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09/18/2026

KALITTA, PEDREGON, HARTFORD & OEHLER MOTOR TO PROVISIONAL NO. 1 SPOTS AT DODGE NHRA GREAT LAKES NATIONALS

MARTIN, Mich. (Sept. 18, 2026) – Top Fuel points leader and reigning world champ Doug Kalitta went to the top spot in front of a huge crowd in NHRA’s debut at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park on Friday, taking the provisional No. 1 spot in his home state at the Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR.

Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Ryan Oehler (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 15th of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. It is also the first of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Kalitta went 3.682-seconds at 334.82 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Applied Innovations dragster, putting together an impressive performance during NHRA’s first national event in Michigan in 66 years. Should that hold, Kalitta would earn his fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season as he looks to open the six-race playoffs on a winning note.

It was a meaningful day for Kalitta, as his family, including his son, Mitch, team owner Connie Kalitta and Scott Kalitta, were all honored in front of the huge crowd in their home state. He followed that up with a standout run on Friday to take the No. 1 spot on what he hopes is a big weekend.

“The legacy that Connie (Kalitta, team owner) has created is just really special to be part of,” Kalitta said. “It’s nice being here in Michigan again. We’re going to throw down as hard as we can all weekend long and see if we can get it done.”

“When my car is running, it leaves strong and pulls hard. You can tell when it’s on a good run. I was really, really happy with that run. Fortunately, we stayed ahead of Shawn (Langdon). He was right there, and we have to keep those guys behind us somehow.”

His Kalitta Motorsports teammate, Indy winner Shawn Langdon, is second with a 3.698 at 339.37 and Tony Stewart is third after a 3.714 at 339.62.

In Funny Car, Cruz Pedregon has an opportunity to get hot at the perfect time and the two-time world champ did just that on Friday in his 12,000-horsepower Snap-On Tools Dodge Charger, powering to the No. 1 spot in a loaded field with a standout run of 3.886 at 327.51.

Pedregon would pick up his first top qualifier of the year should it hold and he hopes it’s a sign of things to come in the playoffs. He starts the Countdown 12th in points, but Pedregon has seen potential all season and hopes it now comes to fruition.

“This was huge. For us, we’re just trying to get our head above water here. We’ve been taking on water pretty much all year,” Pedregon said. “For some reason, I don’t know what it is, with all these different crew chiefs and different cars, we get it going at the end.

"The car has had speed. I know I’ve said this quite a few times: It’s fast. But we dropped a cylinder on the first run there, and we thought, ‘Let’s just go out there and run what we think the track will hold.’”

J.R. Todd is second with a 3.893 at 334.57 and Dan Wilkerson is third after a 3.903 at 321.20. Points leader Matt Hagan is currently 10th after two sessions.

Pro Stock’s Matt Hartford continues to stay hot in qualifying, taking the No. 1 spot on Friday in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro with a run of 6.516 at 209.79. It comes on the heels of Hartford picking up his first No. 1 qualifier of the year at the previous race in Indy, putting the veteran on track for his second top spot of the season.

It would come at the perfect time as Hartford, who has three wins this season, opens the Countdown to the Championship fourth in points and looking to make a strong move to start the postseason.

“My crew chief and my team are giving me a great car,” Hartford said. “There’s no doubt about it. If the idiot behind the wheel does his job, we can go out there on any run and run at the top.

“When you look at the caliber of the cars we’re racing, it’s incredible. To come out of here Friday night with the provisional pole is huge. Our goal is, regardless of where we qualify, to go into Sunday, execute and go four rounds.”

Greg Anderson is qualified second after two sessions with a 6.521 at 209.11 and points leader Dallas Glenn took the third spot with a 6.529 at 209.99.

Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Ryan Oehler made a big move to open the Countdown to the Championship, going 6.7190 at 200.80 on his El Bandito Yankee Tequila EBR to move to the top and put the veteran on track for his first career No. 1 qualifier.

Oehler put a noticeable difference between himself and the standout field during his second run of the day, which could be a statement run as he looks to make a big move in the playoffs. He started the weekend sixth in points, but Friday’s run showed what Oehler has, which could lead to a big move in Martin.

