but it was a good learning weekend. You can’t be a winner unless you’re making progress.”
 
When Morrison was out of the car he was in the Right2Breathe display on the NHRA’s Manufacturer’s Midway. Throughout the weekend between sessions Morrison was talking with fans about their lung health and assisting them as they put their lungs on the “Lung Dyno.” NDD Medical had a strong presence as the maker of the Spirometers also known as the “Lung Dyno.” Hundreds of fans took the opportunity to get a free evaluation during the Reading Nationals. Allergy & Asthma Network, Temple Lung Center and Sanofi Pharmaceutical were all present on the midway talking with fans.
 
“I think we had about 250 people put their lungs on the dyno this weekend. That’s fantastic,” said Morrison. “It was a very, very good weekend for Right2Breathe, which means that was a good weekend for NHRA fans.”
 
Morrison and the PennGrade 1 Funny Car will be looking at future opportunities to get back on the track. He could also be back behind the wheel of the Top Alcohol Dragster soon. His work with Right2Breathe will also continue at future NHRA national events. Fans can follow his social media for team updates.

Qualifying Results
Q1: 4.065 sec, 310.41 mph; Qual. 6
Q2: 9.124 sec; 103.05 mph; Qual. 12
Q3: 4.369 sec, 211.49 mph; Qual. 14
Q4: Did Not Run; Qual. 15
Bonus Points: 0

Race Results
First Round
Austin Prock, Brownsburg, Ind., Cornwell Quality Tools Funny Car, (.048), 3.911 sec, 333.99 mph def. Joe Morrison, Flemington, NJ, PennGrade1/Right2Breathe Funny Car, (.114), 5.995 sec, 120.55 mph

Mission Foods Drag Racing Series – Funny Car Championship Points
1. Austin Prock            2173
2. Jack Beckman         2148
3. Ron Capps               2144
4. Paul Lee                   2138
5. Matt Hagan             2118
6. Cruz Pedregon        2108
7. J.R. Todd                 2082
8. Spencer Hyde          2080
9. Alexis DeJoria         2073
10. Dan Wilkerson      2070