The roar of nitro engines and the scent of burnt rubber returned to Mantorp Park July 24–27, 2025 for the Meguiar’s Drag Festival 2025, an unforgettable four-day celebration of European drag racing. With over 220 entries across 20 categories, the non-FIA-sanctioned event combined serious competition with a laidback, festival-style atmosphere that racers and fans alike embraced.
The Swedish summer mostly cooperated, offering sunny skies on Saturday, but with showers on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Despite the interruptions, the event kept its momentum, with only minor delays and no loss of spirit from racers or fans.
While the festival offered a more relaxed vibe compared to the FIA championship circuit, the racing was anything but tame. Saturday saw a record-breaking crowd of 17,300 spectators, all there to witness the best of European drag racing — and they were treated to a full spectrum of action across car, bike, and vintage classes. From roaring Pro Mods to classic Gassers and nitro-fueled nostalgia machines, the variety on display offered something for every taste.
A central highlight of the weekend was the Top Fuel Cannonball, which promised excitement and delivered it in spades. Originally slated to host eight Top Fuel dragsters, the field was reduced to five following the tragic passing of beloved racer Stig Neergard, whose absence was deeply felt across the paddock.
Despite the somber start, the remaining five teams put on a show worthy of the late Danish icon. Racing for a purse of 250,000 SEK (approx. $26,000), the Top Fuelers attacked the track with full force.
From the very first qualifying round, Tommi Haapanen impressed with the first-ever 3-second run at Mantorp Park— a blistering 3.98 seconds at 303.22 mph, straight off the trailer. It was no surprise, then, that he went on to reach the final, where he secured the SEK 250,000 prize by defeating fellow Finn Timo Lehtimäki in a tire-smoking showdown, clocking 4.089 seconds at 270.15 mph to Lehtimäki’s 4.645 at 168.82 mph.
Another record performance came from Sweden’s Rikard Gustafsson, who was in top form aboard his menacing Top Fuel Bike, clocking a jaw-dropping 3.85-second pass at 198.21 mph in the eighth mile — a new record and a moment that brought the crowd to its feet.
With a packed schedule and entries from across Europe, nearly every drag racing class was represented. The winners in their individual categories were:
- Top Fuel Dragster: Tommi Haapanen
- Pro Stock Car: Michael Malmgren
- Top Methanol: Magnus Larsson
- Top Doorslammer: Anders Edh
- 440 Outlaw: Daniel “Krabban” Hjortegård
- 4 to 6: Tobias Johansson
- A Gasser: Gunnar Kjeserud
- Bracket: Pål Axelsson
- Modified Street: Jimmy Ålund
- Nostalgia Funny Car: Torstein Risdal
- Vintage Outlaw: Eskil Rolstad
- Pro Comp: Kim Feldthusen
- Pro Comp Bike: Roberth Häggblom
- Pro Street: Anna Knutes
- Street: Fredde Carsting
- Super Bracket: Karl Leo Norum
- Junior Dragster Pro: Emma Andreasson
- Top Fuel Bike: Rikard Gustafsson
- Super Twin Top Gas Bike: Conny Karlsson
- Super Gas Bike: Victor Olofsson
The Meguiar’s Drag Festival wasn’t just about racing — it was a full-blown celebration of car culture. Alongside the action on track, fans enjoyed a curated car and motorcycle show right by the strip, blending roaring engines with stunning showpieces.
With on-site camping, live music, great food, and a welcoming, laid-back vibe, the event became a weekend getaway for racers and fans alike. This true gathering of the European drag racing community is sure to grow even bigger and better in the years to come.
This story was originally published on August 8, 2025. 