“We’ve been waiting for this for a long time. We’ve had two No. 2 qualifiers this season. We just needed a really good quality pass, and that was a textbook pass,” Oehler said. “We’ve got going on 10 years of experience now in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class. We’ve got a lot of scars to show for it.

“We’ve had some success, and we fell off, we’ve come back, and we’ve been on that teeter-totter. Now I think that we’re right there to put the pedal to the metal and send it all the way for the Countdown.”

Angie Smith is currently second with a 6.7377 at 196.51 and Indy winner Matt Smith went 6.7403 at 197.02. Points leader Richard Gadson is fourth after two sessions.

Qualifying continues at 11 a.m. ET on Saturday at Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.

MARTIN, Mich. -- Friday's results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the Inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at US 131 Motorsports Park, 15th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.682 seconds, 334.82 mph; 2. Shawn Langdon, 3.698, 339.37; 3. Tony Stewart, 3.714, 339.62; 4. Billy Torrence, 3.736, 334.57; 5. Will Smith, 3.736, 333.58; 6. Leah Pruett, 3.743, 328.23; 7. Justin Ashley, 3.748, 333.58; 8. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.758, 325.38; 9. Clay Millican, 3.762, 334.08; 10. Antron Brown, 3.779, 331.86; 11. Spencer Massey, 3.792, 327.27; 12. Shawn Reed, 3.801, 333.58; 13. Josh Hart, 3.826, 332.35; 14. Maddi Gordon, 3.832, 318.70; 15. Tony Schumacher, 4.437, 189.16; 16. Kyle Satenstein, 7.888, 81.48.

Funny Car -- 1. Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, 3.886, 327.51; 2. J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 3.893, 334.57; 3. Daniel Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.903, 321.20; 4. Austin Prock, Mustang, 3.909, 331.61; 5. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 3.916, 331.13; 6. Alexis DeJoria, Chevy Camaro, 3.924, 331.86; 7. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.930, 326.80; 8. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.934, 321.89; 9. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.947, 329.91; 10. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.961, 327.27; 11. Dave Richards, Mustang, 3.980, 316.90; 12. Terry
Haddock, Mustang, 3.980, 314.47; 13. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 4.073, 314.03; 14. Hunter Green, Charger, 4.083, 305.50; 15. Joey Haas, Mustang, 4.097, 273.56; 16. Jordan Vandergriff, Camaro, 8.758, 80.53.

Pro Stock -- 1. Matt Hartford, Chevy Camaro, 6.516, 209.79; 2. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.521, 209.11; 3. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.529, 209.99; 4. Cody Anderson, Camaro, 6.531, 207.85; 5. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.534, 209.59; 6. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.536, 209.69; 7. Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.538, 209.50; 8. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.545, 21.04; 9. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.550, 209.11; 10. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.590, 208.72; 11. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.592, 209.01; 12. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.602, 195.40; 13. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.618, 207.76; 14. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 18.084, 45.70.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.719, 200.80; 2. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.737, 196.51; 3. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.740, 197.02; 4. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.746, 200.00; 5. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.760, 200.00; 6. Ronnie Procopio, 6.782, 198.15; 7. John Hall, Beull, 6.790, 197.98; 8. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.803, 194.64; 9. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.810, 197.11; 10. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 6.853, 197.02; 11. Clayton Howey, Suzuki, 6.858, 195.31; 12. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.933, 192.55; 13. Mark Paquette, EBR, 7.091, 170.78; 14. Mathieu Dube, Suzuki, 7.543, 175.64; 15. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 12.178, 64.26.

09/18/2026

09/18/2026

09/18/2026

09/18/2026

7 DAYS!!

Get ready for high horsepower, close racing, and all the action at the NHRA Nationals at The Rock!

The field is close! Don't miss out.

👉 Join us at Rockingham on https://www.nhra.tv/, https://www.youtube.com/,

09/18/2026

Summit Motorsports Park Launches
2027 ‘Save My Seat’ Campaign
Beginning October 19

NORWALK, Ohio (September 18, 2026) – Summit Motorsports Park has officially announced the launch of its annual Save My Seat campaign, giving loyal fans the exclusive opportunity to lock in their favorite seats for an action-packed 2027 racing season.

The renewal window opens on Monday, October 19, and runs through Monday, November 9, at 11:59 PM EST. During this three-week priority period, anyone who purchased tickets to Summit Motorsports Park’s major 2026 events can secure identical seating, or upgrade seats, for the 2027 lineup before tickets open to the general public.

Featured 2027 Renewal Events Include:

50th Anniversary Night Under Fire: August 6–7, 2027
21st Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals: June 24–27, 2027
26th Annual PRW Power Blue Suede Cruise: July 22–25, 2027
2nd Annual Chaos Super Nationals: May 27–29, 2027
21st Annual Cavalcade of Stars: Date TBD
36th Annual Ames Performance Pontiac Nationals: July 16–18, 2027
Ken Ganley MopowerMania 5: September 16–19, 2027

A major highlight of the upcoming season will be the golden milestone of the world-famous Night Under Fire, marking a half-century of entertainment, pyrotechnics, and sensory-overload drag racing.

Current ticket holders should watch their mailboxes for an official Save My Seat renewal packet arriving ahead of the campaign. In addition, guests will receive a series of three reminder emails throughout the window detailing simple, step-by-step renewal instructions.

Seats not renewed by midnight on Monday, November 9, will be released for public purchase beginning Friday, November 20.

Fans can renew their seats online through the track’s official ticketing portal, tix.com, or by calling the Summit Motorsports Park ticket office at (419) 668-5555.

09/18/2026

Amber and Blake Denton, Tutterow, Altman, and Schalow Earn ProStars Titles To Kick Off PDRA World Finals

Dinwiddie, Va. (September 17, 2026) – It was a family affair Thursday night at the sixth annual Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars presented by Laris Motorsports, as both Amber Denton and her husband Blake Denton took home wins in the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series’ all-star race. Amber picked up the $15,000 win at Virginia Motorsports Park when she defeated class veteran Billy Albert in the final round of Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous presented by Jerry Bickel Race Cars. Blake, meanwhile, defeated Mikey Sasina for the $7,500 win in Liberty’s Gears Pro Street presented by KTR Drag Racing.

ProStars is a lead-in to the PDRA’s season finale, the Pro Line Racing Brian Olson Memorial World Finals presented by ProCharger, Friday through Sunday. The weekend also includes VMP’s Night of Fire on Saturday with a special lineup of Nostalgia Funny Cars, jet cars, and a wheelstander.

Drivers qualified to compete in the ProStars race using a special points system. Those drivers got the chance to make two test passes Thursday before random chip drawings set the pairings for eliminations.

Ty Tutterow (WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive), Ryan Altman (PDRA Pro 632 presented by Mark Williams Enterprises), and Matt Schalow (1320 Fabrication Super Street presented by Brian’s Heating & Cooling) also claimed ProStars titles in the professional categories.

In the PDRA’s sportsman ranks, the winners were Bryan LaFlam in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Will Creasman in Greenbrier Excavating & Paving Elite Top Dragster, Seth Garrison in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman, and James Albertson in ATI Performance Top Dragster presented by TBM Brakes.

The PDRA’s rising stars in the Jr. Dragster classes also took part in ProStars, with victories going to Chloe Geryes in PDRA Pro Jr. Dragster and Mason Dudley in Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster. Geryes, who hails from nearby Prince George, Va., ran a 7.905 on the 7.90 index to defeat 2025 ProStars winner Sofie Cooper, who broke out with a 7.873 in her ‘08 Halfscale dragster. Dudley, the current Top Jr. Dragster points leader entering the World Finals, used a reaction time advantage (.051 to .075) to narrowly hold off Korbin Helms; both drivers dialed in at 8.90, so it was Dudley’s holeshot that allowed his slower 8.930 to stay ahead of Helms and his 8.912.

PRO NITROUS

After making numerous adjustments halfway through the season, Amber Denton continued her recent hot streak on Thursday night, piloting her Pat Musi-assisted “OG Jungle Rat” ‘69 Camaro to the winner’s circle and a $15,000 payday in the all-star race in just her second year competing in Pro Nitrous. Denton used a huge starting line advantage and a 3.645 at 208.52 mph in the final round to defeat Billy Albert, who ran 3.706 at 206.04 mph in his ’20 Camaro powered by his own racing engine.

“It means the world to me,” said Denton, who previously won ProStars in 2024 in the Pro 632 class. “I grew up watching my dad in this class, so I watched most of the people competing in it. These are the baddest nitrous racers in the world, and I’m just so grateful for the opportunity to even be in this field. So to get a win, especially with how we had a slow start to the season, just random round losses, we’re hoping to keep this momentum going until the end of the year.”

Denton started off eliminations by defeating reigning two-time ProStars winner Freddy Scriba, running a 3.732 at 179.06 mph to Scriba’s tire-shaking run of 6.028 at 78.04. She then won a very close semifinal matchup with Tim Paap and his red ’16 Corvette, with her 3.652 at 208.14 mph just enough to clip Paap’s 3.665 at 201.91.

Albert, meanwhile, defeated Hopewell, Virginia’s Buddy Perkinson in the first round, then took out Tommy Franklin and his “Jungle Rat 3.0” in the semifinals, preventing a father-daughter pairing in the final round.

The win was more validation for the midseason adjustments Denton and her team made after an admittedly disappointing first half of the season, and should allow her to carry plenty of momentum into 2027.

“We made quite a bit of adjustments on my personal cockpit area to kind of get me more comfortable in the car,” Denton said. “I’ve been in the car for quite a few years, but obviously things change, and we made quite a few adjustments. We just really needed a fresh start, and regrouped at the summer break. Going into Bristol, I felt like we had a really good hot rod, and then at Galot, we picked right back up and went to the finals. Like I said, every person out here racing in this class is tough. Every round-win you get is a feat in itself, and I’m definitely grateful to win tonight.”

Making the win even more memorable for Denton was getting to share the winner’s circle with her husband Blake Denton, who won the Pro Street class just two runs after Amber. Denton got to see it all unfold from the top end as she was still celebrating her own victory.

“We’ve raced together for almost 10 years now, and had yet to pull off a double up, so we were both really pumped,” said Denton. “As soon as I got out of the car, I was more worried about his round than our team winning. It just means the world to be able to do it with my family. That’s why we do it. We love doing it together, and I’m super excited for his team as well to be able to pull it off together. It means a lot to both of us.”

PRO BOOST

Reigning PDRA Pro Boost world champion Ty Tutterow shook off a disappointing finish at Drag Wars a few weeks ago with an impressive $15,000 ProStars win over four-time world champion Jason Harris in a battle of class stalwarts that was perfectly suited for an all-star race. In a classic screw blower vs. centrifugal supercharger battle, it was Tutterow’s screw-blown combination that came out on top, as he pedaled the Larry Jeffers-built Quik Fuel ’68 Camaro owned by Justin Smith to a 3.654 elapsed time at 206.45 mph. The pass was more than enough to defeat Harris, who violently shook the tires of his Harts Charger-boosted “Party Time” ’69 Camaro, coasting to a 5.734 at 80.84.

“Last year, we were one and two in points,” Tutterow said of his matchup with Harris. “This year, he was leading the points for most of the year. We had some bugs at the last race, and it looks like we finally, hopefully got them behind us. The car’s performing well…just tried too hard right there in the last run, shook the tires, but got it recovered and got it to the other end. Just hats off my crew. I couldn’t do it without them. They never get their head down. We had a mechanical failure at the last race, went home, got it all worked out, come back out here and got the car back where it was.”

Tutterow caught a break in the first round, as he suffered tire shake and only managed a 5.524 at 85.26 mph. However, his opponent and teammate, Kurt Steding, turned on the red light in his screw-blown P2 Contracting ’26 Corvette, handing the win to Tutterow. In the semifinals, Tutterow ran low e.t. of eliminations, a blistering 3.568-second pass at 209.10 mph to get by Melanie Salemi’s “Purple Reign” ’68 Firebird, who ran a respectable 3.625 at 208.52 after thrashing to swap motors before the round.

While Tutterow didn’t earn any championship points for winning the ProStars specialty race, the win is still a confidence boost for the team as they try to track down Harris and current points leader Johnny Camp in their quest for back-to-back points championships.

“It definitely helps confidence and morale,” said Tutterow. “All the stars have to align. We’re just here to run our race and try to get to the finals, be the No. 1 qualifier, and get all the points we can. If it happens to work out that way, so be it.”

Harris defeated a pair of Virginia residents – Randy Weatherford and Don Tolley – in the first two rounds to earn his spot in the finals against Tutterow.

PRO STREET

The other half of the Denton duo, current points leader Blake Denton, followed his wife Amber’s win with one of his own, taking home the $7,500 Pro Street crown. Driving the fan-favorite Pat Musi-powered, nitrous-assisted “Bonnie” ‘69 Camaro that Pat’s late daughter, Lizzy Musi, made famous, Denton saved his best run of the day for the finals against Golden, Colorado’s Mikey Sasina. Denton ran a stout 3.927 elapsed time at 195.11 mph to get the win, while Sasina spun the tires on his Harts Charger-powered ‘03 Mustang, slowing to a 5.603 at 100.79.

“We looked at the day as just a confidence booster for us, and I think winning tonight really just gave me that extra edge,” said Denton. “After not being in a final from the first race until now, it’s good to be back in a final. It gives me that confidence that I know I can do it and I’d love to carry that momentum through this weekend.

“That’s what we dream of,” Denton added concerning winning together with his wife. “Any husband and wife that does this wants to win together. We’ve been in a couple finals, but tonight’s the first time we’ve ever actually both won together. It’s a huge deal for us and we’ll cherish it for a long time.”

In the opening round, Denton put his driving skills on display, grabbing a holeshot win over Florida’s Jerry Morgano in his twin-turbo ’02 Mustang. Denton’s .022 reaction time, paired with a 3.960 at 193.57 mph was enough to stay in front of Morgano’s quicker 3.959 at 201.70. He then took out the most recent event winner, Ron Green, in the semifinals when Green had mechanical issues and couldn’t make the call.

Sasina took out championship hopeful Richard Reagan in the first round, using a massive holeshot and 4.391 at 176.17 mph to defeat Reagan’s 5.008 at only 133.65. In the semifinals, Sasina caught a break, defeating West Virginia’s J.R. Webb and his red ’70 Camaro when Webb went -.024 red. The early jump cost Webb, who ran a quicker 4.083 at 187.03 mph to Sasina’s 4.521 at 123.89.

PRO 632

With two final-round appearances and an event win in Bristol over the past two events, Pro 632 newcomer Ryan Altman has had a strong second half to the season, and he continued that momentum on Thursday night, taking home the ProStars trophy and $7,500. Paired up with Jeff Pittman in the final round, Altman took the win before the tree was even activated, as Pittman’s Hickory Enclosed Trailer Sales ‘68 Chevelle launched as soon as the stage bulbs were lit. Altman, meanwhile, laid down a 4.191 at 179.09 mph in the Greenbrier Excavating & Paving ‘18 Camaro – a solid run, but also his slowest of the day.

In the first round, Altman narrowly overcame a holeshot advantage by North Carolina’s David Cook Jr. (.036 to .055), running a 4.154 at 171.27 to Cook’s 4.186 at 169.21. The South Carolina native then used a 4.142 at 179.44 mph in the semifinals to outrun Cameron Gibson’s 4.215 at 169.19.

Pittman, who won the PDRA North vs. South Shootout at Maryland International Raceway earlier this year, started eliminations with a 4.147 at 171.36 to get the win over Carson Hoyle. He then ran low e.t. of eliminations in the semifinals, a 4.133 at 171.55 mph, to get around Gary Hood, who went -.081 red in his ‘63 Corvette.

SUPER STREET

Heading into the final round of Super Street, Matt Schalow likely would have been viewed as the underdog against reigning class champion Connor McGee. However, it was Schalow, who hails from nearby Virginia Beach, who used his home track advantage to earn the $7,500 ProStars win. Piloting his nitrous-assisted “War Pig” ‘69 Camaro, Schalow used a stout 4.574 elapsed time at 158.99 mph to outrun McGee, who spun the tires in his Fulton-powered Brian’s Heating & Cooling ‘90 Mustang, slowing to a 6.087 at 81.70 mph.

The win was also a bit of redemption for Schalow, who runnered-up in the ProStars specialty event last year. Schalow started the evening with a first-round win over 2024 world champion and 2024 ProStars winner Dan Whetstine. Whetstine grabbed a sizeable starting line adavantage with a near-perfect .002 reaction time, but his 4.786 was not enough to hold off Schalow’s 4.620 at 158.82 mph. Schalow then used a 4.604 at 159.01 mph in the semifinals to defeat Kenny Fox and his 4.679 at 155.87.

McGee knocked off points leader Austin Vincent in a side-by-side first-round matchup, with McGee’s 4.538 at 159.08 mph narrowly getting by Vincent’s 4.551 at 160.63. McGee then picked up the pace even more in the semifinals against Troy Hill, running a 4.514 at 163.31, the quickest and fastest pass in all of eliminations, to set up the final round against Schalow.

TOP SPORTSMAN

Elite Top Sportsman points leader Bryan LaFlam won the PDRA ProStars trophy for the second consecutive year in his supercharged BigStuff TPM ‘67 Mustang. LaFlam and opponent Jamie Fowler both pulled into the beams with 3.79-second dial-ins, but the race was over at the starting line, as Fowler went -.017 red in his nitrous-assisted, Fulton-powered ‘69 Camaro. Meanwhile, LaFlam made a clean pass, running 3.810 at 193.29 mph. LaFlam will be attempting to win his second consecutive points championship later this weekend as well.

Morganton, N.C.’s Seth Garrison took home the Top Sportsman trophy in his ‘06 Dodge Stratus, using a .002 reaction time and a 4.311 on his 4.29 dial-in to defeat Virginia’s Mark Payne. Payne was nearly dead-on his dial – 4.205 on a 4.20 – in his ‘06 Chevy Cavalier, but his .038 reaction time cost him the win.

TOP DRAGSTER

After winning the 2025 PDRA World Finals in Top Dragster, North Carolina’s Will Creasman started the 2026 edition in much the same way, taking home the ProStars victory in Elite Top Dragster on Thursday night over current points leader and two-time ProStars champion Steve Furr. The two drivers were nearly identical off the line (.013 to .014), but Creasman’s 3.705 on his 3.70 dial-in was too much for Furr, who ran a 3.822 on his 3.80 dial-in.

North Carolina’s James Albertson used a .006 reaction time and a 4.439 on a 4.43 dial in his ‘04 Racetech dragster to grab the Top Dragster win over T.J. Harper, who broke out by a mere one-thousandth of a second, running a 4.399 on a 4.40 dial-in.

The Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series will roll into Brian Olson Memorial World Finals qualifying on Friday morning starting with Jr. Dragster and sportsman classes at 9:00 a.m. Two sessions of Pro qualifying are set for later in the day on Friday.

The World Finals marks the debut of the new PDRA Fast Pass program, which covers admission for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, all for just $30. Discounted Junior and Kids Fast Passes are also available. Kids five and under get in free. Saturday and Sunday public suite tickets are also available. Purchase tickets at www.PDRA660.com or at the gate.

PDRA fans around the world can catch all the action live on the official event live stream through www.FloRacing.com.

Photos by Tara Bowker


ABOUT THE PDRA
The Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series is the top sanctioning body in the United States for the sport of eighth-mile drag racing. The PDRA’s professional categories include Pro Boost, Pro Nitrous, Pro Street, Pro 632, and Super Street. The series also features sportsman racing in Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Pro Jr. Dragster and Top Jr. Dragster. The 2026 PDRA schedule consists of seven national events. For more information on the PDRA, visit www.PDRA660.com.

09/17/2026

REIGNING WORLD CHAMPIONS DALLAS GLENN, RICHARD GADSON GEAR UP FOR FIRST RACE OF COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP

MARTIN, Mich. (Sept. 17, 2026) – Reigning Pro Stock world champion Dallas Glenn enters this weekend’s inaugural Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR leading the ultra-competitive field as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series heads into its Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Glenn secured the regular season championship in Indianapolis with a victory in his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro at the legendary race. With four wins on the 2026 season, he hopes to carry his success in Indy into the first race of the Countdown at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.

“Going into Monday at the U.S. Nationals, I was more focused on trying to win the race than worrying too much about points,” said Glenn. “After my early exit in Brainerd, I decided to just focus on Indy and not even think about the points. Greg (Anderson) was going to have to lose early, and I didn’t want to root against anybody on my team. I just set out to do my job, and then Greg lost early and it was like, ‘Okay, now it’s time to do my job.’”

The highly anticipated debut at US 131 Motorsports Park is the first of six playoff races and the 15th of 20 events during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season. The 2026 Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR will also be broadcast on FS1, with elimination coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 20.

Glenn knows the importance of kicking off the Countdown on a high note. En route to his first world championship last season, Glenn won four of the five playoff races. The inaugural Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR will be an equal playing field for the Pro Stock class as it is NHRA’s first trip to the standout facility. With only 24 rounds of competition left in the 2026 season, Glenn and the rest of the field will try to capitalize on every possible point.

“It’s definitely going to be a lot different going to Martin, where we’ve never been down the track before,” Glenn said. “I’ve never set foot on that property, so I’m excited to add a new track to the list. We also have a short turnaround between Martin and Rockingham, so we’ve been working to make sure everything is ready to go.”

Also on track this weekend will be Glenn’s teammate and six-time world champion Greg Anderson. Anderson has four wins this season and is second in points. Others to watch include Greg Stanfield in third place as well as Matt Hartford, Aaron Stanfield and six-time champ Erica Enders.

Reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Richard Gadson secured the 2026 regular season championship in Indy and with another world championship in sight, Gadson knows he has a steep road ahead of him during the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

“Winning the regular-season championship was definitely big,” said Gadson. “Gainesville was one stamp, but the regular season championship was the period at the end of the sentence. People could say I got saved by the Countdown, but not this time. At the same time, I know it’s not finished. You enjoy it for a short period of time, and then you have to funnel your energy and focus into the Countdown and continue doing the same things that kept you in front.”

Gadson rides for Pro Stock Motorcycle powerhouse Vance & Hines on the RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki. The team has 16 world championships to its credit, including the last three with Gaige Herrera in 2023 and 2024 and Gadson in 2025. Gadson will face plenty of competition in the Countdown, including teammate Herrera, who has wins in Charlotte and Bristol this season, as well as longtime Vance & Hines rival and six-time world champion Matt Smith, who enters the playoffs second in points following his Indy victory.

Other riders in at the Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR will be Maryland winner Angie Smith, John Hall, Ryan Oehler and Chase Van Sant.

The Top Fuel ranks have been dominated this season by Michigan-based Kalitta Motorsports. Reigning world champion Doug Kalitta secured the regular season championship, while teammate Shawn Langdon won in Indy after setting the NHRA speed record at 345 mph earlier this season in Valdosta. The two will be up against the likes of longtime Dodge driver Leah Pruett, Top Fuel rookie standout Maddi Gordon, four-time world champ Antron Brown and motorsports legend Tony Stewart.

To add to the magnitude of the weekend, Doug, Connie and Scott Kalitta will all be honored during the weekend as part of NHRA’s 75th anniversary celebration. Connie and Doug will both be recognized as two of the Top 75 drivers in NHRA history.

The Funny Car class is currently led by longtime Dodge driver Matt Hagan, who locked up the regular-season championship in Indy. Three-time world champion Ron Capps enters the Countdown second in points, with Indy winner Jack Beckman in third. The loaded Funny Car field will also feature J.R. Todd, Jordan Vandergriff and reigning world champion Austin Prock.

Race fans at US 131 Motorsports Park can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce each driver and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. They are also invited to congratulate the event winners at the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday to crown the first-ever national event winners in Martin. As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Fans can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their cars, get autographs and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and vendors create an exciting atmosphere.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12:15 and 2:45 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 18 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 20. Television coverage includes qualifying on FS1 at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday before eliminations action at 2 p.m.

To purchase tickets to the Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information about the NHRA, visit www.nhra.com.

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About Mission Foods
MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA
NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports and NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.